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Michigan's at-large congressional district

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michigan's at-large congressional district
Obsolete district
Created1837
1913
1963
Eliminated1843
1915
1965
Years active1837-1843
1913-1915
1963-1965

Michigan's at-large congressional district may refer to a few different occasions when a statewide at-large district was used for elections to the United States House of Representatives from Michigan.

Prior to Michigan's admittance as a state of the Union in 1837, congressional delegates for Michigan Territory were elected from Michigan Territory's at-large congressional district. The first elected U.S. representative from the state was elected October 5 and 6, 1835. However, due to Michigan's dispute with Ohio over the Toledo Strip, Congress refused to accept his credentials until it admitted Michigan to the Union as a state on January 26, 1837.

In 1912, Patrick H. Kelley was elected congressman at-large after Michigan gained one seat due to reapportionment following the 1910 census, but Michigan did not redraw its congressional districts until 1913.

In 1962, Neil Staebler was elected as an at-large candidate after the 1960 census indicated Michigan would gain a seat in the House of Representatives, but the 19th district had not been created at the time of the election.

List of members representing the district

[edit]
Member Party Tenure Cong
ress
Electoral history
District created January 26, 1837

Isaac E. Crary
(Marshall)
Democratic January 26, 1837 –
March 3, 1841
24th
25th
26th
Elected in 1835.
Re-elected in 1837.
Re-elected in 1838.
Retired.

Jacob M. Howard
(Detroit)
Whig March 4, 1841 –
March 3, 1843
27th Elected in 1840.
Redistricted to the 1st district and lost re-election.
District inactive until after the 1910 United States census.

Patrick H. Kelley
(Lansing)
Republican March 4, 1913 –
March 3, 1915
63rd Elected in 1912.
Redistricted to the 6th district.
Seat inactive until after the 1960 United States census.

Neil Staebler
(Ann Arbor)
Democratic January 3, 1963 –
January 3, 1965
88th Elected in 1962.
Retired to run for Governor of Michigan.
Seat eliminated January 3, 1965

References

[edit]
  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present