The 1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections were held on various dates in various states between August 5, 1850 and November 4, 1851. Each state set its own date for its elections to the House of Representatives before the first session of the 32nd United States Congress convened on December 1, 1851. Elections were held for all 233 seats, representing 31 states. were held at various dates in different states from August 1850 to November 1851. The Democrats gained 17 seats, increasing their majority relative to the rival Whigs, who lost 22 seats. Incumbent Whig President Millard Fillmore, who succeeded to the Presidency in July 1850 after the death of more charismatic General Zachary Taylor, lacked a strong political base. The Compromise of 1850, which admitted California alone as a free state in exchange for concessions to slave state interests, began integration of the Mexican Cession. It appeared in the short term that Congress had politically feasible options to contain sectionalism and to reduce tensions over expanding slavery in the West. This optimism soon would prove unfounded. The Unionist Party, formed in support of the Compromise of 1850, gained 10 seats in the South, as did the States' Rights Party. The Free Soil Party, which opposed the expansion of slavery into the Western territories, lost five seats and was reduced to four Representatives, all in New England. Election summaries One district in Massachusetts had been vacant in the 31st Congress. No new seats were added. The previous election had 1 Know-Nothing and 1 Independent. Special elections 31st Congress : 1850 : 1850 : 1851 : 1850 : 1850 32nd Congress Alabama Elections were held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. |- ! |- ! |- ! |- ! |- ! |- ! |- ! |} Arkansas The election was held August 4, 1851, after the March 4, 1851 beginning of the term, but before the House first convened in December 1851. |- ! |} California California's members were elected late, at-large statewide, September 3, 1851. There were nevertheless seated with the rest of the House at the beginning of the first session. |- ! rowspan=2 | | George W. Wright | | Independent | 1849 | | Incumbent retired.New member elected.Democratic gain. | rowspan=2 nowrap | |- | Edward Gilbert | | Democratic |