The 1974 United States House of Representatives elections were elections for the United States House of Representatives on November 5, 1974, to elect members to serve in the 94th United States Congress. They occurred in the wake of the Watergate scandal, which had forced President Richard Nixon to resign in favor of Gerald Ford. This scandal, along with high inflation, allowed the Democrats to make large gains in the midterm elections, taking 48 seats from the Republicans (an additional seat was gained, for a net gain of 49, when Representative Joe Moakley from Massachusetts switched his party affiliation back to Democrat after winning his 1972 election as an independent), and increasing their majority above the two-thirds mark. Altogether, there were 93 freshmen representatives in the 94th Congress when it convened on January 3, 1975 (76 of them Democrats). Those elected to office that year later came to be known collectively as "Watergate Babies." The gain of 49 Democratic seats was the largest pickup by the party since 1958. , this was the last time the Democrats gained 45 or more seats in a House election. Overall results Summary of the November 5, 1974, United States House of Representatives election results Special elections These elections were for the remainder of the term ending January 3, 1975. |- ! | John Saylor | | Republican | 1952 | | Incumbent died October 28, 1973.A special election was held February 25, 1974.Democratic gain. | nowrap | |- ! | Gerald Ford | | Republican | 1948 | | Incumbent resigned December 6, 1973, to become Vice President of the United States.A special election was held February 18, 1974.Democratic gain. | nowrap | |- ! | Bill Keating | | Republican | 1970 | | Incumbent resigned January 3, 1974, to take a position as president of The Cincinnati Enquirer.A special election was held March 5, 1974.Democratic gain. | nowrap | |- ! | James Harvey | | Republican | 1960 | | Incumbent resigned January 31, 1974, to become judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.A special election was held April 16, 1974.Democratic gain. | nowrap | |- ! | Bill Mailliard | | Republican | 1952 | | Incumbent resigned March 5, 1974, to become United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States.A special election was held June 4, 1974.Democratic gain. | nowrap | |-