1858–59 United States Senate elections

none March 2026 March 2026 1858–59 United States Senate elections United States 1858 legislative no 1856–57 United States Senate elections 1856 & 1857 1860–61 United States Senate elections 1860 & 1861 Class 2 1852–53 United States Senate elections 1852 & 1853 1864–65 United States Senate elections 1864 & 1865 22 of the 66 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections) 34 Various dates 100px Seats up Democratic Party (US) 34 seats 42 13 38 4 17 Republican Party (US) 15 seats 20 8 25 5 3 American 2 seats 4 0 2 2 2 Other 4 seats 0 0 0 0 Majority Party Democratic Party (US) Democratic Party (US) File:1858senatemap.svg Results of the elections:#0671B0 Democratic gain #92C5DE Democratic hold#CA0120 Republican gain #F48882 Republican hold#000000 Legislature failed to elect 380px thumb|300px|U.S. postage stamp, 1958 issue, commemorating the Lincoln and Douglas debates The 1858–59 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 1858 and 1859, 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. The Republican Party gained five additional seats in the Senate, but the Democratic Party retained its majority. That majority would erode in 1860 with the secession of the Southern United States, in the early stagrs of the Civil War. In Illinois, incumbent Stephen A. Douglas (D) and challenger Abraham Lincoln (R) held a series of seven debates, known as the "Lincoln–Douglas debates." Results summary Senate party division, 36th Congress (1859–1861) Majority party: Democratic (38–25) Minority party: Republican (25–26) Other parties: American (2) Total seats: 66–68 Change in Senate composition Before the elections D3 D2 D1 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D23 D22 D21 D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D24 D25 D26Ran D27Ran D28Ran D29Ran D30Ran D31Ran D32Ran D33Ran Majority → D34Ran A4Unknown D42Retired D41Retired D40Retired D39Retired D38Retired D37Ran D36Ran D35Ran A3Unknown A2 A1 R20Ran R19Ran R18Ran R17 R16 R15 R14 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R3 R2 R1 As a result of the elections D3 D2 D1 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D23 D22 D21 D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D24 D25 D26Re-elected D27Re-elected D28Re-elected D29Re-elected D30Re-elected D31Re-elected D32Re-elected D33Hold Majority → D34Hold R24Gain R25Gain A1 A2 V1D Loss D38Gain D37Gain D36Hold D35Hold R23Gain R22Gain R21Gain R20Re-elected R19Re-elected R18Re-elected R17 R16 R15 R14 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R3 R2 R1 Key: D# Democratic A# American R# Republican V# Vacant Race summaries Special elections during the 35th Congress In these elections, the winners were seated during 1858 or in 1859 before March 4; ordered by election date. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Minnesota(Class 1) None (new state) Minnesota's first senators were elected May 11, 1858.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Henry M. Rice (Democratic)February 2020 Minnesota(Class 2) Minnesota's first senators were elected May 11, 1858.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) James Shields (Democratic) February 2020 Oregon(Class 2) None (new state) Oregon's first senators were elected in 1858 in advance of statehood.http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1858/08/13/78859210.html?zoom=15.1 Two New Senators. The New York TimesDemocratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Delazon Smith (Democratic) February 2020 Oregon(Class 3) Oregon's first senators were elected in 1858 in advance of statehood.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Joseph Lane (Democratic) February 2020 North Carolina(Class 3) Thomas Clingman Democratic 1858 (appointed) Interim appointee elected November 23, 1858 to finish the term.https://books.google.com/books?id=PeHByMYxVm8C The Senate, 1789-1989: Historical Statistics, 1789-1992 volume 4 Bicentennial Robert C. Byrd Robert Byrd Wendy Wolff U.S. Government Printing Office October 1, 1993 978-0-16-063256-3 , page 150http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1858/05/13/78535493.html?zoom=16 Hon. Thomas L. Clingman--The new Senator from North Carolina. The New York Times Democratic Party (US) Thomas Clingman (Democratic) February 2020 South Carolina(Class 2) Arthur P. Hayne Democratic 1858 (appointed) Interim appointee retired when successor elected.New senator elected December 3, 1858.Democratic hold.Winner was also elected to the next term; see below. Democratic Party (US) James Chesnut Jr. (Democratic) February 2020 Races leading to the 36th Congress In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1859; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoralhistory Alabama Clement Claiborne Clay Democratic 1853 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1858. Democratic Party (US) Clement Claiborne Clay (Democratic) February 2020 Arkansas William K. Sebastian Democratic 1848 (appointed)1848 (special)1853 Incumbent re-elected in 1859. Democratic Party (US) William K. Sebastian (Democratic) February 2020 Delaware Martin W. Bates Democratic 1857 (special) Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1858.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Willard Saulsbury Sr. (Democratic) February 2020 Georgia Robert Toombs Democratic 1852 Incumbent re-elected in 1858. Democratic Party (US) Robert Toombs (Democratic) February 2020 Illinois Stephen A. Douglas Democratic 18461852 Incumbent re-elected January 5, 1859. Democratic Party (US) Stephen A. Douglas (Democratic) 54 Republican Party (US)Abraham Lincoln (Republican) 46Journal of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, 1859. Bailache & Baker, Printers Springfield, IL 1859 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.15544259;view=1up;seq=36 Iowa George Wallace Jones Democratic 18481852 Incumbent lost renomination.New senator elected January 26, 1858.History of Senatorial Elections in Iowa: A Study in American Politics Dan Elbert Clark 1913 https://books.google.com/books?id=jXJDAAAAIAAJ 119Republican gain. Republican Party (US) James W. Grimes (Republican) 64 Democratic Party (US)Benjamin M. Samuels (Democratic) 41 1858 Journal of the House of Representatives of the Seventh General Assembly of the State of Iowa House journal1969- https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b2881579&seq=143 Des Moines J. Teesdale, State Printer 131 Kentucky John B. Thompson American 1851 Incumbent retired or lost re-election.New senator elected January 5, 1858.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Lazarus W. Powell (Democratic) 80 Know Nothing Garrett Davis (American) 54 Know Nothing John Burton Thompson (American) 1 Louisiana Judah P. Benjamin Democratic 1852 Incumbent re-elected in 1859. Democratic Party (US) Judah P. Benjamin (Democratic) February 2020 Maine William P. Fessenden Republican 1854 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1859. Republican Party (US) William P. Fessenden (Republican) February 2020 Massachusetts Henry Wilson Republican 1855 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1859. Republican Party (US) Henry Wilson (Republican) February 2020 Michigan Charles E. Stuart Democratic 1853 Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1858.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) Kinsley S. Bingham (Republican) February 2020 Minnesota James Shields Democratic 1849 (Ill.)1849 (Ill.; election voided)1849 (Ill.; special)1855 (Ill.; lost)1858 (Minn.) Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected December 15, 1859.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) Morton S. Wilkinson (Republican) 79 Democratic Party (US)James Shields (Democratic) 33 Democratic Party (US)W. A. Gorman (Democratic) 1http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1859/12/27/106104429.html?zoom=16 From Minnesota.; ELECTION OF A UNITED STATES SENATOR--THREATENED IMPEACHMENT OF THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR. The New York Times Mississippi Albert G. Brown Democratic 1854 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1859. Democratic Party (US) Albert G. Brown (Democratic) February 2020 New Hampshire John P. Hale Republican 18461853 (retired)1855 Incumbent re-elected in 1859. Republican Party (US) John P. Hale (Republican) February 2020 New Jersey William Wright Democratic 1852 or 1853 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1859.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) John C. Ten Eyck (Republican) 42 Democratic Party (US)Peter D. Vroom (Democratic) 33 Democratic Party (US)William Wright (Democratic)) 3 Robert F. Stockton (unknown) 2 North Carolina David Reid Democratic 1854 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1858 or 1859.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Thomas Bragg (Democratic) February 2020 Oregon Delazon Smith Democratic 1859 Incumbent lost re-election.Legislature failed to elect.Democratic loss.Seat would remain vacant until 1860. Democratic Party (US)Delazon Smith (Democratic)February 2020 Rhode Island Philip Allen Democratic 1853 Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1858.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) Henry B. Anthony (Republican) February 2020 South Carolina Arthur P. Hayne Democratic 1858 (appointed) Interim appointee retired.New senator elected December 3, 1858.Democratic hold.Winner was also elected to finish the current term; see above. Democratic Party (US) James Chesnut Jr. (Democratic) February 2020 Tennessee John Bell American 18471853 Incumbent retired or lost re-election.New senator elected in 1858.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Alfred O. P. Nicholson (Democratic) February 2020 Texas Sam Houston Democratic 184618471853 Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1859.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) John Hemphill (Democratic) February 2020 Virginia Robert M. T. Hunter Democratic 18461852 Incumbent re-elected in 1858. Democratic Party (US) Robert M. T. Hunter (Democratic) February 2020 Elections during the 36th Congress In this election, the winner was elected in 1859 on or after March 4; ordered by date. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Texas(Class 1) Matthias Ward Democratic 1858 (appointed) Interim appointee lost nomination to finish the term.New senator elected December 5, 1859.Democratic hold. Louis Wigfall (Democratic)February 2020 Race leading to the 37th Congress In this regular election, the winner was elected for the term beginning March 4, 1861. This election involved a Class 3 seat. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoralhistory Kentucky(Class 3) John J. Crittenden American 18161819 (resigned)18351841 (retired)1842 (appointed)1842 or 1843 (special)18431848 (resigned)1854 Incumbent retired.Winner elected December 12, 1859, far in advance of the term.Winner wasn't seated until term began March 4, 1861.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) John C. Breckinridge (Democratic)February 2020 Illinois 1859 United States Senate election in Illinois Illinois presidential no 1853 United States Senate election in Illinois 1853 1861 United States Senate election in Illinois 1861 January 5, 1859 x136px Stephen A Douglas - headshot.jpg Stephen Douglas Democratic Party (US) 54 166,374Guelzo Allen C. Lincoln and Douglas: the Debates That Defined America 2008 Simon and Schuster New York 285 45.33% Abraham Lincoln by Byers, 1858 - crop.jpg Abraham Lincoln Republican Party (US) 46 190,468 51.90% 1859 United States Senate election in Illinois state senate results.svg 300x300px State Senate results #92C5DE Douglas #F48882 Lincoln Stephen Douglas Democratic Party (US) Stephen Douglas Democratic Party (US) 1859 United States Senate election in Illinois Lincoln–Douglas debate format Incumbent U.S. Senator Stephen Douglas, a Democrat, defeated a challenge by former U.S. Representative Abraham Lincoln, the Republican nominee. Lincoln, who had been a member of the Whig Party prior to 1856, attacked Douglas for his perceived subservience to the Slave Power, as evidenced by his support for the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the recent Supreme Court ruling in the case of Dred Scott v. Sanford. The election was extremely close, hinging on Douglas' ability to appeal to former Whigs who had resisted joining the Republicans following the decline of the Whig party after 1854. In the final weeks of the campaign, Douglas received the coveted endorsement of Kentucky's John J. Crittenden, a prominent former Whig and Douglas' colleague in the Senate. Crittenden's support for Douglas considerably diminished Lincoln's chances of winning the election.Guelzo Allen C. Lincoln and Douglas: The Debates that Defined America https://archive.org/details/lincolndouglasde00alle limited 2008 Simon and Schuster New York, NY 273-77, 282 978-0-7432-7320-6 On election day, the statewide Republican ticket took 50.6% of the popular vote, outpolling the Democrats by a margin of 3,402 votes. Further down ballot, Republican candidates for the state legislature collectively received 24,094 more votes than the Douglas Democrats. (Buchanan Democrats received almost 10,000 votes, and there were a scattering of votes for write-in candidates.) Despite this, strategically drawn district boundaries produced Democratic majorities in both houses of the state legislature: 40 Democrats and 35 Republicans were elected to the state House of Representatives, while the Democratic margin in the Senate was 14–11. On the day of the election in the Illinois General Assembly, Douglas received 54 votes to Lincoln's 46. The change of just over 300 votes in three state legislative districts from Democrats to Republicans would have been sufficient to deny Democrats a legislative majority and defeat Douglas.Guelzo Allen C. Lincoln and Douglas: The Debates that Defined America https://archive.org/details/lincolndouglasde00alle limited 2008 Simon and Schuster New York, NY 284–285 978-0-7432-7320-6 In spite of his defeat, Lincoln's debates with Douglas were followed nationally and established Lincoln as a leading contender for the Republican nomination in the 1860 United States presidential election. In the aftermath of the senatorial election, Lincoln contacted editors looking to publish the texts of the debates. George Parsons, the Ohio Republican committee chairman, got Lincoln in touch with Ohio's main political publisher, Follett and Foster, of Columbus. They published copies of the text under the title, Political Debates Between Hon. Abraham Lincoln and Hon. Stephen A. Douglas in the Celebrated Campaign of 1858, in Illinois. Four printings were made, and the fourth sold 16,000 copies.Guelzo Allen C. Lincoln and Douglas: The Debates that Defined America https://archive.org/details/lincolndouglasde00alle limited 2008 Simon and Schuster New York, NY 305-6 978-0-7432-7320-6 See also 1858 United States elections 1858–59 United States House of Representatives elections 35th United States Congress 36th United States Congress Lincoln–Douglas debates References Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov Category:Abraham Lincoln Category:John C. Breckinridge Category:Stephen A. Douglas