United States Senate elections, 1846 and 1847

Last updated

United States Senate elections, 1846 and 1847
Flag of the United States (1846-1847).svg
  1844/45 Various dates 1848/49  

19 of the 58 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections)
30 seats needed for a majority

 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Democratic Whig
Last election35 seats24 seats
Seats before3323
Seats won107
Seats after3519
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 2Decrease2.svg 4
Seats up810

 Third partyFourth party
 
Party Liberty Independent Democratic
Last electionNew party0
Seats before10
Seats won01
Seats after01
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 1Increase2.svg 1
Seats up10

Majority Party before election

Democratic

Elected Majority Party

Democratic

The United States Senate elections of 1846 and 1847 were elections which had the Democratic Party gain four seats in the United States Senate.

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

Senate Party Division, 30th Congress (1847–1849)

Change in Senate composition

Before the elections

After the February 1846 elections in Texas.

D1D2D3D4D5D6D7D8
D18D17D16D15D14D13D12D11D10D9
D19D20D21D22D23D24D25D26
Ran
D27
Ran
D28
Ran
Majority →D29
Ran
W19
Ran
W20
Unknown
W21
Unknown
W22
Unknown
W23
Retired
D33
Retired
D32
Unknown
D31
Unknown
D30
Ran
W18
Ran
W17
Ran
W16
Ran
W15
Ran
W14
Ran
W13
Ran
W12W11W10W9
W1W2W3W4W5W6W7W8

As a result of the elections

D1D2D3D4D5D6D7D8D9
D19D18D17D16D15D14D13D12D11D10
D20D21D22D23D24D25D26
Re-elected
D27
Re-elected
D28
Re-elected
D29
Re-elected
Majority →D30
Hold
V1
W Loss
V2
New state
V3
New state
ID1
Gain
D35
Gain
D34
Gain
D33
Gain
D32
Hold
D31
Hold
W19
Hold
W18
Hold
W17
Hold
W16
Re-elected
W15
Re-elected
W14
Re-elected
W13
Re-elected
W12W11W10
W1W2W3W4W5W6W7W8W9

At the beginning of the next Congress

D1D2D3D4D5D6D7D8D9
D19D18D17D16D15D14D13D12D11D10
D20D21D22D23D24D25D26D27D28D29
Majority →D30
W20
Gain
V1V2V3ID1D34D33D32D31
W19W18W17W16W15W14W13W12W11W10
W1W2W3W4W5W6W7W8W9
Key:
D# Democratic
ID# Independent Democratic
W# Whig
V#Vacant

Race summaries

Special elections during the 29th Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1846 or in 1847 before March 4; ordered by election date.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Mississippi
(Class 2)
Joseph W. Chalmers Democratic1845 (Appointed)Interim appointee elected January 10, 1846.Joseph W. Chalmers (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Texas
(Class 1)
New StateTexas was admitted to the Union December 29, 1845.
Winner elected February 21, 1846.
Democratic gain.
Thomas Rusk (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Texas
(Class 2)
New StateTexas was admitted to the Union December 29, 1845.
Winner elected February 21, 1846.
Democratic gain.
Sam Houston (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New Hampshire
(Class 2)
Benning W. Jenness Democratic1845 (Appointed)Appointee lost election to finish the term.
Winner elected June 13, 1846.
Liberty gain.
Winner was not elected to the next term, see below.
Joseph Cilley (Liberty)
Benning W. Jenness (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
North Carolina
(Class 3)
William H. Haywood, Jr. Democratic 1843 Incumbent resigned July 25, 1846 rather than disobey instructions from the N.C. General Assembly.
Winner elected November 25, 1846.
Whig gain.
James M. Mason (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Louisiana
(Class 2)
Alexander Barrow Whig 1840 Incumbent died December 29, 1846.
Winner elected January 21, 1847.
Democratic gain.
Winner was not elected to the next term, see below.
Pierre Soulé (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Virginia
(Class 1)
Isaac S. Pennybacker Democratic 1845 (Special) Incumbent died January 12, 1847.
Winner elected January 21, 1847.
Democratic hold.
James M. Mason (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Iowa
(Class 2)
New StateIowa was admitted to the Union December 28, 1846.
Legislature failed to elect due to a three-way split that prevented any candidate from earning the required number of 30 legislators' votes. [1]
Seat vacant until December 7, 1848.
[Data unknown/missing.]
Iowa
(Class 3)
New StateIowa was admitted to the Union December 28, 1846.
Legislature failed to elect due to a three-way split that prevented any candidate from earning the required number of 30 legislators' votes. [1]
Seat vacant until December 7, 1848.
[Data unknown/missing.]

Races leading to the 30th Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1847; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral
history
Alabama Dixon Hall Lewis Democratic1844 (Appointed)Incumbent elected to full term in 1847.Dixon Hall Lewis (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Arkansas Chester Ashley Democratic 1844 (Special) Incumbent re-elected in 1846.Chester Ashley (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Delaware Thomas Clayton Whig 1837 (Special)
1841
Unknown in incumbent lost re-election or retired.
Winner elected in 1846 or 1847.
Whig hold.
Thomas Clayton (Whig)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Georgia John M. Berrien Whig 1825
1829 (Resigned)
1840
1845 (Resigned)
1845 (Special)
Incumbent re-elected in 1846.John M. Berrien (Whig)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Illinois James Semple Democratic1843 (Appointed)
? (Special)
Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1846.
Democratic hold.
Stephen A. Douglas (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Kentucky James T. Morehead Whig 1841 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1846 or 1847.
Whig hold.
Joseph R. Underwood (Whig)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Louisiana Pierre Soulé Democratic 1847 (Special) Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1847.
Democratic hold.
Solomon W. Downs (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Maine George Evans Whig 1840 Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1846. [2]
Democratic gain.
James W. Bradbury (Democratic)
George Evans (Whig)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Massachusetts John Davis Whig 1835
1841 (Resigned)
1845 (Special)
Incumbent re-elected in 1847.John Davis (Whig)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Michigan William Woodbridge Whig 1841 Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in February 1847.
Democratic gain.
Alpheus Felch (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Mississippi Joseph W. Chalmers Democratic1845 (Appointed)
? (Special)
Unknown if incumbent lost re-election or retired.
Winner elected in 1846 or 1847.
Democratic hold.
Henry S. Foote (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New Hampshire Joseph Cilley Liberty 1846 Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1846.
Independent Democratic gain.
John P. Hale (Independent Democratic)
Joseph Cilley (Liberty)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New Jersey Jacob W. Miller Whig 1840 Incumbent re-elected in 1846.Jacob W. Miller (Whig)
[Data unknown/missing.]
North Carolina Willie Mangum Whig 1840 (Special)
1841
Incumbent re-elected in 1847.Willie Mangum (Whig)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Rhode Island James F. Simmons Whig 1841 Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1846 or 1847.
Whig hold.
John Hopkins Clarke (Whig)
James F. Simmons (Whig)
[Data unknown/missing.]
South Carolina John C. Calhoun Democratic 1832 (Special)
1834
1840
1843 (Resigned)
1845 (Special)
Incumbent re-elected in 1846.John C. Calhoun (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Tennessee Spencer Jarnagin Whig 1843 (Special) Incumbent retired.
Legislature failed to elect.
Whig loss.
Spencer Jarnagin (Whig)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Texas Sam Houston Democratic 1846 Incumbent re-elected in 1847Sam Houston (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Virginia William S. Archer Whig 1846 Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1846.
Democratic gain.
Robert M. T. Hunter (Democratic)
William S. Archer (Whig)
[Data unknown/missing.]

Special elections during the 30th Congress

In this special election, the winner was elected in 1847 after March 4.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Tennessee
(Class 2)
VacantLegislature had earlier failed to elect.
Winner elected November 22, 1847.
Whig gain.
John Bell (Whig)
[Data unknown/missing.]

Complete list of races

New Hampshire

John P. Hale was elected June 1846 as an Independent Democrat. He would later become a Free Soiler.

John P. Hale American politician

John Parker Hale was an American politician and lawyer from New Hampshire. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1843 to 1845 and in the United States Senate from 1847 to 1853 and again from 1855 to 1865. He began his Congressional career as a Democrat, but helped establish the anti-slavery Free Soil Party and eventually joined the Republican Party.

In U.S. politics an Independent Democrat is an individual who loosely identifies with the ideals of the Democratic Party but chooses not to be a formal member of the party. Independent Democrat is not a political party. Several elected officials, including members of Congress, have identified as Independent Democrats.

See also

29th United States Congress

The Twenty-ninth 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, 1845, to March 4, 1847, during the first two years of James Polk's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the Sixth Census of the United States in 1840. Both chambers had a Democratic majority.

Related Research Articles

1936 United States Senate elections

The United States Senate elections of 1936 coincided with the reelection of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Great Depression continued and voters backed progressive candidates favoring Roosevelt's New Deal in races across the country. The Democrats gained 5 net seats during the election, and in combination with Democratic and Farmer–Labor interim appointments and the defection of George W. Norris from the Republican Party to become independent, the Republicans were reduced to 16 seats, the most lopsided Senate since Reconstruction.

The United States Senate elections of 1848 and 1849 were elections which had the Democratic Party lose seats but maintain control of 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."

The United States Senate elections of 1856 and 1857 were elections which had the young Republican Party assume its position as one of the United States's two main political parties. The Whigs and Free Soilers were gone by the time the next Congress began.

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 1872 and 1873 were elections which had the Republican Party, while still retaining a commanding majority, lose two seats in the United States Senate. By the beginning of the Congress, however, they'd lost three more: two as defections to the Liberal Republican Party, and one a resignation of Henry Wilson to become U.S. Vice President. These elections also coincided with President Ulysses S. Grant's easy re-election.

The United States Senate elections of 1876 and 1877 had the Democratic Party gain five seats in the United States Senate, and coincided with Rutherford B. Hayes's narrow election as President. Republicans remained in the majority, however.

1900 and 1901 United States Senate elections

The United States Senate elections of 1900 and 1901 were elections in which the Democratic Party gained two seats in the United States Senate, and which corresponded with President William McKinley's landslide re-election. By the beginning of the next Congress, however, the Republicans gained five additional seats, giving them a ten-seat majority.

The United States Senate elections of 1878 and 1879 were elections which had the Democratic Party retake control of the United States Senate for the first time since before the Civil War.

The United States Senate elections of 1844 and 1845 were elections which, coinciding with James K. Polk's election, had the Democratic Party retake control of the United States Senate, gaining a net total of eleven seats from the Whigs.

The United States Senate elections of 1882 and 1883 saw the Republicans retain a narrow majority — 39 out of 76 — with the Readjusters in their caucus.

The United States Senate elections of 1888 and 1889 were elections that coincided with Benjamin Harrison's victory over incumbent President Grover Cleveland. Both parties were unchanged in the general elections, but later special elections would give Republicans an eight-seat majority, mostly from newly admitted states.

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 1842 and 1843 were elections which had the Whigs lose seats but maintain control of the United States Senate. Although they lost three seats in the general elections, they gained two of them back by the start of the first session in special elections.

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 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 1864 and 1865 were elections corresponding with Abraham Lincoln's re-election, with the Republican Party gaining two seats in the United States Senate. As these elections occurred during the Civil War, most of the Southern States were absent.

The United States Senate elections of 1860 and 1861 were elections corresponding with Abraham Lincoln's election to the presidency. The nascent Republican Party increased their Senate seats in the general elections, and after southern Democrats withdrew to join the Confederacy, Republicans gained control of the United States Senate. To establish a quorum with fewer members, a lower total seat number was taken into account.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 Clark, Dan Elbert (1913). "History of Senatorial Elections in Iowa". Iowa. pp. 17–46, 72–79.
  2. http://www.onlinebiographies.info/me/rmm/bradbury-jw.htm