The 1982 United States House of Representatives elections was an election for the United States House of Representatives held on November 2, 1982, to elect members to serve in the 98th United States Congress. They occurred in the middle of President Ronald Reagan's first term, whose popularity was sinking due to economic conditions under the 1982 recession. The President's Republican Party lost seats in the House, which could be viewed as a response to the President's approval at the time. Unlike most midterm election cycles, the number of seats lost—26 seats to the Democratic Party—was a comparatively large swap. It included most of the seats that had been gained the previous election, cementing the Democratic majority. Coincidentally, the number of seats the Democrats picked up (26), was the exact amount the Republicans would have needed to win the House majority. It was the first election held after the 1980 United States redistricting cycle. In the previous election of 1980 Republicans gained many seats as the result of President Ronald Reagan's coattails. 12 of those officials were gone by 1982. To date, this election marks the last time the Democrats picked up a House seat in West Virginia. Overall results Retiring incumbents Thirty-nine representatives retired. Thirty-one of those seats were held by the same party, eight seats changed party. Democrats Eighteen Democrats retired. Eleven of those seats were held by Democrats, four were won by Republicans, and three seats were eliminated in redistricting. Democratic held : John L. Burton, was succeeded by Barbara Boxer (with district being renumbered as California 6). : Ronald 'Bo' Ginn, to run for Governor of Georgia, was succeeded by Lindsay Thomas. : William M. Brodhead, was succeeded by Sander Levin. : Richard Bolling, was succeeded by Alan Wheat. : Shirley Chisholm, was succeeded by Major Owens. : Lawrence H. Fountain, was succeeded by Tim Valentine. : Kenneth Lamar Holland, was succeeded by John Spratt. : Jim Mattox, to run for Attorney General of Texas, was succeeded by John Wiley Bryant. : Richard C. White, was succeeded by Ronald D. Coleman. : Bob Mollohan, was succeeded by Alan Mollohan. : Henry Reuss, was succeeded by Jim Moody. Republican gain : Toby Moffett, to run for U.S. senator, was succeeded by Nancy Johnson. : David R. Bowen, was succeeded by Webb Franklin. : James David Santini, to run for U.S. senator, was succeeded by Barbara Vucanovich (with district