1868–69 United States Senate elections
![]() | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
25 of the 66 (8 vacant)/74 seats in theUnited States Senate(with special elections) 34 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() Results of the elections: Democratic gainDemocratic hold Republican gainRepublican hold Unreconstructed states | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The1868–69 United States Senate electionswere held on various dates in various states. As theseU.S. Senateelections were prior to the ratification of theSeventeenth Amendmentin 1913, senators were chosen bystate legislatures.Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1868 and 1869, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due tolegislative deadlock.[1]In these elections, terms were up for the senators inClass 1.
TheRepublican Partymaintained their Senate majority. Six former Confederate states were then readmitted separately from the regular election, each electing two Republicans. This increased the Republicans' already overwhelming majority to the largest proportion of seats ever controlled by the party.
Results summary[edit]
Senate party division,41st Congress(1869–1871)
- Majority party: Republican (57)
- Minority party: Democratic (9)
- Other parties: (0)
- Vacant: (8)
- Total seats: 74
Change in Senate composition[edit]
Beginning of 1868[edit]
D3 | D2 | D1 | V4 | V3 | V2 | V1 | |||
D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | V5 Readmitted |
V6 Readmitted |
V7 Readmitted |
V8 Readmitted |
V9 Readmitted |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R44 | R45 | V17 Readmitted |
V16 Readmitted |
V15 Readmitted |
V14 Readmitted |
V13 Readmitted |
V12 Readmitted |
V11 Special |
V10 Readmitted |
R43 | R42 | R41 | R40 | R39 | R38 | R37 | R36 | R35 | R34 |
Majority → | R33 | ||||||||
R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 | R29 | R30 | R31 | R32 | |
R23 | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 | R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 |
R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 |
R3 | R2 | R1 | V18 | V19 | V20 | V21 |
After the readmission of the Confederate states[edit]
D3 | D2 | D1 | V4 | V3 | V2 | V1 | |||
D4 | D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 | D9 Gain |
R57 Gain |
R56 Gain |
R55 Gain |
R54 Gain |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R44 | R45 | R46 Gain |
R47 Gain |
R48 Gain |
R49 Gain |
R50 Gain |
R51 Gain |
R52 Gain |
R53 Gain |
R43 | R42 | R41 | R40 | R39 | R38 | R37 | R36 | R35 | R34 |
Majority → | |||||||||
R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 | R29 | R30 | R31 | R32 | R33 |
R23 | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 | R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 |
R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 |
R3 | R2 | R1 | V5 | V6 | V7 | V8 |
Before the elections[edit]
After July 16, 1868, readmission of South Carolina.
D3 | D2 | D1 | V4 Seceded |
V3 Seceded |
V2 Seceded |
V1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D4 | D5 Unknown |
D6 Retired |
D7 Retired |
D8 Retired |
D9 Retired |
R57 Retired |
R56 Retired |
R55 Unknown |
R54 Unknown |
R44 Ran |
R45 Ran |
R46 Ran |
R47 Ran |
R48 Ran |
R49 Ran |
R50 Ran |
R51 Ran |
R52 Ran |
R53 Unknown |
R43 Ran |
R42 Ran |
R41 Ran |
R40 | R39 | R38 | R37 | R36 | R35 | R34 |
Majority → | |||||||||
R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 | R29 | R30 | R31 | R32 | R33 |
R23 | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 | R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 |
R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 |
R3 | R2 | R1 | V5 | V6 | V7 | V8 |
Result of the elections[edit]
D3 | D2 | D1 | V4 Seceded |
V3 Seceded |
V2 Seceded |
V1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D4 | D5 Hold |
D6 Hold |
D7 Gain |
D8 Gain |
D9 Gain |
R57 Gain |
R56 Gain |
R55 Gain |
R54 Hold |
R44 Re-elected |
R45 Re-elected |
R46 Re-elected |
R47 Re-elected |
R48 Hold |
R49 Hold |
R50 Hold |
R51 Hold |
R52 Hold |
R53 Hold |
R43 Re-elected |
R42 Re-elected |
R41 Re-elected |
R40 | R39 | R38 | R37 | R36 | R35 | R34 |
Majority → | |||||||||
R24 | R25 | R26 | R27 | R28 | R29 | R30 | R31 | R32 | R33 |
R23 | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 | R18 | R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 |
R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 |
R3 | R2 | R1 | V5 | V6 | V7 | V8 |
Key: |
|
Race summaries[edit]
Elections during the 40th Congress[edit]
In these elections, the winners were seated during 1868 or in 1869 before March 4; ordered by election date.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Kentucky (Class 2) |
James Guthrie | Democratic | 1865 | Incumbent resigned due to failing health. WinnerelectedFebruary 19, 1868. Democratic hold. |
|
Maryland (Class 3) |
Vacant since March 3, 1867, when Senator-electPhilip F. Thomasfailed to qualify. |
WinnerelectedMarch 7, 1868. Democratic gain. |
| ||
Florida (Class 1) |
Vacant since January 21, 1861, whenStephen Mallory(D) withdrew. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senatorelectedJune 17, 1868. Republican gain. Winner did not run for election to the next term, see below. |
| ||
Arkansas (Class 2) |
Vacant since July 11, 1861, whenWilliam K. Sebastian(D) was expelled. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senatorelectedJune 22, 1868. Republican gain. |
| ||
Arkansas (Class 3) |
Vacant since July 11, 1861, whenCharles B. Mitchel(D) was expelled. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senatorelectedJune 23, 1868. Republican gain. |
| ||
Florida (Class 3) |
Vacant since January 21, 1861, whenDavid Levy Yulee(D) withdrew. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senatorelectedJune 25, 1868. Republican gain. |
| ||
Louisiana (Class 2) |
Vacant since February 4, 1861, whenJudah P. Benjamin(D) withdrew. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senatorelectedJuly 8, 1868. Republican gain. |
| ||
Louisiana (Class 3) |
Vacant since February 4, 1861, whenJohn Slidell(D) resigned. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senatorelectedJuly 9, 1868. Republican gain. |
| ||
Alabama (Class 2) |
Vacant since January 21, 1861, whenClement Claiborne Clay(D) withdrew. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senatorelectedJuly 13, 1868. Republican gain. |
| ||
Alabama (Class 3) |
Vacant since January 21, 1861, whenBenjamin Fitzpatrick(D) withdrew. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senatorelectedJuly 13, 1868. Republican gain. |
| ||
North Carolina (Class 2) |
Vacant since March 6, 1861, whenThomas Bragg(D) resigned. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senatorelectedJuly 14, 1868. Republican gain. |
| ||
North Carolina (Class 3) |
Vacant since March 11, 1861, whenThomas Clingman(D) resigned. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senatorelectedJuly 14, 1868. Republican gain. |
| ||
South Carolina (Class 2) |
Vacant since November 10, 1860, whenJames Chesnut Jr.(D) withdrew. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senatorelectedJuly 15, 1868. Republican gain. |
| ||
South Carolina (Class 3) |
Vacant since November 11, 1860, whenJames Henry Hammond(D) withdrew. |
State readmitted to the Union. New senatorelectedJuly 16, 1868. Republican gain. |
| ||
Delaware (Class 1) |
James A. Bayard Jr. | Democratic | 1851 1857 1863 1864(Resigned) 1867(Appointed) |
Incumbent appointeeelectedJanuary 19, 1869to finish the term.[2] Winner did not run for election to the next term, see below. |
|
Races leading to the 41st Congress[edit]
In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1869; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
California | John Conness | Republican | 1862 or 1863 | Unknown if incumbent lost re-election or retired. Winnerelectedin 1868. Democratic gain. |
▌![]() [data missing] |
Connecticut | James Dixon | Republican | 1856 1863 |
Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1868 or 1869. Republican hold. |
▌![]() [data missing] |
Delaware | James A. Bayard Jr. | Democratic | 1851 1857 1863 1864(Resigned) 1867(Appointed) 1869(special) |
Incumbent retired. Winnerelectedin 1869. Democratic hold. |
▌![]() [data missing] |
Florida | Adonijah Welch | Republican | 1868(special) | Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1868 or 1869. Republican hold. |
▌![]() [data missing] |
Indiana | Thomas A. Hendricks | Democratic | 1862 | Incumbent retired. Winnerelectedin 1868. Republican gain. |
▌![]() [data missing] |
Maine | Lot M. Morrill | Republican | 1861(special) 1863 |
Incumbent lost re-election. Winnerelectedin 1869. Republican hold. |
▌![]() [data missing] |
Maryland | William P. Whyte | Democratic | 1868 (Appointed) | Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1868 or 1869. Democratic hold. |
▌![]() [data missing] |
Massachusetts | Charles Sumner | Republican | 1851 (special) 1857 1863 |
Incumbentre-electedin 1869. | ▌![]() [data missing] |
Michigan | Zachariah Chandler | Republican | 1857 1863 |
Incumbentre-electedin 1869. | ▌![]() [data missing] |
Minnesota | Alexander Ramsey | Republican | 1863 | Incumbentre-electedin 1869. |
|
Mississippi | Vacant since January 21, 1861, whenJefferson Davis(D) resigned. | Legislature failed to elect duringCivil WarandReconstruction. Seat remained vacant until1870. |
None. | ||
Missouri | John B. Henderson | Republican | 1862(Appointed) 1862 |
Incumbent retired. Winnerelectedin 1868. Republican hold. |
▌![]() [data missing] |
Nebraska | Thomas Tipton | Republican | 1867 | Incumbentre-electedin 1869. | ▌![]() [data missing] |
Nevada | William M. Stewart | Republican | 1865 | Incumbentre-electedin 1869. | ▌![]() [data missing] |
New Jersey | Frederick T. Frelinghuysen | Republican | 1866 (Appointed) 1867(special) |
Incumbent lost re-election. Winnerelectedin 1869. Democratic gain. |
|
New York | Edwin D. Morgan | Republican | 1863 | Incumbent lost renomination. WinnerelectedJanuary 19, 1869. Republican hold. |
|
Ohio | Benjamin Wade | Republican | 1851 1856 1863 |
Incumbent lost renomination. Winnerelectedin 1868. Democratic gain. |
▌![]() [data missing] |
Pennsylvania | Charles R. Buckalew | Democratic | 1863 | Unknown if incumbent lost re-election or retired. WinnerelectedJanuary 19, 1869. Republican gain. |
|
Rhode Island | William Sprague IV | Republican | 1862 | Incumbentre-electedin 1868. | ▌![]() [data missing] |
Tennessee | David T. Patterson | Democratic | 1866(Readmission) | Incumbent retired. Winnerelected earlyon October 22, 1867, for the term beginning March 4, 1869. Republican gain. |
|
Texas | Vacant since March 23, 1861, whenLouis Wigfall(D) withdrew. | Legislature failed to elect duringCivil WarandReconstruction. Seat remained vacant until1870. |
None. | ||
Vermont | George F. Edmunds | Republican | 1866 (Appointed) 1866(special) |
Incumbentre-electedin 1868. | ▌![]() [data missing] |
Virginia | Vacant since January 2, 1864, whenJoseph Segar(U) was not seated.[5] | Legislature failed to elect duringCivil WarandReconstruction. Seat remained vacant until1870. |
None. | ||
West Virginia | Peter G. Van Winkle | Republican | 1863 | Unknown if incumbent lost re-election or retired. Winner elected in 1869. Republican hold. |
▌![]() ▌Daniel Lamb (Republican) 10(H), 3(S) |
Wisconsin | James R. Doolittle | Republican | 1857 1863 |
Unknown if incumbent lost re-election or retired. Winner elected in 1868 or 1869. Republican hold. |
▌![]() [data missing] |
Elections during the 41st Congress[edit]
There were no elections in 1869 during this Congress after March 4.
Delaware[edit]
Interim appointed SenatorJames A. Bayard Jr.waselectedJanuary 19, 1869 to finish his term.[2]
Maryland[edit]
Maryland (special)[edit]
![]() | This sectionneeds expansion.You can help byadding to it.(November 2022) |
| ||||||||||||||||
80 members of theMaryland General Assembly | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
William Pinkney Whytewon election by an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 1 seat to fill the vacancy created byReverdy Johnson.[6]
Maryland (regular)[edit]
![]() | This sectionneeds expansion.You can help byadding to it.(November 2022) |
| ||||||||||||||||
80 members of theMaryland General Assembly | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
William Thomas Hamiltonwon election againstThomas Swannby a margin of 9.09%, or 10 votes for the Class 1 seat.[7]
Maryland (March special)[edit]
![]() | This sectionneeds expansion.You can help byadding to it.(November 2022) |
| ||||||||||||||||
80 members of theMaryland General Assembly | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Philip Francis Thomas,aDemocrat,was elected in 1867, however, failed to qualify for the seat due to his support for the Confederacy.George Vickerswas elected to finish the rest of the term by a margin of 17.65%, or 18 votes, for the Class 3 seat.[8]
Minnesota[edit]
The Minnesota U.S. Senate election was held by the state legislature on January 19, 1869, with each chamber voting separately. Republican Senator Alexander Ramsey received 16 of 21 votes in the state Senate and 36 of 44 in the state House. The legislature declared Ramsey the duly elected U.S. Senator in a joint convention on January 20, 1869. Democratic nominee Charles W. Nash was an attorney from Hastings, former state Senator for the 7th Senate District (1862–1864), and the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 1865.[3]
1869 Minnesota U.S. Senate election[3] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Republican | Alexander Ramsey (inc.) | 52 | 80.00 |
Democrat | Charles W. Nash | 13 | 20.00 |
New York[edit]
The election in New York was held on January 19, 1869, by theNew York State Legislature.RepublicanEdwin D. Morganhad been elected in February 1863 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1869. At theState election in November 1867,17 Republicans and 15 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1868–1869) in the State Senate. At theState election in November 1868,DemocratJohn T. Hoffmanwas elected Governor, and 75 Republicans and 53 Democrats were elected for the session of 1869 to the Assembly. The92nd New York State Legislaturemet from January 5 to May 11, 1869, atAlbany, New York.
The caucus ofRepublicanState legislators met on January 16, AssemblymanJohn H. Selkregpresided. All 92 legislators were present. They nominated Ex-GovernorReuben E. Fentonfor the U.S. Senate. The incumbent U.S. SenatorEdwin D. Morganwas very keen on his re-election, but was voted down. SpeakerTruman G. Younglovehad held back the appointments to the standing Assembly committees until after the caucus, and subsequent election, of a U.S. Senator, and was accused by the Morgan men to have made a bargain to favor the Fenton men with appointments after the election was accomplished. After the caucus, comparing notes, the assemblymen discovered that some of the most important committee chairmanships had been promised to a dozen different members by Speaker Younglove.
Candidate | First ballot | Second ballot |
---|---|---|
Reuben E. Fenton | (50) | 52 |
Edwin D. Morgan | (42) | 40 |
blank | (1) |
Note: On the first ballot, 93 votes were cast, one too many, and it was annulled without announcing the result. The above stated result transpired unofficially. The blank vote caused some debate if the result was really invalidated by it, but it was finally agreed to take a second ballot.
The caucus of theDemocraticState legislators met on January 18. State SenatorHenry C. Murphywas again nominated, like in 1867.
In the Assembly, Republicans DeWitt C. Hoyt (Saratoga Co.) and James O. Schoonmaker (Ulster Co.); and Democrats James Irving (NYC), Lawrence D. Kiernan (NYC), Harris B. Howard (Rensselaer Co.), James B. Pearsall (Queens), John Tighe (Albany Co.) and Moses Y. Tilden (Columbia Co.); did not vote.
In the State Senate, Republicans Matthew Hale (16th D.) and Charles Stanford (15th D.); and Democrats Cauldwell,Thomas J. Creamer,Michael Norton (5th D.) and John J. Bradley (7th D.); did not vote.
Reuben E. Fentonwas the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected.
House | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State Senate (32 members) |
Reuben E. Fenton | 15 | Henry C. Murphy | 10 | Henry S. Randall | 1 |
State Assembly (128 members) |
Reuben E. Fenton | 73 | Henry C. Murphy | 46 |
Notes:
- The vote for Ex-Secretary of StateRandall was cast by Henry C. Murphy.
- The votes were cast on January 19, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 20 to compare nominations, and declare the result.
Pennsylvania[edit]
The Pennsylvania election was held January 19, 1869.John Scottwas elected by thePennsylvania General Assembly.[9]The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of theHouse of Representativesand theSenate,convened on January 19, 1869, to elect a Senator to serve the term beginning on March 4, 1869. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John Scott | 78 | 58.65 | |
Democratic | William A. Wallace | 51 | 38.35 | |
Democratic | Hiester Clymer | 1 | 0.75 | |
N/A | Not voting | 3 | 2.26 | |
Totals | 133 | 100.00% |
West Virginia[edit]
On February 2, 1869, the West Virginia Legislature held an election for senator to replacePeter Van Winkle.Nominated wereArthur Boreman,the first governor of West Virginia, and Daniel Lamb, a member of West Virginia's constitutional convention and former delegate.[11]Boreman, having received majorities of the vote in both the House and Senate, was declared duly as elected senator on February 3, 1869.[12]
![]() | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Needed to win:Majority of votes cast in each House of the Legislature 53 votes cast in theHouse;27 votes needed 22 votes cast in theSenate;12 votes needed | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
|
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^"17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)".National Archives and Records Administration.February 8, 2022.
- ^abByrd and Wolff, page 90
- ^abcUniversity of Minnesota Libraries, University of Minnesota."1869 Minnesota U.S. Senate Election".Minnesota Historical Election Archive.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-08-24.Retrieved2021-08-24.
- ^Coulter, E. Merton (1999).William G. Brownlow: Fighting Parson of the Southern Highlands.Univ. of Tennessee Press. p. 347.ISBN9781572330504.
- ^Segar was not seated on the premise that the Union-friendly legislature was illegitimate despite having seated his predecessor based credentials from the same legislature. In reality, the Senate refused because it did not want to set a precedent for easing reentry of Confederate states. See"Musical Chairs (1861–1869)".United States Senate.RetrievedMarch 20,2009.
- ^"Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Jan 00, 1863".ourcampaigns.Retrieved2022-11-05.
- ^"Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Jan 17, 1868".ourcampaigns.Retrieved2022-11-05.
- ^"Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Feb 00, 1865".ourcampaigns.Retrieved2022-11-05.
- ^ab"U.S. Senate Election - 19 January 1869"(PDF).Wilkes University.Retrieved23 December2012.
- ^"PA US Senate - 1869".OurCampaigns.Retrieved22 December2012.
- ^Atkinson, George Wesley (1890).Prominent Men of West Virginia.W.L. Callin. p. 257.
- ^Journal of the West Virginia House of Delegates, Volume 7.West Virginia Legislature.1869. p. 57.
Further reading[edit]
- "Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present".United States Senate.
- Byrd, Robert C.(October 1, 1993). Wolff, Wendy (ed.).The Senate, 1789-1989: Historical Statistics, 1789-1992.United States Senate Historical Office(volume 4 Bicentennial ed.).U.S. Government Printing Office.ISBN9780160632563.
- Taft, George S. (1885).Compilation of Senate Election Cases from 1789 to 1885.United States Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections.Washington, DC:U.S. Government Printing Office.
- Members of the 41st United States Congress
- Result state election 1867 inThe Tribune Almanac for 1868compiled byHorace Greeleyof theNew York Tribune
- Result state election 1868 inThe Tribune Almanac for 1869compiled byHorace Greeleyof theNew York Tribune
- ALBANY.; Caucus of the Republican Members of the Legislature; Reuben E. Fenton Nominated United States Senatorin NYT on January 17, 1869
- ALBANY.; Election of United States Senatorin NYT on January 20, 1869
- Result New York State Senate inJournal of the Senate(92nd Session)(1869; pg. 58f)
- Result New York Assembly inJournal of the Assembly(92nd Session)(1869; Vol. I, pg. 75f)
- Pennsylvania Election Statistics: 1682-2006from theWilkes University Election Statistics Project