United States Senate elections, 1828 and 1829

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United States Senate elections, 1828 and 1829
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  1826/27 Dates vary by state 1830/31  

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

 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Jacksonian Anti-Jacksonian
Last election27 seats19
(as "Adams")
Seats before2621
(as "Adams")
Seats won106
Seats after2622
Seat changeSteady2.svgIncrease2.svg 1
Seats up105

Majority party before election

Jacksonian

Elected Majority party

Jacksonian

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.

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, 21st Congress (1829–1831)

Change in Senate composition

"Adams" and "Anti-Jacksonian" are interchangeable in these charts.

Senate composition before the elections

After the August 26, 1828 resignation of a Jacksonian senator.

A1A2A3A4
A14A13A12A11A10A9A8A7A6A5
A15A16A17
Ran
A18
Ran
A19
Ran
A20
Unknown
A21
Retired
V1
J Resigned
J26
Ran
J25
Retired
Majority →J24
Ran
J15J16J17
Ran
J18
Ran
J19
Ran
J20
Unknown
J21
Retired
J22
Ran
J23
Unknown
J14J13J12J11J10J9J8J7J6J5
J1J2J3J4

Senate composition as a result of the elections

AJ1AJ2AJ3AJ4
AJ14AJ13AJ12AJ11AJ10AJ9AJ8AJ7AJ6AJ5
AJ15AJ16AJ17
Re-elected
AJ18
Re-elected
AJ19
Re-elected
AJ20
Gain
AJ21
Gain
AJ22
Gain
J26
Gain
J25
Gain
Majority →J24
Hold
J15J16J17
Re-elected
J18
Re-elected
J19
Re-elected
J20
Re-elected
J21
Re-elected
J22
Hold
J23
Hold
J14J13J12J11J10J9J8J7J6J5
J1J2J3J4
Key:
A#= Adams
AJ#= Anti-Jacksonian
J#= Jacksonian
V#= Vacant

Race summaries

Bold states link to specific election articles.

Special elections during the 20th Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1828 or before March 4, 1829; ordered by election date.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Georgia
(Class 2)
Thomas W. Cobb Jacksonian 1824 (special) Incumbent resigned before November 7, 1828.
New senator elected November 7, 1828.
Jacksonian hold.
Oliver H. Prince (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Ohio
(Class 3)
William Henry Harrison Adams 1824 Incumbent resigned May 20, 1828 to become U.S. Minister Plenipotentiary to Gran Columbia.
New senator elected December 10, 1828.
Adams hold.
Jacob Burnet (Adams)
[Data unknown/missing.]
North Carolina
(Class 3)
Nathaniel Macon Jacksonian 1815 (special)
1818
1825
Incumbent resigned November 14, 1828.
New senator elected December 15, 1828.
Jacksonian hold.
James Iredell, Jr. (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Maine
(Class 1)
Albion K. Parris Jacksonian 1827 Incumbent resigned August 26, 1828 when appointed to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.
New senator elected January 15, 1829.
Adams gain.
John Holmes (Adams)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New York
(Class 1)
Martin Van Buren Jacksonian 1821
1827
Incumbent resigned December 20, 1828 to become Governor of New York.
New senator elected January 15, 1829.
Jacksonian hold.
Charles E. Dudley (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New Jersey
(Class 1)
Ephraim Bateman Adams 1826 (special)
1826
Incumbent resigned January 12, 1829 due to failing health.
New senator elected January 30, 1829.
Jacksonian gain.
Mahlon Dickerson (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]

Races leading to the 21st Congress

In these general elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1829; ordered by state.

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

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral
history
Alabama William R. King Jacksonian 1819
1822
Incumbent re-elected in 1828.William R. King (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Delaware Henry M. Ridgely Jacksonian 1827 (Special) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in 1829.
Anti-Jacksonian gain.
John M. Clayton (Anti-Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Georgia Oliver H. Prince Jacksonian 1828 (Special) Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election.
New senator elected in 1828 or 1829.
Jacksonian hold.
George Troup (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Illinois Jesse B. Thomas Adams 1818
1823
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in 1828 or 1829.
Jacksonian gain.
John McLean (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Kentucky Richard M. Johnson Jacksonian 1819 (Special)
1823
Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1829.
Jacksonian hold.
George M. Bibb (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Louisiana Charles D.J. Bouligny Adams 1824 (Special) Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election.
New senator elected in 1829. [1]
Jacksonian gain.
Edward Livingston (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Maine John Chandler Jacksonian 1820
1823
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in 1828 or 1829.
Anti-Jacksonian gain.
Peleg Sprague (Anti-Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Massachusetts Nathaniel Silsbee Adams 1826 (Special) Incumbent re-elected as an Anti-Jacksonian in 1829.Nathaniel Silsbee (Anti-Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Mississippi Thomas Hill Williams Jacksonian 1817.
1823
Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election.
New senator elected in 1828.
Jacksonian hold.
Thomas Buck Reed (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New Hampshire Samuel Bell Adams 1823 Incumbent re-elected as an Anti-Jacksonian in 1828 or 1829.Samuel Bell (Anti-Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New Jersey VacantIncumbent Mahlon Dickerson (J) had resigned January 30, 1829 to be elected to the class 1 seat.
New senator elected in 1828.
Anti-Jacksonian gain.
Theodore Frelinghuysen (Anti-Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
North Carolina John Branch Jacksonian 1822 Incumbent re-elected in 1829.John Branch (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Rhode Island Nehemiah R. Knight Adams 1821 (Special)
1823
Incumbent re-elected as an Anti-Jacksonian in 1829.Nehemiah R. Knight (Anti-Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
South Carolina Robert Y. Hayne Jacksonian 1822 Incumbent re-elected in 1828.Robert Y. Hayne (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Tennessee Hugh Lawson White Jacksonian 1825 (Special) Incumbent re-elected in 1829.Hugh Lawson White (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Virginia Littleton Tazewell Jacksonian 1824 (Special) Incumbent re-elected in 1829.Littleton Tazewell (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]

Special elections during the 21st Congress

In these special elections, the winners were elected in 1829 after March 4; ordered by election date.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Tennessee
(Class 1)
John Eaton Jacksonian1818 (Appointed)
1819 (Special)
1821 (Failure to elect)
1821 (Special)
1826
Incumbent resigned March 9, 1829 to become U.S. Secretary of War.
New senator elected October 19, 1829.
Jacksonian hold.
Felix Grundy (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Georgia
(Class 3)
John M. Berrien Jacksonian 1825 Incumbent resigned March 9, 1829 to become U.S. Attorney General.
New senator elected November 9, 1829.
Jacksonian hold.
John Forsyth (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]
North Carolina
(Class 2)
John Branch Jacksonian 1822
1828
Incumbent resigned March 9, 1829 to become U.S. Secretary of the Navy.
New senator elected December 9, 1829.
Jacksonian hold.
Bedford Brown (Jacksonian)
[Data unknown/missing.]

See also

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.

Related Research Articles

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.

21st United States Congress

The Twenty-first 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, 1829, to March 4, 1831, during the first two years of Andrew Jackson'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.

1828 United States House of Representatives elections election

In the United States House of Representatives elections in 1828, the Jacksonians soundly took control of the presidency, with Andrew Jackson's victory, and greatly increased their majority in Congress. Outgoing President John Quincy Adams's unpopularity played a major role in the Jacksonian pick-up, as did the perception of the Anti-Jacksonian Party as urban and elitist. Major increases in suffrage also heightened Jacksonian wins, as newly enfranchised voters tended to associate with Jacksonian principles. The Anti-Masonic Party, a single issue faction based on distrust of Freemasonry, became the first third party in American history to garner seats in the House.

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 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.

The United States Senate elections of 1852 and 1853 were elections which had the Democratic Party gain two seats in the United States Senate, and which coincided with the 1852 presidential election. Only six of the twenty Senators up for election were re-elected.

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 1820 and 1821 were elections for the United States Senate that, corresponding with James Monroe's landslide re-election, had the Democratic-Republican Party gain seven seats, assuming almost complete control of the Senate.

The United States Senate elections of 1792 and 1793 were elections of United States Senators that coincided with President George Washington's unanimous re-election. In these elections, terms were up for the ten senators in class 2.

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 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.

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.

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

1828 United States elections Election in the United States on 1828

The 1828 United States elections elected the members of the 21st United States Congress. It marked the beginning of the Second Party System, and the definitive split of the Democratic-Republican Party into the Democratic Party and the National Republican Party. While the Democrats cultivated strong local organizations, the National Republicans relied on a clear national platform of high tariffs and internal improvements. Political scientists such as V.O. Key, Jr. consider this election to be a realigning election, while political scientists such as James Reichley instead see the election as a continuation of the Democratic-Republican tradition. Additionally, this election saw the Anti-Masonic Party win a small number of seats in the House, becoming the first third party to gain representation in Congress.

References