1966 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1966 United States House of Representatives elections was an election for the United States House of Representatives on November 8, 1966, to elect members to serve in the 90th United States Congress. They occurred in the middle of President Lyndon B. Johnson's second term. As the Vietnam War continued to escalate and race riots exploded in cities across the country, Johnson's popularity had fallen, and the opposition Republican Party was able to gain a net of 47 seats from Johnson's Democratic Party, which nonetheless maintained a clear majority in the House. This was also the first election that occurred after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 became law, the first time since 1870 that a Republican won a House seat in Arkansas, and the first since 1876 that the party did so in South Carolina (after the same in a 1965 special election for the seat).

Republican gains

Alaska's at-large congressional district: four-term Democratic incumbent Ralph Rivers was defeated by Republican State Senator Howard Pollock. Arizona's 3rd congressional district: sophomore Democrat George F. Senner Jr. was defeated by state legislator Sam Steiger. Arkansas's 3rd congressional district: lumber executive and Arkansas GOP chair John Paul Hammerschmidt defeated incumbent James William Trimble, becoming the first Republican member of Arkansas' congressional delegation since Reconstruction. California's 18th congressional district: onetime Olympic gold medalist Bob Mathias defeated seven-term Democratic incumbent Harlan Hagen. California's 25th congressional district: Charles E. Wiggins defeated incumbent Democrat Ronald B. Cameron. California's 33rd congressional district: Jerry Pettis defeated incumbent Kenneth W. Dyal. Michigan's 2nd congressional district: Marvin Esch defeated incumbent Democrat Weston E. Vivian. Michigan's 3rd congressional district: Garry E. Brown defeated incumbent Democrat Paul H. Todd Jr.. Michigan's 7th congressional district: Donald Riegle defeated incumbent Democrat John C. Mackie. Michigan's 11th congressional district: Philip Ruppe defeated incumbent Democrat Raymond Clevenger. Michigan's 19th congressional district: Jack H. McDonald defeated incumbent Democrat Billie S. Farnum. Texas's 7th congressional district: businessman and 1964 U.S. Senate candidate George H. W. Bush defeated Democratic challenger Frank Briscoe for the seat vacated by John Dowdy (whose district had been renumbered the 2nd). Texas's 18th congressional district: Bob Price succeeded retiring Democrat Walter E. Rogers by defeating Dee Miller.

Special elections Elections are listed by date and district.

Overall results 411 incumbent members sought reelection, but 8 were defeated in primaries and 41 defeated in the general election for a total of 362 incumbents winning.

+ ↓ 248 187 Democrat Republican

Parties Seats Popular Vote 1964 1966 Change Strength Vote % Change Democratic Party 295 248 47 57.0% 26,934,136 50.9% 6.2% Republican Party 140 187 47 43.0% 25,521,157 48.2% 5.8% Conservative Party – – – – 208,756 0.4% 0.3% Independent – – – – 85,641 0.2% Liberal Party – – – – 75,303 0.1% 0.1% Peace and Freedom Party – – – – 16,922 <0.1% American Independent Party – – – – 14,461 <0.1% Constitution Party – – – – 11,110 <0.1% Socialist Labor Party – – – – 5,771 <0.1% Independent-Socialist Party – – – – 3,502 <0.1% New Hispano Party – – – – 2,263 <0.1% People's Choice Party – – – – 1,299 <0.1% Socialist Workers Party – – – – 1,014 <0.1% Veteran Party – – – – 939 <0.1% Others – – – – 29,701 0.1% 0.1% Total 435 435 0 100.0% 52,901,975 100.0% —— Source: Election Statistics – Office of the Clerk

1 One vacancy due to refusal of House to seat Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (D-New York)

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Florida redistricted to adjust for demographic changes; in addition to minor boundary changes a district was removed from northern Florida, and Broward County was broken out into its own district.

Georgia

! | James MacKay | | Democratic | 1964

1966 United States House of Representatives elections

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