1844–45 United States Senate elections

none March 2026 January 2016 1844–45 United States Senate elections United States 1837 legislative no 1842–43 United States Senate elections 1842 & 1843 1846–47 United States Senate elections 1846 & 1847 Class 1 1838–39 United States Senate elections 1838 & 1839 1850–51 United States Senate elections 1850 & 1851 18 of the 54 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections) Various dates 100px 28 Seats up Democratic Party (US) 23 seats 23 8 27 3 5 Whig Party (US) 27 seats 27 8 24 3 11 Law and Order Party (US) New party 1 0 0 1 1 Majority Party Whig Party (US) Democratic Party (US) File:1844senatemap.svg Results:#0671B0 Democratic gain #92C5DE Democratic hold #c49213 Whig gain #f3d586 Whig hold#000000 Legislature failed to elect The 1844–45 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states, coinciding with James K. Polk's election. 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 1844 and 1845, 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. The Democratic Party re-captured control of the Senate, gaining a net total of eleven seats from the Whigs. Results summary Senate party division, 29th Congress (1845–1847) Majority party: Democratic (26–31) Minority party: Whig (24) Other parties: (0–1) Vacant: (4–2) Total seats: 54–58 Change in Senate composition Before the elections D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8 D7 D17 D18 D19 D20Ran D21Ran D22Ran D23Ran D24Retired LO1Retired W27Retired Majority → W17Ran W18Ran W19Ran W20Ran W21Unknown W22Unknown W23Retired W24Retired W25Retired W26Retired W16 W15 W14 W13 W12 W11 W10 W9 W8 W7 W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 Result of the elections D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8 D18 D19 D20Re-elected D21Re-elected D22Re-elected D23Re-elected D24Gain D25Gain D26Gain D27Gain Majority → W18Re-elected W19Re-elected W20Hold W21Hold W22Hold W23Gain W24Gain V1W Loss V2New seat V3New seat W17Re-elected W16 W15 W14 W13 W12 W11 W10 W9 W8 W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 Beginning of the next Congress D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8 D18 D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 V4D Loss Majority ↑ W18 W19 W20 W21 W22 W23 W24 V1 V2 V3 W17 W16 W15 W14 W13 W12 W11 W10 W9 W8 W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 Beginning of the first session of the next Congress (December 1, 1845) D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8 D18 D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 D24Hold D25Hold D26Hold D27Gain Majority → D28Gain W18 W19 W20 W21 W22 W23Hold W24Hold D30Gain D29Gain W17 W16 W15 W14 W13 W12 W11 W10 W9 W8 W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 Key: D# Democratic LO# Law and Order W# Whig V# Vacant Race summaries Special elections during the 28th Congress In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1844 or in 1845 before March 4; ordered by election date. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Rhode Island(Class 1) William Sprague Whig 1842 (special) Incumbent resigned January 17, 1844.New senator elected January 25, 1844.Law and Order gain.Winner was not a candidate for the next term; see below. Law and Order Party (US) John B. Francis (Law and Order) 67 Liberation Christopher Spencer (Liberation) 26J. Fred Parker, Secretary of State 1914 Manual, with Rules and Orders, for the use of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island, 1914 State of Rhode Island manual https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924106096948&view=1up&seq=191&skin=2021 Providence, RI E. L. Freeman Company, State Printers 149 January 29, 1844 Rhode Island https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82016317/1844-01-29/ed-1/seq-2/ The Whig standard Washington, D.C. 2 27 November 2021 Louisiana(Class 3) Alexander Porter Whig 1833 (special)1837 (resigned)1843 Incumbent died January 13, 1844.New senator elected January 29, 1844 on the second ballot.Whig hold. Whig Party (US) Henry Johnson (Whig) 39 Democratic Party (US)Joseph Marshall Walker (Democratic) 36 Blank 21844 Journal de la Chambre des Representans de L'Etat de la Louisiane. Siexieme Legislature—Seconde Session. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112079521479&seq=7 New Orleans, LA 34–35 Arkansas(Class 2) William S. Fulton Democratic 1836 (special)1840 Incumbent died August 15, 1844.New senator elected November 8, 1844.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Chester Ashley (Democratic) February 2020 Missouri(Class 3) David Rice Atchison Democratic 1843 (appointed) Interim appointee elected November 20, 1844. Democratic Party (US) David Rice Atchison (Democratic) 101 Whig Party (US)Henry S. Geyer (Whig) 17 Unknown Party[FNU] Leonard (Unknown) 9 Unknown Party[FNU] Biggs (Unknown) 1 Unknown PartySinclair Kirtley (Unknown) 1 Whig PartyJohn Scott (Whig) 1 Whig PartyUriel Wright (Whig) 1Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Missouri, of the First Session of the Thirteenth General Assembly, Begun and Held at the City of Jefferson, on Monday, the Eighteenth Day of November, in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty-Four. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015058445738&seq=44 Jefferson, MO James Lusk39–40 Alabama(Class 2) Dixon H. Lewis Democratic 1844 (appointed) Interim appointee elected December 7, 1844. Democratic Party (US) Dixon H. Lewis (Democratic) 85 Whig Party (US)Arthur F. Hopkins (Whig) 421845 Journal of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of Alabama; Begun and Held in the City of Tuscaloosa, on the First Monday in December, 1841. https://archive.org/details/alabama-house-journal-1844-1845/HJ_1844_1845/page/n43/mode/2up Tuscaloosa, AL John McCormick 44–45 Illinois(Class 2) James Semple Democratic 1843 (appointed) Interim appointee elected December 11, 1844. Democratic Party (US) James Semple (Democratic) 102 Whig Party (US)John J. Hardin (Whig) 471844 Journal of the House of Representatives of the Fourteenth General Assembly of the State of Illinois, at Their Regular Session, Begun and Held at Springfield, December, 2, 1844. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.15521989&seq=62 Springfield, IL Walters & Weber 57–58 New York(Class 1) Daniel S. Dickinson Democratic 1844 (appointed) Interim appointee elected January 18, 1845.Winner later elected to the next term; see below. Democratic Party (US) Daniel S. Dickinson (Democratic) 27 Whig Party (US)Millard Fillmore (Whig) 3 American RepublicanJonathan Thompson (American Republican) 1 New York(Class 3) Henry A. Foster Democratic 1844 (appointed) Interim appointee retired or lost election.New senator elected January 18, 1845.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) John Adams Dix (Democratic) 27 Whig Party (US)Willis Hall (Whig) 3 American RepublicanHarman B. Cropsey (American Republican) 1 Races leading to the 29th Congress In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1845; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Connecticut Jabez W. Huntington Whig 1840 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1844 or 1845. Whig Party (US) Jabez W. Huntington (Whig) February 2020 Delaware Richard H. Bayard Whig 1836 (special)1838 or 18391839 (resigned)1841 (special) Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1845.Whig hold. Whig Party (US) John M. Clayton (Whig) February 2020 Florida None (new state) Florida was admitted March 3, 1845, but elected its first Class 1 senator late, during the next Congress.Seat remained vacant. None. Indiana Albert White Whig 1838 Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1844.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Jesse D. Bright (Democratic) February 2020 Maine John Fairfield Democratic 1843 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1844 or 1845. Democratic Party (US) John Fairfield (Democratic) February 2020 Maryland William Merrick Whig 1838 (special)1839 Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1844 or 1845.Whig hold. Whig Party (US) Reverdy Johnson (Whig) February 2020 Massachusetts Rufus Choate Whig 1841 (special) Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1845.Whig hold. Whig Party (US) Daniel Webster (Whig) February 2020 Michigan Augustus S. Porter Whig 1840 (special) Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1844 or 1845.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Lewis Cass (Democratic) February 2020 Mississippi John Henderson Whig 1838 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost.New senator elected in 1844.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Jesse Speight (Democratic) February 2020 Missouri Thomas H. Benton Democratic 1821 (new state)182718331839 Incumbent re-elected November 20, 1844. Democratic Party (US) Thomas H. Benton (Democratic) 74 Unknown PartyThomas B. English (Unknown) 32 Whig Party (US)Abiel Leonard (Whig) 7 Unknown PartyAlexander W. Doniphan (Unknown) 4 Unknown PartyWilliam M. Campbell (Unknown) 3 Whig Party (US)Henry S. Geyer (Whig) 2 Whig Party (US)John G. Miller (Whig) 2 Whig Party (US)Thomas L. Anderson (Whig) 1 Whig Party (US)Edward Bates (Whig) 1 Unknown PartyFrederick Hyatt (Unknown) 1 Democratic Party (US)Trusten Polk (Democratic) 1 Unknown PartyRio Santo (Unknown) 1 Unknown PartyFleming Saunders (Unknown) 1 Unknown PartyRichard Roe (Unknown) 140 New Jersey William L. Dayton Whig 1842 (appointed)1842 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1845. Whig Party (US) William L. Dayton (Whig) 46 Democratic Party (US)John R. Thomson (Democratic) 10 Democratic Party (US)Elias Van Arsdale, Sr. (Democratic) 8 New York Daniel S. Dickinson Democratic 1844 (appointed)1845 (special) Incumbent re-elected February 4, 1845. Democratic Party (US) Daniel S. Dickinson (Democratic) 25 Whig Party (US)John C. Clark (Whig) 4 Ohio Benjamin Tappan Democratic 1838 Incumbent retired.New senator elected December 5, 1844.Taylor & Taylor 215, vol IWhig gain. Whig Party (US) Thomas Corwin (Whig) 60 Democratic Party (US)David T. Disney (Democratic) 46 Unknown PartyEbenezer Lane (Unknown) 1Taylor & Taylor 215, vol I Pennsylvania Daniel Sturgeon Democratic 1840 (late) Incumbent re-elected January 14, 1845. Democratic Party (US) Daniel Sturgeon (Democratic) 72 Whig Party (US)James Cooper (Whig) 49 Know NothingJohn Ashmead (Know Nothing) 5 Know NothingE. W. Keyser (Know Nothing) 2 Know NothingJacob Broom (Know Nothing) 1 Know NothingE. C. Reigert (Know Nothing) 1 Whig Party (US)John Sergeant (Whig) 1 Not voting 2 Rhode Island John B. Francis Law and Order 1844 (special) Incumbent retired.New senator January 15, 1845 on the second ballot.Whig gain. Whig Party (US) Albert C. Greene (Whig) 52 Whig Party (US)Lemuel H. Arnold (Whig) 25 Democratic Party (US)Olney Ballou (Democratic) 18 Whig Party (US)John H. Clarke (Whig) 4 Unknown PartyS.F. Man (Unknown) 1 Tennessee Ephraim H. Foster Whig 1837 (early)1838 (appointed)1839 (declined to serve)1843 (special) Incumbent retired. Legislature failed to elect.Whig loss. July 2026 Vermont Samuel S. Phelps Whig 1839 Incumbent re-elected in 1845. Whig Party (US) Samuel S. Phelps (Whig) February 2020 Virginia William C. Rives Whig 1832 (special)1834 (resigned)1836 (special)1839 (failure to elect)1841 (late) Legislature failed to elect.Whig loss. February 2020 Special elections during the 29th Congress In these special elections, the winners were elected in 1845 after March 4; ordered by election date. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Pennsylvania(Class 3) James Buchanan Democratic 1834 (special)18361843 Incumbent resigned March 5, 1845, to become U.S. Secretary of State.New senator elected March 13, 1845.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) Simon Cameron (Democratic) 50.38% Democratic Party (US)George W. Woodward (Democratic) 41.35% Whig Party (US)J. R. Ingersoll (Whig) 1.50% Whig Party (US)John Banks (Whig) 0.75% Know NothingPeter A. Brown (Know Nothing) 0.75% UnknownThomas S. Bell (Unknown) 0.75% Whig Party (US)T. D. Cochran (Whig) 0.75% Not voting 3.76% Massachusetts(Class 2) Isaac C. Bates Whig 1841 (special)1841 Incumbent died March 16, 1845.New senator elected March 24, 1845.Whig hold. Whig Party (US) John Davis (Whig) February 2020 Florida(Class 1) None (new state) Florida was admitted March 3, 1845.Its first senators were elected July 1, 1845.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) David Levy Yulee (Democratic) February 2020 Florida(Class 3) Florida was admitted March 3, 1845.Its first senators were elected July 1, 1845.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) James Westcott (Democratic) February 2020 Tennessee(Class 1) Vacant Legislature had failed to elect.New senator elected late October 25, 1845 on the fourteenth ballot.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Hopkins L. Turney (Democratic) 53 Unknown PartyWilliam C. Dunlap (Unknown) 461846 Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Tennessee, at the Twenty-Sixth General Assembly, Held at Nashville. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433010019465&seq=1 Nashville, TN I.G. Brasfield 94 Georgia(Class 2) John M. Berrien Whig 18251829 (resigned)1840 Incumbent resigned in May 1845 to become judge of the Supreme Court of Georgia.He did not remain on the court, and was re-elected November 13, 1845.Whig hold. Whig Party (US) John M. Berrien (Whig) February 2020 South Carolina(Class 2) Vacant Incumbent Daniel E. Huger (D) had resigned in the previous Congress.New senator was elected November 26, 1845.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) John C. Calhoun (Democratic) February 2020 Virginia(Class 1) Vacant Legislature had failed to elect.New senator elected late December 3, 1845.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Isaac S. Pennybacker (Democratic) February 2020 Alabama (special) List of United States senators from Alabama 1845 United States House of Representatives election in Alabama July 2026 Arkansas (special) List of United States senators from Arkansas 1844 United States House of Representatives election in Arkansas August 2020 Connecticut List of United States senators from Connecticut 1845 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut August 2020 Delaware List of United States senators from Delaware 1844 United States House of Representatives election in Delaware August 2020 Florida List of United States senators from Florida 1845 United States House of Representatives election in Florida August 2020 Florida (regular) Florida (special) Georgia (special) List of United States senators from Georgia 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia August 2020 Indiana List of United States senators from Indiana 1845 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana August 2020 Illinois (special) List of United States senators from Illinois 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois July 2026 Louisiana (special) List of United States senators from Louisiana 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana August 2020 Maine List of United States senators from Maine 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine August 2020 Maryland List of United States senators from Maryland November 2022 1844 United States Senate election in Maryland - F0C862 -% Whig Party (United States) Reverdy Johnson 1849 1849 United States Senate election in Maryland 1839 1839 United States Senate election in Maryland 80 members of the Maryland General Assembly Legislative - presidential Reverdy Johnson won election by an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 1 seat.https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=122892 Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Feb 00, 1845 2022-11-05 www.ourcampaigns.com Massachusetts List of United States senators from Massachusetts 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts August 2020 Massachusetts (regular) Massachusetts (special) Michigan List of United States senators from Michigan 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan August 2020 Mississippi List of United States senators from Mississippi 1845 United States House of Representatives election in Mississippi August 2020 Missouri List of United States senators from Missouri 1844 United States House of Representatives election in Missouri August 2020 Missouri (regular) Missouri (special) New Jersey List of United States senators from New Jersey 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey August 2020 New York 1845 United States Senate elections in New York List of United States senators from New York There were three elections: Two special elections were held on January 18, 1845, and one regular election was held on February 4, 1845. The 68th New York State Legislature met from January 7 to May 14, 1845. New York (special, class 1) Nathaniel P. Tallmadge had been re-elected in 1840 to the Class 1 seat (term 1839–1845), but resigned June 17, 1844, to become Governor of Wisconsin Territory. On November 30, Governor of New York William C. Bouck appointed his Democratic Lieutenant Governor Daniel S. Dickinson to fill the vacancy temporarily, and Dickinson was seated December 9, 1844. +January 18, 1845, United States Senator special election, Class 1 House Democratic Whig AmericanRepublican State Senate (32 members) Daniel S. Dickinson 27 Millard Fillmore 3 Jonathan Thompson 1 State Assembly (128 members) Daniel S. Dickinson New York (special, class 3) Silas Wright Jr. had been re-elected in 1843 to the Class 3 seat (term 1843–1849), but resigned November 26, 1844, when elected Governor of New York. On November 30, Governor Bouck appointed Democratic State Senator Henry A. Foster to fill the vacancy temporarily, and Foster took his seat on December 9, 1844. +January 18, 1845, United States Senator special election, Class 3 House Democratic Whig AmericanRepublican State Senate (32 members) John Adams Dix 27 Willis Hall 3 Harman B. Cropsey 1 State Assembly (128 members) John Adams Dix Dix took his seat on January 27, 1845, and remained in office until March 3, 1849, when his term expired. New York (regular) +February 4, 1845, United States Senator election, Class 1 House Democratic Whig State Senate (32 members) Daniel S. Dickinson 25 John C. Clark 4 State Assembly (128 members) Daniel S. Dickinson Dickinson re-took his seat under the new credentials on January 27, 1845, and re-elected, remained in office until March 3, 1851, when his term expired. Ohio List of United States senators from Ohio 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio August 2020 Pennsylvania List of United States senators from Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (regular) 1845 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania The regular election was held January 14, 1845. Incumbent Daniel Sturgeon was re-elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate.U.S. Senate Election - 14 January 1845 http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/sen/PaSen1845S.pdf Wilkes University December 22, 2012 The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 14, 1845, to elect a Senator to serve the term beginning on March 4, 1845. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows: State Legislature Results PA US Senate http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=345195 OurCampaigns December 22, 2012 Democratic Party (US) Daniel Sturgeon (Incumbent) 72 54.14 Whig Party (US) James Cooper 49 36.84 Know Nothing John Ashmead 5 3.76 Know Nothing E. W. Keyser 2 1.50 Know Nothing Jacob Broom 1 0.75 Know Nothing E. C. Reigert 1 0.75 Whig Party (US) John Sergeant 1 0.75 N/A Not voting 2 1.50 |- |-bgcolor="#EEEEEE" | colspan="3" align="right" | Totals | align="right" | 133 | align="right" | 100.00% |} Pennsylvania (special) 1845 United States Senate special election in Pennsylvania A special election was held March 13, 1845. Simon Cameron was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate.U.S. Senate Election - 13 March 1845 http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/sen/PaSen1845C.pdf Wilkes University December 22, 2013 Democratic future-U.S. president James Buchanan was elected in an 1834 special election and was re-elected in 1836 and 1843. Senator Buchanan resigned on March 5, 1845, after being appointed U.S. Secretary of State by President James K. Polk.BUCHANAN, James, (1791 - 1868) http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=b001005 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress December 22, 2013 Following the resignation of senator Buchanan, the Pennsylvania General Assembly convened on March 13, 1845, to elect a new senator to fill the vacancy and serve the remainder of the term set to expire on March 4, 1849. Five ballots were recorded. The results of the fifth and final ballot of both houses combined are as follows: State Legislature Results Democratic Party (US) Simon Cameron 67 50.38 Democratic Party (US) George W. Woodward 55 41.35 Whig Party (US) J. R. Ingersoll 2 1.50 Whig Party (US) John Banks 1 0.75 Know Nothing Peter A. Brown 1 0.75 Unknown Thomas S. Bell 1 0.75 Whig Party (US) T. D. Cochran 1 0.75 N/A Not voting 5 3.76 |- |-bgcolor="#EEEEEE" | colspan="3" align="right" | Totals | align="right" | 133 | align="right" | 100.00% |} Rhode Island List of United States senators from Rhode Island 1845 United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island August 2020 Rhode Island (regular) Rhode Island (special) South Carolina (special) List of United States senators from South Carolina 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina August 2020 Tennessee List of United States senators from Tennessee 1845 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee August 2020 Tennessee (regular) Tennessee (special) Vermont List of United States senators from Vermont 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in Vermont August 2020 Virginia List of United States senators from Virginia 1845 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia August 2020 Virginia (regular) Virginia (special) See also 1844 United States elections 1844 United States presidential election 1844–45 United States House of Representatives elections 29th United States Congress 30th United States Congress References August 2020 Sources and external links Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov Members of the 28th United States Congress, via GPOaccess.gov Members of the 29th United States Congress, via GPOaccess.gov Pennsylvania Election Statistics: 1682-2006 from the Wilkes University Election Statistics Project 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&pg=PA240 The New York Civil List compiled in 1858 (see: pg. 63 for U.S. Senators; pg. 134f for State Senators 1845; pg. 230f for Members of Assembly 1845) Political History of the State of New York, from Jan. 1, 1841, to Jan. 1, 1847; Vol. III by Jabez Delano Hammond (State election, 1844: pg. 505f; appointments, 1844: pg. 508f; Speaker election, 1845: pg. 518; U.S. Senate nominations, 1845: pg. 526ff) [gives wrong date for caucus, and election] Abridgment of the Debates in Congress, from 1789 to 1856: Dec. 4, 1843 to June 18, 1846 (page 197) Journal of the Senate (68th Session) (1845; pg. 77f and 142f)