In this election, the Democrats retained the same total of seats as after the previous election cycle. However, their primary opponents, the brand new Whig Party, gained at the expense of both the Democrats and single-issue Anti-Masonic (based on the distrust of Freemasonry) and Nullifer (based on the principle of states' rights) parties. The Whigs evolved directly from the National Republican Party, who attempted to change their image and reach out to new groups, including conservative Democrats, Anti-Masons, and former Federalists who were currently politically inactive.
The Whigs were able to gain a number of seats due to the unpopularity in some regions of Andrew Jackson's brass style. A number of former Democrats left the party and joined the newly formed Whigs in opposition to the perceived autocratic style of the president.
