1890–91 United States Senate elections

none March 2026 January 2025 1890–91 United States Senate elections United States 1890 legislative no 1888–89 United States Senate elections 1888 & 1889 1892–93 United States Senate elections 1892 & 1893 Class 3 1884–85 United States Senate elections 1884 & 1885 1896–97 United States Senate elections 1896 & 1897 29 of the 88 seats in the United States Senate (as well as special elections) 45 Dates vary by state Seats up x180px Republican Party (US) George F. Edmunds as Republican Conference chair(retired) George F. Edmunds - Brady-Handy.jpg March 4, 1885 Vermont 38 47 16 12 9 Democratic Party (US) Arthur Pue Gorman as Democratic Caucus chair Arthur Pue Gorman.jpg March 4, 1889 Maryland 37 39 12 14 2 People's Party (US) 0 1 0 1 1 Independent (US) 0 1 0 1 1 Majority party Republican Party (US) Republican Party (US) 380px Results of the elections:#0671B0 Democratic gain #92C5DE Democratic hold #CA0120 Republican gain #F48882 Republican hold #288B37 Populist gain #666666 Independent gain #000000 Legislature failed to elect The 1890–91 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 1890 and 1891, 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. The Republican Party lost four seats, though still retaining a slim majority. That majority was increased, however, upon the admission of two more states with Republican senators. Results summary Senate party division, 52nd Congress (1891–1893) Majority party: Republican (47) Minority party: Democratic (39) Other parties: Populist (2) Total seats: 88 Change in Senate composition Before the elections After the admission of Montana's new senators in January 1890. D1 D2 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8 D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17 D18 D19 D20 D21 D22 D32Ran D31Ran D30Ran D29Ran D28Ran D27Ran D26Ran D25 D24 D23 D33Ran D34Ran D35Ran D36Retired D37Retired R47Retired R46Ran R45Ran R44Ran R43Ran Majority → R33Ran R34Ran R35Ran R36Ran R37Ran R38Ran R39Ran R40Ran R41Ran R42Ran R32Ran R31 R30 R29 R28 R27 R26 R25 R24 R23 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20 R21 R22 R12 R11 R10 R9 R8 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R1 R2 After the class 3 elections D1 D2 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8 D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17 D18 D19 D20 D21 D22 D32Re-elected D31Re-elected D30Re-elected D29Re-elected D28Re-elected D27Re-elected D26Re-elected D25 D24 D23 D33Hold D34Hold D35Hold D36Hold D37Gain D38Gain D39Gain V1D loss I1Gain P1Gain Majority → R43New seat R33Re-elected R34Re-elected R35Re-elected R36Re-elected R37Re-elected R38Re-elected R39Re-elected R40Re-elected R41Hold R42Hold R32Re-elected R31 R30 R29 R28 R27 R26 R25 R24 R23 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20 R21 R22 R12 R11 R10 R9 R8 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R1 R2 Beginning of the next Congress D1 D2 D3 D4 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8 D7 D6 D5 D15 D16 D17 D18 D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 D24 D34 D33 D32 D31 D30 D29 D28 D27 D26 D25 D35 D36 V1D seated late V2D elected late V3D diedLater D I1Later P P1 V3D diedLater R R46New seat R45New seat Majority → R35 R36 R37 R38 R39 R40 R41 R42 R43 R44New seat R34 R33 R32 R31 R30 R29 R28 R27 R26 R25 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20 R21 R22 R23 R24 R14 R13 R12 R11 R10 R9 R8 R7 R6 R5 R1 R2 R3 R4 Key: D# Democratic I# Independent P# Populist R# Republican V# Vacant Race summaries Elections during the 51st Congress In these elections, the winners were seated during 1890 or in 1891 before March 4; ordered by election date. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoralhistory Montana(Class 1) None (new state) Montana admitted to the Union November 8, 1889.First senator elected January 1, 1890.https://books.google.com/books?id=uS5HAQAAIAAJ Congressional Series of United States Public Documents 3064 1893 Government Printing Office 64Sanders's election was challenged based on the legitimacy of the nascent state legislature.The Senate resolved the dispute in his favor April 16, 1890, and he was seated that day.Taft, et al. 727Republican gain. Republican Party (US) Wilbur F. Sanders (Republican) Democratic Party (US)William A. Clark (Democratic) Montana(Class 2) Montana admitted to the Union November 8, 1889.Second senator elected January 2, 1890.Power's election was challenged based on the legitimacy of the nascent state legislature.The Senate resolved the dispute in his favor April 16, 1890, and he was seated that day.Taft, et al. 727Republican gain. Republican Party (US) Thomas C. Power (Republican) Democratic Party (US)Martin Maginnis (Democratic) Kentucky(Class 2) James B. Beck Democratic 187618811888 Incumbent died May 3, 1890.New senator elected May 17, 1890.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) John G. Carlisle (Democratic) 107 Republican Party (US) Silas Adams (Republican) 15 Wyoming(Class 2) None (new state) Wyoming admitted to the Union July 10, 1890.First senators elected November 15, 1890.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) Joseph M. Carey (Republican) 39 Democratic Party (US)George W. Baxter (Democratic) 7 Wyoming(Class 1) Wyoming admitted to the Union July 10, 1890.First senators elected November 18, 1890.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) Francis E. Warren (Republican) 29 Democratic Party (US) Henry A. Coffeen (Democratic) 9 UnknownM. C. Brown (Unknown) 7 UnknownJohn McCormick (Unknown) 3 UnknownH. R. Mann (Unknown) 1Goodspeed Weston Arthur https://books.google.com/books?id=meQyAQAAIAAJ&dq=Joseph+M.+Carey&pg=PA383 Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming 1904 University of California 382 Google Books Idaho(Class 2) None (new state) Idaho admitted to the Union July 3, 1890.First senators elected December 18, 1890.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) George L. Shoup (Republican)February 2020 Idaho(Class 3) Idaho admitted to the Union July 3, 1890.First senators elected December 18, 1890.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) William J. McConnell (Republican)February 2020 Races leading to the 52nd Congress In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1891; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoralhistory Alabama James L. Pugh Democratic 1880 (special)1884 Incumbent re-elected in 1890. Democratic Party (US) James L. Pugh (Democratic)February 2020 Arkansas James K. Jones Democratic 1885 Incumbent re-elected in 1891. Democratic Party (US) James K. Jones (Democratic)February 2020 California Leland Stanford Republican 1885 Incumbent re-elected in 1891. Republican Party (US) Leland Stanford (Republican)February 2020 Colorado Henry M. Teller Republican 1885 Incumbent re-elected in 1891. Republican Party (US) Henry M. Teller (Republican)February 2020 Connecticut Orville H. Platt Republican 18791885 Incumbent re-elected in 1891. Republican Party (US) Orville H. Platt (Republican)February 2020 Florida Wilkinson Call Democratic 18791885 Legislature failed to elect.Democratic loss. None. Georgia Joseph E. Brown Democratic 1880 (special)1885 Incumbent retired due to illness.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) John B. Gordon (Democratic)February 2020 Idaho William J. McConnell Republican 1890 (special) McConnell was elected only to finish the term (see above) and thereafter retired.New senator elected December 18, 1890.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Fred Dubois (Republican)February 2020 Illinois Charles B. Farwell Republican 1887 Incumbent lost renomination."Richard J. Oglesby the Nominee" Chicago Daily Tribune (1872–1922); Chicago, Ill., 16 Jan 1891: 4.New senator elected on March 11, 1891, after 154 ballots.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) John M. Palmer (Democratic) 102 Republican Party (US)Cicero Lindly (Republican) 100 People's Party (US)Alson Streeter (Farmers' Alliance) 1Alson J. Streeter: An Agrarian Liberal Alfred W. Newcombe Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society 39 1 1946 68–95 University of Illinois Press Indiana Daniel W. Voorhees Democratic 1877 (appointed)1879 (special)1885 Incumbent re-elected in 1891. Democratic Party (US) Daniel W. Voorhees (Democratic)February 2020 Iowa William B. Allison Republican 187218781884 Incumbent re-elected March 5, 1890. Clark 221 Republican Party (US) William B. Allison (Republican) 79 Democratic Party (US)Samuel L. Bestow (Democratic) 63Wilcox Henry S. Election of U.S. Senator Journal of the Iowa House of Representatives 23 1 158–168 March 5, 1890 September 30, 2022 https://books.google.com/books?id=RuFHAQAAMAAJ Republican Party (US)William Larrabee (Republican) 8 Clark 221 Kansas John J. Ingalls Republican 187318791885 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1891.Populist gain. People's Party (US) William A. Peffer (Populist) Republican Party (US)John J. Ingalls (Republican)February 2020 Kentucky J. C. S. Blackburn Democratic 1884 Incumbent re-elected January 7, 1890. Democratic Party (US) J. C. S. Blackburn (Democratic) 95 Republican Party (US) A. H. Stewart (Republican) 18 Louisiana James B. Eustis Democratic 1890–91 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1891.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Edward Douglass White (Democratic)February 2020 Maryland Ephraim Wilson Democratic 1884 Incumbent re-elected in 1890, but died February 24, 1891, before the beginning of the next term.Seat remained vacant until November 19, 1891.Democratic loss. Democratic Party (US) Ephraim Wilson (Democratic)February 2020 Missouri George G. Vest Democratic 18791885 Incumbent re-elected in 1891. Democratic Party (US) George G. Vest (Democratic)February 2020 Nevada John P. Jones Republican 18791885 Incumbent re-elected in 1891. Republican Party (US) John P. Jones (Republican)February 2020 New Hampshire Henry W. Blair Republican 18791885 (appointed)1885 (special) Incumbent lost renomination.New senator elected in 1891.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Jacob H. Gallinger (Republican)February 2020 New York William M. Evarts Republican 1885 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected January 21, 1891.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) David B. Hill (Democratic) 81 Republican Party (US)William M. Evarts (Republican) 79 North Carolina Zebulon Vance Democratic 18791884 Incumbent re-elected in 1890. Democratic Party (US) Zebulon Vance (Democratic) North Dakota Gilbert A. Pierce Republican 1889 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1891.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Henry C. Hansbrough (Republican) Republican Party (US)Gilbert A. Pierce (Republican)February 2020 Ohio Henry B. Payne Democratic 1884 Incumbent retired.New senator elected January 15, 1890Taylor & Taylor 111, vol IIDemocratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Calvin S. Brice (Democratic)February 2020 Oregon John H. Mitchell Republican 1885 Incumbent re-elected in 1890. Republican Party (US) John H. Mitchell (Republican)February 2020 Pennsylvania J. Donald Cameron Republican 1877 (special)18791885 Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1891. Republican Party (US) J. Donald Cameron (Republican) 144 Democratic Party (US)Chauncey F. Black (Democratic) 94 Others 12; see below South Carolina Wade Hampton III Democratic 1884 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1890.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) John L. M. Irby (Democratic) Democratic Party (US)Wade Hampton III (Democratic)February 2020 South Dakota Gideon C. Moody Republican 1889 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected February 16, 1891.The New York Times February 17, 1891 Senator James H. Kyle 5 https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1891/02/17/103295784.html?zoom=15.4Independent gain.Winner later became a Populist. Independent (US) James H. Kyle (Independent) 75 Democratic Party (US)Bartlett Tripp (Democratic) 8 UnknownNorman B. Campbell (Unknown) 1https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112108173789&view=1up&seq=695 Proceedings of the House of Representatives, ... Legislative session, State of South Dakota 1923 Published under the direction and authority of the Legislature Vermont Justin S. Morrill Republican 1866187218781884 Incumbent re-elected in 1890. Republican Party (US) Justin S. Morrill (Republican)February 2020 Washington Watson C. Squire Republican 1889 Incumbent re-elected in 1891. Republican Party (US) Watson C. Squire (Republican)February 2020 Wisconsin John C. Spooner Republican 1885 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected January 28, 1891.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) William F. Vilas (Democratic) 64.57% Republican Party (US)John C. Spooner (Republican) 35.43% Election during the 52nd Congress In these elections, the winners were elected in 1891 after March 4; ordered by election date. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoralhistory California(Class 1) George Hearst Democratic 1887 Incumbent died February 28, 1891.New senator elected March 19, 1891.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) Charles N. Felton (Republican) February 2020 Florida(Class 3) Vacant Legislature had failed to elect; see above.Predecessor re-elected May 26, 1891.https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1891/05/27/103310633.html?zoom=16 Call Declared Elected The New York Times May 26, 1891 1 Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Wilkinson Call (Democratic) February 2020 Virginia(Class 1) John W. Daniel Democratic 1887 Incumbent re-elected early December 16, 1891 for the term beginning March 4, 1893.https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433014925972&view=1up&seq=141 Journal of the House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia 1891–1892 135 en March 11, 2020 Democratic Party (US) John W. Daniel (Democratic) March 2020 Idaho thumb|125px|Senator George Shoup(class 2) center center Idaho class 3 senator Williammcconnell.jpg 98 William J. McConnell William J. McConnell(December 18, 1890 – March 3, 1891) Sen. Fred T. Dubois of Idaho LCCN2016821673 (cropped).jpg 125 Fred Dubois Fred Dubois(March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1897) 1890 United States Senate elections in Idaho List of United States senators from Idaho 1890 United States House of Representatives elections in Idaho In July 1890, Idaho became a state. In November, Fred Dubois helped engineer a plan for the Idaho Legislature to effectively elect three people to the U.S. Senate: Governor George Shoup to the class 2 seat up for election in 1894, state constitutional convention member William J. McConnell to serve for the remainder of the Fifty-first United States Congress, ending in March 1891, and Dubois himself to succeed McConnell and serve a full six-year term in the class 3 seat beginning in March 1891. Maryland List of United States senators from Maryland November 2022 1890 United States Senate election in Maryland - B0CEFF -% Democratic Party (United States) Ephraim King Wilson II WILSON, Ephraim King, (1821 - 1891).jpg % 1892 1892 United States Senate special election in Maryland 1884 1884 United States Senate election in Maryland 80 members of the Maryland General Assembly Legislative January 1890 presidential Ephraim King Wilson II was re-elected by an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 3 seat.https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=122955 Our Campaigns – MD US Senate Race – Jan 00, 1890 2022-11-05 www.ourcampaigns.com New York thumb|125px|Senator David B. Hill 1891 United States Senate election in New York List of United States senators from New York 1890 United States House of Representatives elections in New York The New York election was held January 20 and 21, 1891, by the New York State Legislature. Republican William M. Evarts had been elected to this seat in 1885, and his term would expire on March 3, 1891. At the state election in November 1889, 19 Republicans and 13 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1890–1891) in the State Senate. At the state election in November 1890, 68 Democrats and 60 Republicans were elected for the session of 1891 to the Assembly. The 114th New York State Legislature met from January 6 to April 30, 1891, at Albany, New York. The Democratic caucus met on January 19, 74 state legislators attended, and State Senator John C. Jacobs presided. Governor David B. Hill was nominated by acclamation. The Republican caucus met immediately after the Democratic caucus ended, Assemblyman James W. Husted presided. They re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator William M. Evarts unanimously. On January 20, both houses of the state legislature took ballots separately. The incumbent U.S. Senator Evarts was the choice of the State Senate, Governor Hill the choice of the Assembly. On January 21, both houses met in joint session, and comparing nominations, found that they disagreed and proceeded to a joint ballot. Governor Hill was elected by a majority of 2, every member of the Legislature being present. House Democratic Republican State Senate (32 members) David B. Hill 13 William M. Evarts 19 State Assembly (128 members) David B. Hill 65 William M. Evarts 58 Joint ballot (160 members) David B. Hill 81 William M. Evarts 79 The seat became vacant on March 4, 1891. David B. Hill remained in office as Governor of New York until December 31, 1891, and took his seat only on January 7, 1892, missing actually only one month of session. There were no special sessions during the 52nd United States Congress and the regular session began only on December 7, 1891. Hill served a single term, and remained in the U.S. Senate until March 3, 1897. In January 1897, Hill was defeated for re-election by Republican Thomas C. Platt who had been a U.S. Senator briefly in 1881. Pennsylvania thumb|125px|Senator J. Donald Cameron 1891 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania List of United States senators from Pennsylvania 1890 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania election was held on January 20, 1891. J. Donald Cameron was re-elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate.U.S. Senate Election – 20 January 1891 http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/sen/PaSen1891.pdf Wilkes University December 22, 2013 The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 20, 1891. Incumbent Republican J. Donald Cameron, who was elected in an 1877 special election and re-elected in 1879 and 1885, was a successful candidate for re-election to another term. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows: State legislature results Republican Party (US) J. Donald Cameron (incumbent) 144 56.69 Democratic Party (US) Chauncey F. Black 94 37.01 Republican Party (US) Austin L. Taggart 7 2.76 Republican Party (US) Theodore L. Flood 3 1.18 Democratic Party (US) J. C. Sibley 1 0.39 Republican Party (US) Harry White 1 0.39 N/A Not voting 4 1.57 |- |-bgcolor="#EEEEEE" | colspan="3" align="right" | Totals | align="right" | 254 | align="right" | 100% |} See also 1890 United States elections 1890 United States House of Representatives elections 51st United States Congress 52nd United States Congress Notes References Further reading Byrd Robert C. Robert Byrd Wendy Wolff The Senate, 1789–1989: Historical Statistics, 1789–1992 volume 4 Bicentennial United States Senate Historical Office Washington, D.C. U.S. Government Printing Office 1993 9780160632563 Byrd https://books.google.com/books?id=PeHByMYxVm8C Clark Dan Elbert History of Senatorial Elections in Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 1913 Clark https://books.google.com/books?id=jXJDAAAAIAAJ Cox Harold Pennsylvania Election Statistics: 1682–2006 The Wilkes University Election Statistics Project Wilkes University January 31, 2007 http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox Taft George S. George S. Taft Furber George P. Buck George M. Webb Charles A. Pierce Herbert R. Compilation of Senate Election Cases from 1789 to 1913 U.S. Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections 1913 U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. Taft, et al. https://books.google.com/books?id=XrItAAAAYAAJ Ohio statesmen and annals of progress: from the year 1788 to the year 1900 William Alexander Taylor Aubrey Clarence Taylor 1899 State of Ohio Taylor & Taylor https://books.google.com/books?id=ztegAAAAMAAJ Members of the 52nd United States Congress https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1891/01/20/103291699.pdf Exit David Bennett Hill The New York Times January 20, 1891, The headline expresses the erroneous belief that Hill, after his election, would resign the governorship and go to Washington, D.C. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1891/01/21/103291858.pdf Hill's Friends Nervous The New York Times January 21, 1891 https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1891/01/22/106046363.pdf Hill's Majority of Two The New York Times January 22, 1891 Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present via Senate.gov https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/partydiv.htm