United States Senate elections, 1886 and 1887

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United States Senate elections, 1886 and 1887
Flag of the United States (1877-1890).svg
  1884/85 Dates vary by state 1888/89  

25 of the 76 seats in the U.S. Senate
(as well as special elections)
39 seats needed for a majority

 Majority partyMinority partyThird party
 
Party Republican Democratic Readjuster
Seats before40342
Seats won13110
Seats after38361
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 2Increase2.svg 2Decrease2.svg 1
Seats up1591

Majority Party before election

Republican

Elected Majority Party

Republican [1]

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.

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.

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.

50th United States Congress

The Fiftieth 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, 1887, to March 4, 1889, during the third and fourth years of Grover Cleveland's first presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the Tenth Census of the United States in 1880. The Senate had a Republican majority, and the House had a Democratic majority.

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 Readjuster Republican
Before these elections3424078
Not up2512551
Class 2 (1886/87 → 1892/93)1311226
Class 3 (1884/851890/91)111324
Up1111628
General: Class 1911525
Special: Class 111
Special: Class 211
Special: Class 311
General election only
Incumbent retired123
Held by same party11
Gained by other partyIncrease2.svg1Decrease2.svg11
No elected successor11
Result112
Incumbent ran611219
Won re-election4711
Held by same party134
Gained by other partyDecrease2.svg1Increase2.svg1Increase2.svgDecrease2.svg4
Increase2.svg2Decrease2.svg2
Increase2.svg1Decrease2.svg1
No elected successor
Result81119
Incumbent's action unknown213
Held by same party213
No elected successor
Gained by other party
Result213
Total elected111324
Net changeIncrease2.svg2Decrease2.svg1Decrease2.svg2Decrease2.svg1
Result3613875

Change in Senate composition

Before the elections

After August 4, 1886 special election in California.

D8D7D6D5D4D3D2D1
D9D10D11D12D13D14D15D16D17D18
D28
Ran
D27
Ran
D26
Ran
D25D24D23D22D21D20D19
D29
Ran
D30
Ran
D31
Ran
D32
Unknown
D33
Unknown
D34
Retired
RA2
Ran
RA1R40
Retired
R39
Retired
Majority →
R29
Ran
R30
Ran
R31
Ran
R32
Ran
R33
Ran
R34
Ran
R35
Ran
R36
Ran
R37
Ran
R38
Unknown
R28
Ran
R27
Ran
R26
Ran
R25R24R23R22R21R20R19
R9R10R11R12R13R14R15R16R17R18
R8R7R6R5R4R3R2R1

After the elections

D8D7D6D5D4D3D2D1
D9D10D11D12D13D14D15D16D17D18
D28
Re-elected
D27
Re-elected
D26
Re-elected
D25D24D23D22D21D20D19
D29
Re-elected
D30
Hold
D31
Hold
D32
Hold
D33
Gain from RA
D34
Gain from R
D35
Gain from R
D36
Gain from R
V1
D Loss
RA1
Majority due to vacancy→R38
Gain from D
R29
Re-elected
R30
Re-elected
R31
Re-elected
R32
Re-elected
R33
Hold
R34
Hold
R35
Hold
R36
Hold
R37
Hold
R28
Re-elected
R27
Re-elected
R26
Re-elected
R25R24R23R22R21R20R19
R9R10R11R12R13R14R15R16R17R18
R8R7R6R5R4R3R2R1

At the beginning of the first session, December 7, 1887

D8D7D6D5D4D3D2D1
D9D10D11D12D13D14D15D16D17D18
D28D27D26D25D24D23D22D21D20D19
D29D30D31D32D33D34D35D36D37
Gain from V
RA1
Majority with Readjuster in caucus →R38
R29R30R31R32R33R34R35R36R37
R28R27R26R25
Hold
R24R23R22R21R20R19
R9R10R11R12R13R14R15R16R17R18
R8R7R6R5R4R3R2R1
Key:
D# Democratic
RA# Readjuster
R# Republican
V#Vacant

Race summaries

Elections during the 49th Congress

In these elections, the winners were seated during 1886 or in 1887 before March 4; ordered by election date.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Mississippi
(Class 2)
Edward C. Walthall Democratic1885 (Appointed)Interim appointee elected January 20, 1886. [2] Edward C. Walthall (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
California
(Class 1)
George Hearst Democratic1886 (Appointed)Unknown if interim appointee retired or lost election to finish the term.
New senator elected August 4, 1886.
Republican gain.
Winner did not run for election to the next term, see below.
Abram P. Williams (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Illinois
(Class 3)
John A. Logan Republican 1870 or 1871
1877 (Lost re-election)
1879
1885
Incumbent died December 26, 1886.
New senator elected January 19, 1887.
Republican hold.
Charles B. Farwell (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]

Races leading to the 50th Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1887; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
California Abram Williams Republican 1886 (Special) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in 1887.
Democratic gain.
George Hearst (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Connecticut Joseph Roswell Hawley Republican 1881 Incumbent re-elected in 1887.Joseph Roswell Hawley (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Delaware George Gray Democratic 1885 (Special) Incumbent re-elected in 1887.George Gray (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Florida Charles W. Jones Democratic 1881 Incumbent retired.
Legislature failed to elect.
Democratic loss.
[Data unknown/missing.]
Indiana Benjamin Harrison Republican1880 or 1881Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1887.
Democratic gain.
David Turpie (Democratic)
Benjamin Harrison (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Maine Eugene Hale Republican 1881 Incumbent re-elected in 1887.Eugene Hale (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Maryland Arthur P. Gorman Democratic 1880 Incumbent re-elected in 1886.Arthur P. Gorman (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Massachusetts Henry L. Dawes Republican 1857
1881
Incumbent re-elected in 1887.Henry L. Dawes (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Michigan Omar D. Conger Republican 1881 Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected in 1887.
Republican hold.
Francis B. Stockbridge (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Minnesota Samuel J. R. McMillan Republican 1881 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in 1886.
Republican hold.
Cushman Davis (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Mississippi James Z. George Democratic 1880 Incumbent re-elected in 1886.James Z. George (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Missouri Francis Cockrell Democratic 1874
1881
Incumbent re-elected in 1887.Francis Cockrell (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Nebraska Charles Van Wyck Republican 1880 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1886.
Republican hold.
Algernon Paddock (Republican)
Charles Van Wyck (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Nevada James Graham Fair Democratic 1881 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1887.
Republican gain.
William Morris Stewart (Republican)
James Graham Fair (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New Jersey William Joyce Sewell Republican 1881 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1886.
Democratic gain.
Rufus Blodgett (Democratic)
William Joyce Sewell (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New York Warner Miller Republican 1881 (Special) Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected January 20, 1887.
Republican hold.
Frank Hiscock (Republican)
Levi P. Morton (Republican)
Smith M. Weed (Democratic)
Francis Kernan (Democratic)
Ohio John Sherman Republican 1861 (Special)
1866
1872
1877 (Resigned)
1881
Incumbent re-elected in 1886.John Sherman (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Pennsylvania John I. Mitchell Republican 1881 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
New senator elected January 18, 1887.
Republican hold.
Matthew Quay (Republican) 65.74%
Simon P. Wolverton (Democratic) 31.87%
Rhode Island Nelson W. Aldrich Republican 1881 (Special) Incumbent re-elected in 1886.Nelson W. Aldrich (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Tennessee Washington C. Whitthorne Democratic1886 (Appointed)Unknown if interim appointee retired or lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1887.
Democratic hold.
William B. Bate (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Texas Samuel B. Maxey Democratic 1875
1881
Incumbent lost re-election
New senator elected in 1887.
Democratic hold.
John Henninger Reagan (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Vermont George F. Edmunds Republican1866 (Appointed)
1866 (Special)
1868
1874
1880
Incumbent re-elected in 1886.George F. Edmunds (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Virginia William Mahone Readjuster 1881 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1887.
Democratic gain.
John W. Daniel (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
West Virginia Johnson N. Camden Democratic1880 or 1881Incumbent lost renomination. [3]
Legislature failed to elect.
Democratic loss.
A new senator was elected late, see below.
Johnson N. Camden (Democratic)
Wisconsin Philetus Sawyer Republican 1881 Incumbent re-elected in 1887.Philetus Sawyer (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]

Elections during the 50th Congress

In these elections, the winners were elected in 1887 after March 4; ordered by date.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
West Virginia
(Class 1)
VacantLegislature had failed to elect, see above.
New senator elected May 5, 1887.
Democratic gain.
Charles J. Faulkner (Democratic) 48 votes
Flick (Republican) 31 votes
Barbee (Greenback) 6 votes
Johnson N. Camden (Democratic) 1 vote
B. S. Brown 1 vote
Whittaker 2 votes [4]
Florida
(Class 1)
VacantLegislature had failed to elect, see above.
New senator elected late May 19, 1887.
Democratic gain.
Samuel Pasco (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]
New Hampshire
(Class 2)
Person C. Cheney Republican1886 (Appointed)Interim appointee retired when successor elected.
New senator elected June 14, 1887.
Republican hold.
William E. Chandler (Republican)
[Data unknown/missing.]
Virginia
(Class 2)
Harrison H. Riddleberger Readjuster 1881 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected December 20, 1887 for the term beginning in 1889. [5]
Democratic gain.
John S. Barbour Jr. (Democratic)
[Data unknown/missing.]

New York

The election in New York was held from January 18 to 20, 1887. Republican Warner Miller had been elected to this seat in a special election in 1881 to succeed Thomas C. Platt who had resigned. Miller's term would expire on March 3, 1887. At the State election in November 1885, 20 Republicans and 12 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1886-1887) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1886, 74 Republicans and 54 Democrats were elected for the session of 1887 to the Assembly. The 110th New York State Legislature met from January 4 to May 26, 1887, at Albany, New York.

Warner Miller Union Army officer

Warner Miller was a Representative and a United States Senator from New York.

Thomas C. Platt American politician

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.

The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 17, President pro tempore of the State Senate Edmund L. Pitts presided. 20 State senators and 71 assemblymen attended. Ex-Speaker of the Assembly George Z. Erwin (a Morton man) moved that a majority of all Republican legislators should be necessary to nominate, not only a majority of those present, meaning that 48 votes were required instead of 46, which was carried by a vote of 52 to 39. The incumbent U.S. Senator Warner Miller (Half-Breed faction) failed to be nominated by only four votes. Levi P. Morton (Stalwart faction) was rejected by the caucus, like in 1885. A small faction voted for Congressman Frank Hiscock. After the second ballot, Erwin moved to adjourn, which was carried by 48 to 43. The caucus met again on the next day, no choice was made in another two ballots. The caucus met again on January 19 after the joint ballot of the State Legislature, and after twelve more ballots, Erwin withdrew Morton's name and urged the Morton men to vote for Hiscock. On the next ballot Hiscock received one vote more than Miller (47 to 46), but was one short of the previously established majority of 48. On the 18th and last ballot, Hiscock received 50 votes and was nominated. On the next day, Hiscock was elected on the second joint ballot of the State Legislature. Thus, by blocking Miller's re-election, the Republican boss Thomas C. Platt took his revenge for his defeat at the special election in 1881.

Edmund Levi Pitts was an American lawyer and politician.

George Z. Erwin American politician

George Zalmon Erwin was an American politician.

1887 Republican caucus for United States Senator
BallotDate Warner Miller Levi P. Morton Frank Hiscock
1stJanuary 17443512
2ndJanuary 17443611
3rdJanuary 18
4thJanuary 18
5thJanuary 19463611
6thJanuary 19463611
7thJanuary 19463611
8thJanuary 19463611
9thJanuary 19463611
10thJanuary 19463611
11thJanuary 19463611
12thJanuary 19463611
13thJanuary 19463611
14thJanuary 19463611
15thJanuary 19463611
16thJanuary 19463611
17thJanuary 1946Withdrew47
18thJanuary 194350

The Democratic caucus nominated Smith Mead Weed (1834-1920), a lawyer and businessman of Plattsburgh, New York. Weed had been a member of the New York State Assembly from Clinton County, New York in 1865, 1866, 1867, 1871, 1873 and 1874; and a delegate to the 1876 and 1884 Democratic National Conventions.

Smith Mead Weed

Smith Mead Weed was a Democratic lawyer and businessman of Plattsburgh, New York who served as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1865 to 1867 and 1871 to 1874.

New York State Assembly lower house of the New York State Legislature

The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly, with each of the 150 Assembly districts having an average population of 128,652. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits.

Clinton County, New York County in the United States

Clinton County is a county in the state of New York, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 82,128. Its county seat is the city of Plattsburgh. The county is named after George Clinton, the first Governor of New York, who went on to become Vice President, having been a Founding Father who represented New York in the Continental Congress. The county lies to the south of the border with the Canadian province of Quebec.

1887 general election for United States Senator
House Democratic Republican Republican Republican
State Senate
(32 members)
January 18
Smith M. Weed 11 Warner Miller 10 Levi P. Morton 9 Frank Hiscock 1
State Assembly
(128 members)
January 18
Smith M. Weed 41 Warner Miller 32 Levi P. Morton 26 Frank Hiscock 10
Joint ballot
(160 members)
January 19
Smith M. Weed 61 Warner Miller 43 Levi P. Morton 33 Frank Hiscock 11
Second joint ballot
(160 members)
January 20
Smith M. Weed 62Frank Hiscock 91

Pennsylvania

The election in Pennsylvania was held January 18, 1887. Matthew Quay was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate. [6] The General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and Senate voted as follows:

Matthew Quay United States Army Medal of Honor recipient

Matthew Stanley "Matt" Quay was a Pennsylvania political boss once dubbed a "kingmaker" by President Benjamin Harrison.

Pennsylvania General Assembly state legislature of the US state of Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times (1682–1776), the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly and was unicameral. Since the Constitution of 1776, the legislature has been known as the General Assembly. The General Assembly became a bicameral legislature in 1791.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Lower house of legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two-year terms from single member districts.

State Legislature Results [6] [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Matthew Quay 16565.74
Democratic Simon P. Wolverton 8031.87
N/ANot voting62.39
Totals251100.00%

See also

Notes

  1. The Readjusters caucused with the Republicans.
  2. Byrd, p. 130.
  3. "STILL FIGHTING OVER CAMDEN" (PDF).
  4. "WEST VIRGINIA'S SENATOR.; A SUCCESSOR TO CAMDEN CHOSEN AT LAST" (PDF).
  5. "Barbour, John S. (1820–1892)". www.encyclopediavirginia.org.
  6. 1 2 "U.S. Senate Election - 18 January 1887" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  7. "PA US Senate - 1887". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 22, 2012.

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References