United States Senate elections, 1874 and 1875

Last updated
United States Senate elections, 1874 and 1875
Flag of the United States (1867-1877).svg
  1872/73 Dates vary by state
(And other dates for special elections)
1876/77  

25 of the 74 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections)
38 seats needed for a majority

 Majority partyMinority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Seats before5219
Seats won1014
Seats after4228
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 10Increase2.svg 9
Seats up205

 Third partyFourth party
 
Party Liberal Republican Anti-Monopoly
Seats before20
Seats won01
Seats after21
Seat changeSteady2.svgIncrease2.svg 1
Seats up00

Majority Party before election


Republican

Elected Majority Party


Republican

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 (the party of incumbent President Ulysses S. Grant). Republicans remained in the majority, however.

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.

Republican Party (United States) Major political party in the United States

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.

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

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

PartiesTotal
Democratic Republican Liberal
Republican
Anti-
Monopoly
Before these elections19522073
Not up1432248
Class 2 (1870/71)915125
Class 3 (1872/73)517131
Up522136
General: Class 152025
Special: Class 10112
Special: Class 2011
Incumbent retired21113
Held by same party145
Replaced by other partyDecrease2.svg7 Republicans replaced by Increase2.svg7 Democrats
Decrease2.svg1 Democrat replaced by Increase2.svg1 Anti-Monopolist
Increase2.svgDecrease2.svg8
Result84113
Incumbent's intent unknown145
Held by same party123
Replaced by other partyDecrease2.svg2 Republicans replaced by Increase2.svg2 DemocratsIncrease2.svgDecrease2.svg2
Result325
Incumbent ran257
Won re-election224
Lost re-electionDecrease2.svg1 Republican replaced by Increase2.svg1 Democrat1
Lost renomination
but held by same party
22
Result347
Total elected1410125
Net changeIncrease2.svg9Decrease2.svg10Increase2.svg1Increase2.svgDecrease2.svg9
Result28422173

Change in Senate composition

Before the elections

After the April 17, 1874 special election in Massachusetts.

D7D6D5D4D3D2D1
D8D9D10D11D12D13D14D15
Ran
D16
Ran
D17
Unknown
R48
Retired
R49
Retired
R50
Retired
R51
Retired
R52
Retired
LR1LR2V1D19
Retired
D18
Retired
R47
Retired
R46
Retired
R45
Retired
R44
Retired
R43
Retired
R42
Retired
R41
Retired
R40
Unknown
R39
Unknown
R38
Unknown
Majority →R37
Ran
R28R29R30R31R32R33
Ran
R34
Ran
R35
Ran
R36
Ran
R27R26R25R24R23R22R21R20R19R18
R8R9R10R11R12R13R14R15R16R17
R7R6R5R4R3R2R1

Result of the elections

D7D6D5D4D3D2D1
D8D9D10D11D12D13D14D15
Re-elected
D16
Re-elected
D17
Hold
D27
Gain
D26
Gain
D25
Gain
D24
Gain
D23
Gain
D22
Gain
D21
Gain
D20
Gain
D19
Gain
D18
Hold
D28
Gain
AM1
Gain
V1LR2LR1R42
Hold
R41
Hold
R40
Hold
R39
Hold
R38
Hold
Majority →R37
Hold
R28R29R30R31R32R33
Re-elected
R34
Re-elected
R35
Hold
R36
Hold
R27R26R25R24R23R22R21R20R19R18
R8R9R10R11R12R13R14R15R16R17
R7R6R5R4R3R2R1

Beginning of the next Congress

D7D6D5D4D3D2D1
D8D9D10D11D12D13D14D15D16D17
D27D26D25D24D23D22D21D20D19D18
D28AM1V1R44
Change
R43
Change
R42R41R40R39R38
Majority →R37
R28R29R30R31R32R33R34R35R36
R27R26R25R24R23R22R21R20R19R18
R8R9R10R11R12R13R14R15R16R17
R7R6R5R4R3R2R1
Key:
AM# Anti-Monopoly Party
D# Democratic
LR# Liberal Republican
R# Republican
V#Vacant

Race summaries

Elections during the 43rd Congress

In these elections, the winners were seated during 1874 or in 1875 before March 4; ordered by election date.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Kansas
(Class 2)
Robert Crozier Republican1873 (Appointed)Interim appointee retired February 2, 1874.
Winner elected February 2, 1874.
Republican hold.
James M. Harvey (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Mississippi
(Class 1)
Adelbert Ames Republican 1870 Incumbent resigned March 17, 1873 to become Governor of Mississippi.
Winner elected February 3, 1874.
Republican hold.
Winner did not run for the next term, see below.
Henry R. Pease (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Massachusetts
(Class 1)
Charles Sumner Liberal Republican 1851 (Special)
1857
1863
1869
Incumbent died March 12, 1874.
Winner elected April 17, 1874.
Republican gain.
Winner did not run for the next term, see below.
William B. Washburn (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]

Races leading to the 44th Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1875; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
California John S. Hager Democratic 1873 (Special) Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1874.
Anti-Monopoly gain.
Newton Booth (Anti-Monopoly)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Connecticut William Alfred Buckingham Republican1868 or 1869Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1874 or 1875.
Democratic gain.
Incumbent died February 5, 1875 and winner was then appointed to finish the term.
William W. Eaton (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Delaware Thomas F. Bayard Democratic 1869 Incumbent re-elected in 1875.Thomas F. Bayard (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Florida Abijah Gilbert Republican1868 or 1869Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1875.
Democratic gain.
Charles W. Jones (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Indiana Daniel D. Pratt Republican 1868 Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1874 or 1875.
Democratic gain.
Joseph E. McDonald (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Maine Hannibal Hamlin Republican 1857
1861 (Resigned)
1869
Incumbent re-elected in 1875.Hannibal Hamlin (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Maryland William P. Whyte Democratic1874 (Appointed)Incumbent retired to run for Maryland Governor.
Winner elected in 1874.
Democratic hold.
William P. Whyte (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Massachusetts William B. Washburn Republican 1874 (Special) Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1875.
Republican hold.
Henry L. Dawes (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Michigan Zachariah Chandler Republican 1857
1863
1869
Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1874.
Republican hold.
Isaac P. Christiancy (Republican)
Zachariah Chandler (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Minnesota Alexander Ramsey Republican 1863
1869
Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1875.
Republican hold.
Samuel J. R. McMillan (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Mississippi Henry R. Pease Republican 1874 (Special) Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in February 1874.
Republican hold.
Blanche Bruce (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Missouri Carl Schurz Republican 1868 Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1874.
Democratic gain.
Francis Cockrell (Democratic)
Carl Schurz (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Nebraska Thomas Tipton Republican 1867
1869
Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1875.
Republican hold.
Algernon Paddock (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Nevada William M. Stewart Republican 1865
1869
Incumbent retired.
Winner elected January 12, 1875.
Republican hold.
William Sharon (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New Jersey John P. Stockton Democratic 1864
1866 (Lost election dispute)
1869
Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1875.
Democratic hold.
Theodore Fitz Randolph (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New York Reuben E. Fenton Republican 1869 Incumbent retired.
Winner elected January 20, 1875.
Democratic gain.
Francis Kernan (Democratic) 87
Edwin D. Morgan (Republican) 68
John T. Hoffman (Democratic) 1
Ohio Allen G. Thurman Democratic 1868 Incumbent re-elected in 1874.Allen G. Thurman (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Pennsylvania John Scott Republican 1869 Incumbent retired.
Winner elected January 19, 1875.
Democratic gain.
William A. Wallace (Democratic) 49.8%
John Allison (Republican) 46.22%
Rhode Island William Sprague IV Republican 1862
1868
Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1875.
Republican hold.
Ambrose Burnside (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Tennessee William G. Brownlow Republican 1867 (Early) Incumbent retired.
Winner elected January 26, 1875.
Democratic gain.
Andrew Johnson (Democratic)
Candidates included Johnson, John C. Brown, William B. Bate, William Andrew Quarles, John H. Stephens, John Houston Savage,
and Gustavus Adolphus Henry Sr. Johnson won after the 54th ballot. He attained 47 votes before switches, four short of a majority, and won with 52. [1]
Texas James W. Flanagan Republican 1870 (Special) Incumbent retired.
Winner elected on January 28, 1875.
Democratic gain.
Samuel B. Maxey (Democratic)
Democrats regained control of the state government following the end of Reconstruction, so Flanagan was not a candidate. In a joint session of the
state legislature, Maxey received 59 first ballot votes to 40 for James W. Throckmorton, and 13 for Republican Edward T. Randle. [2]
Vermont George F. Edmunds Republican1866 (Appointed)
1866 (Special)
1868
Incumbent re-elected on October 20, 1874.George F. Edmunds (Republican)
The Vermont Senate voted to re-elect Edmunds with 28 votes to 1 for Democrat Edward J. Phelps. The Vermont House of Representatives cast
151 ballots for Edmunds, with 48 for Edmunds and 13 Republican votes going to Charles W. Willard. [3]
Virginia John F. Lewis Republican 1870 (Special) Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1875.
Democratic gain.
Robert E. Withers (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
West Virginia Arthur I. Boreman Republican1868 or 1869Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1874 or 1875.
Democratic gain.
Allen T. Caperton (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Wisconsin Matthew H. Carpenter Republican1868 or 1869Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected February 1875.
Republican hold.
Angus Cameron (Republican)
Matthew H. Carpenter (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]

Elections during the 44th Congress

There were no special elections in 1875 to the 44th Congress.

Complete list of races

New York

The New York election was held on January 19 and 20, 1875, by the New York State Legislature.

New York State Legislature state legislature of the U.S. state of New York

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.

Republican Reuben E. Fenton had been elected in January 1869 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1875.

At the state election in November 1873, a Republican majority was elected for a two-year term (1874-1875) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1874, Democrat Samuel J. Tilden was elected Governor, 75 Democrats and 53 Republicans were elected for the session of 1875 to the Assembly, and Democrat Albert P. Laning was elected in the 31st District to fill a vacancy in the State Senate. The 98th New York State Legislature met from January 5 to May 19, 1875, at Albany, New York.

Samuel J. Tilden American politician

Samuel Jones Tilden was the 25th Governor of New York and the Democratic candidate for president in the disputed election of 1876. He was the only individual to win an outright majority of the popular vote in a United States presidential election but lose the election itself, though four other candidates have lost a presidential election despite garnering a plurality of the popular vote.

The caucus of Democratic State legislators met on January 15, State Senator Albert P. Laning, of Buffalo, presided. All but one of the legislators were present, only Assemblyman John M. Roscoe, of Schoharie County, was sick. The caucus nominated Francis Kernan for the U.S. Senate. Kernan had been the Democratic/Liberal Republican candidate for Governor in November 1872 but had been defeated by John Adams Dix. Now Kernan was the choice of Tammany boss John Kelly who had succeeded the corrupt William M. Tweed. Kelly was opposed by John C. Jacobs, who proposed Ex-State Senator Henry C. Murphy, Jacobs's predecessor from the 3rd District, and the Democratic candidate who had lost the U.S. Senate elections in 1867 and 1869 when the Democrats were the minority. Kelly stood firm in his intention to dominate the Democratic Party, and had the caucus nomination made by viva voce vote instead of the more traditional secret ballot. Jacobs and Murphy had expected to get votes from many legislators who would not dare to cross Kelly openly, but had to abandon their hopes when the secret ballot was voted down 74 to 13.

Buffalo, New York City in Western New York

Buffalo is the second largest city in the U.S. state of New York and the largest city in Western New York. As of July 2016, the population was 256,902. The city is the county seat of Erie County and a major gateway for commerce and travel across the Canada–United States border, forming part of the bi-national Buffalo Niagara Region.

Schoharie County, New York County in the United States

Schoharie County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 32,749, making it the state's fifth-least populous county. The county seat is Schoharie. "Schoharie" comes from a Mohawk word meaning "floating driftwood."

Francis Kernan American politician

Francis Kernan was an American lawyer and politician. A resident of New York, he was active in politics as a Democrat, and served in several elected offices, including member of the New York State Assembly, member of the United States House of Representatives, and United States Senator from 1875 to 1881.

1875 Democratic caucus for United States Senator result
CandidateFirst ballot
Francis Kernan 77
Henry C. Murphy 9
John T. Hoffman 1

The caucus of the Republican State legislators nominated Ex-U.S. Senator from New York Edwin D. Morgan.

On January 19, the Democratic majority of the Assembly nominated Francis Kernan, and the Republican majority of the State Senate nominated Ex-U.S. Senator Edwin D. Morgan. On January 20, both Houses met in joint session to compare nominations, and finding that they disagreed, proceeded to a joint ballot. Francis Kernan was elected, the first Democratic U.S. Senator from New York since 1851 when Daniel S. Dickinson left office.

House Democrat Republican Democrat
State Senate
(32 members)
Francis Kernan 13 Edwin D. Morgan 16
State Assembly
(128 members)
Francis Kernan 74 Edwin D. Morgan 52 John T. Hoffman 1
Joint Ballot
(160 members)
Francis Kernan 87 Edwin D. Morgan 68 John T. Hoffman 1

Note: The vote for Ex-Governor of New York Hoffman was cast by Reuben E. Fenton's brother-in-law Samuel Scudder, a Democratic Assemblyman from Cattaraugus County.

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania election was held on January 19, 1875. The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, elected William A. Wallace. [4]

State Legislature Results [4] [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic William A. Wallace 12549.80
Republican John Allison 11646.22
N/ANot voting103.98
Totals251100.00%

See also

Related Research Articles

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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.

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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 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.

References

  1. Hearn, Chester G. (2000). The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 217. ISBN   978-0-7864-0863-4.
  2. Horton, Louise (1974). Samuel Bell Maxey: A Biography. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press. p. 54. ISBN   978-0-292-72261-3.
  3. "Vermont: re-election of George F. Edmunds to the United States Senate". New York Herald. New York, NY. October 21, 1874. p. 7 via Library of Congress, Chronicling America.
  4. 1 2 "U.S. Senate Election - 19 January 1875" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  5. "PA US Senate - 1875". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 22, 2012.