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.

[8] Louisiana stayed at eight house seats following the 1970 census, but the Eighth District's boundaries were radically altered.

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.