This was the first election in which citizens at least 18 years of age (instead of 21 and older) could vote, due to the recent passage of the 26th Amendment.

Alabama was reapportioned from 8 to 7 seats and eliminated the old 3rd district, dividing it between the old 2nd and 4th and making compensating boundary changes elsewhere.

New governor Edwin W. Edwards ordered the district to take in territory far to the south and east of its traditional base of Alexandria, which included many African-American and progressive white voters.

Speedy Long retired when his home of LaSalle Parish was shifted to the Fifth District, where incumbent Otto Passman was entrenched.

Walter E. Fauntroy, a Democrat, sought re-election for his second term to the United States House of Representatives.

Democrat Ron de Lugo was elected as the first delegate from United States Virgin Islands's at-large congressional district defeating Republican Victor Scheider.