1918 United States House of Representatives elections

The 1918 United States House of Representatives elections were elections for the United States House of Representatives to elect members to serve in the 66th United States Congress. They were held for the most part on November 5, 1918, while Maine held theirs on September 9. They occurred in the middle of President Woodrow Wilson's second term.

1918 United States House of Representatives elections
November 5, 1918
All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives
218 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Frederick Gillett Champ Clark
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since May 19, 1919 March 4, 1909
Leader's seat Massachusetts 2nd Missouri 9th
Last election 216 seats 214 seats
Seats won 240 192
Seat change 24 22
Popular vote 6,661,655 5,458,549
Percentage 52.42% 42.95%
Swing 4.07% 2.96%
  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Socialist Prohibition
Last election 1 seat 1 seat
Seats won 1 1
Seat change
Popular vote 406,852 120,789
Percentage 3.20% 0.95%
Swing 0.43% 0.55%
  Fifth party
 
Party Independent
Last election 0 seats
Seats won 1
Seat change 1
Popular vote 60,646
Percentage 0.48%
Swing 0.08%
Results:
     Democratic hold      Democratic gain
     Republican hold      Republican gain
     Socialist gain      Prohibition hold
     Farmer-Labor gain
Speaker before election

Champ Clark
Democratic

 Elected Speaker

Frederick Gillett
Republican

With the country in World War I (contrary to previous promises by Wilson), and Wilson's personal popularity ebbing, the Republicans gained 25 seats and took over control of the House from Wilson's Democrats. Internal divide among Democratic leadership over aspects related to payment of the war also decreased the unity of the party, which had been the organization's strength during the decade. The Progressive Party also disappeared, with its former members generally becoming Democrats. Minnesota's Farmer–Labor Party, a descendant of populism, also gained its very first seat.

Frederick H. Gillett (R-Massachusetts) became Speaker, and previous speaker Champ Clark (D-Missouri) became Minority Leader.

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