1818 and 1819 United States Senate elections

The United States Senate elections of 1818 and 1819 were elections for the United States Senate that had the Democratic-Republican Party gain two seats. The Federalists had only three seats being contested, of which they lost two and the third was left vacant due to a failure to elect.

1818 and 1819 United States Senate elections

Dates vary by state
14 of the 42 seats in the United States Senate (plus special elections) 22 seats needed for a majority
Party Democratic-Republican Federalist Last election 25 seats 13 seats Seats before 28 12 Seats won 14 0 Seats after 30 9 Seat change 3 3 Seats up 11 3
Majority Party before election Democratic-Republican Elected Majority Party Democratic-Republican

As these elections were prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment, Senators were chosen by state legislatures.

Results summary

Senate Party Division, 16th Congress (1819–1821)

• Majority Party: Democratic-Republican (30–37)
• Minority Party: Federalist (9)
• Vacant: 3–0
• Total Seats: 42–46

Change in composition

Before the elections

After the admission of Illinois.

									DR1
DR11	DR10	DR9	DR8	DR7	DR6	DR5	DR4	DR3 Ill. New seat	DR2
DR12	DR13	DR14	DR15	DR16	DR17	DR18	DR19	DR20 Ill. Ran	DR21 Ind. Ran
Majority →									DR22 N.C. Ran
F12 N.Y. Ran	DR30 Vt. Resigned	DR29 Pa. Retired	DR28 Ohio Retired	DR27 La. Retired	DR26 N.H. Unknown	DR25 Ky. Unknown	DR24 Ga. Unknown	DR23 S.C. Ran
F11 Md. Ran	F10 Conn. Ran	F9	F8	F7	F6	F5	F4	F3	F2
									F1

Result of the general elections

									DR1
DR11	DR10	DR9	DR8	DR7	DR6	DR5	DR4	DR3	DR2
DR12	DR13	DR14	DR15	DR16	DR17	DR18	DR19	DR20 Ill. Re-elected	DR21 Ind. Re-elected
Majority →									DR22 N.C. Re-elected
DR31 Conn. Gain	DR30 Vt. Hold	DR29 Pa. Hold	DR28 Ohio Hold	DR27 N.H. Hold	DR26 La. Hold	DR25 Ky. Hold	DR24 Ga. Hold	DR23 S.C. Re-elected
V1 N.Y. F Loss	V2 Md. F Loss	F9	F8	F7	F6	F5	F4	F3	F2
									F1

Results of the 1819 special elections

								DR1	DR2
DR12	DR11	DR10 Va. Hold	DR9 Tenn. Hold	DR8 Ky. Hold	DR7 Ga. Hold	DR6	DR5	DR4	DR3
DR13	DR14	DR15	DR16	DR17	DR18	DR19	DR20	DR21	DR22
Majority →									DR23
DR32 Ala. Cl.2 New seat	DR31	DR30	DR29	DR28	DR27	DR26	DR25	DR24
DR33 Ala. Cl.3 New seat	DR34 Md. Cl.1 Gain	DR35 Md. Cl.3 Gain	V1	F8	F7	F6	F5	F4	F3
								F2	F1

Key:	DR# Democratic-Republican F# Federalist V# Vacant

Race summaries

Special elections during the 15th Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1818 or before March 4, 1819; ordered by election date.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
Louisiana (Class 2)	William C. C. Claiborne	Democratic-Republican	1817	Incumbent died November 23, 1817. New senator elected January 12, 1818. Democratic-Republican hold.	Henry Johnson (Democratic-Republican) 30 votes Mr. Livingston 5 votes John MacDonough 4 votes Dr. Hood 2 votes[1]
Massachusetts (Class 1)	Eli P. Ashmun	Federalist	1816 (Special)	Incumbent resigned May 10, 1818. New senator elected June 5, 1818. Federalist hold.	Prentiss Mellen (Democratic-Republican) 85 votes William King 37 votes James Bridge 2 votes Mark L. Hill 1 vote[2]
Illinois (Class 3)	New State			New State. New senators elected October 7, 1818[3] on the first and third ballot. Lots were drawn to assign them, respectively, to Classes 3 and 2. The Class 3 senator had to run again for re-election in 1819, see below. Two Democratic-Republican gains.	First ballot: Ninian Edwards (Democratic-Republican) 32 votes[3] Leonard White 17 votes Jesse B. Thomas (Democratic-Republican) 15 votes Michael Jones 10 votes Joseph M. Street 3 votes Robert Morrison 3 votes[4] Second ballot: Leonard White 16 votes Jesse B. Thomas (Democratic-Republican) 14 votes Michael Jones 10 votes[5] Third ballot: Jesse B. Thomas (Democratic-Republican) 21 votes Leonard White 18 votes Michael Jones 1 vote[6]
Illinois (Class 2)	New State
Vermont (Class 3)	James Fisk	Democratic-Republican	1817 (Special)	Incumbent resigned January 8, 1818 to serve as collector of customs for the district of Vermont. New senator elected October 20, 1818 to finish the term. Winner also elected to the following term, see below. Democratic-Republican hold.	William Palmer (Democratic-Republican) 116 votes Dudley Chase (Federalist) 54 votes William A. Griswold (Democratic-Republican) 11 votes Paul Brigham (Democratic-Republican) 7 votes Scattering 4 votes[7]
Georgia (Class 2)	George M. Troup	Democratic-Republican	1816 (Special) 1816	Incumbent resigned September 23, 1818. New senator elected November 7, 1818 on the fourth ballot. Democratic-Republican hold.	John Forsyth (Democratic-Republican) 86 votes Nicholas Ware 29 votes John M. Dooley 10 votes[8]

Races leading to the 16th Congress

In these general elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1819 (except where noted due to late election); ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
Connecticut	David Daggett	Federalist	1813 (Special)	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected October 22, 1818 on the third ballot. Democratic-Republican gain.	James Lanman (Democratic-Republican) 114 votes David Daggett (Federalist) 84 votes Elijah Boardman (Democratic-Republican) 7 votes Nathan Smith (Democratic-Republican) 3 votes William Bristol (Democratic-Republican) 1 vote[9]
Georgia	Charles Tait	Democratic-Republican	1809 (Special) 1813	Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election. New senator elected November 11, 1818. Democratic-Republican hold.	John Elliot (Democratic-Republican) 72 John Forsyth (Democratic-Republican) 53 votes[10]
Illinois	Ninian Edwards	Democratic-Republican	1818	Incumbent re-elected in early February 1819.[3]	Ninian Edwards (Democratic-Republican) 23 votes Michael Jones 19 votes[11][3]
Indiana	Waller Taylor	Democratic-Republican	1816	Incumbent re-elected December 16, 1818.	Waller Taylor (Democratic-Republican) 21 votes James Scott 15 votes Isaac Blackford 2 votes[12]
Kentucky	Isham Talbot	Democratic-Republican	1814 (Special)	Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election. New senator elected December 17, 1818. Democratic-Republican hold.	William Logan (Democratic-Republican) 67 votes Richard M. Johnson 55 votes[13]
Louisiana	Eligius Fromentin	Democratic-Republican	1813	Incumbent retired. New senator elected on January 11, 1819 on the second ballot. Democratic-Republican hold.	James Brown (Democratic-Republican) John McDonough 9 votes A. L. Duncan 12 votes Eligius Fromentin (Democratic-Republican) 1 vote[14]
Maryland	Robert Goldsborough	Federalist	1813 (Special)	Incumbent lost re-election. Legislature failed to elect and the seat became vacant. Federalist loss.	None.
New Hampshire	Clement Storer	Democratic-Republican	1817 (Special)	Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election. New senator elected in 1818 on the third ballot. Democratic-Republican hold.	John Fabyan Parrott (Democratic-Republican) 97 votes William Plumer 54 votes Jeremiah Smith 11 votes Josiah Butler 5 votes Clement Storer 1 vote[15]
New York	Rufus King	Federalist	1813	Incumbent ran for re-election. Legislature failed to elect and the seat became vacant. Federalist loss. Incumbent would later be re-elected in 1820, late in the next Congress.	John C. Spencer (Democratic-Republican: Clintonian) Philetus Swift Rufus King (Federalist) John Van Ness Yates (Democratic-Republican: Bucktail) John Wells (Federalist) Samuel Young (Democratic-Republican: Bucktail)[16]
North Carolina	Nathaniel Macon	Democratic-Republican	1815 (Special)	Incumbent re-elected in 1818.[17]	Nathaniel Macon (Democratic-Republican) 166 votes Unopposed[18]
Ohio	Jeremiah Morrow	Democratic-Republican	1812	Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 30, 1819 on the fourth ballot.[19] Democratic-Republican hold.	William Trimble (Democratic-Republican) 48 votes Thomas Worthington 25 votes John Hamm 18 votes[19]
Pennsylvania	Abner Lacock	Democratic-Republican	1812	Incumbent retired. New senator elected December 8, 1818.[20] Democratic-Republican hold.	Walter Lowrie (Democratic-Republican) 87 votes Isaac Weaver, Jr. (Democratic-Republican) 32 votes Not Voting 8 votes John Tod (Democratic-Republican) 1 vote[20]
South Carolina	John Gaillard	Democratic-Republican	1812	Incumbent re-elected in 1818.[21]	John Gaillard (Democratic-Republican) 96 votes John R. Richardson 61 votes[22]
Vermont	James Fisk	Democratic-Republican	1817 (Special)	Incumbent resigned January 8, 1818 to serve as collector of customs for the district of Vermont. New senator elected October 20, 1818. Winner also elected to finish the term, see above. Democratic-Republican hold.	William Palmer (Democratic-Republican) 133 votes Dudley Chase (Federalist) 49 votes William A. Griswold (Democratic-Republican) 7 votes Paul Brigham (Democratic-Republican) 5 votes[23]

Special elections during the 16th Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated in 1819 after March 4; ordered by election date. The new Congress was seated December 6, 1819, so some of these late-elected senators were seated after that.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
Tennessee (Class 1)	John H. Eaton	Democratic-Republican	1818 (Appointed)	Interim appointee elected October 9, 1819.	John H. Eaton (Democratic-Republican) 31 votes Parry W. Humphreys 29 votes[24]
Georgia (Class 2)	John Forsyth	Democratic-Republican	1818 (Special)	Incumbent resigned February 17, 1819 to become U.S. Minister to Spain. New senator elected November 6, 1819. Democratic-Republican hold.	Freeman Walker (Democratic-Republican) Unopposed[25]
Kentucky (Class 2)	John Crittenden	Democratic-Republican	1816	Incumbent resigned March 3, 1819 to return to private practice. New senator elected December 10, 1819. Democratic-Republican hold.	Richard M. Johnson (Democratic-Republican) 68 votes John Adair (Federalist) 53 votes[26]
Virginia (Class 2)	John Eppes	Democratic-Republican	1816	Incumbent resigned December 4, 1819 because of ill health. New senator elected December 10, 1819. Democratic-Republican hold.	James Pleasants (Democratic-Republican) 146 votes John Taliaferro 42 votes[27]
Alabama (Class 2)	New State			New State. New senator elected December 14, 1819. Democratic-Republican gain.	William R. King (Democratic-Republican) 56 votes John W. Walker 11 votes Thomas D. Crabb 2 votes[28]
Alabama (Class 3)	New State			New State. New senator elected December 14, 1819. Democratic-Republican gain.	John W. Walker (Democratic-Republican) 59 votes Thomas D. Crabb 7 votes George Phillips 2 votes William R. King 1 vote[29]
Maryland (Class 3)	Vacant			Legislature had failed to elect, see above. New senator elected late December 14, 1819 and qualified December 21, 1819. Democratic-Republican gain.	Edward Lloyd (Democratic-Republican) 50 votes William Pinkney (Democratic-Republican) 49 votes Charles Carroll (Federalist) 37 votes Robert Goldsborough (Federalist) 34 votes Charles Goldsborough (Federalist) 4 votes Samuel Smith (Unknown) 1 vote John Graham (Democratic-Republican) 1 vote[30][31]
Maryland (Class 1)	Alexander Hanson	Federalist	1816 (Special)	Incumbent died April 23, 1819. New senator elected December 14, 1819 and qualified December 21, 1819. Democratic-Republican gain.

Alabama

Connecticut

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maryland

Maryland (Regular)

Maryland (Special)

Massachusetts (Special)

New Hampshire

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

South Carolina

Tennessee (Special)

Vermont

Vermont (Special)

Virginia (Special)

See also

• 1818 United States elections
• 1818 and 1819 United States House of Representatives elections
• 16th United States Congress
• 17th United States Congress

References

1. "Louisiana 1818 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
2. "Massachusetts 1818 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
3. Buck, Solon J. (1917). Bill Thayer (ed.). "Illinois in 1818". University of Illinois Press. p. 304. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
4. "Illinois 1818 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
5. "Illinois 1818 U.S. Senate, Ballot 2". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
6. "Illinois 1818 U.S. Senate, Ballot 3". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
7. "Vermont 1818 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
8. "Georgia 1818 U.S. Senate, Special, Ballot 4". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
9. "Connecticut 1818 U.S. Senate, Ballot 3". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
10. "Georgia 1818 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
11. "Illinois 1819 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
12. "Indiana 1818 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
13. "Kentucky 1818 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
14. "Louisiana 1819 U.S. Senate, Ballot 2". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
15. "New Hampshire 1818 U.S. Senate, Ballot 3". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
16. "New York 1819 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
17. "MACON, Nathaniel, (1757 - 1837)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
18. "North Carolina 1818 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
19. Taylor, William A. (1900). Ohio in Congress from 1803 to 1901 with Notes and Sketches of Senators and Representatives and Other Historical Data and Incidents. Columbus, Ohio: The XX. Century Publishing Co. p. 100 – via Internet Archive.
20. Cox, Harold (January 31, 2007). "Pennsylvania Election Statistics: 1682-2006" (PDF). The Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
21. "GAILLARD, John, (1765 - 1826)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
22. "South Carolina 1818 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
23. "Vermont 1818 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
24. "Tennessee 1819 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
25. "Georgia 1819 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
26. "Kentucky 1819 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
27. "Virginia 1819 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
28. "Alabama 1819 U.S. Senate, Class 2". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
29. "Alabama 1819 U.S. Senate, Class 3". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
30. "Maryland 1819 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
31. "MD US Senate". Our Campaigns. August 30, 2004. Retrieved March 24, 2015.

• Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov