1861 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

none related races 1860–61 United States Senate elections March 2026 January 2025 1861 United States Senate election in Wisconsin Wisconsin presidential no 1855 United States Senate election in Wisconsin 1855 1867 United States Senate election in Wisconsin 1867 January 23, 1861 Legislative x150px Hon. Timothy O. Howe, Wis - NARA - 525971.tif Timothy O. Howe Republican Party (United States) 92 73.02% Henry L. Palmer.jpg Henry L. Palmer Democratic Party (United States) 34 26.98% U.S. Senator Charles Durkee Republican Party (United States) Timothy O. Howe Republican Party (United States) The 1861 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held in the 14th Wisconsin Legislature on January 23, 1861. Incumbent Republican U.S. senator Charles Durkee did not run for re-election. Former Wisconsin circuit court judge Timothy O. Howe was elected United States senator on the first ballot. https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-senate-election/159744226/ Joint Convention—Election of a Senator Wisconsin State Journal January 23, 1861 2 November 27, 2024 Newspapers.com At the start of the 1861 term, Republicans held large majorities in both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature, so had more than enough votes to elect a Republican United States senator. The main drama of the election was in the Republican legislative caucuses as they parsed through Republican candidates and selected the former judge, Timothy Howe, as their nominee. Howe had previously sought the party's nomination for U.S. Senate in the 1857 election, but lost out to James Rood Doolittle. Major candidates Democratic Henry L. Palmer, former state representative from Milwaukee Republican Timothy O. Howe, former Wisconsin circuit court judge from Green Bay Alexander Randall, incumbent governor of Wisconsin Cadwallader C. Washburn, outgoing U.S. representative from Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district Results Republican nomination Eighty-nine of the 92 Republican state senators and representatives met in a joint caucus on January 18, 1861, with three candidates seeking the nomination. Support for the three candidates was fairly even and unchanging over the first five ballots taken, with Washburn consistently leading in the mid-30s, but remaining stranded roughly 10 votes short of a majority. https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-senate-nominatio/159885248/ The Senatorial Caucus—Five Ballots Wisconsin State Journal January 18, 1861 2 November 27, 2024 Newspapers.com The caucus took a break but reconvened later that evening, Howe's total gradually crept up to the high 20s as Randall faded to the low 20s. https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-senate-nominatio/159885339/ Four More Ballots for Senator Wisconsin State Journal January 19, 1861 2 November 27, 2024 Newspapers.com The caucus then adjourned for the weekend and reconvened on the morning of Wednesday, January 23, 1861. On the ninth ballot, Randall's supporters went over to Howe and secured his nomination, by a vote of 52 to 36, with 3 abstentions. https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-senate-nominatio/159885603/ The Senatorial Question Solved—Nomination of Judge Howe—Impromptu Gathering in the Assembly Chamber—Judge Howe's Remarks—Rejoicings Wisconsin State Journal January 23, 1861 2 November 27, 2024 Newspapers.com Official vote 1st Vote of the 14th Wisconsin Legislature, January 23, 1861 Republican Party (United States) Timothy O. Howe 92 73.02% Democratic Party (United States) Henry L. Palmer 34 26.98% Absent or not voting 1 64 50.39% 127 100.0% Republican Party (United States) References 1861 Wisconsin United States Senate