The 1988 United States House of Representatives elections was an election for the United States House of Representatives on November 8, 1988, to elect members to serve in the 101st United States Congress. They coincided with the election of George H. W. Bush as president. Although Bush won with a strong majority, his Republican Party lost a net of two seats to the Democratic Party, slightly increasing the Democratic majority in the House. It was the first time since 1960 that an incoming president's party lost seats in the House.

Overall results 409 incumbent members sought reelection, but one was defeated in a primary and six were defeated in the general election for a total of 402 incumbents winning. This was the highest number and percentage of incumbents who won reelection between 1954 and 1992.

The Republicans did not field a candidate in one-fourth of the seats in the Southern United States. This is the last congressional election in which Republicans won a House seat in Hawaii for a full term and the last time they won a seat in Vermont.

+ ↓ 260 175 Democratic Republican

Party Seats Seatpercentage Votepercentage Popularvote Lastelection(1986) Thiselection Netchange Democratic Party 258 260 2 59.8% 53.3% 43,544,565 Republican Party 177 175 2 40.2% 45.6% 37,209,219 Libertarian Party 0 0 0.0% 0.6% 445,708 Independent 0 0 0.0% 0.2% 161,381 Peace and Freedom Party 0 0 0.0% 0.1% 89,494 Right to Life Party 0 0 0.0% 0.1% 52,296 Conservative Party 0 0 0.0% 0.1% 47,577 Others 0 0 0.0% 0.2% 131,945 Totals 435 435 100.0% 100.0% 81,682,185

Source: Election Statistics – Office of the Clerk

Retirements Democrats : Buddy MacKay retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Dan Mica retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Kenneth J. Gray retired. : Edward Boland retired. : Wayne Dowdy retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Peter W. Rodino retired. : Samuel S. Stratton retired. : Ed Jones retired. : Don Bonker retired run for U.S. Senate. : Mike Lowry retired run for U.S. Senate.

Republicans : Robert Badham retired. : Dan Lungren retired to become California State Treasurer. : Connie Mack III retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Trent Lott retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Gene Taylor retired. : Hal Daub retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Judd Gregg retired to run for governor of New Hampshire. : Manuel Lujan Jr. retired. : George C. Wortley retired. : Del Latta retired. : Beau Boulter retired to run for U.S. Senate. : Jim Jeffords retired to run for U.S. Senate.

Resignations and deaths Democrats : Bill Boner resigned October 5, 1987, to become Mayor of Nashville. : Dan Daniel died January 24, 1988. : James J. Howard died March 25, 1988. : Mario Biaggi resigned August 5, 1988.

Republicans : Buddy Roemer resigned March 3, 1988, to become Governor of Louisiana. : John Duncan Sr. died June 21, 1988.

Incumbents defeated In primary elections Republicans : Ernie Konnyu lost renomination to Tom Campbell, who won the general election.

In general elections Democrats Two Democrats lost re-election to Republicans : Bill Chappell lost re-election to Craig James. : Fernand St Germain lost re-election to Ronald Machtley.

Republicans Four Republicans lost re-election to Democrats : Pat Swindall lost re-election to Ben Jones. : Jack Davis lost re-election to George E. Sangmeister. : Joe DioGuardi lost re-election to Nita Lowey. : Mac Sweeney lost re-election to Greg Laughlin.

Open seats that changed parties Republican seats won by Democrats Two Republican seats were won by Democrats: : won by Peter Hoagland. : won by Bill Sarpalius.

Democratic seats won by Republicans One Democratic seat was won by a Republican: : won by Cliff Stearns.

Open seats that parties held

Democratic seats held by Democrats Democrats held twelve of their open seats : Won by Harry Johnston : Won by Glenn Poshard : Won by Richard Neal : Won by Michael Parker : Won by Frank Pallone : Won by Donald M. Payne : Won by Elliot Engel : Won by Michael McNulty : Won by John S. Tanner : Won by Jolene Unsoeld : Won by Jim McDermott : Won by Eni Faleomavaega

Republican seats held by Republicans Republicans held thirteen of their open seats : Won by Tom Campbell : Won by Christopher Cox : Won by Dana Rohrabacher : Won by Porter Goss : Won by Larkin I. Smith : Won by Mel Hancock : Won by Chuck Douglas : Won by Steven Schiff : Won by James T. Walsh : Won by Bill Paxon : Won by Paul Gillmor : Won by Jimmy Duncan, who also won the district's special election, see below : Won by Peter Plympton Smith

Closest races Thirty four races were decided by 10% or lower.

District Winner Margin data-sort-value=-1 0.28% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 0.32% data-sort-value=-1 0.32% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 0.58% data-sort-value=-1 0.72% data-sort-value=-1 0.80% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 1.34% data-sort-value=-1 1.58% data-sort-value=-1 1.72% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 2.84% data-sort-value=-1 2.98% data-sort-value=-1 3.28% data-sort-value=-1 3.71% data-sort-value=-1 4.21% data-sort-value=-1 4.30% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 4.92% data-sort-value=-1 5.20% data-sort-value=-1 5.22% data-sort-value=-1 5.26% data-sort-value=-1 5.63% data-sort-value=-1 6.11% data-sort-value=-1 6.40% data-sort-value=-1 6.78% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 6.92% data-sort-value=-1 6.93% data-sort-value=-1 (flip) 7.33% data-sort-value=-1 8.12% data-sort-value=-1 8.14% data-sort-value=-1 8.58% data-sort-value=-1 9.16% data-sort-value=-1 9.42% data-sort-value=-1 9.70% data-sort-value=-1 9.91% data-sort-value=-1 9.95%

Special elections

Ordered by election date, then by state/district.

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Bill Boner Democratic 1978 Incumbent resigned October 5, 1987, to become Mayor of Nashville.New member elected January 19, 1988.Democratic hold.Winner was subsequently re-elected in November; see below. Buddy Roemer Democratic 1980 Incumbent resigned March 3, 1988, to become Governor of Louisiana.New member elected April 16, 1988.Republican gain.Winner was subsequently re-elected in November; see below. Dan Daniel Democratic 1968 Incumbent died January 24, 1988.New member elected June 14, 1988.Democratic hold.Winner was subsequently re-elected in November; see below. Melvin Price Democratic 1944 Incumbent died April 22, 1988.New member elected August 9, 1988.Democratic hold.Winner was subsequently re-elected in November; see below. James J. Howard Democratic 1964 Incumbent died March 25, 1988.New member elected November 8, 1988.Democratic hold.Concurrently, winner was also elected to the next term; see below. John Duncan Sr. Republican 1964 Incumbent died June 21, 1988.New member elected November 8, 1988.Republican hold.Concurrently, winner was also elected to the next term; see below.

Alabama

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Sonny Callahan Republican 1984 Incumbent re-elected. Bill Dickinson Republican 1964 Incumbent re-elected. Bill Nichols Democratic 1966 Incumbent re-elected. Tom Bevill Democratic 1966 Incumbent re-elected. Ronnie Flippo Democratic 1976 Incumbent re-elected. Ben Erdreich Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Claude Harris Jr. Democratic 1986 Incumbent re-elected.

Alaska

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Don Young Republican 1973 Incumbent re-elected.

Arizona

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates John Jacob Rhodes III Republican 1986 Incumbent re-elected. Mo Udall Democratic 1961 Incumbent re-elected. Bob Stump Republican 1976 Incumbent re-elected. Jon Kyl Republican 1986 Incumbent re-elected. Jim Kolbe Republican 1984 Incumbent re-elected.

Arkansas

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Bill Alexander Democratic 1968 Incumbent re-elected. Tommy F. Robinson Democratic 1984 Incumbent re-elected. John Paul Hammerschmidt Republican 1966 Incumbent re-elected. Beryl Anthony Jr. Democratic 1978 Incumbent re-elected.

California

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Douglas H. Bosco Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Wally Herger Republican 1986 Incumbent re-elected. Bob Matsui Democratic 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Vic Fazio Democratic 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Nancy Pelosi Democratic 1987 Incumbent re-elected. Barbara Boxer Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. George Miller Democratic 1974 Incumbent re-elected. Ron Dellums Democratic 1970 Incumbent re-elected. Pete Stark Democratic 1972 Incumbent re-elected. Don Edwards Democratic 1972 Incumbent re-elected. Tom Lantos Democratic 1980 Incumbent re-elected. Ernie Konnyu Republican 1986 Incumbent lost renomination.Republican hold. Norman Mineta Democratic 1974 Incumbent re-elected. Norman D. Shumway Republican 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Tony Coelho Democratic 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Leon Panetta Democratic 1976 Incumbent re-elected. Chip Pashayan Republican 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Richard H. Lehman Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Bob Lagomarsino Republican 1974 Incumbent re-elected. Bill Thomas Republican 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Elton Gallegly Republican 1986 Incumbent re-elected. Carlos Moorhead Republican 1972 Incumbent re-elected. Anthony Beilenson Democratic 1976 Incumbent re-elected. Henry Waxman Democratic 1974 Incumbent re-elected. Edward R. Roybal Democratic 1962 Incumbent re-elected. Howard Berman Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Mel Levine Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Julian Dixon Democratic 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Augustus Hawkins Democratic 1962 Incumbent re-elected. Matthew G. Martínez Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Mervyn Dymally Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Glenn M. Anderson Democratic 1968 Incumbent re-elected. David Dreier Republican 1980 Incumbent re-elected. Esteban Torres Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Jerry Lewis Republican 1978 Incumbent re-elected. George Brown Jr. Democratic 19621970 1972 Incumbent re-elected. Al McCandless Republican 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Bob Dornan Republican 19761982 1984 Incumbent re-elected. William Dannemeyer Republican 1978 Incumbent re-elected. Robert Badham Republican 1976 Incumbent retired.Republican hold. Bill Lowery Republican 1980 Incumbent re-elected. Dan Lungren Republican 1978 Incumbent retired to become California State Treasurer.Republican hold. Ron Packard Republican 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Jim Bates Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Duncan L. Hunter Republican 1980 Incumbent re-elected.

Colorado

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Pat Schroeder Democratic 1972 Incumbent re-elected. David Skaggs Democratic 1986 Incumbent re-elected. Ben Nighthorse Campbell Democratic 1986 Incumbent re-elected. Hank Brown Republican 1980 Incumbent re-elected. Joel Hefley Republican 1986 Incumbent re-elected. Daniel Schaefer Republican 1983 Incumbent re-elected.

Connecticut

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Barbara B. Kennelly Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Sam Gejdenson Democratic 1980 Incumbent re-elected. Bruce Morrison Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected. Chris Shays Republican 1987 (special) Incumbent re-elected. John G. Rowland Republican 1984 Incumbent re-elected. Nancy Johnson Republican 1982 Incumbent re-elected.

Delaware

District Incumbent Party Firstelected Result Candidates Tom Carper Democratic 1982 Incumbent re-elected.

Florida