1872 Texas Senate election

1872 Texas Senate election

←  1869 November 5, 1872 1873 →
12 of the 30 seats in the Texas Senate 16 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party Third party   Party Democratic Republican Independent Last election 9 19 2 Seats before 10 18 2 Seats won 15 13 2 [a] Seat change 5 5
Democratic hold     Democratic gain      Republican hold      No election
President Pro Tempore before election Webster Flanagan Republican Elected President Pro Tempore Edward B. Pickett Democratic

The 1872 Texas Senate elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Texas voters elected state senators 10 of the 30 State Senate districts to six-year teams, as well as two more senators for unexpired terms in special elections. The winners of this election served in the 13th Texas Legislature. Democrats won a majority, which they would hold until after the 1996 elections.

Background

Republicans won a majority of seats in the 1869 elections, and alongside their control of the House of Representatives and governorship, enacted a number of Reconstruction policies, including the ratification of the 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution, a requirement for readmission to the Union and the resumption of congressional representation. They also elected Republicans Morgan C. Hamilton and James W. Flanagan to the U.S. Senate. On March 30, 1870, Texas was readmitted to the Union.

Following the state's readmission, the legislature turned towards state policy in a special session. The Radical Republican majority dramatically reshaped the state government, centralizing power, raising taxes, and overhauling the state's education system. Many of the state's new policies, especially the higher taxes and rights granted to freedmen, enraged the state's White population. ^[1]

Rump Senate

The legislature created a state police force to address the rampant crime across the state, much of it perpetrated by white supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. ^[1] The passage of this bill proved especially controversial, prompting conservative Senators to break quorum, leaving only 15 Radical Senators unable to pass legislation. The state then arrested the missing Senators, but only four were brought back to the chambers, enough to re-establish quorum. What became known as the "Rump Senate" then passed the bill. ^[2] The education system became far more centralized, although it was segregated over the objections of the state's Black legislators. They also debated policies such as railroad construction and Native American removal.

Special elections

Democrats gained one seat during the legislative session after Republican Mijamin Priest was declared ineligible to serve. Democrat James Dillard won the ensuing special election, flipping the 3rd district. ^[3] Two more special elections were held concurrently with the general election. One seat became vacant due to the death of Senate President Pro Tempore Don Campbell died, and another when Republican Theodor Rudolph Hertzberg resigned to accept an appointment by governor Edmund J. Davis. ^{[4] [5]}

Results

Democrats won control of the chamber with the help of the two conservative Independents who were not up for re-election, although they failed to win a majority of seats. ^[1] Democratic control of the chamber would last until the 1996 elections. ^[6]

Notes

1. Both Independents are listed as Democrats in some sources

References

1. Association, Texas State Historical. "Reconstruction Era in Texas: Political, Social, and Economic Changes". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
2. Association, Texas State Historical. "Understanding the Rump Senate of the Twelfth Texas Legislature". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
3. "Mijamin Priest". lrl.texas.gov. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
4. Spaw, Patsy McDonald (February 1, 1999). The Texas Senate: Volume II, Civil War to the Eve of Reform, 1861-1889. Texas A&M University Press. p. 145. ISBN   978-0-89096-857-4.
5. Association, Texas State Historical. "The Life and Legacy of Theodor Rudolph Hertzberg: Texas Businessman and Diplomat". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
6. "Rep. Stockman loses in Texas Congress runoff GOP claims majority in one house of state legislature, 1st since 1872". The Baltimore Sun. December 12, 1996. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.