1870–71 United States Senate elections

none March 2026 January 2025 1870–71 United States Senate elections United States 1867 legislative no 1868–69 United States Senate elections 1868 & 1869 1872–73 United States Senate elections 1872 & 1873 Class 2 1864–65 United States Senate elections 1864 & 1865 1876–77 United States Senate elections 1876 & 1877 25 of the 70 (4 vacant)/74 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections) 36 Dates vary by state(And other dates for special elections) x180px Seats up Republican Party (US) Henry B. Anthony as Republican Conference Chair Henry B. Anthony - Brady-Handy.jpg March 4, 1863 Rhode Island 57 seats 63 17 58 4 21 Democratic Party (US) Blank2x3.svg 9 seats 11 7 14 3 4 Majority Party Republican Party (US) Republican Party (US) File:1870senatemap.svg Results of the elections:#0671B0 Democratic gain #92C5DE Democratic hold#F48882 Republican hold #000000 Legislature failed to elect The 1870–71 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 1870 and 1871, 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 2. Events of the election The Republican Party lost five seats, though it still retained an overwhelming majority. In advance of these elections, the last four seceded states were readmitted to the Senate. Mississippian Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first African American to be elected as a U.S. Senator and become a member of Congress.https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Facts_Figures.htm Facts & Milestones United States Senate In Georgia, Foster Blodgett was elected and presented his credentials as Senator-elect, but the Senate declared him not elected. In Virginia, Republican John F. Lewis and Democrat John W. Johnston were elected on January 26, 1870, to fill seats that had been vacant since 1864 and 1865. Results summary Senate party division, 42nd Congress (1871–1873) Majority party: Republican (55) Minority party: Democratic (14) Other parties: Liberal Republican (1) Vacant: (4) Total seats: 74 Change in Senate composition By March 30, 1870 After the readmission of Virginia, Texas, and Mississippi, and the special elections in Iowa and Maine. D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 V1 D7 D8 D9 D10GainReadmitted R62GainReadmitted R61GainReadmitted R60GainSpecial R59GainReadmitted R58GainReadmitted R57GainReadmitted R47 R48 R49 R50 R51 R52 R53 R54 R55 R56Appointee elected R46 R45 R44 R43 R42 R41 R40 R39 R38 R37 Majority → R36 R27 R28 R29 R30 R31 R32 R33 R34 R35 R26 R25 R24 R23 R22 R21 R20 R19 R18 R17 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1 V2 Before the elections Including the February 1871 readmission of Georgia. D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D8Ran D9Ran D10Unknown D11Unknown R63Retired R62Retired R61Retired R60Retired R59Retired R58Unknown R48Ran R49Ran R50Ran R51Ran R52Ran R53Ran R54Ran R55Unknown R56Unknown R57Unknown R47Ran R46Ran R45Ran R44Ran R43Ran 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 Result of the elections D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D8Hold D9Hold D10Hold D11Gain D12Gain D13Gain D14Gain V1D Loss V2R Loss R58Hold R48Re-elected R49Hold R50Hold R51Hold R52Hold R53Hold R54Hold R55Hold R56Hold R57Hold R47Re-elected R46Re-elected R45Re-elected R44Re-elected R43Re-elected 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 Beginning of the next Congress D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14Gain V1D Loss V2 V3 R48 R49 R50 R51 R52 R53 R54 R55 LR1Change V4R Loss R47 R46 R45 R44 R43 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: D# Democratic LR# Liberal Republican R# Republican V# Vacant Race summaries Special elections during the 41st Congress In these elections, the winners were seated during 1870 or in 1871 before March 4; ordered by election date. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Iowa(Class 2) James W. Grimes Republican 18581864 Incumbent resigned December 6, 1869 due to ill health.New senator elected January 18, 1870.Dan Elbert Clark https://books.google.com/books?id=jXJDAAAAIAAJ History of Senatorial Elections in Iowa 150–151 Iowa 1913Winner did not seek election to the next term. Republican Party (US) James B. Howell (Republican) Democratic Party (US)John Thompson Stoneman (Democratic) Maine(Class 2) Lot M. Morrill Republican 1861 (special)18631869 (lost)1869 (appointed) Interim appointee elected January 19, 1870 to finish the term.Winner was also elected to the next term; see below. Republican Party (US) Lot M. Morrill (Republican) February 2020 Virginia(Class 1) Vacant since January 2, 1864,when Joseph Segar (U) was not seated.Segar was not seated on the premise that the Union-friendly legislature was illegitimate despite having seated his predecessor based credentials from the same legislature. In reality, the Senate refused because it did not want to set a precedent for easing reentry of Confederate states. See https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Musical_chairs.htm Musical Chairs (1861–1869) United States Senate March 20, 2009 State readmitted to the Union.New senator elected January 26, 1870.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) John F. Lewis (Republican) February 2020 Virginia(Class 2) Vacant since March 4, 1865, whenJohn Curtiss Underwood (U) was not seated.https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Musical_chairs.htm Musical Chairs (1861–1869) United States Senate March 20, 2009 State readmitted to the Union.New senator elected January 26, 1870.Democratic gain.Winner was also elected late to the next term; see below. Democratic Party (US) John W. Johnston (Democratic) February 2020 Texas(Class 1) Vacant since March 23, 1861,when Louis Wigfall (D) withdrew. State readmitted to the Union.New senator elected February 22, 1870.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) J. W. Flanagan (Republican) 74 Democratic Party (US) Nelson Plato (Democratic) 32 Democratic Party (US) S. D. Wood (Democratic) 3 Democratic Party (US) L. D. Evans (Democratic) 1 Independent (US) A. B. Norton (Independent) 1 Texas(Class 2) Vacant since July 11, 1861,when John Hemphill (D) was expelled. State readmitted to the Union.New senator elected February 22, 1870.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000115 HAMILTON, Morgan Calvin - Biographical Information bioguide.congress.gov October 31, 2019http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000115 HAMILTON, Morgan Calvin - Biographical Information bioguide.congress.gov October 31, 2019Allowed to take office when state readmitted on March 30, 1870.Republican gain.Winner was also elected to the next term; see below. Republican Party (US) Morgan C. Hamilton (Republican) 69 Democratic Party (US) Albert H. Latimer (Democratic) 35 Democratic Party (US) J. J. Jarvis (Democratic) 4 Independent (US) J. W. Glenn (Independent) 1 Democratic Party (US) Nelson Plato (Democratic) 1 Democratic Party (US) X. B. Saunders (Democratic) 1https://lrl.texas.gov/scanned/SenateJournals/12/02221870_12_34.pdf Journal of the Senate of the State of Texas: Provisional Session of 1870. February 22, 1870 Austin, Texas 37–38 Twelfth Day's Proceedingshttps://lrl.texas.gov/scanned/HouseJournals/12/02221870_12_49.pdf Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Texas February 22, 1870 Austin, Texas 55–56 Twelfth Day's Proceedings Mississippi(Class 1) Vacant since January 21, 1861,when Jefferson Davis (D) resigned State readmitted to the Union.New senator elected February 23, 1870.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) Adelbert Ames (Republican) February 2020 Mississippi(Class 2) Vacant since January 12, 1861,when Albert G. Brown (D) withdrew. State readmitted to the Union.New senator elected February 23, 1870.Republican gain.Unknown if winner ran for the next term or retired; see below. Republican Party (US) Hiram R. Revels (Republican) February 2020 Missouri(Class 3) Daniel T. Jewett Republican 1870 (appointed) Interim appointee retired.New senator elected January 20, 1871 to finish the term.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Francis Preston Blair Jr. (Democratic) 61.5% Republican Party (US)John B. Henderson (Republican) 35.5% Republican Party (US)John F. Benjamin (Republican) 3.0%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=261772 Our Campaigns - MO US Senate - Special Election Race - Jan 20, 1871 www.ourcampaigns.com October 31, 2019 Minnesota(Class 2) William Windom Republican 1865 Interim appointee was not elected to finish the term.New senator elected January 22, 1871 to finish the term.Republican hold.Winner was not elected to the next term; see below.Instead, interim appointee was elected to the next term; see below. Republican Party (US) Ozora P. Stearns (Republican) 44 (73.3%) Democratic Party (US)Eugene M. Wilson (Democratic) 13 (21.7%) Democratic Party (US)Amos Coggswell (Democratic) 2 (3.3%) Democratic Party (US)Ignatius L. Donnelly (Democratic) 1 (1.7%)University of Minnesota Libraries University of Minnesota 1871 Minnesota U.S. Senate Special Election https://mn.electionarchives.lib.umn.edu/election/2318712000111600/ live 2021-08-24 Minnesota Historical Election Archive en https://web.archive.org/web/20210824223415/https://mn.electionarchives.lib.umn.edu/election/2318712000111600/ 2021-08-24 Georgia(Class 3) Vacant since January 28, 1861,when Alfred Iverson Sr. (D) withdrew. State readmitted to the Union.New senator elected in 1867, but not seated until readmission on February 1, 1871.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) Joshua Hill (Republican) February 2020 Georgia(Class 2) Vacant since February 4, 1861,when Robert Toombs (D) withdrew. State readmitted to the Union.New senator elected February 24, 1871.Democratic gain.Unknown if winner ran for the next term or retired; see below. Democratic Party (US) Homer V. M. Miller (Democratic) February 2020 Races leading to the 42nd Congress In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1871; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoralhistory Alabama Willard Warner Republican 1868 (readmission) Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1870.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) George Goldthwaite (Democratic) Republican Party (US)Willard Warner (Republican) February 2020 Arkansas Alexander McDonald Republican 1868 (readmission) Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1870.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Powell Clayton (Republican) Republican Party (US)Alexander McDonald (Republican) February 2020 Delaware Willard Saulsbury Sr. Democratic 18581864 Incumbent lost re-election to his older brother.New senator elected in 1870.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Eli Saulsbury (Democratic) Democratic Party (US)Willard Saulsbury Sr. (Democratic) February 2020 Georgia Homer V. M. Miller Democratic 1871 (readmission) Incumbent retired or lost re-election.New senator elected in 1876 or 1877.Democratic loss.Senate later refused to seat Senator-elect Foster Blodgett. Republican Party (US) Foster Blodgett (Republican) February 2020 Illinois Richard Yates Republican 1864–65 Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1870 or 1871.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) John A. Logan (Republican) February 2020 Iowa James B. Howell Republican 1870 (special) Incumbent retired.New senator elected January 18, 1870.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) George G. Wright (Republican) Democratic Party (US)Thomas W. Claggett (Democratic) Kansas Edmund G. Ross Republican 1866 (appointed)1867 (special) Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1871.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Alexander Caldwell (Republican) Republican Party (US)Edmund G. Ross (Republican) February 2020 Kentucky Thomas C. McCreery Democratic 1868 (special) Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected December 16, 1869.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) John W. Stevenson (Democratic) 117 Republican Party (US) H. F. Finley (Republican) 10 Democratic Party (US) Richard M. Spalding (Democratic) 5 Democratic Party (US) John C. Breckinridge (Democratic) 1 Louisiana John S. Harris Republican 1868 (readmission) Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election.New senator elected in 1870 or 1871.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Joseph R. West (Republican) February 2020 Maine Lot M. Morrill Republican 1861 (special)18631869 (lost)1869 (appointed)1870 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1870 or 1871. Republican Party (US) Lot M. Morrill (Republican) February 2020 Massachusetts Henry Wilson Republican 1855 (special)18591865 Incumbent re-elected in 1871. Republican Party (US) Henry Wilson (Republican) February 2020 Michigan Jacob M. Howard Republican 1862 (special)1865 Incumbent retired or lost re-election.New senator elected January 18, 1871.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Thomas W. Ferry (Republican) February 2020 Minnesota Ozora P. Stearns Republican 1871 (special) Incumbent retired.New senator elected in January 1871.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) William Windom (Republican) 43 (71.7%) Democratic Party (US)Richard A. Jones (Democratic) 14 (23.3%) Republican Party (US)Morton S. Wilkinson (Republican) 1 (1.7%) Democratic Party (US)Cornelius F. Buck (Democratic) 1 (1.7%) Republican Party (US)Thomas Wilson (Republican) 1 (1.7%)University of Minnesota Libraries University of Minnesota 1871 Minnesota U.S. Senate Election https://mn.electionarchives.lib.umn.edu/election/2318711000111600/ live 2021-08-24 Minnesota Historical Election Archive en https://web.archive.org/web/20210824214954/https://mn.electionarchives.lib.umn.edu/election/2318711000111600/ 2021-08-24 Mississippi Hiram Rhodes Revels Republican 1870 (readmission) Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election.New senator elected January 18, 1870.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) James L. Alcorn (Republican) February 2020 Nebraska John M. Thayer Republican 1867 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1870.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Phineas Hitchcock (Republican) Republican Party (US)John M. Thayer (Republican) February 2020 New Hampshire Aaron H. Cragin Republican 1864 Incumbent re-elected in 1870. Republican Party (US) Aaron H. Cragin (Republican) February 2020 New Jersey Alexander G. Cattell Republican 1866 (special) Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1870 or 1871.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Frederick T. Frelinghuysen (Republican) February 2020 North Carolina Joseph Abbott Republican 1868 (readmission) Incumbent lost renomination.Legislature failed to elect.Republican loss.Seat remained vacant until January 30, 1872. February 2020 Oregon George H. Williams Republican 1864 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1870.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) James K. Kelly (Democratic) Republican Party (US)George H. Williams (Republican) February 2020 Rhode Island Henry B. Anthony Republican 18581864 Incumbent re-elected in 1870. Republican Party (US) Henry B. Anthony (Republican) February 2020 South Carolina Thomas J. Robertson Republican 1868 (readmission) Incumbent re-elected in 1870. Republican Party (US) Thomas J. Robertson (Republican) February 2020 Tennessee Joseph S. Fowler Republican 1866 (readmission) Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1870 or 1871.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Henry Cooper (Democratic) February 2020 Texas Morgan C. Hamilton Republican 1870 (readmission) State readmitted to the Union.New senator elected February 22, 1870.Republican hold.Winner was also elected to the unexpired term; see above. Republican Party (US) Morgan C. Hamilton (Republican) 71 Democratic Party (US) Horace Broughton (Democratic) 39 Independent (US) A. B. Norton (Independent) 1 Virginia John W. Johnston Democratic 1870 (readmission) Incumbent retired or lost re-election.Legislature failed to elect.Democratic loss.Seat remained vacant until March 15, 1871. February 2020 West Virginia Waitman T. Willey Republican 18631865 Incumbent retired or lost re-election.New senator elected in 1871.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Henry G. Davis (Democratic) February 2020 Elections during the 42nd Congress In this election, the winner was elected in 1871 after March 4. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Virginia(Class 2) Vacant Legislature had failed to elect.Previous incumbent re-elected March 15, 1871.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) John W. Johnston (Democratic)February 2020 Georgia(Class 2) Vacant Foster Blodgett (R) had presented credentials as Senator-elect, but the Senate declared him not elected.New senator elected November 14, 1871.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Thomas M. Norwood (Democratic)February 2020 West Virginia January 31, 1871 1871 United States Senate election in West Virginia West Virginia presidential 1877 Henry G. Davis Democratic Party (United States) File:HenryGDavis.png James H. Brown House vote Needed to win: Majority of votes cast in each House of the Legislature54 votes cast in the House; 28 votes needed21 votes cast in the Senate; 11 votes needed Henry G. Davis U.S. senator 1876–77 United States Senate elections#West Virginia 1864–65 United States Senate elections#West Virginia 1865 Members' File:Judge James H. Brown.png 115px Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) Waitman T. Willey Senate vote 39 votes72.2% 14 votes66.7% 15 votes27.8% 7 votes33.3% Republican Party (United States) Elected U.S. SenatorHenry G. Davis, a Democratic state legislator, was elected to replace outgoing Republican incumbent Waitman T. Willey. Davis won the Democratic caucus vote over former legislators Daniel Lamb and Benjamin H. Smith. Davis' victory was attributed to widespread support throughout the state, as well as among party leaders. Nearly all of Lamb's votes, meanwhile, were localized to the Northern Panhandle.January 28, 1871 Nomination of H.G. Davis to be U.S. Senator Wheeling Register NewspaperArchive +Democratic nominationCandidateFirst BallotVotes%Henry G. Davis2752.9Daniel Lamb1223.5Benjamin H. Smith1223.5Total51100Needed to win26>50 +Floor voteJournal of the House of Delegates of the State of West Virginia January 31, 1871 West Virginia Legislature 78, 90PartyCandidateHouseSenateVotes%Votes%DemocraticHenry G. Davis3972.21466.7RepublicanJames H. Brown1527.8733.3Total5410021100Needed to win28>5011>50 See also 1870 United States elections 1870–71 United States House of Representatives elections 41st United States Congress 42nd United States Congress Notes References External links https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/partydiv.htm Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present United States Senate The Senate, 1789-1989: Historical Statistics, 1789-1992 volume 4 Bicentennial Robert C. Byrd Robert Byrd Wendy Wolff United States Senate Historical Office U.S. Government Printing Office October 1, 1993 978-0-16-063256-3 https://books.google.com/books?id=PeHByMYxVm8C Compilation of Senate Election Cases from 1789 to 1885 George S. Taft United States Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections 1885 U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, DC https://archive.org/details/compilationsena00taftgoog