Caulfield was elected in 1874 as a Democrat to the Forty-fourth Congress to succeed John B. Rice, who had not sought reelection; when Rice died a month after the election, Caulfield won an additional special election to complete Rice's term in the Forty-third Congress, and served from February 1, 1875 to March 3, 1877.
Caulfield was elected as a Democrat for the Forty-fourth Congress in 1874, replacing John B. Rice; after Rice's death, Caulfield won an additional special election to complete his term in the Forty-third Congress and served from February 1, 1875, to March 3, 1877.