1880 and 1881 United States Senate elections
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25 of the 76 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections) 39 seats needed for a majority |
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5
The United States Senate elections of 1880 and 1881 were elections that coincided with the presidential election of 1880, and had the Democratic Party lose five seats in the United States Senate. The newly elected Readjuster senator caucused with the Republicans, and the Republican Vice President's tie-breaking vote gave the Republicans the slightest majority. All of that changed September 19, 1881 when the Vice President ascended to the Presidency and the Senate became evenly-divided.
As these elections were prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment, Senators were chosen by State legislatures.
Contents
Results summary
Senate Party Division, 47th Congress (1881–1883)
- Majority Party: Republican (37)
- Minority Party: Democratic (37)
- Other Parties: Independent (1); Readjuster (1)
- Total Seats: 76
Change in Senate composition
Before the elections
| D8 | D7 | D6 | D5 | D4 | D3 | D2 | D1 | ||
| D9 | D10 | D11 | D12 | D13 | D14 | D15 | D16 | D17 | D18 |
| D28 | D27 | D26 | D25 | D24 | D23 | D22 | D21 | D20 | D19 |
| D29 Ran |
D30 Ran |
D31 Ran |
D32 Ran |
D33 Ran |
D34 Ran |
D35 Ran |
D36 Ran |
D37 Ran |
D38 Ran |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Majority → | D39 Unknown |
||||||||
| R29 Unknown |
R30 Retired |
R31 Retired |
R32 Retired |
AM1 Retired |
I1 | D42 Retired |
D41 Unknown |
D40 Unknown |
|
| R28 Unknown |
R27 Ran |
R26 Ran |
R25 Ran |
R24 Ran |
R23 Ran |
R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 |
| R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 | R18 |
| R8 | R7 | R6 | R5 | R4 | R3 | R2 | R1 | ||
After the elections
| D8 | D7 | D6 | D5 | D4 | D3 | D2 | D1 | ||
| D9 | D10 | D11 | D12 | D13 | D14 | D15 | D16 | D17 | D18 |
| D28 | D27 | D26 | D25 | D24 | D23 | D22 | D21 | D20 | D19 |
| D29 Re-elected |
D30 Re-elected |
D31 Re-elected |
D33 Re-elected |
D33 Hold |
D34 Hold |
D35 Hold |
D36 Gain |
D37 Gain |
I1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plurality ↓ | RA1 Gain |
||||||||
| R29 Hold |
R30 Hold |
R31 Gain |
R32 Gain |
R33 Gain |
R34 Gain |
R35 Gain |
R36 Gain |
R37 Gain |
|
| R28 Hold |
R27 Hold |
R26 Re-elected |
R25 Re-elected |
R24 Re-elected |
R23 Re-elected |
R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 |
| R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 | R18 |
| R8 | R7 | R6 | R5 | R4 | R3 | R2 | R1 | ||
| Key: |
|
|---|
Race summaries
Elections during the 46th Congress
In these elections, the winners were seated during 1880 or in 1881 before March 4; ordered by election date.
| State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
| Georgia (Class 3) |
John B. Gordon | Democratic | 1873 1879 |
Incumbent resigned to promote a venture for the Georgia Pacific Railway. Winner elected May 26, 1880. Democratic hold. |
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| Alabama (Class 3) |
Luke Pryor | Democratic | 1880 (Appointed) | Unknown if interim appointee retired or lost election. Winner elected November 23, 1880. Democratic hold. |
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| Michigan (Class 1) |
Henry P. Baldwin | Republican | 1879 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 19, 1881. | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
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Races leading to the 47th Congress
In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1881; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.
| State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
| California | Newton Booth | Anti-Monopoly | 1874 | Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1880. Republican gain. |
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| Connecticut | William W. Eaton | Democratic | 1874 | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. Winner elected in 1881. Republican gain. |
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| Delaware | Thomas F. Bayard | Democratic | 1869 1875 |
Incumbent re-elected in 1881. | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
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| Florida | Charles W. Jones | Democratic | 1875 | Incumbent re-elected in 1881. | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
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| Indiana | Joseph E. McDonald | Democratic | 1874 or 1875 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1880 or 1881. Republican gain. |
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| Maine | Hannibal Hamlin | Republican | 1857 1861 (Resigned) 1869 1875 |
Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1881. Republican hold. |
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| Maryland | William P. Whyte | Democratic | 1868 (Appointed) 1869 (Retired) 1874 |
Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1880. Democratic hold. |
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| Massachusetts | Henry L. Dawes | Republican | 1875 | Incumbent re-elected in 1881. | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
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| Michigan | Henry P. Baldwin | Republican | 1881 (Special) | Incumbent retired. Winner elected January 18, 1881. Republican hold. |
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| Minnesota | Samuel J. R. McMillan | Republican | 1875 | Incumbent re-elected in 1881. | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
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| Mississippi | Blanche Bruce | Republican | 1874 | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. Winner elected in 1880. Democratic gain. |
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| Missouri | Francis Cockrell | Democratic | 1874 | Incumbent re-elected in 1881. | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
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| Nebraska | Algernon Paddock | Republican | 1875 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1880. Republican hold. |
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| Nevada | William Sharon | Republican | 1875 | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. Winner elected January 12, 1881. Democratic gain. |
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| New Jersey | Theodore F. Randolph | Democratic | 1875 | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. Winner elected in 1881. Republican gain. |
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| New York | Francis Kernan | Democratic | 1875 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected January 20, 1881. Republican gain. |
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| Ohio | Allen G. Thurman | Democratic | 1868 1874 |
Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1880. Republican gain. |
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| Pennsylvania | William A. Wallace | Democratic | 1875 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected February 23, 1881. Republican gain. |
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| Rhode Island | Ambrose Burnside | Republican | 1874 | Incumbent re-elected in 1880. | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
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| Tennessee | James E. Bailey | Democratic | 1877 (Special) | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1880 or 1881. Democratic hold. |
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| Texas | Samuel B. Maxey | Democratic | 1875 | Incumbent re-elected in 1881. | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
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| Vermont | George F. Edmunds | Republican | 1866 (Appointed) 1866 (Special) 1868 1874 |
Incumbent re-elected in 1880. | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
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| Virginia | Robert E. Withers | Democratic | 1875 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1881. Readjuster gain. Winner would caucus with the Republicans. |
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| West Virginia | Frank Hereford | Democratic | 1877 (Special) | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. Winner elected in 1880 or 1881. Democratic hold. |
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| Wisconsin | Angus Cameron | Republican | 1875 | Incumbent retired. Winner elected January 26, 1881. Republican hold. |
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Elections during the 47th Congress
In these elections, the winners were elected in 1881 after March 4; ordered by date.
| State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
| Wisconsin (Class 3) |
Matthew H. Carpenter | Republican | 1868 or 1869 1875 (Lost) 1879 |
Incumbent died February 24, 1881. Winner elected March 14, 1881. Republican hold. |
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| Maine (Class 2) |
James G. Blaine | Republican | 1876 (Appointed) 1877 (Special) 1877 |
Incumbent resigned March 5, 1881 to become U.S. Secretary of State. Winner elected March 18, 1881. Republican hold. |
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| New York (Class 1) |
Thomas C. Platt | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent resigned May 16, 1881 to protest federal appointments in New York. Winner elected July 27, 1881. Republican hold. |
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| New York (Class 3) |
Roscoe Conkling | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent resigned May 16, 1881 to protest federal appointments in New York. Winner elected July 29, 1881. Republican hold. |
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| Rhode Island (Class 1) |
Ambrose Burnside | Republican | 1874 1880 |
Incumbent died September 13, 1881. Winner elected October 5, 1881. Republican hold. |
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| Minnesota (Class 2) |
Alonzo J. Edgerton | Republican | 1881 (Appointed) | Interim appointee replaced by successor elected October 30, 1881. Republican hold. |
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| Virginia (Class 2) |
John W. Johnston | Democratic | 1871 1877 |
Incumbent lost re-election for the term beginning March 4, 1883. Winner elected early December 21, 1881.[3] Readjuster gain. Winner caucused with the Republicans.[3] |
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Nevada
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On January 12, 1881, James Graham Fair (Republican) was elected.[4]
New York
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The New York election was held January 18, 1881, by the New York State Legislature. Democrat Francis Kernan had been elected in January 1875 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1881. At the State election in November 1879, 25 Republicans and 7 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1880-1881) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1880, 81 Republicans and 47 Democrats were elected for the session of 1881 to the Assembly. The 104th State Legislature met from January 4, 1881, on at Albany, New York.
The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 13, State Senator Dennis McCarthy presided. All but one of the legislators were present, only State Senator Edward M. Madden (13th D.) was absent. The caucus nominated Ex-Congressman Thomas C. Platt for the U.S. Senate. Platt was a friend of the other U.S. Senator from New York, Roscoe Conkling, and belonged to the Stalwart faction. The opposing Half-Breeds (in the press sometimes referred to as the "anti-machine men") at first wanted to nominate Chauncey M. Depew, but he withdrew before balloting. The majority of the Half-Breeds, led by President pro tempore of the State Senate William H. Robertson, then supported Platt, a minority voted for Sherman S. Rogers, the defeated Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1876. Congressman Richard Crowley was supported by a faction led by Speaker of the State Assembly George H. Sharpe, allied with Governor Alonzo B. Cornell. U.S. Vice President William A. Wheeler, and Congressmen Elbridge G. Lapham and Levi P. Morton also received votes.
| Office | Candidate | First ballot |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senator | Thomas C. Platt | 54 |
| Richard Crowley | 26 | |
| Sherman S. Rogers | 10 | |
| William A. Wheeler | 10 | |
| Elbridge G. Lapham | 4 | |
| Levi P. Morton | 1 |
The caucus of the Democratic State legislators met on January 17, State Senator Charles A. Fowler (14th D.) presided. They re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator Francis Kernan by acclamation.
Thomas C. Platt was the choice of both the State Senate and the Assembly, and was declared elected.
| House | Republican | Democrat | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Senate (32 members) |
Thomas C. Platt | 25 | Francis Kernan | 6 |
| State Assembly (128 members) |
Thomas C. Platt | 79 | Francis Kernan | 44 |
Notes:
- The votes were cast on January 18, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 19 to compare nominations, and declare the result.
- State Senator Stevens (Dem., 22nd D.) was absent and did not vote.
Pennsylvania
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The Pennsylvania election was held on thirty separate dates from January to February 1881. On February 23, 1881, John I. Mitchell was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[5] The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 27, 1881, to elect a Senator to serve the term beginning on March 4, 1881. Thirty-five ballots were recorded on thirty separate dates spanning from January 27 to February 23, 1881. The results of the thirty-fifth and final ballot of both houses combined are as follows:
| State Legislature Results[5][6] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | John I. Mitchell | 150 | 59.76 | |
| Democratic | William A. Wallace (Incumbent) | 92 | 36.65% | |
| N/A | Not voting | 7 | 2.79% | |
| N/A | Other | 2 | 0.80% | |
| Total votes | 251 | 100% | ||
See also
References
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<references />, or <references group="..." />- Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov
- Members of the 47th United States Congress
- SENATOR THOMAS C. PLATT; SELECTED BY THE CAUCUS UPON THE FIRST BALLOT in NYT on January 14, 1881
- COMPLIMENTING MR. KERNAN.; THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS RENOMINATES HIM FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR in NYT on January 18, 1881
- Election result: BUSY STATE LEGISLATORS in NYT on January 19, 1881
- Pennsylvania Election Statistics: 1682-2006 from the Wilkes University Election Statistics Project
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Readjuster caucused with the Republicans, and the Republican Vice President's tie-breaking vote gave the Republicans the slightest majority.
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- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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