Changes

After running as a [[Democrat]] in the 1868 elections for the House of Representatives against incumbent [[Radical Republican]] Horace Maynard and losing by a landslide,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=627167 TN - District 02 Race - Nov 03, 1868]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref> Houk was victorious when running for the same seat a decade later in the 1878 midterms as a Republican,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=627276 TN - District 02 Race - Nov 05, 1878]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref> and re-elected six times.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=233331 Candidate - Leonidas C. Houk]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref>

After running as a [[Democrat]] in the 1868 elections for the House of Representatives against incumbent [[Radical Republican]] Horace Maynard and losing by a landslide,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=627167 TN - District 02 Race - Nov 03, 1868]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref> Houk was victorious when running for the same seat a decade later in the 1878 midterms as a Republican,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=627276 TN - District 02 Race - Nov 05, 1878]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref> and re-elected six times.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=233331 Candidate - Leonidas C. Houk]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref>

A member of the [[Stalwart]] faction in the House, Houk supported Grant in his run for a third non-consecutive presidential term in [[United States presidential election, 1880|1880 election]].<ref name=tennesseeencyclopedia/>

A member of the [[Stalwart]] faction in the House, Houk supported Grant in his run for a third non-consecutive presidential term in [[United States presidential election, 1880|1880 election]].<ref name=tennesseeencyclopedia/> He also expressed sympathy for the struggles of poor farmers, reflecting a [[populist]] bent in his district due to the mountainous geographic nature stifling development and thus contributing to poverty.

In late May 1891, Houk visited a drug store and mistook a bottle of toxic [[arsenic]] for a glass of ice water, which he drank.<ref name=knoxvillefocus>Hill, Ray (October 6, 2013). [https://knoxfocus.com/archives/congressman-leonidas-campbell-houk/ Congressman Leonidas Campbell Houk]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref> He died in pain the next day, which came as a shock to the district's constituents.<ref>May 26, 1891. [https://www.nytimes.com/1891/05/26/archives/death-of-congressman-houk-took-arsenic-by-mistake-for-a-glass-of.html DEATH OF CONGRESSMAN HOUK.; TOOK ARSENIC BY MISTAKE FOR A GLASS OF ICE WATER.]. ''The New York Times''. Archived version available [https://archive.is/sD7ZC here]. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref>

In late May 1891, Houk visited a drug store and mistook a bottle of toxic [[arsenic]] for a glass of ice water, which he drank.<ref name=knoxvillefocus>Hill, Ray (October 6, 2013). [https://knoxfocus.com/archives/congressman-leonidas-campbell-houk/ Congressman Leonidas Campbell Houk]. ''The Knoxville Focus''. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref> He died in pain the next day, which came as a shock to the district's constituents.<ref>May 26, 1891. [https://www.nytimes.com/1891/05/26/archives/death-of-congressman-houk-took-arsenic-by-mistake-for-a-glass-of.html DEATH OF CONGRESSMAN HOUK.; TOOK ARSENIC BY MISTAKE FOR A GLASS OF ICE WATER.]. ''The New York Times''. Archived version available [https://archive.is/sD7ZC here]. Retrieved August 25, 2021.</ref>