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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 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 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.
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, 49th Congress (1885–1887)
D8 | D7 | D6 | D5 | D4 | D3 | D2 | D1 | ||
D9 | D10 | D11 | D12 | D13 | D14 | D15 | D16 | D17 | D18 |
D28 Ran | D27 Ran | D26 Ran | D25 Ran | D24 Ran | D23 Ran | D22 | D21 | D20 | D19 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D29 Ran | D30 Ran | D31 Ran | D32 Ran | D33 Unknown | D34 Retired | D35 Retired | D36 Retired | RA1 | RA2 |
Majority, with Readjusters in caucus → | R38 Retired | ||||||||
R29 Ran | R30 Ran | R31 Ran | R32 Ran | R33 Ran | R34 Ran | R35 Unknown | R36 Unknown | R37 Retired | |
R28 Ran | R27 | R26 | R25 | R24 | R23 | 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 Re-elected | D27 Re-elected | D26 Re-elected | D25 Re-elected | D24 Re-elected | D23 Re-elected | D22 | D21 | D20 | D19 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D29 Re-elected | D30 Hold | D31 Hold | D32 Hold | D33 Hold | D34 Hold | V1 D Loss | V2 R Loss | V3 R Loss | RA1 |
Majority due to three vacancies ↓ | RA2 | ||||||||
R29 Re-elected | R30 Re-elected | R31 Re-elected | R32 Re-elected | R33 Re-elected | R34 Hold | R35 Hold | R36 Hold | R37 Gain | |
R28 Re-elected | R27 | R26 | R25 | R24 | R23 | 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 | D30 | D31 | D32 | D33 | D34 | RA1 | RA2 | R40 Gain | R39 Gain |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Majority → | |||||||||
R29 | R30 | R31 | R32 | R33 | R34 | R35 | R36 | R37 | R38 Gain |
R28 | R27 | R26 | R25 | R24 | R23 | 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 this election, the winner was seated during in 1885 before March 4.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Rhode Island (Class 2) | William P. Sheffield | Republican | 1884 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired when successor elected. Winner elected January 20, 1885. Republican hold. | √ Jonathan Chace (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1891; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Alabama | James L. Pugh | Democratic | 1880 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected in August 1884. | √ James L. Pugh (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Arkansas | James D. Walker | Democratic | 1878 | Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1885. Democratic hold. | √ James K. Jones (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
California | James T. Farley | Democratic | 1878 | Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1885. Republican gain. | √ Leland Stanford (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Colorado | Nathaniel P. Hill | Republican | 1879 | Incumbent lost renomination. Winner elected in 1885. Republican hold. | √ Nathaniel P. Hill (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Connecticut | Orville H. Platt | Republican | 1879 | Incumbent re-elected in 1885. | √ Orville H. Platt (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Florida | Wilkinson Call | Democratic | 1879 | Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1885. [2] | √ Wilkinson Call (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Georgia | Joseph E. Brown | Democratic | 1880 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1885. | √ Joseph E. Brown (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Illinois | John A. Logan | Republican | 1879 | Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election. Legislature failed to elect. Republican loss. Incumbent was later elected to continue the vacant term, see below. | None. |
Indiana | Daniel W. Voorhees | Democratic | 1877 (Appointed) 1879 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1885. | √ Daniel W. Voorhees (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Iowa | William B. Allison | Republican | 1872 1878 | Incumbent re-elected January 23, 1884. [3] | √ William B. Allison (Republican) 90 votes Benton J. Hall 48 votes D. M. Clark 10 votes L. G. Kinne 1 vote [3] |
Kansas | John Ingalls | Republican | 1873 1879 | Incumbent re-elected in 1885. | √ John Ingalls (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Kentucky | John Stuart Williams | Democratic | 1879 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1884. Democratic hold. | √ Joseph Blackburn (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Louisiana | Benjamin F. Jonas | Democratic | 1879 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1884 or 1885. Democratic hold. | √ James B. Eustis (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Maryland | James Black Groome | Democratic | 1878 or 1879 | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. Winner elected in 1884. Democratic hold. | √ Ephraim Wilson (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Missouri | George G. Vest | Democratic | 1879 | Incumbent re-elected in 1885. | √ George G. Vest (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Nevada | John P. Jones | Republican | 1873 1879 | Incumbent re-elected in 1885. | √ John P. Jones (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
New Hampshire | Henry W. Blair | Republican | 1879 | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. Legislature failed to elect. Republican loss. Incumbent was later appointed, and then elected, to continue the vacant term, see below. | [Data unknown/missing.] |
New York | Elbridge G. Lapham | Republican | 1881 (Special) | Incumbent retired. Winner elected January 20, 1885. Republican hold. | √ William M. Evarts (Republican) 92 votes Edward Cooper (Democratic) 65 votes |
North Carolina | Zebulon Vance | Democratic | 1879 | Incumbent re-elected in 1884. | √ Zebulon Vance (Democratic) |
Ohio | George H. Pendleton | Democratic | 1878 or 1879 | Incumbent lost renomination. Winner elected January 15, 1884. [4] Democratic hold. | √ Henry B. Payne (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Oregon | James H. Slater | Democratic | 1878 or 1879 | Incumbent retired. Legislature failed to elect. Democratic loss. | [Data unknown/missing.] |
Pennsylvania | J. Donald Cameron | Republican | 1877 (Special) 1879 | Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1885. | √ J. Donald Cameron (Republican) 64.94% William A. Wallace (Democratic) 27.49% Others, see below |
South Carolina | Wade Hampton III | Democratic | 1878 | Incumbent re-elected in 1884. | √ Wade Hampton III (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Vermont | Justin S. Morrill | Republican | 1866 1872 1878 | Incumbent re-elected in 1884. | √ Justin S. Morrill (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Wisconsin | Angus Cameron | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent retired. Winner elected January 27, 1885. Republican hold. | √ John C. Spooner (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
In these elections, the winners were elected in 1885 after March 4, sorted by election date.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Delaware (Class 1) | Thomas F. Bayard | Democratic | 1869 1875 1881 | Incumbent resigned March 6, 1885 to become U.S. Secretary of State. Winner elected March 18, 1885. | √ George Gray (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Arkansas (Class 2) | Augustus Garland | Democratic | 1876 1883 | Incumbent resigned March 6, 1885 to become U.S. Attorney General. Winner elected March 20, 1885. Democratic hold. | √ James H. Berry (Democratic) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Illinois (Class 3) | Vacant | Legislature had failed to elect. Winner elected May 19, 1885. Republican gain. | √ John A. Logan (Republican) 50.49% Lambert Tree (Democratic) 47.06% John C. Black (Democratic) 0.98% John R. Hoxie (Democratic) 0.49% William Ralls Morrison (Democratic) 0.49% Charles J. Schofield (Democratic) 0.49% | ||
New Hampshire (Class 3) | Henry W. Blair | Republican | 1879 1885 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected June 17, 1885. | √ Henry W. Blair (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
Oregon (Class 3) | Vacant | Legislature had failed to elect. Winner elected November 18, 1885. Republican gain. | √ John H. Mitchell (Republican) [Data unknown/missing.] |
The New York election was held January 20, 1885, by the New York State Legislature.
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 Elbridge G. Lapham had been elected to this seat in a special election in 1881 to succeed Roscoe Conkling who had resigned. Lapham's term would expire on March 3, 1885.
Elbridge Gerry Lapham was a U.S. Senator from New York from 1881–1885.
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.
At the State election in November 1883, 19 Republicans and 13 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1884-1885) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1884, 73 Republicans and 55 Democrats were elected for the session of 1885 to the Assembly. The 108th New York State Legislature met from January 6 to May 22, 1885, at Albany, New York.
The 108th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 6 to May 22, 1885, during the first year of David B. Hill's governorship, in Albany.
The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 19, President pro tempore of the State Senate Dennis McCarthy presided. 19 State senators and 73 assemblymen attended. The Evarts faction required the nomination to be made by viva voce vote, which was opposed by the Morton faction, but was carried by a vote of 64 to 28. The caucus nominated Ex-U.S. Secretary of State William M. Evarts on the first ballot.
Dennis McCarthy was an American manufacturer and politician from New York.
In parliamentary procedure, a voice vote or acclamation is a voting method in deliberative assemblies in which a group vote is taken on a topic or motion by responding orally.
William Maxwell Evarts was an American lawyer and statesman from New York who served as U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator from New York. He was renowned for his skills as a litigator and was involved in three of the most important causes of American political jurisprudence in his day: the impeachment of a president, the Geneva arbitration and the contests before the electoral commission to settle the presidential election of 1876.
Candidate | First ballot |
---|---|
William M. Evarts | 61 |
Levi P. Morton | 28 |
Chauncey M. Depew | 3 |
The Democratic caucus nominated Ex-Mayor of New York Edward Cooper.
William M. Evarts was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected.
House | Republican | Democratic | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
State Senate (32 members) | William M. Evarts | 19 | Edward Cooper | 13 |
State Assembly (128 members) | William M. Evarts | 73 | Edward Cooper | 52 |
Note: The votes were cast on January 20, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 21 to compare nominations, and declare the result.
In 1884, the Democrats held a majority in the Ohio legislature. In a caucus meeting to determine the party's choice for United States Senator, many Democratic legislators looked to replace the incumbent Senator, Democrat George H. Pendleton, because they disagreed with his advocacy of civil service reform and low tariffs. [5] Some of Pendleton's opponents, led by Oliver Payne, promoted Henry B. Payne for the Senate seat, recalling his opposition to both of those positions during his time in the House. [6] After a secret ballot by the Democratic caucus, Henry B. Payne received 46 out of 80 votes. [7] Because Oliver was a trustee and treasurer of the Standard Oil company, many of the Pendleton supporters immediately alleged that $100,000 from the oil trust had been used to bribe Democratic legislators, and claimed that an open ballot would not have favored Payne. [8] [9]
When the full legislature met, Henry B. Payne was elected with 78 votes out of 120. [7] The Democratic legislature initially refused to investigate their members' alleged corruption, but when Republicans regained the majority in the next session, the legislature looked into the allegations and forwarded the results to the federal Senate. [10] The evidence gathered was voluminous, but the Senate declined to expel Payne, who proclaimed his innocence. [9] While there was never enough evidence for definitive proof of bribery, biographer Dewayne Burke wrote that the "circumstantial evidence seems to convict Payne" of the charge. [11]
The Pennsylvania election was held January 20, 1885. The Pennsylvania General Assembly convened January 20, 1885. Incumbent Republican J. Donald Cameron, who was elected in an 1877 special election and re-elected in 1879, was a successful candidate for re-election to another term. [12] The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | J. Donald Cameron (Inc.) | 163 | 64.94 | |
Democratic | William A. Wallace | 69 | 27.49 | |
Republican | A. W. Acheson | 1 | 0.40 | |
Republican | Charles N. Brumm | 1 | 0.40 | |
Republican | George Shiras, Jr. | 1 | 0.40 | |
N/A | Not voting | 14 | 5.58 | |
Totals | 251 | 100.00% |
Henry B. Payne was an American politician from Ohio. Moving to Ohio from his native New York in 1833, he quickly established himself in law and business while becoming a local leader in Democratic politics. After serving in the Ohio Senate, Payne was elected to a single term in the United States House of Representatives in 1874. In the House, he worked unsuccessfully for a compromise in the debate over whether all of the nation's currency should be backed by gold. He was defeated for reelection, but served on the Electoral Commission that convened in early 1877 to resolve the dispute over the results of the 1876 presidential election. He ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1880, but lost to Winfield Scott Hancock, who would go on to lose the general election to James A. Garfield. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1884. His election by the Ohio legislature was tainted with charges of bribery, but after investigation by the Senate, Payne was permitted to keep his seat. In the Senate, he voted for moderate tariff reforms and against the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, but was otherwise a reliable Democratic vote. He did not run for reelection, and died in 1896.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 1890 and 1891 were elections in which the Republican Party lost four seats in the United States Senate, though still retaining a slim majority. That majority was increased, however, upon the admission of two more states with Republican senators.
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.