1880 and 1881 United States Senate elections

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.

For related races, see 1880 United States elections.

1880 and 1881 United States Senate elections
Dates vary by state
(And other dates for special elections)
25 of the 76 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections)
39 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Henry B. Anthony[lower-alpha 1] William A. Wallace[lower-alpha 2]
Party Republican Democratic
Seats before 32 42
Seats won 15 9
Seats after 37 37
Seat change 5 5
Seats up 10 14
  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Readjuster Independent
Seats before 0 1
Seats won 1 0
Seats after 1[1] 1
Seat change 1
Seats up 0 0
  Fifth party
 
Party Anti-Monopoly
Seats before 1
Seats won 0
Seats after 0
Seat change 1
Seats up 1
Majority Party before election


Democratic

 Elected Majority Party


Republican[1]

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

Results summary

Senate Party Division, 47th Congress (1881–1883)

  • Majority Party: Republican (37)
  • Minority Party: Democratic (37)
  • Other Parties: Independent (1); Readjuster (1)
  • Total Seats: 76

Change in Senate composition

Before the elections
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

After the elections
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:
AM# Anti-Monopoly Party
D# Democratic
I# Independent
RA# Readjuster
R# Republican
V# Vacant

Race summaries

Elections during the 46th Congress

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.
Alabama
(Class 3)		 Luke Pryor Democratic 1880 (Appointed) Unknown if interim appointee retired or lost election.
Winner elected November 23, 1880.
Democratic hold.
Michigan
(Class 1)		 Henry P. Baldwin Republican 1879 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected January 19, 1881.

Races leading to the 47th Congress

In these regular 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.
Connecticut William W. Eaton Democratic 1874 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1881.
Republican gain.
Delaware Thomas F. Bayard Democratic 1869
1875		 Incumbent re-elected in 1881.
Florida Charles W. Jones Democratic 1875 Incumbent re-elected in 1881.
Indiana Joseph E. McDonald Democratic 1874 or 1875 Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1881.[2]
Republican gain.
Maine Hannibal Hamlin Republican 1857
1861 (Resigned)
1869
1875		 Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1881.
Republican hold.
Maryland William P. Whyte Democratic 1868 (Appointed)
1869 (Retired)
1874		 Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1880.
Democratic hold.
Massachusetts Henry L. Dawes Republican 1875 Incumbent re-elected in 1881.
Michigan Henry P. Baldwin Republican 1881 (Special) Incumbent retired.
Winner elected January 18, 1881.
Republican hold.
Minnesota Samuel J. R. McMillan Republican 1875 Incumbent re-elected in 1881.
Mississippi Blanche Bruce Republican 1874 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1880.
Democratic gain.
Missouri Francis Cockrell Democratic 1874 Incumbent re-elected in 1881.
Nebraska Algernon Paddock Republican 1875 Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1880.
Republican hold.
Nevada William Sharon Republican 1875 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Winner elected January 12, 1881.
Democratic gain.
New Jersey Theodore F. Randolph Democratic 1875 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1881.
Republican gain.
New York Francis Kernan Democratic 1875 Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected January 20, 1881.
Republican gain.
Ohio Allen G. Thurman Democratic 1868
1874		 Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1880.
Republican gain.
Pennsylvania William A. Wallace Democratic 1875 Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected February 23, 1881.
Republican gain.
Rhode Island Ambrose Burnside Republican 1874 Incumbent re-elected in 1880.
Tennessee James E. Bailey Democratic 1877 (Special) Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1880 or 1881.
Democratic hold.
Texas Samuel B. Maxey Democratic 1875 Incumbent re-elected in 1881.
Vermont George F. Edmunds Republican 1866 (Appointed)
1866 (Special)
1868
1874		 Incumbent re-elected in 1880.
Virginia Robert E. Withers Democratic 1875 Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1881.
Readjuster gain.
Winner would caucus with the Republicans.
West Virginia Frank Hereford Democratic 1877 (Special) Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1880 or 1881.
Democratic hold.
Wisconsin Angus Cameron Republican 1875 Incumbent retired.
Winner elected January 26, 1881.
Republican hold.

Elections during the 47th Congress

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.
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.
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.
New York
(Class 3)		 Roscoe Conkling Republican 1867
1873
1879		 Incumbent resigned May 16, 1881 to protest federal appointments in New York.
Winner elected July 29, 1881.
Republican hold.
Rhode Island
(Class 1)		 Ambrose Burnside Republican 1874
1880		 Incumbent died September 13, 1881.
Winner elected October 5, 1881.
Republican hold.
Minnesota
(Class 2)		 Alonzo J. Edgerton Republican 1881 (Appointed) Interim appointee replaced by successor elected October 30, 1881.
Republican hold.
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.[4]
Readjuster gain.
Winner caucused with the Republicans.[4]

Nevada
See also: List of United States senators from Nevada

On January 12, 1881, James Graham Fair (Republican) was elected.[5]

New York
Main article: 1881 United States Senate election in New York
See also: List of United States senators from New York

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 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.

1881 Republican caucus for United States Senator result
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.

1881 United States Senator election result
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 votes were cast on January 18, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 19 to compare nominations, and declare the result.
  • State Senator Stevens (Dem., 22nd D.) was absent and did not vote.

Pennsylvania
Main article: 1881 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
See also: List of United States senators from Pennsylvania

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.[6] 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:

State Legislature Results[6][7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John I. Mitchell 150 59.76
Democratic William A. Wallace (Incumbent) 92 36.65%
N/A Not voting 7 2.79%
N/A Other 2 0.80%
Total votes 251 100%

See also

Notes
  1. as Republican Conference Chair
  2. as Democratic Caucus Chair

References
  1. The Readjuster caucused with the Republicans, and the Republican Vice President's tie-breaking vote gave the Republicans the slightest majority.
  2. Gugin, Linda C.; St. Clair, James E (2006). The governors of Indiana. ISBN 9780871951960. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  3. "Blue Book for the State of Wisconsin". 1883. p. 463.
  4. Jones Salmon, Emily. "Harrison H. Riddleberger (1843–1890)". Encyclopedia Virginia/Dictionary of Virginia Biography. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  5. The Journal of the Assembly of the Tenth Session of the Legislature of the State of Nevada. Carson City, NV: State Printing Office. 1881. p. 30.
  6. "U.S. Senate Election - 27 January 1881 - 23 February 1881" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  7. "PA US Senate - 1881". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
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