1908 United States House of Representatives elections
Joseph Cannon Republican Joseph Cannon Republican The 1908 United States House of Representatives elections were held for the most part on November 3, 1908, with Oregon, Maine, and Vermont holding theirs early in either June or September.
They coincided with the 1908 United States presidential election, which William Howard Taft won.
Taft was not as popular as his predecessor, Theodore Roosevelt,[citation needed] but won with Roosevelt's backing, and his Republican Party lost only a handful of seats to the opposition Democrats.
Without any striking national issues, the Republicans were able to remain in control.
Regional issues led to some changes in House membership, but new Democrats who were elected by dissatisfied industrial workers were balanced out by new Republicans who gained seats in districts with a strong middle class presence.
| House seats by party holding plurality in state | |
|---|---|
|
80+% Democratic
|
80+% Republican
|
|
60+ to 80% Democratic
|
60+ to 80% Republican
|
|
Up to 60% Democratic
|
Up to 60% Republican
|
| Net gain in party representation | |
|---|---|
|
6+ Democratic gain
|
6+ Republican gain
|
|
3-5 Democratic gain
|
3-5 Republican gain
|
|
1-2 Democratic gain
|
1-2 Republican gain
|
|
no net change
|
|