Representatives had been elected in April 1800 to a term in the 7th United States Congress beginning on March 4, 1801.

John Cantine, elected in the 7th D., resigned his seat before the congressional term began.

A special election to fill the vacancy was held in September 1803, and was won by Daniel C. Verplanck, of the same party.

The House of Representatives of the 8th United States Congress met for the first time at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., on October 17, 1803, and Griswold, Hasbrouck, Livingston, McCord, Mitchill, Palmer, Sammons, Sands, Thomas, Van Cortlandt and Verplanck took their seats on this day.

The candidate with the higher number of votes won the full term, the next best was elected to fill the vacancy.

Samuel L. Mitchill, who had been re-elected in the 3rd D. in April 1804 to a third term, beginning on March 4, 1805, resigned his seat on November 22, 1804, after his election to the U.S. Senate.