1960 United States House of Representatives elections
House elections for the 87th U.S. Congress

The 1960 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 8, 1960, to elect members to serve in the 87th United States Congress. They coincided with the election of President John F. Kennedy. This was the first house election to feature all 50 current U.S. states.
There were 437 seats, the most in U.S. history: 435 from the reapportionment in accordance with the 1950 census, and one seat for each of the new states of Alaska and Hawaii.
Although Democrats retained control, it was the last time until 1988 that a victorious presidential candidate lost seats in the House.
This is the last House election cycle in which no new female representatives were elected to the House. Since the death of 1996 Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole in 2021, this is also the latest House election cycle where all first-elected members are deceased.
Overall results
405 incumbent members sought reelection, but 5 were defeated in primaries and 25 defeated in the general election for a total of 375 incumbents winning.
Source: Election Statistics - Office of the Clerk
Special elections
In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1960 or before January 3, 1961; ordered by election date, then state, then district.
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
See also
1960 United States elections
1960 United States Senate elections
86th United States Congress
87th United States Congress
Notes
References
Works cited
Abramson, Paul; Aldrich, John; Rohde, David (1995).
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