1850–51 United States Senate elections

none March 2026 March 2016 1850–51 United States Senate elections United States 1848 legislative no 1848–49 United States Senate elections 1848 & 1849 1852–53 United States Senate elections 1852 & 1853 Class 1 1844–45 United States Senate elections 1844 & 1845 1856–57 United States Senate elections 1856 & 1857 21 of the 62 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections) 32 Various dates 100px Seats up Democratic Party (US) 33 seats 35 12 33 2 14 Whig Party (US) 25 seats 25 4 22 3 7 Free Soil Party 1 seat 2 0 2 0 Majority party Democratic Party (US) Democratic Party (US) File:1850senatemap.svg Results:#0671B0 Democratic gain #92C5DE Democratic hold #c49213 Whig gain #f3d586 Whig hold#000000 Legislature failed to elect 380px The 1850–51 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states. As these U.S. Senate elections were prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were chosen by state legislatures. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1850 and 1851, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock.https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/17th-amendment 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913) National Archives and Records Administration February 8, 2022 In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 1. The Democratic Party lost seats, but retained a majority in the Senate. This was the last election until 2006 that the Class 1 Vermont seat voted for a non-Republican. Results summary Senate party division, 32nd Congress (1851–1853) Majority party: Democratic (34–35) Minority party: Whig Party (21–23) Other parties: Free Soiler (2–3) Total seats: 62 Change in composition Before the elections D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D21 D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D22 D23Ran D24Ran D25Ran D26Ran D27Ran D28Ran D29Ran D30Ran D31Ran Majority → D32Ran W22Unknown W23Unknown W24Retired FS1 FS2 D36Retired D35Unknown D34Unknown D33Ran W21Ran W20Ran W19Ran W18Ran W17 W16 W15 W14 W13 W12 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 W10 W11 W1 As a result of the elections D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D21 D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D22 D23Re-elected D24Re-elected D25Re-elected D26Re-elected D27Re-elected D28Re-elected D29Re-elected D30Hold D31Hold Majority → D32Gain V1W Loss V2W Loss FS1 FS2 V3D Loss V4D Loss V5D Loss D34Gain D33Gain W21Gain W20Gain W19Hold W18Re-elected W17 W16 W15 W14 W13 W12 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 W10 W11 W1 At the beginning of the first session, December 1, 1851 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D21 D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30 D31 Majority → D32 W22Gain W23Gain FS1 FS2 FS3Gain V1 V2 D34Hold D33 W21 W20 W19 W18 W17 W16 W15 W14 W13 W12 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 W10 W11 W1 Key: D# Democratic FS# Free Soil W# Whig V# Vacant Race summaries Elections during the 31st Congress In these elections, the winners were seated during 1850 or in 1851 before March 4; ordered by election date. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Maryland(Class 1) David Stewart Whig 1849 (appointed) Interim appointee retired.New senator elected January 12, 1850.Whig hold.Winner was elected to the next term; see below. Whig Party (US) Thomas Pratt (Whig) 57 votes Democratic Party (US)David Stewart (Democratic) 38 votes Blank 2 votes January 12, 1850 The Senatorial Election in Maryland https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82003410/1850-01-12/ed-1/seq-3/ The daily union Washington, D.C. 3 31 October 2022 Massachusetts(Class 1) Robert C. Winthrop Whig 1850 (appointed) Interim appointee lost election to finish the term.New senator elected February 1, 1851.Democratic gain.Winner was not elected to the next term; see below. Democratic Party (US) Robert Rantoul Jr. (Democratic) Whig Party (US)Robert C. Winthrop (Whig) February 2020 Races leading to the 32nd Congress In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1851; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Connecticut Roger Sherman Baldwin Whig 1847 (appointed)1848 (special) Incumbent lost re-election or retired.Legislature failed to elect.Whig loss.Seat would not be filled until 1852. February 2020 California John C. Frémont Democratic 1850 Incumbent lost re-election.Legislature failed to elect.Democratic loss.Seat would not be filled until 1852. Democratic Party (US)John C. Frémont (Democratic)February 2020 Delaware John Wales Whig 1849 (special) Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1851.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) James A. Bayard Jr. (Democratic) Whig Party (US)John Wales (Whig) February 2020 Florida David Levy Yulee Democratic 1845 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1851.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Stephen Mallory (Democratic) Democratic Party (US)David Levy Yulee (Democratic) February 2020 Indiana Jesse D. Bright Democratic 1844 Incumbent re-elected in 1850. Democratic Party (US) Jesse D. Bright (Democratic) February 2020 Maine Hannibal Hamlin Sr. Democratic 1848 (sp. special) Incumbent re-elected. Journal of the Senate of the State of Maine, 30th Legislature Legislative Journals Augusta 1850 https://digitalmaine.com/arc_leg_journals/72 336–339 Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Maine, 30th Legislature Legislative Journals Augusta 1850 https://digitalmaine.com/arc_leg_journals/56 332–334 First ballot (July 25, 1850) Democratic Party (US)Hannibal Hamlin Sr. (Democratic) 75 H Maine House of Representatives; 13 S Maine Senate Whig Party (US)George Evans Sr. (Whig) 45 H Maine House of Representatives; 7 S Maine Senate Democratic Party (US)John Anderson Sr. (Democratic) 22 H Maine House of Representatives; 6 S Maine Senate Democratic Party (US)Henry William Paine (Democratic) 3 H Maine House of Representatives; 0 S Maine Senate Whig Party (US)William Pitt Fessenden Sr. (Whig) 3 H Maine House of Representatives; 0 S Maine Senate Liberty PartySamuel Fessenden Sr. (Liberty) 2 H Maine House of Representatives; 3 S Maine Senate Unknown partyBlank 0 H Maine House of Representatives; 1 S Maine Senate Thirteenth ballot (July 25, 1850) Democratic Party (US) Hannibal Hamlin Sr. (Democratic) 77 H Maine House of Representatives; 15 S Maine Senate Whig Party (US)George Evans Sr. (Whig) 46 H Maine House of Representatives; 7 S Maine Senate Democratic Party (US)John Anderson Sr. (Democratic) 21 H Maine House of Representatives; 6 S Maine Senate Democratic Party (US)Henry William Paine (Democratic) 2 H Maine House of Representatives; 0 S Maine Senate Whig Party (US)William Pitt Fessenden Sr. (Whig) 2 H Maine House of Representatives; 0 S Maine Senate Liberty PartySamuel Fessenden Sr. (Liberty) 2 H Maine House of Representatives; 1 S Maine Senate Unknown partyBlank 0 H Maine House of Representatives; 1 S Maine Senate Maryland Thomas Pratt Whig 1850 (special) Incumbent re-elected January 12, 1850. Whig Party (US) Thomas Pratt (Whig) 54 votes Democratic Party (US)David Stewart (Democratic) 2 votes Blank 33 votes January 12, 1850 The Senatorial Election in Maryland https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82003410/1850-01-12/ed-1/seq-3/ The daily union Washington, D.C. 3 31 October 2022 Massachusetts Robert Rantoul Jr. Democratic 1851 (special) Incumbent lost re-election or retired.Legislature failed to elect.Democratic loss.Seat would later be filled on April 24, 1851; see below. Free Soil PartyCharles Sumner (Free Soil)February 2020 Michigan Lewis Cass Democratic 1844 or 18451848 (resigned)1849 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1850 or 1851. Democratic Party (US) Lewis Cass (Democratic) February 2020 Mississippi Jefferson Davis Democratic 1847 (appointed)1848 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1850. Democratic Party (US) Jefferson Davis (Democratic) February 2020 Missouri Thomas H. Benton Democratic 18211827183318391845 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1851.Whig gain. Whig Party (US) Henry S. Geyer (Whig) Democratic Party (US)Thomas H. Benton (Democratic) February 2020 New Jersey William L. Dayton Whig 1842 (appointed)? (special)1845 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1851.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Robert F. Stockton (Democratic) 39 Whig Party (US)William L. Dayton (Whig) 32 Democratic Party (US)Henry A.Ford (Democratic) 3 Joseph F. Randolph (unknown) 2 New York Daniel S. Dickinson Democratic 1844 (appointed)1845 Incumbent lost re-election.Legislature failed to elect.Democratic loss.Seat would later be filled on March 19, 1851; see below. Democratic Party (US)Daniel S. Dickinson (Democratic)Many; see below. Ohio Thomas Ewing Whig 1850 (appointed) Incumbent lost election to the next term.Legislature failed to elect.Whig loss.Seat would later be filled on March 15, 1851; see below. Whig Party (US)Thomas Ewing (Whig)February 2020 Pennsylvania Daniel Sturgeon Democratic 18401845 Incumbent retired.New senator elected January 14, 1851.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Richard Brodhead (Democratic) Many, see below Rhode Island Albert C. Greene Whig 1844 or 1845 Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1850 or 1851.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Charles T. James (Democratic) February 2020 Tennessee Hopkins L. Turney Democratic 1844 Incumbent retired or lost re-election.New senator elected in 1851.Whig gain. Whig Party (US) James C. Jones (Whig) February 2020 Texas Thomas J. Rusk Democratic 1846 Incumbent re-elected in 1851. Democratic Party (US) Thomas J. Rusk (Democratic) February 2020 Vermont Samuel S. Phelps Whig 18391845 Incumbent retired or lost re-election.New senator elected in 1850.Whig hold. Whig Party (US) Solomon Foot (Whig) February 2020 Virginia James M. Mason Democratic 1847 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1850. Democratic Party (US) James M. Mason (Democratic) February 2020 Wisconsin Henry Dodge Democratic 1848 Incumbent re-elected on January 20, 1851. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112107102680 Journal of the Senate of Wisconsin 1851 Wisconsin Legislature Monday, Jan. 20, 1851 58–60 March 1, 2025 HathiTrust Democratic Party (US) Henry Dodge (Democratic) 83.13% Independent Democrat James Duane Doty (Ind. Dem.) 8.43% Whig Party (US) Alexander L. Collins (Whig) 3.61% Whig Party (US) Rufus King (Whig) 2.41% Free Soil Party Warren Chase (Free Soil) 1.20% Whig Party (US) John B. Terry (Whig) 1.20% Elections during the 32nd Congress In late these elections, the winners were elected in 1851 after March 4; ordered by election date. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Ohio(Class 1) Vacant Legislature had failed to elect.Winner elected late March 15, 1851 on the 37th ballot.Taylor William Alexander https://books.google.com/books?id=ztegAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA240 Ohio statesmen and annals of progress: from the year 1788 to the year 1900 .. Taylor Aubrey Clarence State of Ohio 1899 240Whig gain. Whig Party (US) Benjamin Wade (Whig) February 2020 New York(Class 1) Vacant Legislature had failed to elect.Winner elected late March 19, 1851.Whig gain. Whig Party (US) Hamilton Fish (Whig) Many, see below Massachusetts(Class 1) Vacant Legislature had failed to elect.Winner elected April 24, 1851.Free Soil gain. Free Soil Party Charles Sumner (Free Soil) February 2020 Kentucky(Class 3) Henry Clay Whig 1806 (special)1807 (retired)1810 (appointed)1811 (retired)1831 (special)18361842 (resigned)1849 Incumbent resigned December 17, 1851, to be effective September 6, 1852.Winner elected December 30, 1851.Whig hold. Whig Party (US) Archibald Dixon (Whig) 71 votes Democratic Party (US)James Guthrie (Democratic) 58 votes Whig Party (US)Garrett Davis (Whig) 1 vote Whig Party (US)Charles S. Morehead (Whig) 1 vote Whig Party (US)Joseph R. Underwood (Whig) 1 vote Whig Party (US)John L. Helm (Whig) 1 voteJournal of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Kentucky 396Journal of the Senate of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, November 3, 1851 - January 9, 1852 Journals of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky https://uknowledge.uky.edu/ky_state_journals/83 1851 Albert G. Hodges Frankfort, Kentucky 412 Race leading to the 33rd Congress In this regular election, the winner was elected for the term beginning March 4, 1853. This election involved a Class 3 seat. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoralhistory Kentucky Joseph R. Underwood Whig 1846 or 1847 Incumbent retired.New senator elected December 13, 1851, far in advance of the 1853 term.Know Nothing gain. Know Nothing John Burton Thompson (Know Nothing) 73 votes Democratic Party (US) Francis P. Stone (Democratic) 65 votesJournal of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Kentucky 264 Kentucky Kentucky (early) thumb|125px|Senator John Burton Thompson List of United States senators from Kentucky 1853 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky One-term Whig Joseph R. Underwood retired and the Know Nothing Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky John Burton Thompson was elected early, December 13, 1851, far in advance of the 1853 term, as was common practice at the time. John Burton Thompson 73 votes Francis P. Stone 65 votesJournal of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Kentucky 264 Kentucky (special) thumb|125px|Senator Archibald Dixon Long-term Whig and former-United States Secretary of State Henry Clay announced his resignation December 17, 1851 from the class 3 seat, to be effective September 6, 1852. Whig Archibald Dixon was elected December 30, 1851. After many ballots, the vote in the final deciding ballot was: Archibald Dixon 71 votes James Guthrie 58 votes Garrett Davis 1 vote Charles S. Morehead 1 vote Joseph R. Underwood 1 vote John L. Helm 1 voteJournal of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Kentucky 396 Before Clay's resignation was effective, he died June 24, 1852. Democratic Secretary of State of Kentucky David Meriwether was appointed July 6, 1852 pending the effective date of the special election. Dixon was then seated September 1, 1852 to finish the term that would end in 1855. Maryland Maryland (special) List of United States senators from Maryland November 2022 1850 United States Senate special election in Maryland - F0C862 -% Whig Party (United States) Thomas Pratt Thomas Pratt, Brady photo portrait, circa 1848-1860, sitting.jpg 1851 1851 United States Senate election in Maryland 1849 1849 United States Senate election in Maryland 80 members of the Maryland General Assembly Legislative 1850 presidential Reverdy Johnson won election in 1844 but retired to become the United States Attorney General. In order to fill his seat, David Stewart was elected as a temporary appointment until a successor could be elected. Thomas Pratt won election by an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 1 seat.https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=122893 Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Dec 00, 1849 2022-11-05 www.ourcampaigns.com Maryland (regular) List of United States senators from Maryland November 2022 1851 United States Senate election in Maryland - F0C862 -% Whig Party (United States) Thomas Pratt Thomas Pratt, Brady photo portrait, circa 1848-1860, sitting.jpg 1857 1857 United States Senate election in Maryland 1850 1850 United States Senate special election in Maryland 80 members of the Maryland General Assembly Legislative 1851 presidential Thomas Pratt won election to a full term by an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 1 seat.https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=122895 Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Jan 00, 1851 2022-11-05 www.ourcampaigns.com Massachusetts 1851 United States Senate election in Massachusetts In 1851, Democrats gained control of the legislature in coalition with the Free Soilers. However, the legislature deadlocked on this Senate race, as Democrats refused to vote for Charles Sumner (the Free Soilers' choice). New York 1851 United States Senate election in New York The election in New York was held on February 4 and March 18 and 19, 1851. Daniel S. Dickinson (Democratic) had been elected in 1845 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1851. The Whig Party in New York was split in two opposing factions: the Seward/Weed faction (the majority, opposed to the Compromise of 1850) and the "Silver Grays" (supporters of President Millard Fillmore and his compromise legislation, led by Francis Granger whose silver gray hair originated the faction's nickname). The opposing factions of the Democratic Party in New York, the "Barnburners" and the "Hunkers", had reunited at the State election in November 1850, and managed to have almost their whole State ticket elected, only Horatio Seymour was defeated for Governor by a plurality of 262 votes. At the State election in November 1849, 14 Seward Whigs, 3 Silver Gray Whigs and 15 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1850–1851) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1850, a Whig majority was elected to the Assembly for the session of 1851. The 74th New York State Legislature met from January 7 to April 17, and from June 10 to July 11, 1851, at Albany, New York. Ex-Governor of New York Hamilton Fish was the candidate of the Whig Party, but was also a close friend of Henry Clay who was one of the leaders of the Fillmore faction in Washington, D.C. He was thus considered the only viable compromise candidate. The Silver Grays asked Fish to pledge his support for the Compromise, but Fish refused to make any comment, saying that he did not seek the office, and that the legislators should vote guided by Fish's known political history. Fish had earlier stated his opposition against the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 but was believed to support most of the remainder of the Compromise. Nevertheless, Silver Gray State Senator James W. Beekman declared that he would not vote for Fish for personal reasons, a dislike stemming from the time when they were fellow students at Columbia University. The State Legislature met on February 4, the legally prescribed day, to elect a U.S. Senator. In the Assembly, Fish received a majority of 78 to 49. In the State Senate the vote stood 16 for Fish and 16 votes for a variety of candidates, among them Beekman's vote for Francis Granger. After a second ballot with the same result, Beekman moved to adjourn, which was carried by the casting vote of the lieutenant governor, and no nomination was made. On February 14, Senator George B. Guinnip offered a resolution to declare John Adams Dix elected to the U.S. Senate. On motion of Senator George R. Babcock, the resolution was laid on the table, i.e. consideration was postponed. On February 15, Guinnip again offered a resolution to declare John Adams Dix elected to the U.S. Senate. Senator Stephen H. Johnson offered an amendment to this resolution, declaring Daniel S. Dickinson elected. On motion of Senator Marius Schoonmaker, the resolution was laid on the table too. On March 18, when two Democratic State Senators were absent, having gone to New York City, the Whigs persuaded the Democrats in a 14-hour session to re-open the U.S. Senate election, and Senate electionin the small hours of March 19 Fish was nominated by a vote of 16 to 12 (Beekman, Johnson (both Whigs), Thomas B. Carroll and William A. Dart (both Democratic) did not vote). Fish was the choice of both the Assembly and the Senate, and was declared elected. Candidate Party Senate(32 members)February 4(first ballot) Senate(32 members)February 4(second ballot) Assembly(128 members)February 4 Senate(32 members)March 19 Assembly(128 members)March 19 Hamilton Fish Whig 16 16 78 16 68 John Adams Dix Democratic 1 1 29 6 6 James T. Brady Democratic 7 Horatio Seymour Democratic 1 1 4 1 Francis Granger Whig 1 1 2 1 Aaron Ward Democratic 1 1 1 Daniel S. Dickinson Democratic 1 1 1 Arphaxed Loomis Democratic 1 1 1 Amasa J. Parker Democratic 1 1 1David Buel Jr. Democratic 1 1 Augustus C. Hand Democratic 1 1 John Hunter Democratic 1 1 John Fine Democratic 1 1 Levi S. Chatfield Democratic 1 1 John Tracy Democratic 1 1 Abraham Bockee Democratic 1 1 George Rathbun Democratic 1 1 Timothy Jenkins Democratic 1 1 William L. Marcy Democratic 1 Washington Irving 1 John L. Riker 1 Erastus Corning Democratic 1 Levi S. Chatfield Democratic 1 George Wood 1 Daniel Lord 1 James S. Wadsworth Democratic 1 William C. Bouck Democratic 1 Ohio 1851 United States Senate election in Ohio Incumbent Senator Thomas Corwin (Whig) resigned July 20, 1850 to become U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. Thomas Ewing (Whig) was appointed July 20, 1850 to finish the term. Benjamin Wade (Whig) was elected late on March 15, 1851, on the 37th ballot over Ewing. Pennsylvania 1851 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania election was held January 14, 1851. Richard Brodhead was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate.U.S. Senate Election - 14 January 1851 http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/sen/PaSen1851.pdf December 22, 2012 Wilkes University State Legislature resultsPA US Senate 1851 http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=345196&ShowAllCand=Y December 22, 2012 OurCampaigns Democratic Party (US) Richard Brodhead 76 57.14 Whig Party (US) Andrew W. Loomis 12 9.02 Whig Party (US) Alexander Brown 11 8.27 Whig Party (US) Samuel Purviance 4 3.01 Whig Party (US) Samuel Calvin 4 3.01 Whig Party (US) Thomas M. T. McKennan 4 3.01 Whig Party (US) John Sergeant 4 3.01 Whig Party (US) George Chambers 3 2.26 Whig Party (US) John Dickey 2 1.50 Whig Party (US) James Pollock 2 1.50 Whig Party (US) John Allison 1 0.75 Whig Party (US) William Darlington 1 0.75 Whig Party (US) Townsend Haines 1 0.75 Whig Party (US) Charles Pitman 1 0.75 Whig Party (US) Daniel M. Smyser 1 0.75 Whig Party (US) Thomas White 1 0.75 Whig Party (US) David Wilmot 1 0.75 N/A Not voting 3 2.26 |- |-bgcolor="#EEEEEE" | colspan="3" align="right" | Totals | align="right" | 133 | align="right" | 100.00% |} See also 1850 United States elections 1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections 31st United States Congress 32nd United States Congress References Sources Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov The New York Civil List compiled in 1858 (see: pg. 63 for U.S. Senators [gives wrong date for election "November 19"]; pg. 137 for State Senators 1851; pg. 240ff for Members of Assembly 1851) Members of the 32nd United States Congress Hamilton Fish by Amos Elwood Corning (pages 35ff) Result Assembly: Journal of the Assembly (74th Session) (1851; Vol. I, pg. 268f and 662) Result Senate: Journal of the Senate (74th Session) (1851; pg. 136f and 322) The Papers of Henry Clay (Vol. 10; page 859) The Rise and Fall of the American Whig Party by Michael F. Holt (pages 649f) Journal of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, November 3, 1851 - January 9, 1852 Journals of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky https://uknowledge.uky.edu/ky_state_journals/33 1851 Albert G. Hodges Journal of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Kentucky Frankfort, Kentucky Pennsylvania Election Statistics: 1682-2006 from the Wilkes University Election Statistics Project Category:Hannibal Hamlin