Outgoing President Harry Truman's dismal approval rating was one reason why his party lost its House majority.

Joseph Martin (R-Massachusetts) became Speaker of the House, exchanging places with Sam Rayburn (D-Texas), who became the new Minority Leader.

This was the last time Republicans won control of the House of Representatives until 1994, despite the GOP controlling the presidency for the majority of the next four decades, Democrats outperformed in down-ballot elections, especially in the South, which had started to drift towards Republican presidential candidates.

[4][5] Four special elections were held to finish terms in the 82nd United States Congress, which would end January 3, 1953.

Kentucky lost one seat at reapportionment, and redistricted from 9 districts to 8, adjusting boundaries across the state and dividing the old 8th up among its neighbors.

[6] As of 2022[update], this was the last time the Republican Party held a majority of congressional districts from Maryland.

[6] Virginia gained one seat, adding a new district in the DC suburbs and making boundary adjustments elsewhere.