Mapping Early American Elections


1st Congress: Connecticut 1788

This page includes an interactive map. A text version of the same election data is available in the table below the map.

Connecticut elected five Federalists to the First Congress.

It is not possible to map this election because no town, county, or district level returns survive.

Connecticut used a state-wide at-large system to elect members of Congress. Connecticut had a two-tiered system of election. A nomination election was held first to establish the congressional candidates. Then a general election was held to decide who would be seated in congress.

In 1790, a special election was held to replace Pierpont Edwards who declined to serve. Jeremiah Wadsworth was elected.

Congressional election results, 1st Congress: Connecticut 1788
District Candidate Party Vote Percentage Elected
At-large Benjamin Huntington Federalist Elected
At-large Jeremiah Wadsworth Federalist Elected
At-large Jonathan Sturges Federalist Elected
At-large Jonathan Trumbull Federalist Elected
At-large Roger Sherman Federalist Elected

In most cases, only candidates who received more than 5 percent of the vote in a district are reported. Other candidates are reported as a group, but only if they in aggregate received more than 5 percent of the vote. In addition, percentages for each district may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding. The term Dissenting Republican includes various breakaway factions of the Democratic-Republican party.