United States Senate elections, 1902 and 1903

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United States Senate elections, 1902 and 1903

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  1900/01 January 15, 1902 –
February 21, 1903
1904/05  

30 of the 90 seats in the U.S. Senate (as well as special elections)
46 seats needed for a majority

 Majority partyMinority party
  William B. Allison - Brady-Handy.jpg James Jones.png
Leader William B. Allison James K. Jones
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat Iowa Arkansas
Seats before5529
Seats won1811
Seats after5532
Seat changeSteady2.svgIncrease2.svg 3
Seats up188

 Third partyFourth party
 
Party Silver Republican Populist
Seats before22
Seats won00
Seats after00
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 2Decrease2.svg 2
Seats up22

Majority Party before election

Republican

Elected Majority Party

Republican

The United States Senate elections of 1902 and 1903 were elections which had the Democratic Party gain three seats in the United States Senate, but the Republicans kept their strong majority.

Democratic Party (United States) political party in the United States

The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. Tracing its heritage back to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison's Democratic-Republican Party, the modern-day Democratic Party was founded around 1828 by supporters of Andrew Jackson, making it the world's oldest active political party.

United States Senate Upper house of the United States Congress

The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, which along with the United States House of Representatives—the lower chamber—comprises the legislature of the United States. The Senate chamber is located in the north wing of the Capitol, in Washington, D.C.

Contents

As these elections were prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment, Senators were chosen by State legislatures.

Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution Part of the United States Constitution

The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution established the popular election of United States Senators by the people of the states. The amendment supersedes Article I, §3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, under which senators were elected by state legislatures. It also alters the procedure for filling vacancies in the Senate, allowing for state legislatures to permit their governors to make temporary appointments until a special election can be held.

State legislature (United States) legislature of a U.S. state

A state legislature in the United States is the legislative body of any of the 50 U.S. states. The formal name varies from state to state. In 25 states, the legislature is simply called the Legislature, or the State Legislature, while in 19 states, the legislature is called the General Assembly. In Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the legislature is called the General Court, while North Dakota and Oregon designate the legislature the Legislative Assembly.

Results summary

Senate Party Division, 58th Congress (1903–1905)

Change in Senate composition

Before the elections

After the January 29, 1902, special election in New Jersey.

D1D2D3D4D5
D15D14D13D12D11D10D9D8D7D6
D16D17D18D19D20D21D22
Ran
D23
Ran
D24
Ran
D25
Ran
R54
Retired
R55
Retired
SR1
Ran
SR2
Ran
P1
Ran
P2
Retired
D29
Retired
D28
Retired
D27
Ran
D26
Ran
R53
Retired
R52
Retired
R51
Retired
R50
Ran
R49
Ran
R48
Ran
R47
Ran
R46
Ran
R45
Ran
V1
Majority →
R36R37R38
Ran
R39
Ran
R40
Ran
R41
Ran
R42
Ran
R43
Ran
R44
Ran
V2
R35R34R33R32R31R30R29R28R27R26
R16R17R18R19R20R21R22R23R24R25
R15R14R13R12R11R10R9R8R7R6
R1R2R3R4R5

Result of the general elections

D1D2D3D4D5
D15D14D13D12D11D10D9D8D7D6
D16D17D18D19D20D21D22
Re-elected
D23
Re-elected
D24
Re-elected
D25
Hold
R54
Gain from P
R55
Gain from P
V1
D Loss
D32
Gain from SR
D31
Gain from R
D30
Gain from R
D29
Gain from R
D28
Gain from R
D27
Hold
D26
Hold
R53
Gain from SR
R52
Gain from D
R51
Hold
R50
Hold
R49
Re-elected
R48
Re-elected
R47
Re-elected
R46
Re-elected
R45
Re-elected
V2
Majority →R44
Re-elected
R36R37R38
Re-elected
R29
Re-elected
R40
Re-elected
R41
Re-elected
R42
Re-elected
R43
Re-elected
V3
R35R34R33R32R31R30R29R28R27R26
R16R17R18R19R20R21R22R23R24R25
R15R14R13R12R11R10R9R8R7R6
R1R2R3R4R5

Beginning of the next Congress

D1D2D3D4D5
D15D14D13D12D11D10D9D8D7D6
D16D17D18D19D20D21D22D23D24D25
R56
Gain from V
R57
Gain from V
D33
Gain from V
D32D31D30D29D28D27D26
R55R54R53R52R51R50R49R48R47R46
Majority →
R36R37R38R39R40R41R42R43R44R45
R35R34R33R32R31R30R29R28R27R26
R16R17R18R19R20R21R22R23R24R25
R15R14R13R12R11R10R9R8R7R6
R1R2R3R4R5
Key:
D# Democratic
P# Populist
R# Republican
SR# Silver Republican
V#Vacant

Race summaries

Elections during the 57th Congress

In these elections, the winners were seated during 1902 or in 1903 before March 4; ordered by election date.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Iowa
(Class 2)
Jonathan P. Dolliver Republican1900 (Appointed)
1901 (Appointed)
Interim appointee elected January 22, 1902. [1] Jonathan P. Dolliver (Republican) 119 votes
John J. Seerley (Democratic) 20 votes
Michigan
(Class 2)
Russell A. Alger Republican1902 (Appointed)Interim appointee elected January 20, 1903. [2] Russell A. Alger (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
South Dakota
(Class 3)
Alfred B. Kittredge Republican1901 (Appointed)Interim appointee elected January 21, 1903. [3]
Winner was also elected to the next term, see below.
Alfred B. Kittredge (Republican) 109 votes
John A. Bowler [4] (Democratic) 13 votes [3]
New Jersey
(Class 2)
William Sewell Republican 1895
1901
Incumbent died December 27, 1901.
New senator elected January 28, 1902.
John F. Dryden (Republican) 65 votes
Allan McDermott (Democratic) 18 votes [5]
Delaware
(Class 1)
VacantLegislature had failed to elect.
New senator elected March 2, 1903.
Republican gain.
L. Heisler Ball (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Delaware
(Class 2)
VacantLegislature had failed to elect.
New senator elected March 2, 1903.
Republican gain.
J. Frank Allee (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]

Races leading to the 58th Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1903; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral
history
Alabama Edmund Pettus Democratic 1897 Incumbent re-elected January 26, 1903. [6] Edmund Pettus (Democratic)
Unopposed
Arkansas James K. Jones Democratic 1885
1891
1897
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator re-elected January 20, 1903. [2]
Democratic hold.
James P. Clarke (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
California George Perkins Republican 1895 (Special)
1897
Incumbent re-elected January 13, 1903. [7] George Perkins (Republican) 91 votes
Franklin K. Lane (Democratic) 17 votes
Eugene E. Schmitz (Union Labor) 7 votes. [7]
Colorado Henry M. Teller Silver Republican 1885
1891
1897
Incumbent re-elected January 24, 1903 as a Democrat. [8]
Democratic gain.
Henry M. Teller (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Connecticut Orville H. Platt Republican 1879
1885
1891
1897
Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1903. [2] Orville H. Platt (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Florida Stephen R. Mallory II Democratic 1897 Legislature failed to elect.
Democratic loss.
Incumbent was later appointed to begin the term.
Incumbent was subsequently re-elected, see below.
None.
Georgia Alexander S. Clay Democratic 1896 Incumbent re-elected November 4, 1902. [9] Alexander S. Clay (Democratic) 171 votes
Walter Johnson (Republican) 4 votes [9]
Idaho Henry Heitfeld Populist 1897 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 13, 1903. [10]
Republican gain.
Weldon Heyburn (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Illinois William E. Mason Republican 1897 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 20, 1903. [2]
Republican hold.
Albert J. Hopkins (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Indiana Charles W. Fairbanks Republican 1897 Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1903. [2] Charles W. Fairbanks (Republican) 101 votes
Benjamin F. Shively (Democratic) 44 votes [11]
Iowa William B. Allison Republican 1872
1878
1884
1890
1896
Incumbent re-elected January 22, 1902. [1] William B. Allison (Republican) 119 votes
E. H. Thayer (Democratic) 20 votes. [1]
Kansas William A. Harris Populist 1897 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected January 28, 1903. [12]
Republican gain.
Chester I. Long (Republican) 123 Votes
William A. Harris (Populist) 35 votes [12]
Kentucky William J. Deboe Republican 1897 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 15, 1902. [13]
Democratic gain.
James B. McCreary (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Louisiana Samuel D. McEnery Democratic 1896 Incumbent re-elected early May 22, 1900. [14] Samuel D. McEnery (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Maryland George L. Wellington Republican 1886 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 15, 1902. [15]
Democratic gain.
Arthur Gorman (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Missouri George G. Vest Democratic 1879
1885
1891
1897
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 20, 1903. [16]
Democratic hold.
William J. Stone (Democratic) 107 votes
Richard C. Kerens (Republican) 66 votes [16]
Nevada John P. Jones Republican 1873
1879
1885
1891
1897
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 27, 1903. [17]
Democratic gain.
Francis G. Newlands (Democratic) 43 votes
Thomas P. Hawley (Republican) 8 votes [17]
New Hampshire Jacob Gallinger Republican 1891
1897
Incumbent re-elected in 1903.Jacob Gallinger (New Hampshire)
Unopposed
New York Thomas C. Platt Republican 1881
1881 (Resigned)
1897
Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1903.Thomas C. Platt (Republican) 111 votes
John B. Stanchfield (Democratic) 78 votes
Elihu Root (Republican) 3 votes
North Carolina Jeter Pritchard Republican 1894 (Special)
1897
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1903.
Democratic gain.
Lee Overman (Democratic)
North Dakota Henry C. Hansbrough Republican 1891
1897
Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1903. [2] Henry C. Hansbrough (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Ohio Joseph B. Foraker Republican 1896 Incumbent re-elected January 15, 1902. [18] Joseph B. Foraker (Republican) 87 votes
Charles W. Baker (Democratic) 53 votes [18]
Oregon Joseph Simon Republican 1898 (Special) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected February 21, 1903. [19]
Republican hold.
Charles W. Fulton (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Pennsylvania Boies Penrose Republican 1897 Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1903. [2] Boies Penrose (Republican) 194 votes
James M. Guffey (Democratic) 52 votes
Walter F. Leadom (Republican) 1 vote
South Carolina John L. McLaurin Democratic1897 (Appointed)
1898 (Special)
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 27, 1903. [20]
Democratic hold.
Asbury Latimer (Democratic)
Unopposed
South Dakota Alfred B. Kittredge Republican1901 (Appointed)
1903 (Special)
Interim appointee elected January 21, 1903. [21]
New senator was also elected to finish the current term, see above.
Alfred B. Kittredge (Republican) 109 votes
John A. Bowler [4] (Democratic) 13 votes [21]
Utah Joseph Rawlins Democratic 1897 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected January 20, 1903. [22]
Republican gain.
Reed Smoot (Republican) 46 votes
Joseph Rawlins (Democratic) 10 votes
Heber Wells (Republican) 6 votes [22]
Vermont William P. Dillingham Republican 1900 (Special) Incumbent re-elected October 14, 1902. [23] William P. Dillingham (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Washington George Turner Silver Republican 1897 Incumbent lost re-election as a Democrat.
New senator elected January 29, 1903. [24]
Republican gain.
Levi Ankeny (Republican) 99 votes
George Turner (Democratic) 23 votes
Harold Preston 9 votes
John L. Wilson (Republican) 2 votes
W. L. Jones (Republican) 1 vote
Wisconsin John C. Spooner Republican 1885
1891 (Lost)
1897
Incumbent re-elected January 27, 1903. [25] John C. Spooner (Republican)
Neall Brown (Democratic)

Election during the 58th Congress

In this election, the winner was elected in 1903 after March 4.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Florida
(Class 3)
Stephen R. Mallory II Democratic 1897
1903 (Appointed)
Interim appointee re-elected April 22, 1903.Stephen R. Mallory II (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]

Complete list of races

New York

The election in New York was held on January 20, 1903 by the New York State Legislature.

New York State Legislature state legislature of the U.S. state of New York

The New York State Legislature consists of the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of New York. The New York Constitution does not designate an official term for the two houses together. It says only that "legislative power is vested in the senate and assembly." The session laws are published in the official Laws of New York. The permanent laws of a general nature are codified in the Consolidated Laws of New York. The legislature is seated at the New York State Capitol in Albany.

Republican Thomas C. Platt had previously been re-elected to this seat in 1897, and his term would expire on March 3, 1903.

Thomas C. Platt American politician

Thomas Collier Platt was a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1873–1877) and a three-term U.S. Senator from New York in the years 1881 and 1897–1909. He is best known as the "political boss" of the Republican Party in New York State in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Upon his death, the New York Times stated that "no man ever exercised less influence in the Senate or the House of Representatives than he," but "no man ever exercised more power as a political leader." He considered himself the "political godfather" of many Republican governors of the state, including Theodore Roosevelt.

At the State election in November 1902, 28 Republicans and 22 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1903-1904) in the State Senate; and 89 Republicans and 61 Democrats were elected for the session of 1903 to the Assembly. State Senator Patrick F. Trainor who had been re-elected, died on December 25, 1902, and his successor Peter J. Dooling was elected only after the senatorial election, on January 27. [26] The 126th New York State Legislature met from January 6 to April 23, 1903, at Albany, New York.

Patrick F. Trainor American politician

Patrick F. Trainor was an American politician from New York.

Peter J. Dooling American politician

Peter Joseph Dooling was a U.S. Representative from New York.

The Republican caucus met on January 19. 25 State senators and 84 assemblymen attended, and State Senator William W. Armstrong presided. The caucus re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator Thomas C. Platt almost unanimously. A single vote was cast for U.S. Secretary of War Elihu Root by Assemblyman William A. Denison, of Jefferson County. Besides Denison voting against Platt, a small number of anti-Platt men did not attend the caucus. Boss Platt had forced the nomination of Attorney General John C. Davies to the New York Supreme Court in the 5th District, against the local Republican organization's wishes who accused Davies of incompetence. Davies was defeated in a landslide by Democrat Watson M. Rogers although the 5th District was heavily Republican. Thus boss Platt's power began to wane.

William W. Armstrong (politician) American politician

William W. Armstrong was an American lawyer and politician from Rochester, Monroe County, New York. In addition to his long legal career in Rochester, he represented his city in both houses of the state legislature. While a member of the state Senate he led an investigation into life insurance company operations and financing that led to publishing the Armstrong Report in 1906. He described himself once as a minority of a minority, since he was "An Irishman, a protestant, and a Republican."

Elihu Root American politician

Elihu Root was an American lawyer and statesman who served as the Secretary of State under President Theodore Roosevelt and as Secretary of War under Roosevelt and President William McKinley. He moved frequently between high-level appointed government positions in Washington, D.C. and private-sector legal practice in New York City. For that reason, he is sometimes considered to be the prototype of the 20th century political "wise man," advising presidents on a range of foreign and domestic issues. He was elected by the state legislature as a U.S. Senator from New York and served one term, 1909–1915. Root was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1912.

Jefferson County, New York County in the United States

Jefferson County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. Its county seat is Watertown. The county is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America. It is adjacent to Lake Ontario, southeast from the Canada–US border of Ontario.

1903 Republican caucus for United States Senator result
CandidateFirst ballot
Thomas C. Platt 108
Elihu Root 1

The Democratic caucus met also on January 19. All 62 State legislators attended, and Assemblyman Charles W. Hinson, of Erie County, presided. They nominated John B. Stanchfield unanimously. Stanchfield had been Mayor of Elmira, and was defeated when running for Governor of New York in 1900 by Republican Benjamin B. Odell, Jr.

Thomas C. Platt was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected. Three Republican anti-Platt men, State Senators Edgar T. Brackett (28th D.), Elon R. Brown and Nathaniel A. Elsberg (15th D.), voted for Elihu Root.

1903 United States Senator election result
House Republican Democratic Republican
State Senate
(50 members)
Thomas C. Platt 25 John B. Stanchfield 21 Elihu Root 3
State Assembly
(150 members)
Thomas C. Platt 86 John B. Stanchfield 57

Note: The votes were cast on January 20, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 21 to compare nominations, and declare the result.

Pennsylvania

The election in Pennsylvania was held on January 20, 1903. Boies Penrose was re-elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly [27]

The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 20, 1903. Incumbent Republican Boies Penrose, who was elected in 1897, was a successful candidate for re-election to another term. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:

State Legislature Results [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Boies Penrose (Inc.)19476.38
Democratic James M. Guffey5220.47
Republican Walter F. Leadom10.39
N/ANot voting72.76
Totals254100.00%

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Clark, p. 247.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "United States Senators elected". The New York Times . January 21, 1903. p. 3.
  3. 1 2 Journal of the Senate of the South Dakota Legislature Commencing January 6, 1903, Eighth Session. Pierre, South Dakota. 1903. p. 296.
  4. 1 2 http://files.usgwarchives.net/sd/minnehaha/history/bailey/bios/bowler.txt
  5. "J.F. DRYDEN ELECTED SENATOR". The New York Times. January 29, 1902. p. 3.
  6. "Senator Pettus Re-elected". The New York Times . January 27, 1903. p. 3.
  7. 1 2 "Perkins of California Re-elected". The New York Times . January 14, 1903. p. 12.
  8. "TELLER IS AGAIN ELECTED". The New York Times . January 25, 1903. p. 1.
  9. 1 2 "Senator Clay of Georgia Re-elected". The New York Times . November 5, 1902. p. 2.
  10. "Idaho Elects Her Senator". The New York Times . January 14, 1903. p. 3.
  11. Journal of the Indiana State Senate During the Sixty-Third Session of the General Assembly commencing Thursday, January 9, 1903. Indianapolis, Indiana. 1903. p. 198.
  12. 1 2 Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the State of Kansas. Thirteenth Biennial Session, Topeka, January 13 to March 13, 1903. Topeka, Kansas. 1903. pp. 303–306.
  13. "MANY VOTES TO ELECT". The New York Times . January 16, 1902. p. 3.
  14. "Louisiana Senators Elected". The New York Times . May 23, 1900. p. 2.
  15. "Ratified Mr. German's Election". The New York Times . January 16, 1902. p. 3.
  16. 1 2 "SUCCEEDS SENATOR VEST". The New York Times . January 21, 1903. p. 3.
  17. 1 2 "Mr. Newlands Elected in Nevada". The New York Times . January 28, 1903. p. 2.
  18. 1 2 "SENATOR FORAKER CHOSEN". The New York Times . January 15, 1902. p. 3.
  19. "OREGON SENATOR CHOSEN". The New York Times. February 22, 1903. p. 3.
  20. "South Carolina's Choice". The New York Times . January 28, 1903. p. 8.
  21. 1 2 Journal of the Senate of the South Dakota Legislature Commencing January 6, 1903, Eighth Session. Pierre, South Dakota. 1903. pp. 299–300.
  22. 1 2 "REED SMOOT SENATOR". The New York Times . January 21, 1903. p. 3.
  23. "Senator Dillingham Re-elected". The New York Times . October 15, 1902. p. 9.
  24. "Ankeny Elected in Washington". The New York Times . January 30, 1903. p. 1.
  25. "Senator Spooner Re-elected". The New York Times . January 28, 1903. p. 8.
  26. "DOOLING ELECTED SENATOR" (PDF). The New York Times . January 28, 1903.
  27. 1 2 "U.S. Senate Election - 20 January 1903" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 22, 2013.

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References