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25 of the 66 (6 vacant)/72 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections) 34 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The United States Senate elections of 1866 and 1867 were elections that saw the Republican Party gain two seats in the United States Senate as several of the Southern States were readmitted during Reconstruction, enlarging their majority.
The Republican Party, also referred to as the GOP, is one of the two major political parties in the United States; the other is its historic rival, the Democratic Party.
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.
As these elections were prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment, Senators were chosen by state legislatures.
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.
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.
Senate Party Division, 40th Congress (1867–1869)
After August 31, 1866 appointment in New Hampshire.
V6 Seceded | V5 Seceded | V4 Seceded | V3 Seceded | V2 | V1 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
V7 Seceded | V8 Seceded | V9 Seceded | V10 Seceded | D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 |
R37 Retired | UU1 | UU2 Unknown | U1 | U2 | U3 Ran | D10 Retired | D9 Ran | D8 | D7 |
R36 Retired | R35 Retired | R34 Unknown | R33 Ran | R32 Ran | R31 Ran | R30 Ran | R29 Ran | R28 Ran | R27 Ran |
Majority → | |||||||||
R17 | R18 | R19 | R20 | R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 Ran | R26 Ran |
R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 | R10 | R9 | R8 | R7 |
V14 | V13 | V12 | V11 | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 |
V15 | V16 | V17 | V18 | V19 | V20 |
V6 Seceded | V5 Seceded | V4 Seceded | V3 Seceded | V2 | V1 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
V7 Seceded | V8 Seceded | V9 Seceded | V10 Seceded | D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 |
R37 Hold | R38 Gain | R39 Gain | UU1 | U1 | U2 | D10 Gain | D9 Gain | D8 | D7 |
R36 Hold | R35 Hold | R34 Hold | R33 Hold | R32 Hold | R31 Hold | R30 Hold | R29 Re-elected | R28 Re-elected | R17 Re-elected |
Majority → | |||||||||
R17 | R18 | R19 | R20 | R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 Re-elected | R26 Re-elected |
R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 | R10 | R9 | R8 | R7 |
V14 | V13 | V12 | V11 | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 |
V15 | V16 | V17 | V18 | V19 | V20 |
V7 | V6 | V5 | V4 | V3 | V2 | V1 | |||
V8 | V9 | V10 | V11 Not seated | D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | D6 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R38 | R39 | R40 Changed | R41 Changed | R42 New seat | R43 New seat | R44 Gain | R45 Gain | D8 Changed | D7 |
R37 | R36 | R35 | R34 | R33 | R32 | R31 | R30 | R29 | R28 |
Majority → | R27 | ||||||||
R18 | R19 | R20 | R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 | R26 | |
R17 | R16 | R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 | R10 | R9 | R8 |
V14 | V13 | V12 | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 |
V15 | V16 | V17 | V18 | V19 | V20 | V21 |
Key: |
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In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1866 or in 1867 before March 4; ordered by election date.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Maine (Class 2) | Nathan A. Farwell | Republican | 1864 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 11, 1865 to finish the term. Winner did not run for re-election to the next term, see below. | √ Nathan A. Farwell (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Iowa (Class 3) | James Harlan | Republican | 1855 (1857 Election invalidated) 1857 (Special) 1860 | Incumbent resigned May 15, 1865 to become U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Winner elected January 13, 1866. Republican Hold. Winner did not run for re-election to the next term, see below. | √ Samuel J. Kirkwood (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Tennessee (Class 1) | Vacant since March 4, 1862 when Andrew Johnson (D) resigned to become Military Governor of Tennessee. | State re-admitted to the Union. Winner elected July 24, 1866. Unionist gain. | √ Joseph S. Fowler (Unionist) [Data unknown/missing.] | ||
Tennessee (Class 2) | Vacant since March 3, 1861 when Alfred O. P. Nicholson (D) withdrew in anticipation of secession. | State re-admitted to the Union. Winner elected July 24, 1866. Unionist gain. | √ David T. Patterson (Unionist) [Data unknown/missing.] | ||
New Jersey (Class 2) | John P. Stockton | Democratic | 1864 | Incumbent's election disputed and seat declared vacant. Winner elected September 19, 1866. Republican gain. | √ Alexander G. Cattell (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Vermont (Class 1) | George F. Edmunds | Republican | 1866 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected October 24, 1866 to finish the term. [1] | √ George F. Edmunds (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Vermont (Class 3) | Luke P. Poland | Republican | 1865 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected October 24, 1866 to finish the term. [1] Winner lost re-election to the next term, see below. | √ Luke P. Poland (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Kansas (Class 2) | Edmund G. Ross | Republican | 1866 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 23, 1867 to finish the term. [2] | √ Edmund G. Ross (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
New Jersey (Class 1) | Frederick T. Frelinghuysen | Republican | 1866 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 23, 1867 to finish the term. [3] | √ Frederick T. Frelinghuysen (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Nebraska (Class 1) | New State | Nebraska admitted to the Union March 1, 1867. Winner elected March 1, 1867. Republican gain. | √ Thomas Tipton (Unionist) [Data unknown/missing.] | ||
Nebraska (Class 2) | New State | Nebraska admitted to the Union March 1, 1867. Winner elected March 1, 1867. Republican gain. | √ John M. Thayer (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1867; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Alabama | Vacant since January 21, 1861 when Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D) withdrew. | Legislature failed to elect during Civil War and Reconstruction. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | None. | ||
Arkansas | Vacant since July 11, 1861 when Charles B. Mitchel (D) was expelled. | Legislature failed to elect during Civil War and Reconstruction. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | None. | ||
California | James A. McDougall | Democratic | 1860 | Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1866 or 1867. Republican gain. | √ Cornelius Cole (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Connecticut | Lafayette S. Foster | Republican | 1860 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1866. Republican hold. | √ Orris S. Ferry (Republican) Lafayette S. Foster (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Florida | Vacant since January 21, 1861 when David Levy Yulee (D) withdrew. | Legislature failed to elect during Civil War and Reconstruction. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | None. | ||
Georgia | Vacant since January 28, 1861 when Alfred Iverson, Sr. (D) withdrew. | Winner elected in 1867. Senate refused to seat the winner. Seat remained vacant until 1871 when Georgia was readmitted. | √ Joshua Hill (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] | ||
Illinois | Lyman Trumbull | Republican | 1854 or 1855 1861 | Incumbent re-elected in 1867. | √ Lyman Trumbull (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Iowa | Samuel J. Kirkwood | Republican | 1865 (Special) | Incumbent lost nomination. Winner elected January 13, 1866. [4] Republican hold. | √ James Harlan (Republican) 118 votes H. H. Trimble (Democratic) 20 votes |
Indiana | Henry Lane | Republican | 1860 | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. Winner elected in 1867. Republican hold. | √ Oliver P. Morton (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Kansas | Samuel C. Pomeroy | Republican | 1861 | Incumbent re-elected in 1867. | √ Samuel C. Pomeroy (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Kentucky | Garrett Davis | Unionist | 1861 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1867 as a Democrat. Democratic gain. | √ Garrett Davis (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Louisiana | Vacant since February 4, 1861 when John Slidell (D) resigned. | Legislature failed to elect during Civil War and Reconstruction. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | None. | ||
Maryland | John Creswell | Unconditional Unionist | 1865 (Special) | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. Winner elected in 1866 or in 1867. Democratic gain. Senate refused to seat him as a person "who had given aid and comfort" to the Confederate cause. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | √ Philip Francis Thomas (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Missouri | B. Gratz Brown | Republican | 1863 (Special) | Incumbent retired due to ill health. Winner elected in 1866 or 1867. Republican hold. | √ Charles D. Drake (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Nevada | James W. Nye | Republican | 1865 | Incumbent re-elected in 1867. | √ James W. Nye (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
New Hampshire | George G. Fogg | Republican | 1866 (Appointed) | Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1866 or 1867. Republican hold. | √ James W. Patterson (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
New York | Ira Harris | Republican | 1861 | Incumbent lost renomination. Winner elected January 15, 1867. Republican hold. | √ Roscoe Conkling (Republican) Henry C. Murphy (Democratic) George F. Comstock (Democratic) |
North Carolina | Vacant since March 11, 1861 when Thomas Clingman (D) resigned. | Legislature failed to elect during Civil War and Reconstruction. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | None. | ||
Ohio | John Sherman | Republican | 1861 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1866. | √ John Sherman (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Oregon | James Nesmith | Democratic | 1860 or 1861 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1866 or 1867. Republican gain. | √ Henry W. Corbett (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Pennsylvania | Edgar Cowan | Republican | 1861 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected January 15, 1867. Republican hold. | √ Simon Cameron (Republican) 61.65% Edgar Cowan (Republican) 36.84% |
South Carolina | Vacant since November 11, 1860 when James Henry Hammond (D) withdrew. | Legislature failed to elect during Civil War and Reconstruction. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | None. | ||
Vermont | Luke P. Poland | Republican | 1865 (Appointed) 1866 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1866. Republican hold. | √ Justin S. Morrill (Republican) Luke P. Poland (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Wisconsin | Charles Durkee | Republican | 1861 | Incumbent re-elected in 1866. | √ Timothy O. Howe (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Tennessee | David T. Patterson | Democratic | 1866 (Special) | Incumbent retired. Winner elected early in October 22, 1867 for the term beginning March 4, 1869. | √ William G. Brownlow (Republican) 63 William B. Stokes (Republican) 39 [5] |
The New York election was held on January 15, 1867, by the New York State Legislature. Republican Ira Harris had been elected in February 1861 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1867.
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.
Ira Harris was an American jurist and senator from New York. He was also a friend of Abraham Lincoln.
At the State election in November 1865, 27 Republicans and 5 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1866-1867) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1866, 82 Republicans and 46 Democrats were elected for the session of 1867 to the Assembly. The 90th State Legislature met from January 1 to April 20, 1867, at Albany, New York.
Albany is the capital of the U.S. state of New York and the seat of Albany County. Albany is located on the west bank of the Hudson River approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of its confluence with the Mohawk River and approximately 135 miles (220 km) north of New York City.
The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 10, State Senator Charles J. Folger presided. State Senator Thomas Parsons (28th D.) was absent, but had his vote cast by proxy. They nominated Congressman Roscoe Conkling for the U.S. Senate. The incumbent Senator Ira Harris was voted down.
Charles James Folger was an American lawyer and politician. He served as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from 1881 until his death.
Roscoe Conkling was a politician from New York who served both as a member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. He was the leader of the Stalwart faction of the Republican Party, the first Republican senator from New York to be elected for three terms, and the last person to turn down a U.S. Supreme Court appointment after he had already been confirmed to the post. While in the House, Conkling served as bodyguard for Representative Thaddeus Stevens, a sharp-tongued anti-slavery representative, and fully supported the Republican War effort. Conkling, who was temperate and detested tobacco, was known for his physical condition, maintained through regular exercise and boxing, an unusual devotion for his time. Conkling was elected to the Senate in 1867 as a leading Radical, who supported the rights of African Americans during Reconstruction.
Candidate | Informal ballot | First ballot | Second ballot | Third ballot | Fourth ballot | Fifth ballot |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roscoe Conkling | 33 | 39 | 45 | 53 | 59 | |
Noah Davis | 30 | 41 | 44 | 50 | 49 | |
Ira Harris | 32 | 24 | 18 | 6 | ||
Ransom Balcom [6] | 7 | 4 | 2 | wd | ||
Horace Greeley | 6 | wd | ||||
Charles J. Folger | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Notes:
The caucus of the Democratic State legislators met also on January 10. State Senator Henry C. Murphy was nominated on the first ballot with 25 votes against 21 for Ex-D.A. of New York A. Oakey Hall. Roscoe Conkling was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected.
The New York County District Attorney is the elected district attorney for New York County (Manhattan), New York. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws. The current district attorney is Cyrus Vance Jr.
Abraham Oakey Hall was an American politician, lawyer, and writer. He served as Mayor of New York from 1869 to 1872 as a Republican. Hall, known as "Elegant Oakey", was a model of serenity and respectability. Recent historians have disputed the older depiction of Hall as corrupt or as a front man for a corrupt political order.
House | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State Senate (32 members) | Roscoe Conkling | 24 | Henry C. Murphy | 2 | George F. Comstock | 1 |
State Assembly (128 members) | Roscoe Conkling | 78 | Henry C. Murphy | 42 |
Notes:
Conkling was re-elected in 1873 and 1879, and remained in office until May 17, 1881, when he resigned in protest against the distribution of federal patronage in New York by President James A. Garfield without being consulted. The crisis between the Stalwart and the Half-Breed factions of the Republican party arose when the leader of the New Yorker Half-Breeds William H. Robertson was appointed Collector of the Port of New York, a position Conkling wanted to give to one of his Stalwart friends.
The Pennsylvania election was held on January 15, 1867. Simon Cameron was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. [7]
Incumbent Republican Edgar Cowan, who was elected in 1861, was a candidate for re-election to another term, but was defeated by former Democratic Senator and former United States Secretary of War Simon Cameron, who had previously switched to the Republican Party. [8] The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 15, 1867, to elect a Senator to fill the term beginning on March 4, 1867. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Simon Cameron | 82 | 61.65 | |
Republican | Edgar Cowan (Inc.) | 49 | 36.84 | |
N/A | Not voting | 2 | 1.50 | |
Totals | 133 | 100.00% |
Although the 17th Amendment was not passed until 1913, some states elected their Senators directly before its passage. Oregon pioneered direct election and experimented with different measures over several years until it succeeded in 1907. Soon after, Nebraska followed suit and laid the foundation for other states to adopt measures reflecting the people's will. By 1912, as many as 29 states elected senators either as nominees of their party's primary or in conjunction with a general election.
The United States Senate elections of 1908 and 1909, some states elected their senators directly even before passage of the 17th Amendment in 1913. Oregon pioneered direct election and experimented with different measures over several years until it succeeded in 1907. Soon after, Nebraska followed suit and laid the foundation for other states to adopt measures reflecting the people's will. By 1912, as many as 29 states elected senators either as nominees of their party's primary or in conjunction with a general election. The Republicans lost two seats overall.
The 1867 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 15, 1867, 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 1869 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 19, 1869, 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 1873 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 21, 1873, 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 1879 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 21, 1879, 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 1881 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 18, 1881, 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 1885 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 20, 1885, 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 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 1868 and 1869 were elections which had the Republican Party maintain their majority in the United States Senate. However, six former Confederate states were also readmitted separately from the general election, each electing two Republicans. This increased the Republicans' already overwhelming majority to the largest number of seats ever controlled by the party.
The United States Senate elections of 1874 and 1875 had the Democratic Party gain nine seats in the United States Senate from the Republican Party. Republicans remained in the majority, however.
The United States Senate elections of 1898 and 1899 were landslide elections which had the Republican Party gain six seats in the United States Senate.
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.
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 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.
The United States Senate elections of 1884 and 1885 were elections that coincided with the presidential election of 1884. Both Republicans and Democrats lost seats in the United States Senate due to the failure of three state legislatures to finish elections in time. Republicans, nevertheless, retained majority control and the Readjusters joined their caucus. By the beginning of the first session, in December 1885, Republicans had won all three vacant seats, increasing their majority.
The United States Senate elections of 1886 and 1887 were elections that had the Republican Party lose two seats in the United States Senate. At the beginning of the 50th Congress, therefore, Republicans had the slimmest possible majority due to a vacant Democratic seat: 38 out of 75 seats. Once that vacancy was filled, Republicans maintained control as the single Readjuster Senator caucused with them.
The United States Senate elections of 1892 and 1893 were elections which, corresponding with former Democratic President Grover Cleveland's return to power, had the Republican Party lose nine seats in the United States Senate and lose its majority to the Democratic Party. The Democratic majority, however, was minimal and didn't last past the next Congress.
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 1862 and 1863 were elections during the American Civil War in which Republicans increased their control of the U.S. Senate. The Republican Party gained three seats, bringing their majority to 66% of the body. Also caucusing with them were Unionists and Unconditional Unionists. As many Southern states seceded in 1860 and 1861, and members left the Senate to join the Confederacy, or were expelled for supporting the rebellion, seats were declared vacant. To establish a quorum with fewer members, a lower total seat number was taken into account.