1796–97 United States Senate elections

none March 2026 January 2025 1796–97 United States Senate elections United States 1795 legislative no 1794–95 United States Senate elections 1794 & 1795 1798–99 United States Senate elections 1798 & 1799 Class 1 1790–91 United States Senate elections 1790 & 1791 1802–03 United States Senate elections 1802 & 1803 11 of the 32 seats in the United States Senate (plus special elections) 17 Dates vary by state 100px Seats up Races won Federalist Party 19 20 1 8 9 Democratic-Republican Party 12 10 2 3 1 Majority Party Federalist Party Federalist Party File:1796senatemap.svg Results:#f2bfa6 Federalist hold #e27036 Federalist gain#bef3be Dem-Republican hold#000000ff Legislature failed to elect The 1796–97 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 1796 and 1797, 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. They coincided with John Adams's election as President. The ruling Federalist Party gained one seat. Results summary Senate party division, 5th Congress (1797–1799) Majority party: Federalist (22) Minority party: Democratic-Republican (9) Vacant: 1 (later filled by Democratic-Republican) Total seats: 32 Change in composition Before the elections After the August 2, 1796 admission of Tennessee. DR6 DR5 DR4 DR3 DR2 DR1 DR7 DR8 DR9N.Y.Ran DR10Tenn.Ran DR11Va.Unknown V2 V1 F19Vt.Resigned F17R.I.Ran F16Pa.Ran Majority → F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12Conn.Ran F13Del.Ran F14Md.Ran F18Mass.Resigned F15N.J.Ran F6 F5 F4 F3 F2 F1 Results of the regular elections DR6 DR5 DR4 DR3 DR2 DR1 DR7 DR8 DR9Va.Re-elected V2Tenn.DR Loss V2 V1 F19Vt.Hold F17R.I.Re-elected F16Pa.Re-elected F20N.Y.Gain Majority → F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12Conn.Re-elected F13Del.Re-elected F14Md.Re-elected F18Mass.Hold F15N.J.Re-elected F6 F5 F4 F3 F2 F1 Key DR# Democratic-Republican F# Federalist V# Vacant Race summaries Except if/when noted, the number following candidates is the whole number vote(s), not a percentage. Special elections during the 4th Congress In these special elections, the winners were seated before March 4, 1797; ordered by election date. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party First elected Georgia(class 2) George Walton Federalist 1795 (Appointed) Appointee retired when successor elected.New senator elected February 20, 1796.Democratic-Republican gain. Democratic-Republican Party Josiah Tattnall (Democratic-Republican) February 2020 Connecticut(class 1) Oliver Ellsworth Federalist 1788 Incumbent resigned to become Chief Justice of the United States.New senator elected May 12, 1796.Federalist hold. Federalist Party James Hillhouse (Federalist) February 2020 Massachusetts(class 1) George Cabot Federalist 1790 Incumbent resigned June 9, 1796.New senator elected June 11, 1796 on the second ballot.Federalist hold.Successor also elected the same day to the next term, see below. Federalist Party Benjamin Goodhue (Federalist) 75 Democratic-RepublicanEdward Robbins 65 Tufts University Tufts Digital Collations and Archives A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825 February 4, 2018 Massachusetts 1796 U.S. Senate, Special, Ballot 2 https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:ma.ussenate.special.1.2.1796 February 29, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200229003106/https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:ma.ussenate.special.1.2.1796 dead , citing The Hampshire and Berkshire Chronicle (Springfield, MA). June 21, 1796. Massachusetts(class 2) Caleb Strong Federalist 1788 Incumbent resigned June 1, 1796.New senator elected June 11, 1796 on the second ballot.Federalist hold. Federalist Party Theodore Sedgwick (Federalist) 107 Democratic-RepublicanEdward Robbins (Democratic-Republican) 43 Democratic-RepublicanLevi Lincoln (Democratic-Republican) 2 Federalist PartyNathaniel Dane (Federalist) 1 UnknownThomson J. Skinner (Unknown) 1 Tufts University Tufts Digital Collations and Archives A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825 February 4, 2018 Massachusetts 1796 U.S. Senate, Special, Ballot 2 https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:ma.ussenate.special.2.1.1796 December 9, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191209083534/https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:ma.ussenate.special.2.1.1796 dead , citing Political Gazette (Newburyport, MA). June 16, 1796. Connecticut(class 3) Jonathan Trumbull Jr. Federalist 1794 or 1795 Incumbent resigned June 10, 1796, to become Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut.New senator elected October 13, 1796.Federalist hold. Federalist Party Uriah Tracy (Federalist) February 2020 Vermont(class 1) Moses Robinson Democratic-Republican 1791 (New state) Incumbent resigned October 15, 1796.New senator elected October 18, 1796.Federalist gain.Winner also elected the same day to the next term; see below. Federalist Party Isaac Tichenor (Federalist) February 2020 New York(class 3) Rufus King Federalist 1789 Incumbent resigned May 23, 1796, to become U.S. Minister to Great Britain.New senator elected November 9, 1796.Federalist hold. Federalist Party John Laurance (Federalist) 99 UnknownZephaniah Platt (Unknown) 1 Tufts University Tufts Digital Collations and Archives A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825 February 4, 2018 New York 1796 U.S. Senate, Special https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:ny.ussenate.1796 October 16, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191016142520/https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:ny.ussenate.1796 dead , citing Journal of the New York Assembly, 1796. 18. Journal of the New York State Senate, 1796. 12. New Jersey(class 2) Frederick Frelinghuysen Federalist 1792 or 1793 Incumbent resigned November 12, 1796.New senator elected November 12, 1796.Federalist hold. Federalist Party Richard Stockton (Federalist) Unanimous Tufts University Tufts Digital Collations and Archives A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825 February 4, 2018 New Jersey 1796 U.S. Senate https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:nj.ussenate.special.1796 March 6, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200306225908/https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:nj.ussenate.special.1796 dead , citing The Albany Gazette (Albany, NY). November 21, 1796. Maryland(class 1) Richard Potts Federalist 1793 (special) Incumbent resigned October 24, 1796.New senator elected November 28, 1796.Federalist hold.Successor also later elected to the next term; see below. Federalist Party John Eager Howard (Federalist) Federalist PartyW. Spriggs (Federalist) 15 Tufts University Tufts Digital Collations and Archives A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825 February 4, 2018 Maryland 1796 U.S. Senate, Special https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:md.us.senator.special.1796 June 2026 InternetArchiveBot , citing Charles Carroll to James McHenry. Nov. 28, 1796. Reel 2, Item 990. Charles Carroll Papers. Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore. South Carolina(class 2) Pierce Butler Democratic-Republican 1789 Incumbent resigned October 25, 1796.New senator elected December 8, 1796.Democratic-Republican hold. Democratic-Republican Party John Hunter (Democratic-Republican) 72 UnknownJohn Chestnut (Unknown) 66 Tufts University Tufts Digital Collations and Archives A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825 February 4, 2018 South Carolina 1796 U.S. Senate, Special https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:sc.ussenate.1796 October 22, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191022055936/https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:sc.ussenate.1796 dead , citing Aurora. General Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). December 30, 1796. Races leading to the 5th Congress In these regular elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1797; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party First elected Connecticut James Hillhouse Federalist 1796 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1797. Federalist Party James Hillhouse (Federalist) February 2020 Delaware Henry Latimer Federalist 1795 (special) Incumbent re-elected January 6, 1797. Federalist Party Henry Latimer (Federalist) 16 Democratic-Republican PartyDavid Hall (Democratic-Republican) 6 Tufts University Tufts Digital Collations and Archives A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825 February 4, 2018 Delaware 1797 U.S. Senate https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:de.ussenator.1797 March 14, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200314040943/https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:de.ussenator.1797 dead , citing Journal of the Delaware State Senate, 1797. 18. Maryland John Eager Howard Federalist 1796 (special) Incumbent re-elected December 9, 1796. Federalist Party John Eager Howard (Federalist) February 2020 Massachusetts George Cabot Federalist 1790 Incumbent resigned June 9, 1796.New senator elected June 11, 1796 on the third ballot.Federalist hold.Winner also elected to finish the current term; see above. Federalist Party Benjamin Goodhue (Federalist) 73 UnknownEdward H. Robbins (Unknown) Tufts University Tufts Digital Collations and Archives A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825 February 4, 2018 Massachusetts 1796 U.S. Senate, Ballot 3 https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:ma.ussenate.3.1796 July 16, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190716134304/https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:ma.ussenate.3.1796 dead , citing Hampshire and Berkshire Chronicle (Springfield, MA). June 21, 1796. New Jersey John Rutherfurd Federalist 1790 Incumbent re-elected in 1796. Federalist Party John Rutherfurd (Federalist) February 2020 New York Aaron Burr Democratic-Republican 1791 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected January 24, 1797.Federalist gain. Federalist Party Philip Schuyler (Federalist) 85 Federalist PartyJames Kent (Federalist) 1 Tufts University Tufts Digital Collations and Archives A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825 February 4, 2018 New York 1797 U.S. Senate https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:ny.ussenate.1797 December 9, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191209081331/https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:ny.ussenate.1797 dead , citing Journal of the New York Assembly, 1797. 68. Journal of the New York State Senate, 1797. 43-44. Pennsylvania James Ross Federalist 1794 (special) Incumbent re-elected February 16, 1797. Federalist Party James Ross (Federalist) 56 Democratic-Republican PartyWilliam Irvine (Democratic-Republican) 38 Tufts University Tufts Digital Collations and Archives A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825 February 4, 2018 Pennsylvania 1797 U.S. Senate https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:pa.ussenator.1797 February 19, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200219130530/https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:pa.ussenator.1797 dead , citing The New World (Philadelphia, PA). February 17, 1797. Rhode Island Theodore Foster Federalist 1790 Incumbent re-elected in 1797. Federalist Party Theodore Foster (Federalist) February 2020 Tennessee William Cocke Democratic-Republican 1796 Legislature failed to elect.Democratic-Republican loss.Incumbent later appointed to continue term.C000572 William Cocke January 4, 2013 yes None Vermont Moses Robinson Democratic-Republican 1791 (new state) Incumbent resigned October 15, 1796.New senator elected October 18, 1796.Federalist gain.Winner also elected to finish the current term, see above. Federalist Party Isaac Tichenor (Federalist) February 2020 Virginia Stevens Mason Democratic-Republican 1794 (special) Incumbent re-elected November 29, 1796. Democratic-Republican Party Stevens Mason (Democratic-Republican) 114 Federalist PartyJames Breckinridge (Federalist) 60 Tufts University Tufts Digital Collations and Archives A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825 February 4, 2018 Virginia 1796 U.S. Senate https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:va.ussenator.1796 July 16, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190716131901/https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:va.ussenator.1796 dead , citing The Virginia Argus (Richmond, VA). December 2, 1796. Special elections during the 5th Congress In these special elections, the winners were elected after the March 4, 1797 beginning of the next Congress. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party First elected Tennessee(class 1) William Cocke Democratic-Republican 1796 Interim appointee lost re-election.New senator elected September 26, 1797.Democratic-Republican hold. Democratic-Republican Party Andrew Jackson (Democratic-Republican) 20 Democratic-Republican PartyWilliam Cocke (Democratic-Republican) 13 Tufts University Tufts Digital Collations and Archives A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825 January 30, 2018 Tennessee 1797 U.S. Senate https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:tn.ussenate.2.1797 December 9, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191209084535/https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:tn.ussenate.2.1797 dead , citing Commercial Advertiser (New York, NY). November 11, 1797. Tennessee(class 2) William Blount Democratic-Republican 1796 Incumbent expelled July 8, 1797.B000570 William Blount January 4, 2013 yesNew senator elected September 26, 1797.Democratic-Republican hold. Democratic-Republican Party Joseph Anderson (Democratic-Republican) 33 Unopposed Vermont(class 1) Isaac Tichenor Federalist 1796 (special) Incumbent resigned October 17, 1797, to become Governor of Vermont.New senator elected October 17, 1797.Federalist hold. Federalist Party Nathaniel Chipman (Federalist) February 2020 Rhode Island(class 2) William Bradford Federalist 1793 Incumbent resigned in October 1797.New senator elected November 13, 1797.Federalist hold. Federalist Party Ray Greene (Federalist) February 2020 Maryland(class 3) John Henry Federalist 1788 Incumbent resigned July 10, 1797, to become Governor of Maryland.New senator elected December 8, 1797.Federalist hold. Federalist Party James Lloyd (Federalist) Majority of one vote only Tufts University Tufts Digital Collations and Archives A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825 February 4, 2018 Maryland 1797 U.S. Senate, Special https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:md.ussenator.1797 November 13, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191113081234/https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/tufts:md.ussenator.1797 dead , citing Aurora. General Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). December 13, 1797. Connecticut List of United States senators from Connecticut 1796 United States House of Representatives election in Connecticut Connecticut (regular) 1797 United States Senate election in Connecticut September 2020 Connecticut (special, class 1) 1796 United States Senate special elections in Connecticut September 2020 Connecticut (special, class 3) 1796 United States Senate special elections in Connecticut September 2020 Delaware List of United States senators from Delaware 1796 United States House of Representatives election in Delaware 1797 United States Senate election in Delaware September 2020 Georgia (special) List of United States senators from Georgia 1796 United States House of Representatives election in Georgia 1796 United States Senate special election in Georgia September 2020 Maryland List of United States senators from Maryland Maryland (special, 1796) November 2022 1796 United States Senate special election in Maryland - F6D6C9 -% Federalist Party John Eager Howard John Eager Howard.jpg 1796 1796 United States Senate election in Maryland 1793 1793 United States Senate special election in Maryland 80 members of the Maryland General Assembly Legislative 1796 no presidential John Eager Howard won election to fill the seat vacated by Richard Potts by an unknown number of votes, for the Class 1 seat.https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=122401 Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Nov 00, 1795 2022-11-04 www.ourcampaigns.com Maryland (regular) November 2022 1796 United States Senate election in Maryland - F6D6C9 -% Federalist Party John Eager Howard John Eager Howard.jpg AACC99 Democratic-Republican Party Richard Sprigg Jr. 1802 1802 United States Senate election in Maryland 1796 1796 United States Senate special election in Maryland 80 members of the Maryland General Assembly Legislative 1796 no presidential John Eager Howard won re-election over Richard Sprigg Jr. by an unknown number of votes, for the Class 1 seat.https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=122400 Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Nov 21, 1796 2022-11-04 www.ourcampaigns.com Maryland (special, 1797) List of United States senators from Maryland November 2022 1797 United States Senate special election in Maryland 45 F6D6C9 50.56% Federalist Party James Lloyd 44 AACC99 49.44% Democratic-Republican Party William Winder 1800 1800 United States Senate special election in Maryland 1795 1795 United States Senate election in Maryland 80 members of the Maryland General Assembly Legislative December 8, 1797 no presidential James Lloyd won election over William Winder by a margin of 1.12%, or 1 vote, for the Class 3 seat.https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=122328 Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Dec 08, 1797 2022-11-05 www.ourcampaigns.com Massachusetts List of United States senators from Massachusetts 1796–1797 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts Massachusetts (regular) 1796 United States Senate election in Massachusetts September 2020 Massachusetts (special, class 1) 1796 United States Senate special elections in Massachusetts September 2020 Massachusetts (special, class 2) 1796 United States Senate special elections in Massachusetts September 2020 New Jersey List of United States senators from New Jersey 1797 United States House of Representatives election in New Jersey New Jersey (regular) 1796 United States Senate election in New Jersey September 2020 New Jersey (special) 1796 United States Senate special election in New Jersey September 2020 New York List of United States senators from New York 1796 United States House of Representatives elections in New York New York (regular) 1797 United States Senate election in New York September 2020 New York (special) 1796 United States Senate special election in New York September 2020 Pennsylvania List of United States senators from Pennsylvania 1796 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania 1797 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania September 2020 Rhode Island List of United States senators from Rhode Island 1796 United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island Rhode Island (regular) 1797 United States Senate election in Rhode Island September 2020 Rhode Island (special) 1797 United States Senate special election in Rhode Island September 2020 South Carolina (special) List of United States senators from South Carolina 1796 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina 1796 United States Senate special election in South Carolina September 2020 Tennessee List of United States senators from Tennessee 1796 United States House of Representatives election in Tennessee 1797 United States House of Representatives election in Tennessee Tennessee (initial) 1796 United States Senate elections in Tennessee Tennessee became a state June 1, 1796 and elected its new senators August 2, 1796. Tennessee (special, class 1) 1797 United States Senate special elections in Tennessee The term of the initially elected senator, Democratic-Republican William Cocke, ended March 3, 1797, and the Tennessee legislature failed to elect a senator for the new term. The governor of Tennessee, therefore, appointed Cocke to begin the term, pending a special election. Cocke, however, lost that October 6, 1798 special election to Democratic-Republican Andrew Jackson. Tennessee (special, class 2) 1797 United States Senate special elections in Tennessee Democratic-Republican William Blount was expelled July 8, 1797 for conspiracy with the Kingdom of Great Britain. Democratic-Republican Joseph Anderson was elected September 26, 1797 to finish Blount's term. Vermont thumb|x136px|Senator Nathaniel Chipman thumb|x136px|Senator Isaac Tichenor List of United States senators from Vermont 1796–1797 United States House of Representatives elections in Vermont Incumbent Democratic-Republican Moses Robinson resigned October 15, 1796. Federalist Isaac Tichenor was elected October 18, 1796, both to finish Robinson's term and to the new term that would begin March 4, 1797. However, Tichenor resigned just one year later, October 17, 1797, to become Governor of Vermont. Federalist Nathaniel Chipman was then elected October 17, 1797, to finish the term. Vermont (special, 1796) September 2020 Vermont (regular) September 2020 Vermont (special, 1797) September 2020 Virginia List of United States senators from Virginia 1797 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia 1796 United States Senate election in Virginia September 2020 See also 1796 United States elections 1796 United States presidential election 1796–97 United States House of Representatives elections 4th United States Congress 5th United States Congress References Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov