1809 United States Federal Election (Parliamentary U.S.)

The 1809 United States federal election was the eighth United States federal election for the United States House of Representatives. It was held from September 3rd to October 3rd, 1809 and resulted in the election of the current Deputy Prime Minister, James Madison, as the Prime Minister over the Federalist leader, Rufus King, after the incumbent Prime Minister, Thomas Jefferson declined to stand for election.

While the Democratic-Republicans enjoyed a commanding majority to pass their agenda, they faced severe backlash for the Embargo Act of 1807 passed targeting trade with Britain and France admist conditions overseas. The embargo resulted in an economic downturn that significantly hurt the country, resulting in a massive loss of support. As a result, Jefferson announced he would not stand for election but would remain Prime Minister through the remainder of his term. The Democratic-Republicans held a leadership succession election which the Deputy Prime Minister, James Madison, easily won. Federalists attempted to take advantage of the worsening conditions by campaigning heavily on repealing the embargo passed under Jefferson and promoting a new agenda for the economy.

In the end, Federalists successfully cast the Democratic-Republicans as having wrecked the economy and put the nation on the path for war but failed to appeal outside of traditionally Federalist regions, resulting in them gaining 23 seats in a moderate wave, winning only 45.2% of the popular vote to the Democratic-Republican's 54.8%, a 9.6% margin. Democratic-Republicans, while losing their two-thirds majority, still held a decisive majority in the House to pass their legislation. As a result, James Madison was elected the new Prime Minister of the United States.