1886–87 United States Senate elections

Senate elections in the United States March 2026 September 2016 1886–1887 United States Senate elections United States 1877 legislative no 1884–85 United States Senate elections 1884 & 1885 1888–89 United States Senate elections 1888 & 1889 Class 1 1880–81 United States Senate elections 1880 & 1881 1892–93 United States Senate elections 1892 & 1893 25 of the 76 seats in the United States Senate (as well as special elections) 39 Dates vary by state Seats up x180px Republican Party (US) George F. Edmunds as Republican Conference Chair George F. Edmunds - Brady-Handy.jpg March 4, 1885 Vermont 40 13 38 2 15 Democratic Party (US) James B. Beck as Democratic Caucus Chair James B. Beck - Brady-Handy.jpg March 4, 1885 Kentucky 34 11 36 2 9 Readjuster Party William Mahone as the leader of Readjuster Party(Lost re-election) Mahone,_Hon._Senator_of_Virginia,_Brig._Gen._in_Civil_War_Crop.jpg March 4, 1881 Virginia 2 0 1 1 1 Majority Party Republicancaucus The Readjusters caucused with the Republicans. Republicancaucus 370px Results of the elections:#0671B0 Democratic gain #92C5DE Democratic hold#CA0120 Republican gain #F48882 Republican hold#000000 Legislature failed to elect The 1886–87 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 1886 and 1887, 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 Republican Party lost two seats. At the beginning of the 50th Congress, therefore, Republicans had the slimmest possible majority due to a vacant Democratic seat: 38 out of 75 seats. Once that vacancy was filled, Republicans maintained control as the single Readjuster senator caucused with them. Results summary Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row. Parties Total Democratic Readjuster Republican Before these elections 34 2 40 78 Not up 25 1 25 51 Class 2 (1886/87 → 1892/93) 13 1 12 26 Class 3 (1884/85 → 1890/91) 11 — 13 24 Up 11 1 16 28 Regular: Class 1 9 1 15 25 Special: Class 1 1 — — 1 Special: Class 2 1 — — 1 Special: Class 3 — — 1 1 Regular election only Incumbent retired 1 — 2 3 Held by same party — — 1 1 Gained by other party 1 — 1 1 No elected successor 1 — — 1 Result 1 — 1 2 Incumbent ran 6 1 12 19 Won re-election 4 — 7 11 Held by same party 1 — 3 4 Gained by other party 1 — 1 4 2 — 2 1 1 — No elected successor — — — — Result 8 — 11 19 Incumbent's action unknown 2 — 1 3 Held by same party 2 — 1 3 No elected successor — — — — Gained by other party — — — — Result 2 — 1 3 Total elected 11 — 13 24 Net change 2 1 2 1 Result 36 1 38 75 Change in composition Before the elections After August 4, 1886, special election in California. D8 D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17 D18 D28Ran D27Ran D26Ran D25 D24 D23 D22 D21 D20 D19 D29Ran D30Ran D31Ran D32Unknown D33Unknown D34Retired RA2Ran RA1 R40Retired R39Retired Majority → R29Ran R30Ran R31Ran R32Ran R33Ran R34Ran R35Ran R36Ran R37Ran R38Unknown R28Ran R27Ran R26Ran R25 R24 R23 R22 R21 R20 R19 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R8 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1 After the elections D8 D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17 D18 D28Re-elected D27Re-elected D26Re-elected D25 D24 D23 D22 D21 D20 D19 D29Re-elected D30Hold D31Hold D32Hold D33Gain from RA D34Gain from R D35Gain from R D36Gain from R V1D Loss RA1 Majority due to vacancy→ R38Gain from D R29Re-elected R30Re-elected R31Re-elected R32Re-elected R33Hold R34Hold R35Hold R36Hold R37Hold R28Re-elected R27Re-elected R26Re-elected R25 R24 R23 R22 R21 R20 R19 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R8 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1 At the beginning of the first session, December 7, 1887 D8 D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17 D18 D28 D27 D26 D25 D24 D23 D22 D21 D20 D19 D29 D30 D31 D32 D33 D34 D35 D36 D37Gain from V RA1 Majority with Readjuster in caucus → R38 R29 R30 R31 R32 R33 R34 R35 R36 R37 R28 R27 R26 R25Hold R24 R23 R22 R21 R20 R19 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R8 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1 Key D# Democratic RA# Readjuster R# Republican V# Vacant Race summaries Elections during the 49th Congress In these elections, the winners were seated during 1886 or in 1887 before March 4; ordered by election date. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Mississippi(Class 2) Edward C. Walthall Democratic 1885 (appointed) Interim appointee elected January 20, 1886.Byrd, p. 130. Democratic Party (US) Edward C. Walthall (Democratic) February 2020 California(Class 1) George Hearst Democratic 1886 (appointed) Interim appointee retired or lost election to finish the term.New senator elected August 4, 1886.Republican gain.Winner did not run for election to the next term; see below. Republican Party (US) Abram Williams (Republican) February 2020 Illinois(Class 3) John A. Logan Republican 1870–711877 (lost)18791885 Incumbent died December 26, 1886.New senator elected January 19, 1887.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Charles B. Farwell (Republican) February 2020 Races leading to the 50th Congress In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1887; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history California Abram Williams Republican 1886 (special) Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1887.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) George Hearst (Democratic) February 2020 Connecticut Joseph R. Hawley Republican 1881 Incumbent re-elected in 1887. Republican Party (US) Joseph R. Hawley (Republican) February 2020 Delaware George Gray Democratic 1885 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1887. Democratic Party (US) George Gray (Democratic) February 2020 Florida Charles W. Jones Democratic 1881 Incumbent retired.Legislature failed to elect.Democratic loss. February 2020 Indiana Benjamin Harrison Republican 1881 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1887.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) David Turpie (Democratic) Republican Party (US)Benjamin Harrison (Republican) February 2020 Maine Eugene Hale Republican 1881 Incumbent re-elected. Journal of the Senate of the State of Maine, 63rd Legislature Sprague & Son Augusta 1887 https://lldc.mainelegislature.org/Open/Journals/Senate/SJ1887.pdf 87 Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Maine, 63rd Legislature Sprague & Son Augusta 1887 https://lldc.mainelegislature.org/Open/Journals/House/HJ1887.pdf 89–91 First ballot (January 18, 1887) Republican Party (US) Eugene Hale (Republican) 114 H Maine House of Representatives; 27 S Maine Senate Democratic Party (US)William Henry Clifford Sr. (Democratic) 26 H Maine House of Representatives; 3 S Maine Senate Prohibition Party (US)Neal Dow (Prohibition) 1 H Maine House of Representatives; 0 S Maine Senate UnknownAbsent 10 H Maine House of Representatives; 1 S Maine Senate Maryland Arthur P. Gorman Democratic 1880 Incumbent re-elected in 1886. Democratic Party (US) Arthur P. Gorman (Democratic) February 2020 Massachusetts Henry L. Dawes Republican 18571881 Incumbent re-elected in 1887. Republican Party (US) Henry L. Dawes (Republican) February 2020 Michigan Omar D. Conger Republican 1881 Incumbent lost renomination.New senator elected in 1887.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Francis B. Stockbridge (Republican) February 2020 Minnesota Samuel J. R. McMillan Republican 1881 Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1886.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Cushman Davis (Republican) February 2020 Mississippi James Z. George Democratic 1880 Incumbent re-elected in 1886. Democratic Party (US) James Z. George (Democratic) February 2020 Missouri Francis Cockrell Democratic 18741881 Incumbent re-elected in 1887. Democratic Party (US) Francis Cockrell (Democratic) February 2020 Nebraska Charles Van Wyck Republican 1880 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1886.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Algernon Paddock (Republican) Republican Party (US)Charles Van Wyck (Republican) February 2020 Nevada James G. Fair Democratic 1881 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1887.Republican gain. Republican Party (US) William M. Stewart (Republican) Democratic Party (US)James G. Fair (Democratic) February 2020 New Jersey William J. Sewell Republican 1881 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1886.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Rufus Blodgett (Democratic) Republican Party (US)William J. Sewell (Republican) February 2020 New York Warner Miller Republican 1881 (special) Incumbent lost renomination.New senator elected January 20, 1887.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Frank Hiscock (Republican) Republican Party (US)Levi P. Morton (Republican) Democratic Party (US)Smith M. Weed (Democratic) Democratic Party (US)Francis Kernan (Democratic) Ohio John Sherman Republican 1861 (special)186618721877 (resigned)1881 Incumbent re-elected in 1886. Republican Party (US) John Sherman (Republican) February 2020 Pennsylvania John I. Mitchell Republican 1881 Incumbent retired or lost re-election.New senator elected January 18, 1887.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) Matthew Quay (Republican) 65.74% Democratic Party (US)Simon P. Wolverton (Democratic) 31.87% Rhode Island Nelson W. Aldrich Republican 1881 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1886. Republican Party (US) Nelson W. Aldrich (Republican) February 2020 Tennessee Washington C. Whitthorne Democratic 1886 (appointed) Interim appointee retired or lost re-election.New senator elected in 1887.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) William B. Bate (Democratic) February 2020 Texas Samuel B. Maxey Democratic 18751881 Incumbent lost re-electionNew senator elected January 25–February 1 1887.Democratic hold. Democratic Party (US) John H. Reagan (Democratic) 101 Democratic Party (US) Samuel B. Maxey (Democratic) 25 Democratic Party (US) John Ireland (Democratic) 5 Democratic Party (US) Oran Milo Roberts (Democratic) 4 Democratic Party (US) Alexander W. Terrell (Democratic) 1https://lrl.texas.gov/scanned/SenateJournals/20/02011887_19_141.pdf Journal of the Senate of the State of Texas: Regular Session of 1887. February 1, 1887 Austin, Texas 151–152 Nineteenth Day Vermont George F. Edmunds Republican 1866 (appointed)1866 (special)186818741880 Incumbent re-elected in 1886. Republican Party (US) George F. Edmunds (Republican), 227 Democratic Party (US) W. H. H. Bingham (Democratic), 29 Republican Party (US) Wheelock G. Veazey (Republican), 8Crockett Walter Hill 1921 Vermont The Green Mountain State Four https://www.google.com/books/edition/Vermont/EeV6r-D7w9oC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=&pg=PA164 New York, New York Century History Company 164 Google Books Virginia William Mahone Readjuster 1881 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1887.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) John W. Daniel (Democratic) February 2020 West Virginia Johnson N. Camden Democratic 1880–81 Incumbent lost renomination.https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1887/02/16/109313681.pdf STILL FIGHTING OVER CAMDEN.Legislature failed to elect.Democratic loss.A new senator was elected late; see below. Democratic Party (US)Johnson N. Camden (Democratic) Wisconsin Philetus Sawyer Republican 1881 Incumbent re-elected January 26, 1887. Republican Party (US) Philetus Sawyer (Republican) 65.6% Democratic Party (US)John Winans (Democratic) 29.6% Labor Party (United States, 19th century)John Cochrane (Labor) 4.8% Elections during the 50th Congress In these elections, the winners were elected in 1887 after March 4; ordered by date. State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history West Virginia(Class 1) Vacant Legislature had failed to elect; see above.New senator elected late May 5, 1887.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Charles J. Faulkner (Democratic) 48 Republican Party (US)Flick (Republican) 31 Greenback PartyBarbee (Greenback) 6 Unknown[FNU] Whittaker (Unknown) 2 Democratic Party (US)Johnson N. Camden (Democratic) 1 UnknownB. S. Brown (Unknown) 1https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1887/05/06/100910135.pdf WEST VIRGINIA'S SENATOR.; A SUCCESSOR TO CAMDEN CHOSEN AT LAST. Florida(Class 1) Vacant Legislature had failed to elect; see above.New senator elected late May 19, 1887.Democratic gain. Democratic Party (US) Samuel Pasco (Democratic) February 2020 New Hampshire(Class 2) Person C. Cheney Republican 1886 (appointed) Interim appointee retired when successor elected.New senator elected June 14, 1887.Republican hold. Republican Party (US) William E. Chandler (Republican) February 2020 Virginia(Class 2) Harrison H. Riddleberger Readjuster 1881 Incumbent retired.New senator elected early December 20, 1887 for the term beginning in 1889.http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Barbour_John_S_1820-1892 Barbour, John S. (1820–1892) www.encyclopediavirginia.orgDemocratic gain. Democratic Party (US) John S. Barbour Jr. (Democratic) February 2020 Maryland List of United States senators from Maryland November 2022 1886 United States Senate election in Maryland - B0CEFF -% Democratic Party (United States) Arthur Pue Gorman Arthur Pue Gorman.jpg 1886 1886 United States Senate election in Maryland 1892 1892 United States Senate election in Maryland 80 members of the Maryland General Assembly Legislative 1886 presidential Arthur Pue Gorman won re-election for an unknown margin of votes for the Class 1 seat.https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=122950 Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Jan 00, 1880 2022-11-05 www.ourcampaigns.com New York United States Senate election in New York, 1887 List of United States senators from New York The election in New York was held from January 18 to 20, 1887. Republican Warner Miller had been elected to this seat in a special election in 1881 to succeed Thomas C. Platt who had resigned. Miller's term would expire on March 3, 1887. At the State election in November 1885, 20 Republicans and 12 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1886–1887) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1886, 74 Republicans and 54 Democrats were elected for the session of 1887 to the Assembly. The 110th New York State Legislature met from January 4 to May 26, 1887, at Albany, New York. The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 17, President pro tempore of the State Senate Edmund L. Pitts presided. 20 State senators and 71 assemblymen attended. Ex-Speaker of the Assembly George Z. Erwin (a Morton man) moved that a majority of all Republican legislators should be necessary to nominate, not only a majority of those present, meaning that 48 votes were required instead of 46, which was carried by a vote of 52 to 39. The incumbent U.S. senator Warner Miller (Half-Breed faction) failed to be nominated by only four votes. Levi P. Morton (Stalwart faction) was rejected by the caucus, like in 1885. A small faction voted for Congressman Frank Hiscock. After the second ballot, Erwin moved to adjourn, which was carried by 48 to 43. The caucus met again on the next day, no choice was made in another two ballots. The caucus met again on January 19 after the joint ballot of the State Legislature, and after twelve more ballots, Erwin withdrew Morton's name and urged the Morton men to vote for Hiscock. On the next ballot Hiscock received one vote more than Miller (47 to 46), but was one short of the previously established majority of 48. On the 18th and last ballot, Hiscock received 50 votes and was nominated. On the next day, Hiscock was elected on the second joint ballot of the State Legislature. Thus, by blocking Miller's re-election, the Republican boss Thomas C. Platt took his revenge for his defeat at the special election in 1881. +1887 Republican caucus for United States senator Ballot Date Warner Miller Levi P. Morton √ Frank Hiscock 1st January 17 44 35 12 2nd January 17 44 36 11 3rd January 18 4th January 18 5th January 19 46 36 11 6th January 19 46 36 11 7th January 19 46 36 11 8th January 19 46 36 11 9th January 19 46 36 11 10th January 19 46 36 11 11th January 19 46 36 11 12th January 19 46 36 11 13th January 19 46 36 11 14th January 19 46 36 11 15th January 19 46 36 11 16th January 19 46 36 11 17th January 19 46 Withdrew 47 18th January 19 43 50 The Democratic caucus nominated Smith Mead Weed (1834–1920), a lawyer and businessman of Plattsburgh, New York. Weed had been a member of the New York State Assembly from Clinton County, New York in 1865, 1866, 1867, 1871, 1873 and 1874; and a delegate to the 1876 and 1884 Democratic National Conventions. +1887 regular election for United States senator House Democratic Republican Republican Republican State Senate (32 members) January 18 Smith M. Weed 11 Warner Miller 10 Levi P. Morton 9 Frank Hiscock 1 State Assembly (128 members) January 18 Smith M. Weed 41 Warner Miller 32 Levi P. Morton 26 Frank Hiscock 10 Joint ballot (160 members) January 19 Smith M. Weed 61 Warner Miller 43 Levi P. Morton 33 Frank Hiscock 11 Second joint ballot (160 members) January 20 Smith M. Weed 62 √ Frank Hiscock 91 Pennsylvania United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, 1887 List of United States senators from Pennsylvania The election in Pennsylvania was held January 18, 1887. Matthew Quay was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate.U.S. Senate Election - 18 January 1887 http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/sen/PaSen1887.pdf Wilkes University December 23, 2012 The General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and Senate voted as follows: State Legislature ResultsPA US Senate - 1887 http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=345202 OurCampaigns December 22, 2012 Republican Party (United States) Matthew Quay 165 65.74 Democratic Party (United States) Simon P. Wolverton 80 31.87 N/A Not voting 6 2.39 |- |-bgcolor="#EEEEEE" | colspan="3" align="right" | Totals | align="right" | 251 | align="right" | 100.00% |} See also 1886 United States elections 1886 United States House of Representatives elections 49th United States Congress 50th United States Congress Notes References Further reading The Senate, 1789-1989: Historical Statistics, 1789-1992 volume 4 Bicentennial Robert C. Byrd Robert Byrd Wendy Wolff United States Senate Historical Office Washington, DC U.S. Government Printing Office October 1, 1993 9780160632563 https://books.google.com/books?id=PeHByMYxVm8C Pennsylvania Election Statistics: 1682-2006 http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox The Wilkes University Election Statistics Project Wilkes University January 31, 2007 Harold Cox The New York Times https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1887/01/20/104006395.pdf HISCOCK WINS THE PRIZE; MORTON WITHDRAWN FROM THE SENATORIAL FIGHT January 20, 1887 http://www.gpoaccess.gov/serialset/cdocuments/hd108-222/50th.pdf Members of the 50th United States Congress U.S. Government Printing Office September 7, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20100106015413/http://www.gpoaccess.gov/serialset/cdocuments/hd108-222/50th.pdf January 6, 2010 dead The New York Times https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1887/01/18/104005340.pdf MILLER LEADS IN CAUCUS; BUT WANTS FOUR VOTES OF A NOMINATING MAJORITY January 18, 1887 The New York Times https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1887/01/21/104007084.pdf MR. HISCOCK'S ELECTION January 21, 1887 https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/one_item_and_teasers/partydiv.htm Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present United States Senate Senate.gov The New York Times https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1920/06/08/96352742.pdf SMITH M. WEED DIES IN PLATTSBURG June 8, 1920