UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: parliamentary elections House of Representatives, 1990

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Parliamentary Chamber: House of Representatives

ELECTIONS HELD IN 1990

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for UNITED STATES OF AMERICA <<<

Chamber:

House of Representatives

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

6 November 1990

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for all the seats of the House of Representatives and one-third (35) of those of the Senate on the normal expiry of the members’ term of office. The US Constitution does not provide for dissolution of Congress or early elections.

Background and outcome of elections:

At stake in the 1990 “mid-term” congressional elections were all 435 House seats and 35 in the Senate, three of which were uncontested by incumbents. Polling was simultaneously held for 36 of 50 governorships and State legislative races, the latter of which drew national attention because the decennial redrawing of political boundaries to conform the new (1990) census figures determined the national strength of the Democratic and Republican parties.
Debate during the often volatile campaign focused less on one overriding theme than on key issues such as government spending and the budget, taxes, abortion, and the Republican (Bush) Administration’s handling of the ongoing Persian Gulf crisis. Local concerns, the character of candidates and the question of use or abuse of office were for their part significant. Women contested eight Senate seats and 68 in the House.
Voter turnout - declining in mid-term polling since 1962 - reached the lowest point since 1942. Final results improved both the Democrat’s Senate and House majorities, the latter gained in 1955. But their share of the total nationwide vote was smaller than in any mid-term election since 1966. Overall, incumbents continued to meet with success: 31 of 32 Senators and 391 of 407 Representatives who continued to run.
The new (102nd) Congress convened on 3 January 1991.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (6 November 1990): Elections results

Number of registered electors 121,105,630*

Voters 61,352,951

Comments:

* Excluding the States of North Dakota and Wisconsin, which do not require voter registration.

Round no 1: Distribution of votes

Political Group Candidates Votes %

Democratic Party 400 32,471,851 52.9

Republican Party 386 16,495,462 45.0

Others 170 1,278,859 2.1

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total

Democratic Party 267

Republican Party 167

Others 1

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 406

Women: 29

Distribution of seats according to profession:

Law 183

Business or banking 157

Public service/politics 61

Education 57

Agriculture 20

Journalism 25

Law enforcement 5

Engineering 7

Aeronautics 1

Medicine 5

Professional sports 3

Clergy 2

Military 1

Labour officials 3

Actors/entertainers 2

Comments:

Because some members have more than one occupation, totals are higher than total membership.

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for UNITED STATES OF AMERICA <<<

Chamber:
	House of Representatives
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	6 November 1990
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats of the House of Representatives and one-third (35) of those of the Senate on the normal expiry of the members’ term of office. The US Constitution does not provide for dissolution of Congress or early elections.
Background and outcome of elections:
	At stake in the 1990 “mid-term” congressional elections were all 435 House seats and 35 in the Senate, three of which were uncontested by incumbents. Polling was simultaneously held for 36 of 50 governorships and State legislative races, the latter of which drew national attention because the decennial redrawing of political boundaries to conform the new (1990) census figures determined the national strength of the Democratic and Republican parties. Debate during the often volatile campaign focused less on one overriding theme than on key issues such as government spending and the budget, taxes, abortion, and the Republican (Bush) Administration’s handling of the ongoing Persian Gulf crisis. Local concerns, the character of candidates and the question of use or abuse of office were for their part significant. Women contested eight Senate seats and 68 in the House. Voter turnout - declining in mid-term polling since 1962 - reached the lowest point since 1942. Final results improved both the Democrat’s Senate and House majorities, the latter gained in 1955. But their share of the total nationwide vote was smaller than in any mid-term election since 1966. Overall, incumbents continued to meet with success: 31 of 32 Senators and 391 of 407 Representatives who continued to run. The new (102nd) Congress convened on 3 January 1991.

Round no 1 (6 November 1990): Elections results
Number of registered electors	121,105,630*
Voters	61,352,951

Comments:
	* Excluding the States of North Dakota and Wisconsin, which do not require voter registration.

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Candidates	Votes	%
Democratic Party	400	32,471,851	52.9
Republican Party	386	16,495,462	45.0
Others	170	1,278,859	2.1

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Democratic Party	267
Republican Party	167
Others	1

Distribution of seats according to profession:
Law	183
Business or banking	157
Public service/politics	61
Education	57
Agriculture	20
Journalism	25
Law enforcement	5
Engineering	7
Aeronautics	1
Medicine	5
Professional sports	3
Clergy	2
Military	1
Labour officials	3
Actors/entertainers	2

Comments:
	Because some members have more than one occupation, totals are higher than total membership.