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The United States Senate elections of 1880 and 1881 were elections that conicided 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 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.
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, 47th Congress (1881–1883)
The Readjuster Party was a political biracial coalition formed in Virginia in the late 1870s during the turbulent period following the Reconstruction era. Readjusters aspired "to break the power of wealth and established privilege" among the planter elite of white men in the state and to promote public education. Their program attracted biracial support.
D8 | D7 | D6 | D5 | D4 | D3 | D2 | D1 | ||
D9 | D10 | D11 | D12 | D13 | D14 | D15 | D16 | D17 | D18 |
D28 | D27 | D26 | D25 | D24 | D23 | D22 | D21 | D20 | D19 |
D29 Ran | D30 Ran | D31 Ran | D32 Ran | D33 Ran | D34 Ran | D35 Ran | D36 Ran | D37 Ran | D38 Ran |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Majority → | D39 Unknown | ||||||||
R29 Unknown | R30 Retired | R31 Retired | R32 Retired | AM1 Retired | I1 | D42 Retired | D41 Unknown | D40 Unknown | |
R28 Unknown | R27 Ran | R26 Ran | R25 Ran | R24 Ran | R23 Ran | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 |
R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 | R18 |
R8 | R7 | R6 | R5 | R4 | R3 | R2 | R1 |
D8 | D7 | D6 | D5 | D4 | D3 | D2 | D1 | ||
D9 | D10 | D11 | D12 | D13 | D14 | D15 | D16 | D17 | D18 |
D28 | D27 | D26 | D25 | D24 | D23 | D22 | D21 | D20 | D19 |
D29 Re-elected | D30 Re-elected | D31 Re-elected | D33 Re-elected | D33 Hold | D34 Hold | D35 Hold | D36 Gain | D37 Gain | I1 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Plurality ↓ | RA1 Gain | ||||||||
R29 Hold | R30 Hold | R31 Gain | R32 Gain | R33 Gain | R34 Gain | R35 Gain | R36 Gain | R37 Gain | |
R28 Hold | R27 Hold | R26 Re-elected | R25 Re-elected | R24 Re-elected | R23 Re-elected | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 |
R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 | R18 |
R8 | R7 | R6 | R5 | R4 | R3 | R2 | R1 |
Key: |
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In these elections, the winners were seated during 1880 or in 1881 before March 4; ordered by election date.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Georgia (Class 3) | John B. Gordon | Democratic | 1873 1879 | Incumbent resigned to promote a venture for the Georgia Pacific Railway. Winner elected May 26, 1880. Democratic hold. | √ Joseph E. Brown (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Alabama (Class 3) | Luke Pryor | Democratic | 1880 (Appointed) | Unknown if interim appointee retired or lost election. Winner elected November 23, 1880. Democratic hold. | √ James L. Pugh (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Michigan (Class 1) | Henry P. Baldwin | Republican | 1879 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 19, 1881. | √ Henry P. Baldwin (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1881; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
California | Newton Booth | Anti-Monopoly | 1874 | Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1880. Republican gain. | √ John F. Miller (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Connecticut | William W. Eaton | Democratic | 1874 or 1875 | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. Winner elected in 1881. Republican gain. | √ Joseph Roswell Hawley (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Delaware | Thomas F. Bayard | Democratic | 1869 1875 | Incumbent re-elected in 1881. | √ Thomas F. Bayard (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Florida | Charles W. Jones | Democratic | 1875 | Incumbent re-elected in 1881. | √ Charles W. Jones (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Indiana | Joseph E. McDonald | Democratic | 1874 or 1875 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1880 or 1881. Republican gain. | √ Benjamin Harrison (Republican) Joseph E. McDonald (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Maine | Hannibal Hamlin | Republican | 1857 1861 (Resigned) 1869 1875 | Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1881. Republican hold. | √ Eugene Hale (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Maryland | William P. Whyte | Democratic | 1868 (Appointed) 1869 (Retired) 1874 | Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1880. Democratic hold. | √ Arthur P. Gorman (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Massachusetts | Henry L. Dawes | Republican | 1875 | Incumbent re-elected in 1881. | √ Henry L. Dawes (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Michigan | Henry P. Baldwin | Republican | 1881 (Special) | Incumbent retired. Winner elected January 18, 1881. Republican hold. | √ Omar D. Conger (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Minnesota | Samuel J. R. McMillan | Republican | 1875 | Incumbent re-elected in 1881. | √ Samuel J. R. McMillan (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Mississippi | Blanche Bruce | Republican | 1874 | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. Winner elected in 1880. Democratic gain. | √ James Z. George (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Missouri | Francis Cockrell | Democratic | 1874 | Incumbent re-elected in 1881. | √ Francis Cockrell (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Nebraska | Algernon Paddock | Republican | 1875 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1880. Republican hold. | √ Charles Van Wyck (Republican) Algernon Paddock (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Nevada | William Sharon | Republican | 1875 | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. Winner elected January 12, 1881. Democratic gain. | √ James Graham Fair (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
New Jersey | Theodore F. Randolph | Democratic | 1875 | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. Winner elected in 1881. Republican gain. | √ William Joyce Sewell (Republican) Theodore Fitz Randolph (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
New York | Francis Kernan | Democratic | 1875 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected January 20, 1881. Republican gain. | √ Thomas C. Platt (Republican) Francis Kernan (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Ohio | Allen G. Thurman | Democratic | 1868 1874 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1880. Republican gain. | √ John Sherman (Republican) Allen G. Thurman (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Pennsylvania | William A. Wallace | Democratic | 1875 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected February 23, 1881. Republican gain. | √ John I. Mitchell (Republican) 59.76% William A. Wallace (Democratic) 36.65% |
Rhode Island | Ambrose Burnside | Republican | 1874 | Incumbent re-elected in 1880. | √ Ambrose Burnside (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Tennessee | James E. Bailey | Democratic | 1877 (Special) | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1880 or 1881. Democratic hold. | √ Howell E. Jackson (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Texas | Samuel B. Maxey | Democratic | 1875 | Incumbent re-elected in 1881. | √ Samuel B. Maxey (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Vermont | George F. Edmunds | Republican | 1866 (Appointed) 1866 (Special) 1868 1874 | Incumbent re-elected in 1880. | √ George F. Edmunds (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Virginia | Robert E. Withers | Democratic | 1875 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1881. Readjuster gain. Winner would caucus with the Republicans. | √ William Mahone (Readjuster) [Data unknown/missing.] |
West Virginia | Frank Hereford | Democratic | 1877 (Special) | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. Winner elected in 1880 or 1881. Democratic hold. | √ Johnson N. Camden (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Wisconsin | Angus Cameron | Republican | 1875 | Incumbent retired. Winner elected January 26, 1881. Republican hold. | √ Philetus Sawyer (Republican) 98 James G. Jenkins (Democratic) 29 C. D. Parker (Democratic) 1 C. C. Washburn (Republican) 2 [2] |
In these elections, the winners were elected in 1881 after March 4; ordered by date.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Wisconsin (Class 3) | Matthew H. Carpenter | Republican | 1868 or 1869 1875 (Lost) 1879 | Incumbent died February 24, 1881. Winner elected March 14, 1881. Republican hold. | √ Angus Cameron (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Maine (Class 2) | James G. Blaine | Republican | 1876 (Appointed) 1877 (Special) 1877 | Incumbent resigned March 5, 1881 to become U.S. Secretary of State. Winner elected March 18, 1881. Republican hold. | √ William P. Frye (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
New York (Class 1) | Thomas C. Platt | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent resigned May 16, 1881 to protest federal appointments in New York. Winner elected July 27, 1881. Republican hold. | √ Warner Miller (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
New York (Class 3) | Roscoe Conkling | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent resigned May 16, 1881 to protest federal appointments in New York. Winner elected July 29, 1881. Republican hold. | √ Elbridge G. Lapham (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Rhode Island (Class 1) | Ambrose Burnside | Republican | 1874 1880 | Incumbent died September 13, 1881. Winner elected October 5, 1881. Republican hold. | √ Nelson W. Aldrich (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Minnesota (Class 2) | Alonzo J. Edgerton | Republican | 1881 (Appointed) | Interim appointee replaced by successor elected October 30, 1881. Republican hold. | √ William Windom (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Virginia (Class 2) | John W. Johnston | Democratic | 1871 1877 | Incumbent lost re-election for the term beginning March 4, 1883. Winner elected early December 21, 1881. [3] Readjuster gain. Winner caucused with the Republicans. [3] | √ Harrison H. Riddleberger (Readjuster) John W. Johnston (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
On January 12, 1881, James Graham Fair (Republican) was elected. [4]
James Graham Fair was an Irish immigrant to the United States who became a highly successful mining engineer and businessman. His investments in silver mines in Nevada made him a millionaire, and he was one of the famous "silver kings" who became wealthy on the Comstock Lode. Fair later became a real estate investor and railroad builder in California. In 1881, he was elected a United States Senator from Nevada.
The New York election was held January 18, 1881, by the New York State Legislature. Democrat Francis Kernan had been elected in January 1875 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1881. At the State election in November 1879, 25 Republicans and 7 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1880-1881) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1880, 81 Republicans and 47 Democrats were elected for the session of 1881 to the Assembly. The 104th State Legislature met from January 4, 1881, on at Albany, 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.
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.
The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 13, State Senator Dennis McCarthy presided. All but one of the legislators were present, only State Senator Edward M. Madden (13th D.) was absent. The caucus nominated Ex-Congressman Thomas C. Platt for the U.S. Senate. Platt was a friend of the other U.S. Senator from New York, Roscoe Conkling, and belonged to the Stalwart faction. The opposing Half-Breeds (in the press sometimes referred to as the "anti-machine men") at first wanted to nominate Chauncey M. Depew, but he withdrew before balloting. The majority of the Half-Breeds, led by President pro tempore of the State Senate William H. Robertson, then supported Platt, a minority voted for Sherman S. Rogers, the defeated Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1876. Congressman Richard Crowley was supported by a faction led by Speaker of the State Assembly George H. Sharpe, allied with Governor Alonzo B. Cornell. U.S. Vice President William A. Wheeler, and Congressmen Elbridge G. Lapham and Levi P. Morton also received votes.
Dennis McCarthy was an American manufacturer and politician from New York.
Thomas Collier Platt was a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1873–1877) and a three-term U.S. Senator from New York in the years 1881 and 1897–1909. He is best known as the "political boss" of the Republican Party in New York State in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Upon his death, the New York Times stated that "no man ever exercised less influence in the Senate or the House of Representatives than he," but "no man ever exercised more power as a political leader." He considered himself the "political godfather" of many Republican governors of the state, including Theodore Roosevelt.
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.
Office | Candidate | First ballot |
---|---|---|
U.S. Senator | Thomas C. Platt | 54 |
Richard Crowley | 26 | |
Sherman S. Rogers | 10 | |
William A. Wheeler | 10 | |
Elbridge G. Lapham | 4 | |
Levi P. Morton | 1 | |
The caucus of the Democratic State legislators met on January 17, State Senator Charles A. Fowler (14th D.) presided. They re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator Francis Kernan by acclamation.
Thomas C. Platt was the choice of both the State Senate and the Assembly, and was declared elected.
House | Republican | Democrat | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
State Senate (32 members) | Thomas C. Platt | 25 | Francis Kernan | 6 |
State Assembly (128 members) | Thomas C. Platt | 79 | Francis Kernan | 44 |
Notes:
The Pennsylvania election was held on thirty separate dates from January to February 1881. On February 23, 1881, John I. Mitchell was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. [5] The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 27, 1881, to elect a Senator to serve the term beginning on March 4, 1881. Thirty-five ballots were recorded on thirty separate dates spanning from January 27 to February 23, 1881. The results of the thirty-fifth and final ballot of both houses combined are as follows:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John I. Mitchell | 150 | 59.76 | |
Democratic | William A. Wallace (Inc.) | 92 | 36.65 | |
N/A | Not voting | 7 | 2.79 | |
N/A | Other | 2 | 0.80 | |
Totals | 251 | 100.00% |
The 1863 United States Senate election in New York was held on February 3, 1863, 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 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 1875 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 19 and 20, 1875, 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 1881 United States Senate special election in New York was held from May 31 to July 22, 1881, by the New York State Legislature to elect two U.S. Senators to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.
The 1887 United States Senate election in New York was held from January 18 to 20, 1887, 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 1891 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 20 and 21, 1891, 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 1897 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 19, 1897, 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 1899 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 17, 1899, 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 1903 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 20, 1903, 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 1911 United States Senate election in New York was held from January 17 to March 31, 1911, 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 1896 and 1897 were elections in which the Democratic Party lost seven seats in the United States Senate, mostly to smaller third parties.
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 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 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.
The 104th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 4 to July 23, 1881, during the second year of Alonzo B. Cornell's governorship, in Albany.