United States Senate elections, 1798 and 1799

Last updated
United States Senate elections, 1798 and 1799
Flag of the United States (1795-1818).svg
  1796/97 Dates vary by state 1800/01  

11 of the 32 seats in the United States Senate (plus special elections)
17 seats needed for a majority

 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Federalist Democratic-Republican
Seats before2210
Seats after239
Seat changeSteady2.svgSteady2.svg
Seats up56
Races won56

Majority party before election

Federalist

Elected Majority party

Federalist

The United States Senate elections of 1798 and 1799 were held at the middle of President John Adams's administration and had no net change in political control of the Senate.

John Adams 2nd president of the United States

John Adams was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and Founding Father who served as the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before his presidency he was a leader of the American Revolution that achieved independence from Great Britain, and also served as the first vice president of the United States. Adams was a dedicated diarist and regularly corresponded with many important figures in early American history including his wife and adviser, Abigail, and his letters and other papers are an important source of historical information about the era.

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, 6th Congress (1799–1801)

Change in Senate composition

Before the elections

After the January 19, 1798 election in Delaware.

DR6
Ran
DR5
Ran
DR4DR3DR2DR1
DR7
Ran
DR8
Ran
DR9
Unknown
DR10
Retired
F22
Retired
F21
Retired
F20
Ran
F19
Ran
F18
Ran
F17
Majority →
F7F8F9F10F11F12F13F14F15F16
F6F5F4F3F2F1

Results of the elections

DR6
Re-elected
DR5
Re-elected
DR4DR3DR2DR1
DR7
Re-elected
DR8
Hold
DR9
Hold
DR10
Hold
F22
Hold
F21
Hold
F20
Re-elected
F19
Re-elected
F18
Re-elected
F17
Majority →
F7F8F9F10F11F12F13F14F15F16
F6F5F4F3F2F1

Beginning of the next Congress

DR6DR5DR4DR3DR2DR1
DR7DR8DR9V1
Died
F22F21F20F19F18F17
Majority →
F7F8F9F10F11F12F13F14F15F16
F6F5F4F3F2F1
Key:
DR# Democratic-Republican
F# Federalist
V#Vacant

Race summaries

Except if/when noted, the number following candidates is the whole number vote(s), not a percentage.

Special elections during the 5th Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated before March 4, 1799; ordered by election date.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral
history
New York
(Class 1)
Philip Schuyler Federalist 1789
1797
Incumbent resigned January 3, 1798 due to ill health.
New senator elected January 11, 1798.
Federalist hold.
Winner later resigned, see below.
John Sloss Hobart (Federalist) 100
John Addison 25
John Armstrong 4
John Taylor 2
James Watson 2
James Cocliram [1] 1 [2]
Delaware
(Class 2)
John Vining Federalist 1792 Incumbent resigned January 19, 1798.
New senator elected January 19, 1798.
Federalist hold.
Winner died August 11, 1798, see below.
Joshua Clayton (Federalist) 14
James Sykes (Democratic-Republican) 10 [3]
New York
(Class 1)
William North FederalistMay 1798 (Appointed)Interim appointee served until winner qualified.
New senator elected August 24, 1798.
Federalist hold.
James Watson (Federalist) 87
John Taylor 57 [4]
South Carolina
(Class 2)
John Hunter Democratic-Republican 1796 (Special) Incumbent resigned November 26, 1798.
New senator elected December 6, 1798.
Democratic-Republican hold.
New senator also elected to next term, see below.
Charles Pinckney (Democratic-Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Tennessee
(Class 1)
Daniel Smith Democratic-RepublicanOctober 1798 (Appointed)Interim appointee retired when successor qualified.
New senator elected December 12, 1798.
Winner qualified upon retirement from other Senate seat on March 3, 1799.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Joseph Anderson (Democratic-Republican) 17
William Cocke (Democratic-Republican) 28 [5]
Daniel Smith (Democratic-Republican) 15
Andrew Jackson (Democratic-Republican) 1
John Overton 1 [6]
Delaware
(Class 2)
Joshua Clayton Federalist 1798 Died August 11, 1798.
New senator elected January 17, 1799.
Federalist hold.
Winner also elected to next term, see below.
William H. Wells (Federalist) 14
James Sykes (Democratic-Republican) 12 [7]
New Jersey
(Class 1)
Franklin Davenport Federalist1798 (Appointed)Interim appointee served until winner qualified.
New senator elected February 21, 1799 on the third ballot.
Federalist hold.
James Schureman (Federalist) 26
Thomas Henderson (Federalist) 24
Philemon Dickinson Eliminated in earlier ballot
Jonathan Elmer (Federalist) Eliminated in earlier ballot [8]

Races leading to the 6th Congress

In these general elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1799; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral
history
Delaware Joshua Clayton Federalist 1798 Died August 11, 1798.
New senator elected January 17, 1799.
Winner was also elected to finish the current term, see above.
William H. Wells (Federalist) 14
James Sykes (Democratic-Republican) [9]
Georgia Josiah Tattnall Democratic-Republican 1796 [Data unknown/missing.]
New senator elected January 18, 1799.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Abraham Baldwin (Democratic-Republican) 42
Thomas P. Carnes (Federalist) 37 [10]
Kentucky John Brown Democratic-Republican 1792 (New seat)
1792
Incumbent re-elected November 30, 1798.John Brown (Democratic-Republican) 36
Benjamin Logan 23
Stephen Ormsby 11 [11]
Massachusetts Theodore Sedgwick Federalist 1796 Incumbent retired to run for the U.S. House of Representatives.
New senator elected June 14, 1798.
Federalist hold.
Samuel Dexter (Federalist) 102
Others 54 [12]
New Hampshire Samuel Livermore Federalist 1792 Incumbent re-elected December 21, 1798.Samuel Livermore (Federalist) 8
Nay 4 [13]
New Jersey Richard Stockton Federalist 1796 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected November 1, 1798.
Federalist hold.
Jonathan Dayton (Federalist) 26
Jonathan Elmer 22 [14]
North Carolina Alexander Martin Democratic-Republican 1792 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected December 12, 1798 on the ninth ballot. [15]
Democratic-Republican hold.
Jesse Franklin (Democratic-Republican) 89
Alexander Martin (Democratic-Republica) 78
Benjamin Smith Eliminated in earlier ballot
Blake Baker Jr. Eliminated in earlier ballot [16]
Rhode Island Ray Greene Federalist 1797 (Special) Incumbent re-elected November 1, 1798.Ray Greene (Federalist) Unanimous [17]
South Carolina Charles Pinckney Democratic-Republican 1798 Incumbent re-elected December 6, 1798.Charles Pinckney (Democratic-Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Tennessee Joseph Anderson Democratic-Republican 1797 (Special) Incumbent retired when elected to the Class 1 seat (see above).
New senator elected December 12, 1798.
Democratic-Republican hold.
William Cocke (Democratic-Republican) 28
Joseph Anderson (Democratic-Republican) 17
Daniel Smith (Democratic-Republican) 15
Andrew Jackson (Democratic-Republican) 1
John Overton 1 [6]
Virginia Henry Tazewell Democratic-Republican 1794 (Special) Incumbent re-elected in 1798.
Incumbent died January 24, 1799 before the term began.
Henry Tazewell (Democratic-Republican) 117
James Madison (Democratic-Republican) 28
John Marshall (Federalist) 13
James Breckenridge (Federalist) 10
Others 9 [18]

Special elections during the 6th Congress

In this special election, the winner was seated after March 4, 1799, the beginning of the next Congress.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral
history
Virginia
(Class 2)
VacantIncumbent Henry Tazewell (DR) had been re-elected in 1798 but died January 24, 1799 before the term began.
New senator elected December 5, 1799 on the second ballot.
Democratic-Republican gain.
Wilson C. Nicholas (Democratic-Republican) 111
John Page 49
Ludwell Lee 1
George K. Taylor 1
James Wood 1 [19]

See also

5th United States Congress 1797-1799 legislative term

The Fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met at Congress Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from March 4, 1797, to March 4, 1799, during the first two years of John Adams' presidency.

6th United States Congress

The Sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met at Congress Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1799, to March 4, 1801, during the last two years of John Adams's presidency. It was the last Congress of the 18th century and the first to convene in the 19th. The apportionment of seats in House of Representatives was based on the First Census of the United States in 1790. Both chambers had a Federalist majority. This was the last Congress in which the Federalist Party controlled the presidency or either chamber of Congress.

Related Research Articles

1816 and 1817 United States House of Representatives elections election

Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 15th Congress were held in the various states between April 1816 and August 14, 1817. The Congress first met on December 1, 1817.

1814 and 1815 United States House of Representatives elections Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 14th Congress

Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 14th Congress were held at various dates in each state between April 1814 and August 10, 1815 during James Madison's second term. The Congress's first session began on December 4, 1815.

1810 and 1811 United States House of Representatives elections Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 12th Congress

Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 12th Congress were held in the various states between April 1810 and August 1811 during James Madison's first term in office. Louisiana elected its first representative in September 1812. Congress assembled on November 4, 1811. The first session witnessed the unprecedented occurrence of a new member, Henry Clay, being elected Speaker of the House. This has happened only once since, in 1860 when William Pennington was elected to the post.

1806 and 1807 United States House of Representatives elections

Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 10th Congress were held at various dates in each state between April 29, 1806 and August 4, 1807 during Thomas Jefferson's second term with the new Congress meeting on October 26, 1807.

1804 and 1805 United States House of Representatives elections

Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 9th Congress were held at various dates in each state between April 24, 1804 and August 5, 1805. The Congress first met on December 2, 1805. The elections occurred at the same time as President Thomas Jefferson's re-election.

The United States Senate elections of 1804 and 1805 were elections that expanded the Democratic-Republican Party's overwhelming control over the United States Senate. The Federalists went into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats that even if they had won every election, they would have still remained a minority caucus.

The United States Senate elections of 1806 and 1807 were elections that had the Democratic-Republican Party increase its overwhelming control of the Senate by one additional Senator. The Federalists went into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats that even if they had won every election, they would have still remained a minority caucus. As it was, however, they lost one of the two seats they were defending and picked up no gains from their opponents.

The United States Senate elections of 1808 and 1809 were elections that had the Federalist Party gain one seat in the United States Senate, and which coincided with the 1808 presidential election. The Federalists had gone into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats that even if they had won every election, they would have still remained a minority caucus.

The United States Senate elections of 1810 and 1811 were elections that had the Democratic-Republican Party maintain their majority the United States Senate. The minority Federalists had gone into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats that they had won all of the elections, they would still not have controlled a majority.

The United States Senate elections of 1812 and 1813 were elections that, coinciding with President James Madison's re-election, had the Democratic-Republican Party lose two seats but still retain an overwhelming majority in the United States Senate. As in recent elections, the minority Federalists had gone into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats that if they had won every one of the elections, they would still not have controlled a majority.

The United States Senate elections of 1814 and 1815 were elections that had the Democratic-Republican Party lose a seat but still retain an overwhelming majority in the United States Senate. Unlike in recent elections, the minority Federalists had gone into the elections with a chance of regaining their long-lost majority had they swept almost all the seats. However, only one seat switched parties. Two seats held by Democratic-Republicans were left unfilled until long after the next Congress began.

The United States Senate elections of 1816 and 1817 were elections for the United States Senate that had the Democratic-Republican Party gain a net of two seats from the admission of a new state, and which coincided with the presidential election.

The United States Senate elections of 1818 and 1819 were elections for the United States Senate that had the Democratic-Republican Party gain two seats. The Federalists had only three seats being contested, of which they lost two and the third was left vacant due to a failure to elect.

The United States Senate elections of 1802 and 1803 were elections for the United States Senate which had the Democratic-Republican Party assume an overwhelming control thereof.

The United States Senate elections of 1800 and 1801 were elections for the United States Senate that, coinciding with their takeover of the White House, led to the Democratic-Republican Party taking control of the United States Senate. Although the Federalists began the next (7th) Congress with a slim majority, they lost their majority shortly thereafter due to mid-year special elections.

The United States Senate elections of 1796 and 1797 were elections for the United States Senate which, coinciding with John Adams's election as President, had the ruling Federalist Party gain one seat.

The United States Senate elections of 1794 and 1795 were elections that had the formation of organized political parties in the United States, with the Federalist Party emerging from the Pro Administration coalition, and the Democratic-Republican Party emerging from the Anti-Administration coalition.

1788 and 1789 United States Senate elections

The United States Senate elections of 1788 and 1789 were the first elections for the United States Senate, which coincided with the election of President George Washington. As of this election, formal organized political parties had yet to form in the United States, but two political factions were present: The coalition of senators who supported George Washington's administration were known as "Pro-Administration," and the senators against him as "Anti-Administration."

References

  1. May be "James Cocliran"
  2. "New York 1798 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing Connecticut Gazette (New London, CT). January 24, 1798.
  3. "Delaware 1798 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing Journal of the Delaware House of Representatives, 1798. 36.
  4. "New York 1798 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing Connecticut Gazette (New London, CT). August 29, 1798.
  5. Elected instead to other seat.
  6. 1 2 "Tennessee 1798 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved January 31, 2018., citing White, Robert Hiram. Messages of the Governors of Tennessee, 1796-1821. Vol. 1. Nashville: The Tennessee Historical Commission, 1952.
  7. "Delaware 1799 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing Journal of the Delaware House of Representatives, 1799.
  8. "New Jersey 1799 U.S. Senate, Ballot 3". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing The Genius of Liberty (Morristown, NJ). February 21, 1799.
  9. "Delaware 1799 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing Journal of the Delaware House of Representatives, 1799.
  10. "Georgia 1799 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing The True American and Commercial Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). February 5, 1799.
  11. "Kentucky 1798 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing The Palladium: A Literary and Political Weekly Repository (Frankfort, KY). December 4, 1798.
  12. "Massachusetts 1798 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing Connecticut Gazette (New London, CT). June 20, 1798.
  13. "New Hampshire 1798 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing Journal of the New Hampshire Senate, 1799. 38-45, 50-51. Journal of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, 1799. 42-45.
  14. "New Jersey 1798 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing The Centinel of Freedom (Newark, NJ). November 6, 1798. The Genius of Liberty (Morristown, NJ). November 8, 1798.
  15. "Our Campaigns - NC US Senate Race - Dec 12, 1798". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  16. "North Carolina 1798 U.S. Senate, Ballot 9". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing Legislative Papers for 1798. Box 157. State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh.
  17. "Rhode Island 1798 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing The Newport Mercury (Newport, RI). November 6, 1798.
  18. "Virginia 1798 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing Samuel Shield to Henry Tazewell. December 13, 1798.
  19. "Virginia 1799 U.S. Senate, Special, Ballot 2". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University . Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing The Aurora. General Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). December 13, 1799. Raleigh Register, and North-Carolina Weekly Advertiser (Raleigh, NC). December 17, 1799.