1874–75 United States Senate elections

none March 2026 January 2025 1874–75 United States Senate elections United States 1867 legislative no 1872–73 United States Senate elections 1872 & 1873 1876–77 United States Senate elections 1876 & 1877 Class 1 1868–69 United States Senate elections 1868 & 1869 1880–81 United States Senate elections 1880 & 1881 25 of the 74 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections) 38 Dates vary by state(And other dates for special elections) x180px Seats up Republican Party (United States) Henry B. Anthony as Republican Conference Chair Henry B. Anthony - Brady-Handy.jpg March 4, 1863 Rhode Island 52 10 42 10 20 Democratic Party (United States) John W. Stevenson as Democratic Caucus Chair John Stevenson.jpg March 4, 1873 Kentucky 19 14 28 9 5 Liberal Republican Party (United States) 2 0 2 0 Anti-Monopoly Party (United States) 0 1 1 1 0 Majority Party Republican Party (US) Republican Party (US) 400px Results of the elections:#0671B0 Democratic gain #92C5DE Democratic hold#F48882 Republican hold #73f440ff Anti-monopoly gain The 1874–75 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 1874 and 1875, 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. Although the Republican Party (the party of incumbent President Ulysses S. Grant) maintained their Senate majority, the Democratic Party gained nine seats. Results summary Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row. Parties Total Democratic Republican LiberalRepublican Anti-Monopoly Before these elections 19 52 2 0 73 Not up 14 32 2 — 48 Class 2 (1870/71) 9 15 1 — 25 Class 3 (1872/73) 5 17 1 — 31 Up 5 22 1 — 36 Regular: Class 1 5 20 — — 25 Special: Class 1 0 1 1 — 2 Special: Class 2 0 1 — — 1 Incumbent retired 2 11 — — 13 Held by same party 1 4 — — 5 Replaced by other party 7 Republicans replaced by 7 Democrats1 Democrat replaced by 1 Anti-Monopolist 8 Result 8 4 — 1 13 Incumbent's intent unknown 1 4 — — 5 Held by same party 1 2 — — 3 Replaced by other party 2 Republicans replaced by 2 Democrats 2 Result 3 2 — — 5 Incumbent ran 2 5 — — 7 Won re-election 2 2 — — 4 Lost re-election 1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat 1 Lost renominationbut held by same party — 2 — — 2 Result 3 4 — — 7 Total elected 14 10 — 1 25 Net change 9 10 — 1 9 Result 28 42 2 1 73 Change in Senate composition Before the elections After the April 17, 1874, special election in Massachusetts. D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15Ran D16Ran D17Unknown R48Retired R49Retired R50Retired R51Retired R52Retired LR1 LR2 V1 D19Retired D18Retired R47Retired R46Retired R45Retired R44Retired R43Retired R42Retired R41Retired R40Unknown R39Unknown R38Unknown Majority → R37Ran R28 R29 R30 R31 R32 R33Ran R34Ran R35Ran R36Ran R27 R26 R25 R24 R23 R22 R21 R20 R19 R18 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1 Result of the elections D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15Re-elected D16Re-elected D17Hold D27Gain D26Gain D25Gain D24Gain D23Gain D22Gain D21Gain D20Gain D19Gain D18Hold D28Gain AM1Gain V1 LR2 LR1 R42Hold R41Hold R40Hold R39Hold R38Hold Majority → R37Hold R28 R29 R30 R31 R32 R33Re-elected R34Re-elected R35Hold R36Hold R27 R26 R25 R24 R23 R22 R21 R20 R19 R18 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1 Beginning of the next Congress D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17 D27 D26 D25 D24 D23 D22 D21 D20 D19 D18 D28 AM1 V1 R44Change R43Change R42 R41 R40 R39 R38 Majority → R37 R28 R29 R30 R31 R32 R33 R34 R35 R36 R27 R26 R25 R24 R23 R22 R21 R20 R19 R18 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1 Key: AM# Anti-Monopoly Party D# Democratic LR# Liberal Republican R# Republican V# Vacant Race summaries Elections during the 43rd Congress In these elections, the winners were seated during 1874 or in 1875 before March 4; ordered by election date. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Kansas(Class 2) Robert Crozier Republican 1873 (appointed) Interim appointee retired February 2, 1874.New senator elected February 2, 1874.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) James M. Harvey (Republican) February 2020 Mississippi(Class 1) Adelbert Ames Republican 1870 Incumbent resigned March 17, 1873, to become Governor of Mississippi.New senator elected February 3, 1874.Republican hold.Winner did not run for the next term; see below. Republican Party (US) Henry R. Pease (Republican) February 2020 Massachusetts(Class 1) Charles Sumner LiberalRepublican 1851 (special)185718631869 Incumbent died March 12, 1874.New senator elected April 17, 1874.Republican gain.Winner did not run for the next term; see below. Republican Party (US) William B. Washburn (Republican) February 2020 Races leading to the 44th Congress In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1875; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history California Eugene Casserly Democratic 1868 Incumbent resigned November 29, 1873.New senator elected early December 20, 1873.https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1873/12/21/79060205.html?zoom=16 THE CALIFORNIAN SENATORSHIP ELECTION OF BOOTH. December 21, 1873 The New York Times February 17, 2020 1Anti-Monopoly gain. Anti-Monopoly Party (US) Newton Booth (Anti-Monopoly) 60 February 2020 Connecticut William A. Buckingham Republican 1868–69 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected May 19, 1874.Democratic gain.Incumbent died February 5, 1875, and Eaton was appointed to finish the term. Democratic Party (US) William W. Eaton (Democratic) 59.95% Republican Party (US)William A. Buckingham (Republican) 32.39% Republican Party (US)Joseph R. Hawley (Republican) 4.45% Democratic Party (US)Charles R. Ingersoll (Democratic) 1.62% Others 1.62%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=277271 CT US Senate October 11, 2008 October 30, 2019 OurCampaigns.com Delaware Thomas F. Bayard Democratic 1869 Incumbent re-elected in 1875. Democratic Party (US) Thomas F. Bayard (Democratic) February 2020 Florida Abijah Gilbert Republican 1868–69 Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1875.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Charles W. Jones (Democratic) February 2020 Indiana Daniel D. Pratt Republican 1868 Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1874 or 1875.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Joseph E. McDonald (Democratic) February 2020 Maine Hannibal Hamlin Sr. Republican 1848 (sp. special)18511857 (r. resigned)18571861 (r. resigned)1869 Incumbent re-elected. Journal of the Senate of the State of Maine, 54th Legislature Sprague, Owen & Nash Augusta 1875 https://lldc.mainelegislature.org/Open/Journals/Senate/SJ1875.pdf 94-95 Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Maine, 54th Legislature Sprague, Owen & Nash Augusta 1875 https://lldc.mainelegislature.org/Open/Journals/House/HJ1875.pdf 81-83 First ballot (January 19, 1875) Republican Party (US) Hannibal Hamlin Sr. (Republican) 85 H Maine House of Representatives; 27 S Maine Senate Democratic Party (US)John Coffin Talbot Jr. (Democratic) 50 H Maine House of Representatives; 3 S Maine Senate Republican Party (US)Sidney Perham Sr. (Republican) 3 H Maine House of Representatives; 0 S Maine Senate Democratic Party (US)William Pickering Haines Sr. (Democratic) 1 H Maine House of Representatives; 0 S Maine Senate Republican Party (US)Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain Jr. (Republican) 1 H Maine House of Representatives; 0 S Maine Senate UnknownAbsent 11 H Maine House of Representatives; 1 S Maine Senate Maryland William P. Whyte Democratic 1874 (appointed) Incumbent retired to run for Maryland Governor.New senator elected in 1874.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) William P. Whyte (Democratic) February 2020 Massachusetts William B. Washburn Republican 1874 (special) Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1875.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Henry L. Dawes (Republican) February 2020 Michigan Zachariah Chandler Republican 185718631869 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1874.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Isaac P. Christiancy (Republican) Republican Party (US)Zachariah Chandler (Republican) February 2020 Minnesota Alexander Ramsey Republican 18631869 Incumbent retired or lost re-election.New senator elected in 1875.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Samuel J. R. McMillan (Republican) February 2020 Mississippi Henry R. Pease Republican 1874 (special) Incumbent retired.New senator elected in February 1874.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Blanche Bruce (Republican) February 2020 Missouri Carl Schurz Republican 1868 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1874.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Francis Cockrell (Democratic) Republican Party (US)Carl Schurz (Republican) February 2020 Nebraska Thomas Tipton Republican 18671869 Incumbent retired or lost re-election.New senator elected in 1875.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Algernon Paddock (Republican) February 2020 Nevada William M. Stewart Republican 18651869 Incumbent retired.New senator elected January 12, 1875.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) William Sharon (Republican) February 2020 New Jersey John P. Stockton Democratic 18641866 (lost dispute)1869 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.New senator elected in 1875.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Theodore Fitz Randolph (Democratic) February 2020 New York Reuben Fenton Republican 1869 Incumbent retired.New senator elected January 20, 1875.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Francis Kernan (Democratic) 87 Republican Party (US)Edwin D. Morgan (Republican) 68 Democratic Party (US)John T. Hoffman (Democratic) 1 Ohio Allen G. Thurman Democratic 1868 Incumbent re-elected in 1874. Democratic Party (US) Allen G. Thurman (Democratic) February 2020 Pennsylvania John Scott Republican 1869 Incumbent retired.New senator elected January 19, 1875.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) William A. Wallace (Democratic) 49.8% Republican Party (US)John Allison (Republican) 46.22% Rhode Island William Sprague IV Republican 18621868 Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1875.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Ambrose Burnside (Republican) February 2020 Tennessee Parson Brownlow Republican 1867 (early) Incumbent retired.New senator elected January 26, 1875, on the 54th ballot.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Andrew Johnson (Democratic) 52Johnson attained 47 votes before switches, four short of a majority.Hearn Chester G. 2000 The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson https://archive.org/details/impeachmentofand00hear registration Jefferson, NC McFarland & Company 217 978-0-7864-0863-4 Democratic Party (US)John C. Brown (Democratic) Democratic Party (US)William B. Bate (Democratic) Liberal Republican Party (US)William A. Quarles (Liberal Republican) Democratic Party (US)John H. Stephens (Democratic) Democratic Party (US)John Houston Savage (Democratic) Democratic Party (US)Gustavus Adolphus Henry Sr. (Democratic) Texas James W. Flanagan Republican 1870 (readmission) Incumbent retired. Democrats regained control of the state government following the end of Reconstruction, so Flanagan was not a candidate.New senator elected on January 28, 1875.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Samuel B. Maxey (Democratic) 59 Democratic Party (US)James W. Throckmorton (Democratic) 40 Republican Party (US)Edward T. Randle (Republican) 13Horton Louise 1974 Samuel Bell Maxey: A Biography https://books.google.com/books?id=_pk_-jbaz-gC&pg=PA54 Austin, TX University of Texas Press 54 978-0-292-72261-3 Vermont George F. Edmunds Republican 1866 (appointed)1866 (special)1868 Incumbent re-elected on October 20, 1874. Republican Party (US) George F. Edmunds (Republican) 279 Democratic Party (US)Edward J. Phelps (Democratic) 49 Republican Party (US)Charles W. Willard (Republican) 13October 21, 1874 Vermont: re-election of George F. Edmunds to the United States Senate https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030313/1874-10-21/ed-1/seq-7/ New York Herald New York, NY 7 Library of Congress, Chronicling America Virginia John F. Lewis Republican 1870 (readmission) Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1875.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Robert E. Withers (Democratic) February 2020 West Virginia Arthur I. Boreman Republican 1868–69 Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1874 or 1875.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Allen T. Caperton (Democratic) February 2020 Wisconsin Matthew H. Carpenter Republican 1869 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected February 3, 1875. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89082539891 Journal of Proceedings of the Wisconsin Legislature 1875 Wisconsin Legislature 64-68, 77-80, 92-94, 102-103, 114-115, 125-127, 139-140 March 6, 2025 HathiTrust Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Angus Cameron (Republican) Republican Party (US)Matthew H. Carpenter (Republican) Republican Party (US)George C. Hazelton (Republican) Republican Party (US)Orsamus Cole (Republican) Democratic Party (US)Edward S. Bragg (Democratic) Republican Party (US)Cadwallader C. Washburn (Republican) Republican Party (US)Luther S. Dixon (Republican) Elections during the 44th Congress There were no special elections in 1875 to the 44th Congress. Maryland List of United States senators from Maryland November 2022 1874 United States Senate election in Maryland - B0CEFF -% Democratic Party (United States) William Pinkney Whyte William Pinkney Whyte 1865-1880 Maryland politician.jpg 1880 1880 United States Senate election in Maryland 1868 1868 United States Senate election in Maryland 80 members of the Maryland General Assembly Legislative 1874 presidential William Pinkney Whyte won election for an unknown margin of votes for the Class 1 seat.https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=114845 Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Jan 17, 1868 2022-11-05 www.ourcampaigns.com New York List of United States senators from New York 1874 United States House of Representatives elections in New York The New York election was held on January 19 and 20, 1875, by the New York State Legislature. Republican Reuben E. Fenton had been elected in January 1869 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1875. At the state election in November 1873, a Republican majority was elected for a two-year term (1874–1875) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1874, Democrat Samuel J. Tilden was elected Governor, 75 Democrats and 53 Republicans were elected for the session of 1875 to the Assembly, and Democrat Albert P. Laning was elected in the 31st District to fill a vacancy in the State Senate. The 98th New York State Legislature met from January 5 to May 19, 1875, at Albany, New York. The caucus of Democratic State legislators met on January 15, State Senator Albert P. Laning, of Buffalo, presided. All but one of the legislators were present, only Assemblyman John M. Roscoe, of Schoharie County, was sick. The caucus nominated Francis Kernan for the U.S. Senate. Kernan had been the Democratic/Liberal Republican candidate for Governor in November 1872 but had been defeated by John Adams Dix. Now Kernan was the choice of Tammany boss John Kelly who had succeeded the corrupt William M. Tweed. Kelly was opposed by John C. Jacobs, who proposed Ex-State Senator Henry C. Murphy, Jacobs's predecessor from the 3rd District, and the Democratic candidate who had lost the U.S. Senate elections in 1867 and 1869 when the Democrats were the minority. Kelly stood firm in his intention to dominate the Democratic Party, and had the caucus nomination made by viva voce vote instead of the more traditional secret ballot. Jacobs and Murphy had expected to get votes from many legislators who would not dare to cross Kelly openly, but had to abandon their hopes when the secret ballot was voted down 74 to 13. +Democratic caucus Candidate First ballot Francis Kernan 77 Henry C. Murphy 9 John T. Hoffman 1 The caucus of the Republican State legislators nominated Ex-U.S. Senator from New York Edwin D. Morgan. On January 19, the Democratic majority of the Assembly nominated Francis Kernan, and the Republican majority of the State Senate nominated Ex-U.S. Senator Edwin D. Morgan. On January 20, both Houses met in joint session to compare nominations, and finding that they disagreed, proceeded to a joint ballot. Francis Kernan was elected, the first Democratic U.S. Senator from New York since 1851 when Daniel S. Dickinson left office. House Democratic Republican Democratic State Senate (32 members) Francis Kernan 13 Edwin D. Morgan 16 State Assembly (128 members) Francis Kernan 74 Edwin D. Morgan 52 John T. Hoffman 1 Joint Ballot (160 members) Francis Kernan 87 Edwin D. Morgan 68 John T. Hoffman 1 Note: The vote for Ex-Governor of New York Hoffman was cast by Reuben E. Fenton's brother-in-law Samuel Scudder, a Democratic Assemblyman from Cattaraugus County. Pennsylvania List of United States senators from Pennsylvania 1874 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania election was held on January 19, 1875. The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, elected William A. Wallace.U.S. Senate Election - 19 January 1875 http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/sen/PaSen1875.pdf Wilkes University December 23, 2012 State Legislature ResultsPA US Senate - 1875 http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=345200 OurCampaigns December 22, 2012 Democratic Party (US) William A. Wallace 125 49.80 Republican Party (US) John Allison 116 46.22 N/A Not voting 10 3.98 |- |-bgcolor="#EEEEEE" | colspan="3" align="right" | Totals | align="right" | 251 | align="right" | 100.00% |} West Virginia January 26–February 17, 1875 1875 United States Senate election in West Virginia West Virginia presidential 1877 (special) Allen Caperton Democratic Party (United States) File:Allen T. Caperton - Brady-Handy.jpg First ballot Needed to win: Majority of votes cast jointly by the Legislature Allen Caperton U.S. senator 1876–77 United States Senate elections#West Virginia 1868–69 United States Senate elections#West Virginia 1869 Members' Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) Arthur Boreman 23rd ballot 6 votes6.9% 68 votes80.9% Elected U.S. SenatorOn January 26, 1875, each house of the West Virginia Legislature held votes to elect a Senator, with no person receiving the majority of votes in either chamber. Pursuant to the 1866 Act regulating the election of senators (S.414), the legislature convened into a joint assembly the following day and held further voting. After 23 ballots held jointly, Allen T. Caperton received the majority of votes on February 17, 1875, and was declared duly elected as senator. Votes for senator across the 23 rounds were mostly scattered, with Caperton, the eventual winner, only starting out with 6 votes in the first joint ballot, and receiving only 30 (13 votes short) on the round before his victory.Journal of the Senate West Virginia Legislature 1875 217 Prior to the election, Johnson Camden and Henry S. Walker were seen as the foremost contenders for the Democratic nomination, which, because of Democrats' large majorities in both houses, was tantamount to election under normal circumstances. January 26, 1875 The Senatorial Fight- Two Ballots Taken- Camden Supposed to be Dead- The Fight Between Walker, Price, and Brannon. The Intelligencer NewspaperArchive However, after repeated failures of any candidate to win a majority either in internal caucus votes or on the floor, legislative Democrats turned to finding a compromise candidate, settling on former Confederate senator Allen T. Caperton. Republican votes were similarly split on most ballots, though on the final one, they supported former Appeals Court chief justice and state senator Ralph Berkshire nearly unanimously. +House and Senate ballotsPartyCandidateHouseSenateVotes%Votes%DemocraticJonathan M. Bennett 100.014.2DemocraticJohn Brannon 11015.6312.5DemocraticGideon D. Camden00.0312.5DemocraticJohnson N. Camden1726.628.3RepublicanArchibald Campbell Archibald Campbell (abolitionist)11.600.0DemocraticAllen T. Caperton69.414.2DemocraticJohn Cunningham 157.800.0DemocraticCharles J. Faulkner11.600.0RepublicanNathan Goff Jr.23.114.2DemocraticDaniel D. Johnson00.014.2DemocraticOkey Johnson11.614.2DemocraticSamuel Price1015.6312.5RepublicanGeorge C. Sturgiss00.014.2RepublicanThomas B. Swann 100.014.2DemocraticHenry S. Walker 11117.2625.0Total6410024100Needed to win33>5013>50 +Joint SessionPartyCandidateBallots1234567891011121314151617181920212223DemocraticAllen T. Caperton63111201113713012110033068DemocraticJonathan M. Bennett 10000110121621000000000000RepublicanRalph Berkshire Ralph Lazier Berkshire103200000020000000000214DemocraticJohn Brannon 111141210161213101451006513000000DemocraticGideon D. Camden2100006411135250000000000DemocraticJohnson N. Camden192715242022000000027283127200000DemocraticRobert Dennis 10000000000000000000261700DemocraticIra J. McGinnis 10000000000200000010293600DemocraticJohn J. Jackson Sr. 10000000000000000232260000DemocraticOkey Johnson220100820272013736000000000DemocraticSamuel Price121015111213151215916001319181820171214170DemocraticHenry S. Walker 1192023222120222322222125252221232423230000Other candidates151017141417221641141118131310106171714352Total8787868585878687868584858487878585858384848484Needed to win4444444343444444444343434344444343434243434343 See also 1874 United States elections 1874–75 United States House of Representatives elections 43rd United States Congress 44th United States Congress Notes References Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov Members of the 44th United States Congress, via GPO.gov NEW-YORK ELECTIONS.; Results of the Official Canvass for the Various Officers in NYT on November 19, 1874 THE SENATORSHIP.; FRANCIS KERNAN'S SWEEPING VICTORY in NYT on January 16, 1875 ALBANY.; ELECTION OF KERNAN TO THE SENATE in NYT on January 21, 1875 Pennsylvania Election Statistics: 1682-2006 from the Wilkes University Election Statistics Project Category:Hannibal Hamlin