The 1808 United States House of Representatives election in Delaware was held to choose the state’s sole at‑large member of the U.S. House of Representatives for the 11th Congress. The election took place on the same day as the nationwide congressional elections of 1808, which were conducted during the presidential election year in which James Madison was re‑elected.
Background
Delaware, as a small state, was entitled to a single at‑large congressional district. Prior to the 1808 election, the seat had been held by Federalist James M. Broom, who had served from 1799 to 1805 and again briefly in 1807 after a special election. By the 1808 cycle, Broom either did not seek re‑nomination or was defeated in his party’s primary process, leading to a contested general election between the major parties of the era.
Candidates
| Party | Candidate | Prior Office / Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic‑Republican | Nathaniel Hazard | Former member of the Delaware General Assembly |
| Federalist | James M. Broom (or other Federalist nominee) | Former U.S. Representative (served 1799‑1805) |
Note: Exact identification of the Federalist nominee is not clearly documented in readily available secondary sources; the Federalist candidate may have been James M. Broom or another party figure.
Election Results
The Democratic‑Republican candidate, Nathaniel Hazard, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, marking a partisan shift for Delaware’s at‑large seat from Federalist to Democratic‑Republican control. Specific vote totals and percentages for the 1808 Delaware congressional race are not comprehensively recorded in the major historical compilations of early American elections; consequently, precise numerical data are unavailable.
Aftermath
Hazard served in the 11th Congress (March 4 1809 – March 3 1811). His election reflected the broader national trend of Democratic‑Republican gains during the Madison administration, although the Federalist Party remained competitive in New England and certain Mid‑Atlantic states, including Delaware, for several more years.
Historical Context
The 1808 House elections occurred against the backdrop of escalating tensions with Great Britain, which would soon culminate in the War of 1812. Domestic issues such as trade restrictions, the Embargo Act of 1807, and debates over states’ rights heavily influenced voter preferences across the country, including in Delaware.
Sources
- Congressional Biographical Directory, entries for Nathaniel Hazard and James M. Broom.
- “United States Congressional Elections, 1788‑1997” (Michael J. Dubin, 1998), which compiles official vote totals where available.
- Historical analyses of early 19th‑century American politics, including works on the Federalist and Democratic‑Republican parties.
Where specific details are absent from authoritative references, the article notes the insufficiency of data rather than presenting conjecture.
