1873 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts

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1873 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts
←  1871 March 11 and 12, 1873 1877  →
Majority vote of the Massachusetts Legislature needed to win
  George Boutwell, Brady-Handy photo portrait, ca1870-1880.jpg HLDawes.jpg
Nominee George S. Boutwell Henry L. Dawes
Party Republican Republican
Percentage55.27%41.82%
Votes152115
Senator before election

Henry Wilson
Republican

Elected Senator

George S. Boutwell
Republican

The 1873 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts was held in March 1873 to fill the vacancy left by Senator Henry Wilson, who resigned to become Vice President of the United States. George S. Boutwell won the election.

Contents

At the time, Massachusetts elected United States senators by a majority vote of each separate house of the Massachusetts General Court, the House and the Senate. However, the Senate deadlocked in this race; it was moved that both houses would vote as one, and Boutwell won the combined vote.

Background

At the time, the Massachusetts legislature was dominated the Republican Party. Republicans held all but one of the State Senate seats [1] [2] and 211 of 240 state House seats. [1] [3]

Incumbent Senator Henry Wilson resigned from office upon his election as Vice President of the United States, creating a vacancy for the term ending in 1877.

Election

March 11

Both houses of the General Court began balloting on March 11. Boutwell achieved a majority of the House on the second ballot, but the Senate deadlocked.

First House ballot [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican George S. Boutwell 11046.41%
Republican Henry L. Dawes 8335.02%
Republican George B. Loring 166.75%
Republican William Whiting 93.80%
Republican Nathaniel Prentiss Banks 93.80%
Republican Ebenezer R. Hoar 72.95%
UnknownWilliam G. Whittier10.42%
Republican William E. Sanford10.42%
Democratic John K. Tarbox 10.42%
Total votes237 100.00%
Second House ballot [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican George S. Boutwell 124 52.10%
Republican Henry L. Dawes 9238.66%
Republican George B. Loring 104.20%
Republican William Whiting 62.52%
Republican William E. Sanford20.84%
Democratic John K. Tarbox 20.84%
Republican Nathaniel Prentiss Banks 10.42%
Republican Ebenezer R. Hoar 10.42%
Total votes238 100.00%

Senate President George Loring, who was a candidate for the seat, did not vote. One member was absent.

First Senate ballot [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Henry L. Dawes 1128.95%
Republican George S. Boutwell 1026.32%
Republican George B. Loring 923.68%
Republican Ebenezer R. Hoar 410.53%
Republican William Whiting 25.26%
Republican George Frisbie Hoar 12.63%
Democratic Charles Gordon Greene 12.63%
Total votes38 100.00%
Second Senate ballot [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Henry L. Dawes 1231.58%
Republican George S. Boutwell 923.68%
Republican George B. Loring 923.68%
Republican Ebenezer R. Hoar 410.53%
Republican William Whiting 25.26%
Republican George Frisbie Hoar 12.63%
Democratic Charles Gordon Greene 12.63%
Total votes38 100.00%

The third and fourth ballots were identical. [4]

Third and fourth Senate ballot [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Henry L. Dawes 1539.47%
Republican George S. Boutwell 1026.32%
Republican George B. Loring 821.05%
Republican William Whiting 25.26%
Republican Ebenezer R. Hoar 12.63%
Republican George Frisbie Hoar 12.63%
Democratic Charles Gordon Greene 12.63%
Total votes38 100.00%

March 12

Following Boutwell's victory in the House, it was widely expected the Senate would ratify their choice the next day. Dawes supporters convened a caucus and decided to continue their support. [4] On the next day, it was moved that both Houses would vote as one to ratify the choice.

Joint ballot [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican George S. Boutwell 152 55.27%
Republican Henry L. Dawes 11541.82%
Republican George B. Loring 20.73%
Democratic John K. Tarbox 20.73%
Republican William Whiting 20.73%
Democratic Charles Gordon Greene 20.73%
Total votes275 100.00%

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References

  1. 1 2 Cornelius Dalton; John Wirkkala; Anne Thomas (1984). "Political Complexion of the General Court 1867-1980". Leading the Way: a History of the Massachusetts General Court, 1629-1980. Boston: Massachusetts Secretary of State. p. 441+. ISBN   0961391502.
  2. ↑ "Composition of the Massachusetts State Senate", Resources on Massachusetts Political Figures in the State Library, Mass.gov, archived from the original on June 6, 2020
  3. ↑ "Composition of the State of Massachusetts House of Representatives", Resources on Massachusetts Political Figures in the State Library, Mass.gov, archived from the original on June 6, 2020
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Henry Wilson's Successor: Secretary Boutwell's Chances". The New York Times. March 12, 1873. p. 4.
  5. ↑ "Election of Ex-Secretary Boutwell as United States Senator". The New York Times. March 13, 1873. p. 1.
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