The 1886 United States House of Representatives elections were held for the most part on November 2, 1886, with three states holding theirs early between June and September. They occurred in the middle of President Grover Cleveland's first term. Elections were held for 325 seats of the United States House of Representatives, representing 38 states, to serve in the 50th United States Congress. Special elections were also held throughout the year. As in many midterm elections, the President's party lost seats to the opposition, in this case, Democrats lost seats to Republicans, although a narrow majority was retained. Many of these Republican pickups were in the industrializing Midwest states, where the debate over tariffs, which were advocated by Republicans to protect domestic industry but opposed by Democrats to allow for free agricultural trade, led to political change. The small Labor Party, supported by industrial workers, gained one seat each in Virginia and Wisconsin, while the Greenback Party maintained its one seat in Iowa (James B. Weaver). One Independent was also elected in North Carolina. Election summaries There were 2 Labor and 1 Independent members elected, and 1 Greenback member re-elected. The previous election saw just the Greenback elected. Special elections |- ! | Lewis Beach | | Democratic | 1880 | | Incumbent died August 10, 1886.New member elected November 2, 1886.Democratic hold.Successor also elected the same day to the next term, see below. | nowrap | |- ! | Joseph Rankin | | Democratic | 1882 | | Incumbent died January 24, 1886.New member elected February 23, 1886.Democratic hold. | nowrap | |} Election dates In all the states except three, elections were held November 2, 1886. Those three states, with 7 seats among them, held elections: June 7, 1886: Oregon September 7, 1886: Vermont September 10, 1886: Maine Alabama Arkansas Arizona Territory See Non-voting delegates, below. California |- ! | Barclay Henley | | Democratic | 1882 | | Incumbent retired.New member elected.Democratic hold | nowrap | |- ! | James A. Louttit | | Republican | 1884 | | Incumbent retired.New member elected.Democratic gain. | nowrap | |- ! | Joseph McKenna | | Republican | 1884 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |- ! | William W. Morrow | | Republican | 1884 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap | |- ! | Charles N. Felton | | Republican | 1884 | Incumbent re-elected. | nowrap |