1877 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

none March 2026 September 2023 1877 United States Senate election in Massachusetts presidential no 1873 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts 1873 (special) 1883 United States Senate election in Massachusetts 1883 January 16–19, 1877 x140px Majority of legislature needed to win File:George Frisbie Hoar - Brady-Handy.jpg George Frisbie Hoar Republican Party (US) 146 52.52% File:Josiah Gardner Abbott - Brady-Handy.jpg Josiah Abbott Democratic Party (US) 62 22.30% File:George Boutwell, Brady-Handy photo portrait, ca1870-1880.jpg George S. Boutwell Republican Party (US) 47 16.91% File:AHRice.jpg Alexander H. Rice Republican Party (US) 19 6.83% Senator George S. Boutwell Republican Party (United States) George Frisbie Hoar Republican Party (United States) The 1877 United States Senate election in Massachusetts was held in January 1877. Incumbent Republican Senator George S. Boutwell, who had won a special election for the remainder of Henry Wilson's term, was defeated by reformist U.S. Representative George Frisbie Hoar. At the time, Massachusetts elected United States Senators by a resolution of the Massachusetts General Court. Background State legislature At the time, the Massachusetts legislature was dominated the Republican Party. The Senate was composed of 30 Republicans and 10 Democrats, Composition of the Massachusetts State Senate Mass.gov June 6, 2020 Resources on Massachusetts Political Figures in the State Library https://www.mass.gov/service-details/resources-on-massachusetts-political-figures-in-the-state-library https://web.archive.org/web/20200606063917/https://www.mass.gov/doc/composition-of-the-massachusetts-state-senate-0/download and the House had 178 Republicans and 62 Democrats.Composition of the State of Massachusetts House of Representatives Mass.gov June 6, 2020 Resources on Massachusetts Political Figures in the State Library https://www.mass.gov/service-details/resources-on-massachusetts-political-figures-in-the-state-library https://web.archive.org/web/20200606064043/https://www.mass.gov/doc/composition-of-the-massachusetts-state-house-of-representatives-0/download However, if a split within the Republican Party emerged, Democrats could hold the balance and decide the election. 1876 presidential election The election took place against the backdrop of the contested 1876 presidential election. Several potential or actual candidates were involved in the Compromise of 1877 and the ongoing controversy may have affected the result. Candidates Declared George S. Boutwell, incumbent Senator George F. Hoar, U.S. Representative from Worcester Julius Hawley Seelye, U.S. Representative from AmherstMassachusetts: United States Senator Chicago Daily Tribune 10 Jan 1877 2The Massachusetts Senatorship: The Contest Between Messrs. Boutwell, Hoar, and Seelye The New York Tribune 11 Jan 1877 5 thumb|General Benjamin Butler, an eccentric and prominent figure in Massachusetts politics and a key supporter of Senator Boutwell. George Boutwell, the former Governor and incumbent interim Senator, was backed by Benjamin F. Butler and the patronage wing of the Republican Party. He was challenged by U.S. Representative George Frisbie Hoar, a reformist who had supported Benjamin Bristow at the 1876 Republican National Convention. Potential The following candidates were mentioned as potential candidates or received votes, but did not openly declare their willingness or desire to be elected. Alexander Bullock, former Governor of MassachusettsGive the Young Men a Chance Boston Daily Globe 12 Jan 1877 4 Charles Devens, Judge of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and former Civil War general Alexander H. Rice, Governor of Massachusetts John E. Sanford, former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of RepresentativesThe Senatorial Scramble in Massachusetts 13 Jan 1877 The New York Tribune 6 Other candidates mentioned included Governor Alexander H. Rice (who had the backing of prohibitionists on the basis that his election would elevate prohibitionist Republican Horatio G. Knight to the Governor's office), Judge Charles Devens, and U.S. Representative Julius Hawley Seelye. Rice was also rumored to have the support of Butler in the event Boutwell became non-viable, as this would clear the nomination for 1877, and Butler greatly coveted the office of Governor. Democrats, under the direction of Frank Bird, were expected to cast a ceremonial vote for Josiah Abbott or William Gaston before throwing their support to a competitive candidate, possibly former Republican Governor Alexander Bullock, who was aligned with Bird. Democrats were expected to oppose Hoar as an alternative to Boutwell. Election January 16 On January 16, the General Court convened and began to cast votes in each house, separately. The first day of balloting was seen as a victory for Hoar, as Boutwell's support was much lower than his supporters claimed. Democrats voted in a caucus to continue to support Abbott. After the first day, it was conceded the Boutwell could not be elected, and the question became whether Republicans would rally to Hoar or try to find a third candidate. January 17 On the second day of balloting, the two houses of the General Court met in joint convention, rather than separately.Hoar Leads 18 Jan 1877 Boston Daily Globe 1 After the first ballot, Senator Brimball and Ginnodo changed their votes from Boutwell to Hoar. Abbott gained a voted after Representative Glynn voted, having missed the first ballot. January 18 On the third day of balloting, Senator James G. Blaine was in attendance.Mr. Hoar Decidedly Ahead 19 Jan 1877 New York Tribune 1 Secretary of the Treasury Justin Morrill sent a letter endorsing Boutwell and imploring his re-election, but it did not appear to have any effect on the vote. January 19 During the fifth and final ballot on January 19, many Boutwell men changed their votes to Hoar after realizing he would win. Results + Balloting by Round Candidate S1The Senatorial Election — The Ballots 17 Jan 1877 Chicago Daily Tribune 2Boutwell and Hoar Divide the Republican Vote of Massachusetts 1 Philadelphia Inquirer 17 Jan 1877 S2 H1 H2 J1 J2 J3Senator Hoar Boston Daily Globe 1 20 Jan 1877 J4 J5 Republican Party (US) George Frisbie Hoar121276779395100104146 Republican Party (US) George S. Boutwell171778799593888347 Democratic Party (US) Josiah Abbott7755556162626262 Republican Party (US) Alexander H. Rice4415151717171719 Republican Party (US) Alexander Bullock––4444442 Republican Party (US) Julius Hawley Seelye––4444341 Republican Party (US) Charles Francis Adams Jr.––1–––––– Republican Party (US) Henry L. Pierce––1–––––– Republican Party (US) John E. Sanford––1111––– Republican Party (US) Paul A. Chadbourne––––––––1 Total 4040235235275276274274278 Aftermath Hoar would remain in the Senate until his death in 1905. Boutwell was appointed by President Rutherford B. Hayes to codify the Revised Statutes of the United States and later served as United States counsel before the French and American Claims Commission. He later left the Republican Party over imperialism, which both he and Hoar opposed. References collapsed 1877 Massachusetts United States Senate