1836–37 United States Senate elections

none March 2026 March 2020 1836–37 United States Senate elections United States 1836 legislative no 1834–35 United States Senate elections 1834 & 1835 1838–39 United States Senate elections 1838 & 1839 Class 3 1830–31 United States Senate elections 1830 & 1831 1842–43 United States Senate elections 1842 & 1843 17 of the 52 seats in the United States Senate (plus special elections) 27 Dates vary by state 100px Seats up Democratic Party (US) 22Jacksonian As the Jacksonian party 31Jacksonian 12 34 3 9 Whig Party (US) 24National As the National Republican party 19National 5 17 2 7 Nullifier Party 2 2 0 1 1 1 Majority Party Jacksonian Party (US) Democratic Party (US) File:1836senatemap.svg Results:#0671B0 Democratic gain #92C5DE Democratic hold #f3d586 Whig hold The 1836–37 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 1836 and 1837, 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 3. In this election cycle, the Jacksonian coalition emerged as the Democratic Party, and the Adams, or Anti-Jackson, coalition emerged as the Whig Party. Results summary Senate party division, 25th Congress (1837–1839) Majority party: Democratic (35) Minority party: Whig (17–16) Other parties: (0–1) Total seats: 52 Change in composition Before the special elections NR1 NR2 NR3 NR4 NR5 NR6 NR16 NR15 NR14 NR13 NR12 NR11 NR10 NR9 NR8 NR7 NR17Del. DelawareResigned NR18Del. DelawareResigned NR19Md. MarylandDied NR20N.C. North CarolinaResigned NR21La. LouisianaResigned NR22Va. VirginiaResigned NR23Va. VirginiaResigned Ark. ArkansasNew Ark. ArkansasNew N2   N1 J17 J18 J19 J20 J21 J22Mich. MichiganMichigan Michigan's senators were elected in 1835, but not seated until early 1837. J23Mich. MichiganMichigan J24N.H. New HampshireResigned V1La. Louisiana J16 J15 J14 J13 J12 J11 J10 J9 J8 J7 J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 As a result of the special elections NR1 NR2 NR3 NR4 NR5 NR6 NR16 NR15 NR14 NR13 NR12 NR11 NR10 NR9 NR8 NR7 NR17Del. DelawareHold NR18Del. DelawareHold NR19Md. MarylandHold N2 N1 J31Va. VirginiaGain J30Va. VirginiaGain J29Ark. ArkansasGain J28Ark. ArkansasGain J27N.C. North CarolinaGain Majority → J17 J18 J19 J20 J21 J22 J23 J24N.H. New HampshireHold J25La. LouisianaGain J26La. LouisianaGain J16 J15 J14 J13 J12 J11 J10 J9 J8 J7 J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 Before the regular elections NR1 NR2 NR3 NR4 NR5 NR6 NR16OhioRan NR15Ky. KentuckyRan NR14Ind. IndianaRan NR13Ala. AlabamaRan NR12 NR11 NR10 NR9 NR8 NR7 NR17La. LouisianaRan NR18Vt. VermontRan NR19Conn. ConnecticutUnknown N2S.C. South CarolinaRan N1 J31Pa. PennsylvaniaRan J30N.C. North CarolinaRan J29N.Y. New YorkRan J28N.H. New HampshireRan J27Mo. MissouriRan Majority → J17 J18 J19 J20 J21 J22 J23Ark. ArkansasRan J24Ga. GeorgiaRan J25Ill. IllinoisRan J26La. LouisianaRan J16 J15 J14 J13 J12 J11 J10 J9 J8 J7 J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 As a result of the regular elections "Hold" means the incumbent lost and the winner was from an affiliated new party, either Anti-Jacksonian to Whig or Jacksonian to Democratic. NR1 NR2 NR3 NR4 NR5 NR6 W16Vt. VermontRe-elected(was AJ) W15Ind. IndianaHold(was AJ) W14La. LouisianaRe-elected(was AJ) W13Ky. KentuckyRe-elected(was AJ) NR12 NR11 NR10 NR9 NR8 NR7 W17S.C. South CarolinaRe-elected(was N) N1 D34OhioGain(was AJ) D33Conn. ConnecticutGain(was AJ) D32Ala. AlabamaGain(was AJ) D31N.H. New HampshireHold(was J) D30Ill. IllinoisHold(was J) D29Pa. PennsylvaniaRe-elected(was J) D28N.C. North CarolinaRe-elected(was J) D27N.Y. New YorkRe-elected(was J) Majority → J17 J18 J19 J20 J21 J22 D23Ark. ArkansasRe-elected(was J) D24Ga. GeorgiaRe-elected(was J) D25La. LouisianaRe-elected(was J) D26Mo. MissouriRe-elected(was J) J16 J15 J14 J13 J12 J11 J10 J9 J8 J7 J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 Beginning of the next Congress W1New party W2New party W3New party W4New party W5New party W6New party W16 W15 W14 W13 W12New party W11New party W10New party W9New party W8New party W7New party W17 D35New party D34 D33 D32 D31 D30 D29 D28 D27 Majority → D17New party D18New party D19New party D20New party D21New party D22New party D23 D24 D25 D26 D16New party D15New party D14New party D13New party D12New party D11New party D10New party D9New party D8New party D7New party D1New party D2New party D3New party D4New party D5New party D6New party Key: NR# National Republican J# Jacksonian N# Nullfier D# Democratic W# Whig V# Vacant Race summaries Bold states link to specific election articles. Elections seated during the 24th Congress In these elections, senators were elected to finish terms already in progress either as special elections or as elections to a new state. senators were seated during 1836 or before March 4, 1837; ordered by election date. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Louisiana(Class 2) Vacant Charles Gayarré had been elected but resigned due to ill health without having taken his seat.New senator elected January 13, 1836.Jacksonian gain.Winner served in the next Congress as a Democrat. Jacksonian Party Robert C. Nicholas (Jacksonian) February 2020 Virginia(Class 1) John Tyler NationalRepublican 18271833 Incumbent resigned February 29, 1836.New senator elected March 4, 1836.Jacksonian gain.Winner served in the next Congress as a Democrat. Jacksonian Party William C. Rives (Jacksonian) February 2020 Connecticut(Class 1) John M. Niles Jacksonian 1835 (appointed) Interim appointee elected May 6, 1836. Jacksonian Party John M. Niles (Jacksonian) 121 National Republican PartyWilliam W. Ellsworth (National Republican) 57 Jacksonian PartyAndrew T. Judson (Jacksonian) 11 Scattering 13May 12, 1836 Connecticut Legislature https://www.newspapers.com/image/884029769/ Litchfield Enquirer Litchfield, CT 3 July 7, 2026 New Hampshire(Class 3) Isaac Hill Jacksonian 1831 Incumbent resigned May 30, 1836 to become governor of New Hampshire.New senator elected June 8, 1836.Jacksonian hold.Winner lost re-election to the next term; see below. Jacksonian Party John Page (Jacksonian) February 2020 Delaware(Class 1) Arnold Naudain NationalRepublican 1830 (special)1832 Incumbent resigned June 16, 1836.New senator elected June 17, 1836.National Republican hold.Winner served in the next Congress as a Whig. National Republican Party (US) Richard H. Bayard (National Republican) February 2020 Arkansas(Class 2) New seats New state.New senator elected September 19, 1836.Jacksonian gain.Winner served in the next Congress as a Democrat. Jacksonian Party William S. Fulton (Jacksonian) 60 votes September 23, 1836 Senate https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87062070/1836-09-23/ed-1/seq-3/ The Arkansas advocate Little Rock, Ark. 2–3 19 September 2021 Arkansas(Class 3) New state.New senator elected September 19, 1836.Jacksonian gain.Winner was also re-elected to the next term; see below. Jacksonian Party Ambrose H. Sevier (Jacksonian) 56 votes UnknownH. F. Walworth (Unknown) 4 votes North Carolina(Class 3) Willie P. Mangum NationalRepublican 1830 Incumbent resigned November 26, 1836.New senator elected December 5, 1836.Jacksonian gain.Winner was also elected to the next term; see below. Jacksonian Party Robert Strange (Jacksonian) February 2020 Virginia(Class 2) Benjamin W. Leigh NationalRepublican 1834 (special)1835 Incumbent resigned July 4, 1836.New senator elected December 12, 1836.Jacksonian gain.Winner would resign at the end of this Congress; see below. Jacksonian Party Richard E. Parker (Jacksonian) February 2020 Maryland(Class 3) Robert H. Goldsborough NationalRepublican 18131819 (retired or lost)1835 (special) Incumbent died October 5, 1836.New senator elected December 31, 1836.National Republican hold.Winner was also re-elected to the next term; see below. National Republican Party (US) John S. Spence (National Republican) February 2020 Delaware(Class 2) John M. Clayton NationalRepublican 18291835 Incumbent resigned December 29, 1836.New senator elected January 9, 1837.National Republican hold.Winner served in the next Congress as a Whig. National Republican Party (US) Thomas Clayton (National Republican) February 2020 Louisiana(Class 3) Alexander Porter NationalRepublican 1833 (special) Incumbent resigned January 5, 1837 due to ill health.New senator elected January 12, 1837.Jacksonian gain.Winner was also re-elected to the next term; see below. Jacksonian Party Alexandre Mouton (Jacksonian) February 2020 Maine(Class 1) Judah Dana Jacksonian 1836 (appointed) Interim appointee retired when elected successor qualified.New senator elected February 22, 1837.Jacksonian hold.Winner served in the next Congress as a Democrat. Jacksonian Party Reuel Williams (Jacksonian) 118 National Republican PartyGeorge Evans (National Republican) 53 Jacksonian PartyNathan Clifford (Jacksonian) 3 Unknown PartyTristram Redman (Unknown) 11837 Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Maine. Seventeenth Legislature. Commencing January 4, and ending March 30, 1837. https://digitalmaine.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1035&context=arc_leg_journals Augusta, ME 240–2411837 Journal of the Senate of the State of Maine at the Session Held at Augusta 1837 https://digitalmaine.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=arc_leg_journals Augusta, ME 259–260 Races leading to the 25th Congress In these regular elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1837; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Alabama Gabriel Moore Whig(National Republican) 1831 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1837.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) John McKinley (Democratic) Democratic Party (US)Gabriel Moore (Democratic) February 2020 Arkansas Ambrose Sevier Democratic(Jacksonian) 1836 (new seat) Incumbent re-elected in 1837. Democratic Party (US) Ambrose Sevier (Democratic) February 2020 Connecticut Gideon Tomlinson Whig(National Republican) 1831 Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election.New senator elected in 1836 or 1837.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Perry Smith (Democratic) February 2020 Georgia Alfred Cuthbert Democratic(Jacksonian) 1835 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1837. Democratic Party (US) Alfred Cuthbert (Democratic) February 2020 Illinois William Lee D. Ewing Democratic(Jacksonian) 1835 (special) Incumbent lost election.New senator elected in 1837.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Richard M. Young (Democratic) Democratic Party (US)William Lee D. Ewing (Democratic) February 2020 Indiana William Hendricks Whig(National Republican) 18241830 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1836.Whig hold. Whig Party (US) Oliver H. Smith (Whig) Whig Party (US)William Hendricks (Whig) February 2020 Kentucky Henry Clay Whig(National Republican) 1806 (special)1807 (retired)1810 (appointed)1811 (retired)1831 (late) Incumbent re-elected in 1836. Whig Party (US) Henry Clay (Whig) February 2020 Louisiana Alexandre Mouton Democratic(Jacksonian) 1837 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1837. Democratic Party (US) Alexandre Mouton (Democratic) February 2020 Maryland John S. Spence Whig(National Republican) 1836 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1837. Whig Party (US) John S. Spence (Whig) February 2020 Missouri Lewis F. Linn Democratic(Jacksonian) 1833 (appointed)1834 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1836. Democratic Party (US) Lewis F. Linn (Democratic) February 2020 New Hampshire John Page Democratic(Jacksonian) 1836 (special) Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1837.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Franklin Pierce (Democratic) February 2020 New York Silas Wright Jr. Democratic(Jacksonian) 1826 (Late) Incumbent re-elected February 7, 1837. Democratic Party (US) Silas Wright Jr. (Democratic) 26+85 Whig Party (US)Ambrose L. Jordan (Whig) 3+27 North Carolina Willie P. Mangum Whig(National Republican) 1830 Incumbent resigned November 26, 1836.New senator elected in 1836.Democratic gain.Successor also elected to finish the current term, see above. Democratic Party (US) Robert Strange (Democratic) February 2020 Ohio Thomas Ewing Whig(National Republican) 1830 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in January 1837.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) William Allen (Democratic) Whig Party (US)Thomas Ewing (Whig) February 2020 Pennsylvania James Buchanan Democratic(Jacksonian) 1834 (special) Incumbent re-elected December 14, 1836. Democratic Party (US) James Buchanan (Democratic) 85 Whig Party (US)Thomas M. T. McKennan (Whig) 24 Whig Party (US)Charles B. Penrose (Whig) 21 Democratic Party (US)Thomas Cunningham (Democratic) 1 Democratic Party (US)Isaac Leet (Democratic) 1 UnknownNot voting 1U.S. Senate Election - 14 December 1836 http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/sen/PaSen1837.pdf Wilkes University December 22, 2013 South Carolina William C. Preston Nullifier 1833 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1837 as a Whig. Whig Party (US) William C. Preston (Whig) February 2020 Vermont Samuel Prentiss Whig(National Republican) 1831 Incumbent re-elected in 1837. Whig Party (US) Samuel Prentiss (Whig) February 2020 Elections during the 25th Congress In these special elections, the winners were seated in 1837 after March 4; ordered by election date. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Virginia(Class 2) Richard E. Parker Democratic 1836 (special) Incumbent resigned March 4, 1837 to become judge of the Supreme Court of Virginia.New senator elected March 14, 1837.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) William H. Roane (Democratic) February 2020 Alabama(Class 3) John McKinley Democratic 1833 (special) Incumbent resigned April 22, 1837 to become associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.New senator elected June 19, 1837.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Clement C. Clay (Democratic) February 2020 Georgia(Class 2) John Pendleton King Democratic 1833 (special) Incumbent resigned November 1, 1837.New senator elected November 22, 1837.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Wilson Lumpkin (Democratic) 55.10% Whig Party (US)John M. Berrien (Whig) 39.18% Democratic Party (US)Daniel M. Stewart (Democratic) 1.63% Scattering 4.08%https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=354297 Our Campaigns - GA US Senate - Appointment Race - Nov 01, 1837 Alabama There were two elections in Alabama in this cycle, both for the same seat. List of United States senators from Alabama 1837 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama Alabama (regular) First-term senator Anti-Jacksonian Gabriel Moore lost re-election in November 1836 to Jacksonian John McKinley. Alabama (special) Shortly after the new term started, Jacksonian-now-Democrat John McKinley resigned to become associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He was replaced by fellow Democrat Clement C. Clay in a June 19, 1837 special election. Clay would serve only until November 15, 1841, when he, too, resigned. Arkansas 1836 United States Senate election in Arkansas 60 88.2% Jacksonian Party (United States) Ambrose H. Sevier AR Sevier Ambrose.jpg 56 82.3% Jacksonian Party (United States) William S. Fulton WSFulton.jpg 5.9% Horace F. Walworth 4 1837 1837 United States Senate election in Arkansas 68 members of the Arkansas General Assembly Legislative September 19, 1836 presidential List of United States senators from Arkansas 1836 United States House of Representatives election in Arkansas 1837 United States House of Representatives election in Arkansas Arkansas became a new state and elected its two senators in a joint session of the Arkansas General Assembly on September 19, 1836.Annals of Arkansas 1947 Herndon Dallas T. 1 The Historical Record Association Hopkinsville, Kentucky 978-1-56546-450-6 48002456 3920841 131 "Herndon" 1947 Jacksonian former Governor of Arkansas Territory William Fulton was elected to the Class 2 seat, with the term ending March 3, 1841. Jacksonian former delegate Ambrose Sevier was elected to the Class 3 seat, with the term ending March 3, 1837. Sevier was also re-elected in 1837 to the next term that would end in 1843. Connecticut There were two elections in Connecticut in this cycle. List of United States senators from Connecticut 1837 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut Connecticut (regular) March 2020 Connecticut (special) July 2026 Delaware List of United States senators from Delaware 1836 United States House of Representatives election in Delaware March 2020 Georgia There were two elections in Georgia in this cycle. List of United States senators from Georgia 1836 United States House of Representatives election in Georgia Georgia (regular) March 2020 Georgia (special) March 2020 Illinois List of United States senators from Illinois 1836 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois March 2020 Indiana List of United States senators from Indiana 1837 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana March 2020 Kentucky List of United States senators from Kentucky 1837 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky March 2020 Louisiana There were two elections in Louisiana in this cycle, both for the same seat. List of United States senators from Louisiana 1836 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana Anti-Jacksonian Alexander Porter resigned on January 5, 1837, due to ill health. Louisiana (special) Jacksonian Alexandre Mouton was elected on January 12, 1837, to finish Porter's term ending on March 3, 1837. March 2020 Louisiana (regular) Jacksonian Alexandre Mouton was also elected as a Democrat in 1837 (possibly re-elected) to the next term, beginning on March 4, 1837. March 2020 Maine (special) List of United States senators from Maine 1836 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine July 2026 Maryland List of United States senators from Maryland Maryland (special) November 2022 1836 United States Senate special election in Maryland - F0C862 -% Whig Party (United States) John S. Spence % 1837 1837 United States Senate election in Maryland 1835 1835 United States Senate special election in Maryland 80 members of the Maryland General Assembly Legislative December 1836 presidential Anti-Jacksonian Robert Henry Goldsborough died on October 5, 1836. Anti-Jacksonian John S. Spence was elected in late 1836 to finish Goldsborough's term ending on March 3, 1837.https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=122879 Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Feb 00, 1837 2022-11-05 www.ourcampaigns.com Maryland (regular) November 2022 1837 United States Senate election in Maryland - F0C862 -% Whig Party (United States) John S. Spence % 1841 1841 United States Senate special election in Maryland 1836 1836 United States Senate special election in Maryland 80 members of the Maryland General Assembly Legislative December 1837 presidential John S. Spence won election to a full term by an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 3 seat. Missouri List of United States senators from Missouri 1836 United States House of Representatives election in Missouri March 2020 New Hampshire List of United States senators from New Hampshire 1837 United States House of Representatives election in New Hampshire March 2020 New York 1837 United States Senate election in New York List of United States senators from New York 1836 United States House of Representatives elections in New York Silas Wright Jr., had been elected in 1833 to this seat after the resignation of William L. Marcy, who had been elected governor of New York. Wright's term would expire on March 3, 1837. At the state election in November 1836, 94 Democrats and 34 Whigs were elected to the Assembly, and seven of the eight state senators elected were Democrats. The 60th New York State Legislature met from January 3 to May 16, 1837, at Albany. The party strength in the Assembly as shown by the election for speaker was 80 for Democrat Edward Livingston and 27 for Whig Luther Bradish. Wright was re-nominated in a Democratic caucus by a large majority. Silas Wright Jr., was the choice of both the Assembly and the Senate, and was declared elected. House Democratic Whig State Senate (32 members) Silas Wright Jr. 26 Ambrose L. Jordan 3 State Assembly (128 members) Silas Wright Jr. 85Ambrose L. Jordan 27 North Carolina There were two elections in North Carolina in this cycle, both for the same seat. List of United States senators from North Carolina 1837 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina Anti-Jacksonian Willie P. Mangum resigned on November 26, 1836. North Carolina (special) Jacksonian Robert Strange was elected in late 1836 to finish Mangum's term ending March 3, 1837. March 2020 North Carolina (regular) Jacksonian Robert Strange was also elected as a Democrat in 1836, to the next term, beginning March 4, 1837. March 2020 Ohio List of United States senators from Ohio 1836 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio March 2020 Pennsylvania 1836 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania List of United States senators from Pennsylvania 1836 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania General Assembly convened on December 14, 1836, to elect a senator to serve the term beginning on March 4, 1837. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows: Pennsylvania General Assembly results Democratic Party (US) James Buchanan (incumbent) 85 63.91 Whig Party (US) Thomas M. T. McKennan 24 18.05 Whig Party (US) Charles B. Penrose 21 15.79 Democratic Party (US) Thomas Cunningham 1 0.75 Democratic Party (US) Isaac Leet 1 0.75 N/A Not voting 1 0.75 |- bgcolor ="#EEEEEE" | colspan =3 align="right" | Totals | align ="right" | 133 | align ="right" | 100.00% |} South Carolina List of United States senators from South Carolina 1836 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina March 2020 Vermont List of United States senators from Vermont 1836 United States House of Representatives elections in Vermont March 2020 Virginia (special) List of United States senators from Virginia 1837 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia There were three special elections in Virginia in this cycle. Virginia (special, class 1) Two-term Anti-Jacksonian (and future president) John Tyler resigned on February 29, 1836, due to policial differences and conflict with the Virginia House of Delegates, which had come under control of the rival Jacksonians. Former Jacksonian senator William C. Rives (who had served in the class 2 seat from December 10, 1832, to February 22, 1834) was elected on March 4, 1836, to finish Tyler's term that would end on March 3, 1839. Virginia (special, class 2 1836) Anti-Jacksonian Benjamin W. Leigh, who had served in the seat since an 1834 special election and was re-elected in 1835, resigned on July 4, 1836, to return to his private legal practice. Jacksonian Richard E. Parker was elected on December 12, 1836, but would only remain in the seat for four months. Virginia (special, class 2 1837) Parker, now a Democrat, was elected to the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and so he resigned from the Senate March 13, 1837. Fellow Democrat William H. Roane was elected March 14, 1837 to finish the term that would end March 3, 1841. See also 1836 United States elections 1836 United States presidential election 1836–37 United States House of Representatives elections 24th United States Congress 25th United States Congress Notes References Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov