United States Senate elections, 1826 and 1827

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United States Senate elections, 1826 and 1827
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  1824/25 Dates vary by state 1828/29  

16 of the 48 seats in the United States Senate (plus special elections)
25 seats needed for a majority

 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Jacksonian Adams
Last election26 seats21 seats
(as "Anti-Jacksonian")
Seats before2620
(as "Anti-Jacksonian")
Seats won96
Seats after2719
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Decrease2.svg 2
Seats up88

Majority party before election

Jacksonian

Elected Majority party

Jacksonian

The United States Senate elections of 1826 and 1827 were elections that had the majority Jacksonians gain a seat in the United States Senate.

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, 20th Congress (1827–1829)

Change in Senate composition

Senate composition before the elections

AJ1AJ2AJ3AJ4
AJ14AJ13AJ12AJ11AJ10AJ9AJ8AJ7AJ6AJ5
AJ15AJ16AJ17AJ18AJ19AJ20AJ21AJ22J26J25
Majority →
J15J16J17J18J19J20J21J22J23J24
J14J13J12J11J10J9J8J7J6J5
J1J2J3J4

Senate composition after elections

A1A2A3A4
A14A13A12A11A10A9A8A7A6A5
A15
Re-elected
A16
Re-elected
A17
Re-elected
A18
Re-elected
A19
Hold
A20
Gain
V1
A/AJ Loss
J27
Gain
J26
Gain
J25
Hold
Majority, with vacancy →J24
Hold
J15J16J17J18J19
Re-elected
J20
Re-elected
J21
Re-elected
J22
Re-elected
J23
Hold
J14J13J12J11J10J9J8J7J6J5
J1J2J3J4
Key:
A#= Adams
AJ#= Anti-Jacksonian
J#= Jacksonian
V#= Vacant

Race summaries

Special elections during the 19th Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1826 or before March 4, 1827; ordered by election date.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
New York
(Class 3)
VacantSeat vacant after an 1824 legislative deadlock.
New senator elected January 14, 1826.
Anti-Jacksonian gain.
Nathan Sanford (Anti-Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Maryland
(Class 3)
Edward Lloyd Jacksonian 1819 (Elected)
1825 (Re-elected)
Incumbent resigned January 14, 1826.
New senator elected January 24, 1826.
Anti-Jacksonian gain.
Ezekiel F. Chambers (Anti-Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Mississippi
(Class 1)
Powhatan Ellis Jacksonian 1825 (Appointed)Interim appointee lost election.
New senator elected January 28, 1826.
Jacksonian hold.
Thomas Reed (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Massachusetts
(Class 2)
James Lloyd Anti-Jacksonian 1808 (Special)
1808 (Elected)
1813 Resigned
1822 (Special)
1822 (Re-elected)
Incumbent resigned May 23, 1826.
New senator elected May 31, 1826.
Anti-Jacksonian hold.
Nathaniel Silsbee (Anti-Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New Jersey
(Class 1)
Joseph McIlvaine Anti-Jacksonian 1823 (Special) Incumbent died August 19, 1826
New senator elected November 10, 1826.
Anti-Jacksonian hold.
Winner also elected to the next term, see below.
Ephraim Bateman (Anti-Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Alabama
(Class 3)
Israel Pickens Jacksonian 1826 (Appointed)Interim appointee not elected to finish the term.
New senator elected November 27, 1826.
Jacksonian hold.
John McKinley (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
South Carolina
(Class 3)
William Harper Jacksonian 1826 (Appointed)Interim appointee not elected to finish the term.
New senator elected November 29, 1826.
Jacksonian hold.
William Smith (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Delaware
(Class 2)
Daniel Rodney Anti-Jacksonian 1826 (Appointed)Interim appointee not elected to finish the term.
New senator elected January 12, 1827.
Anti-Jacksonian hold.
Henry M. Ridgely (Anti-Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]

Races leading to the 20th Congress

In these general elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1827; ordered by state.

Note: Senators who called themselves "Anti-Jacksonian" or "National Republicans" changed their affiliation to "Adams" or "Adams Men." In this table, this change of name is not considered a change in party.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Connecticut Henry W. Edwards Jacksonian 1823 (Appointed)
1824 (Special)
Unknown if incumbent retired or lost.
New senator elected.
Adams gain.
Samuel A. Foote (Adams)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Delaware Thomas Clayton Anti-Jacksonian 1824 (Special) Unknown if incumbent retired or lost.
New senator elected.
Jacksonian gain.
Louis McLane (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Indiana James Noble Anti-Jacksonian 1816
1821
Incumbent re-elected as Adams.James Noble (Adams)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Maine John Holmes Anti-Jacksonian 1820 (short term)
1820 (long term)
Unknown if incumbent retired or lost.
New senator elected.
Jacksonian gain.
Albion K. Parris (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Maryland Samuel Smith Jacksonian 1802
1809
1815 (Lost)
1822 (Special)
Incumbent re-elected.Samuel Smith (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Massachusetts Elijah H. Mills Anti-Jacksonian 1820 (Special)
1820 or 1821
Incumbent lost re-election.
Legislature elected late.
Anti-Jacksonian loss.
[Data unknown/missing.]
Mississippi Thomas Reed Jacksonian 1826 (Special) Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1826 or 1827.
Jacksonian hold.
Powhatan Ellis (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Missouri Thomas H. Benton Jacksonian 1821 Incumbent re-elected.Thomas H. Benton (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New Jersey Joseph McIlvaine Anti-Jacksonian 1823 (Special) Died August 19, 1826.
New senator elected November 10, 1826.
Adams hold.
Winner was also elected to finish the preceding term, see above.
Ephraim Bateman (Adams)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New York Martin Van Buren Jacksonian 1821 Incumbent re-elected February 6, 1827.Martin Van Buren (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Ohio Benjamin Ruggles Anti-Jacksonian 1815
1821
Incumbent re-elected as Adams.Benjamin Ruggles (Adams), unopposed [1]
Pennsylvania William Findlay Jacksonian 1821 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected.
Jacksonian hold.
Isaac D. Barnard (Jacksonian) 81.20%
Samuel D. Ingham (Jacksonian) 8.27%
Joseph Hemphill (Jacksonian) 3.76%
James Buchanan (Jacksonian) 2.26%
Thomas Sergeant (Jacksonian) 0.75%
Not voting 3.76%
Rhode Island Asher Robbins Anti-Jacksonian 1825 (Special) Incumbent re-elected as Adams.Asher Robbins (Adams)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Tennessee John H. Eaton Jacksonian 1818 (Appointed)
1819 (Special)
1821 (Special)
Incumbent re-elected.John H. Eaton (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Vermont Horatio Seymour Anti-Jacksonian 1821 Incumbent re-elected as Adams.Horatio Seymour (Adams)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Virginia John Randolph Jacksonian 1825 (Appointed)Appointee lost election.
New senator elected.
Jacksonian hold.
John Tyler (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]

Elections during the 20th Congress

In this election, the winner was seated in 1827 after the new Congress began on March 4.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Massachusetts
(Class 1)
VacantVacant due to late election.
New senator elected June 8, 1827.
Adams gain.
Daniel Webster (Adams)

See also

19th United States Congress

The Nineteenth 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 in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1825, to March 4, 1827, during the first two years of the administration of U.S. President John Quincy Adams. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the Fourth Census of the United States in 1820. The Senate had a majority of Jackson Men, while the House had an Anti-Jackson (pro-Adams) majority.

Related Research Articles

20th United States Congress

The Twentieth 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 in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1827, to March 4, 1829, during the third and fourth years of John Quincy Adams's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the Fourth Census of the United States in 1820. Both chambers had a Jacksonian majority.

1826 United States House of Representatives elections election

Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 20th Congress were held at various dates in each state in 1826 and 1827 during John Quincy Adams' term in office.

1824 and 1825 United States House of Representatives elections election

Elections to the United States House of Representatives for the 19th Congress coincided with the contentious presidential election of that year. While the bulk of states held their elections in 1824, six states scheduled their general elections at various times during 1825.

The 1827 United States Senate election in New York was held on February 6, 1827, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.

The 1829 United States Senate special election in New York was held on January 15, 1829, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.

1858 and 1859 United States Senate elections

The United States Senate elections of 1858 and 1859 were elections which had the Republican Party gain five additional seats in the United States Senate, but the Democrats retained their majority. That majority would erode in 1860 with the secession of the southern states leading up to the Civil War. In Illinois, incumbent Stephen A. Douglas (D) and challenger Abraham Lincoln (R) held a series of seven debates, known as the "Lincoln–Douglas debates."

In the United States Senate elections of 1870 and 1871, the Republican Party lost five seats in the United States Senate, though it still retained an overwhelming majority. In advance of these elections, the last four seceded states were readmitted to the Senate.

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.

1906 and 1907 United States Senate elections

The United States Senate elections of 1906 and 1907 were elections which had the Republican Party gain three seats in the United States Senate, expanding their majority to more twice that of the opposing Democratic Party.

The United States Senate elections of 1840 and 1841 were elections which, corresponding with their Party's success in the 1840 presidential election, had the Whig Party take control of the United States Senate.

The United States Senate elections of 1838 and 1839 were elections which had the Democratic Party lose seven seats in the United States Senate, but still retain a majority.

The United States Senate elections of 1836 and 1837 were elections that had the Jacksonian coalition emerge as the Democratic Party, and the Adams, or Anti-Jackson, coalition emerge as the Whig Party

The United States Senate elections of 1834 and 1835 were elections that had the Anti-Jackson coalition maintain control of the United States Senate. However, during the 24th Congress, the Jacksonian coalition gained control of the Senate.

The United States Senate elections of 1832 and 1833 were elections that had the Anti-Jackson coalition assume control of the United States Senate from the Jacksonian coalition, despite Andrew Jackson's victory in the presidential election.

The United States Senate elections of 1830 and 1831 were elections that had Jacksonians gain one seat in the United States Senate from the Anti-Jacksonian coalition, but lose one seat to the short-lived Nullifier Party. By the time Congress first met in December 1831, however, the Jacksonians had a net loss of one seat.

In the United States Senate elections of 1828 and 1829, the Jacksonian coalition, despite its leader's victory in the presidential election, lost a seat in the Senate to the opposing Anti-Jacksonian coalition.

The United States Senate elections of 1822 and 1823 were elections for the United States Senate that had the Democratic-Republican Party continue almost complete control of the Senate.

The United States Senate elections of 1824 and 1825 were elections for the United States Senate that saw the Jacksonians gain a majority over the Anti-Jacksonian National Republican Party.

The 1826 United States elections occurred in the middle of Democratic-Republican President John Quincy Adams's term. Members of the 20th United States Congress were chosen in this election. The election took place during a transitional period between the First Party System and the Second Party System. With the Federalist Party no longer active as a major political party, the major split in Congress was between supporters of Adams and supporters of Andrew Jackson, who Adams had defeated in the 1824 Presidential election.

References