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1808–09 United States Senate elections

← 1806 & 1807 Dates vary by state 1810 & 1811 →
12 of the 34 seats in the United States Senate (plus special elections) 18 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic-Republican Federalist Last election 27 seats 7 seats Seats before 28 6 Seats won 8 4 Seats after 27 7 Seat change 1 1 Seats up 9 3
Results:      Federalist hold      Federalist gain      Dem-Republican hold
Majority Party before election Democratic-Republican Elected Majority Party Democratic-Republican

The 1808–09 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states, coinciding with the 1808 presidential 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 1808 and 1809, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock. In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 1.

The Federalist Party gained one seat in these elections. The Federalists had gone into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats (6 out of 34, or 18%) that even if they had won every election, they would have still remained a minority caucus.

Results summary

Senate party division, 11th Congress (1809–1811)

• Majority party: Democratic-Republican (26)
• Minority party: Federalist (7–8)
• Other parties: 0
• Total seats: 34

Change in composition

Before the regular elections

Result of the regular elections

Race summaries

Except if/when noted, the number following candidates is the whole number vote(s), not a percentage.

Special elections during the preceding Congress

In these special elections, the winner was elected during 1808 or before March 4, 1809; ordered by election date.

Races leading to the next Congress

In these regular elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1809; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

Special elections during the next Congress

In this special election, the winner was elected in 1809 after March 4; ordered by election date.

Early race leading to the Congress-after-next

In this regular election, the winner was seated on March 4, 1811; ordered by state.

This election involved a Class 2 seat.

Connecticut

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Delaware

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Georgia (special)

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Maryland

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1808 United States Senate special election in Maryland

← 1802 November 1808 1816 →
80 members of the Maryland General Assembly
Candidate Samuel Smith John Eager Howard Party Democratic-Republican Federalist Legislative vote 53 29 Percentage 60.92% 33.33%

Samuel Smith was appointed to the seat as opposed to a re-election, due to the State House and State Senate unable to come to an agreement on how to elect a Senator.

Samuel Smith then won re-election over John Eager Howard by a margin of 27.59%, or 24 votes, for the Class 1 seat.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts (regular)

Massachusetts (special)

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New Jersey

New Jersey (regular)

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New Jersey (special)

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New York

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Ohio

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Ohio (specials)

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania (regular)

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Pennsylvania (special)

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Rhode Island

Rhode Island (regular)

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Rhode Island (special)

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Tennessee

Class 1

Joseph Anderson, a Democratic-Republican, held a prominent position in Class 1 of the United States Senate, serving intermittently in both the mentioned Senate seat and the other throughout a substantial period, commencing in 1797. His presence in the Senate reflected his notable political influence and the confidence reposed in him by the electorate. Anderson's periodic service underscored the dynamic nature of early American politics, where individuals frequently transitioned between public service and other pursuits. His extended tenure afforded him the opportunity to contribute to various legislative discussions and debates, leaving a lasting impact on the political landscape during a pivotal era in the nation's history.

Tennessee (regular, class 1)

The Tennessee state legislature encountered a challenge in electing a new senator, resulting in a temporary vacancy in the representation. The seat faced the prospect of becoming officially vacant at the commencement of the term on March 4, 1809. However, in response to the legislative deadlock, the Governor of Tennessee, Willie Blount, took a proactive step and appointed Joseph Anderson to initiate the term on an interim basis. This appointment served as a temporary measure, bridging the gap until a special election could be conducted to fill the senatorial position in accordance with the democratic process.

Tennessee (special, class 1)

Joseph Anderson secured election on April 11, 1809, thereby formalizing his position to complete the senatorial term. This electoral outcome marked the resolution of the previous legislative challenges, as Anderson garnered the necessary support to officially fill the Senate seat.

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Class 2

Democratic-Republican Daniel Smith entered the political arena with his initial election in 1803, marking the commencement of his service in public office. His affiliation with the Democratic-Republican party underlines the prevailing political dynamics of the time, as the United States navigated through the early years of the 19th century.

Tennessee (special, class 2)

Smith resigned March 31, 1809.

Democratic-Republican Jenkin Whiteside was elected April 11, 1809 to finish Smith's term, which would end 1809.

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Tennessee (regular, class 2)

Whiteside was re-elected early October 28, 1809, unopposed.

Vermont

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Virginia

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See also

• 1808 United States elections
  • 1808 United States presidential election
  • 1808–09 United States House of Representatives elections
• 10th United States Congress
• 11th United States Congress

Notes

1. "17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)". National Archives and Records Administration. February 8, 2022.
2. "Massachusetts 1808 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 18, 2018., citing The Freeman's Journal and Philadelphia Mercantile Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). June 13, 1808.
3. ^ Taylor, William A. (1900). Ohio in Congress from 1803 to 1901. Columbus, Ohio: Century Publishing Co. p. 97 – via Internet Archive.
4. "Pennsylvania 1809 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 3, 2018., citing Journal of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1808. 174-176.
5. "Delaware 1809 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 18, 2018., citing United States' Gazette (Philadelphia, PA). January 14, 1809.
6. "Maryland 1809 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 18, 2018., citing The Hornet (Fredericktown, Md.). November 29, 1809.
7. "Massachusetts 1808 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Archived from the original on December 25, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2018., citing The Pittsfield Sun (Pittsfield, MA). June 11, 1808.
8. ^ "New Jersey 1808 U.S. Senate, Ballot 2". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 6, 2018., citing The True American and Commercial Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). November 9, 1808.
9. "NY US Senate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
10. "U.S. Senate Election - 13 December 1808" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
11. "Rhode Island 1808 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 18, 2018., citing United States' Gazette (Philadelphia, PA). January 14, 1809.
12. "Vermont 1808 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 18, 2018., citing Weekly Wanderer (Randolph, VT). November 7, 1808.
13. ^ "Virginia 1809 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Archived from the original on March 11, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2018., citing United States' Gazette (Philadelphia, PA). January 16, 1809.
14. "Tennessee 1809 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
15. "Tennessee 1809 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 30, 2018., citing The Minerva (Raleigh, NC). May 4, 1809. The Star (Raleigh, NC). May 4, 1809. National Intelligencer and Washington Advertiser (Washington, DC). May 5, 1809. The True American and Commercial Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). May 10, 1809. Norwich Courier (Norwich, CT). May 17, 1809. White, Robert Hiram. Messages of the Governors of Tennessee, 1796-1821. Vol. 1. Nashville: The Tennessee Historical Commission, 1952.
16. "Rhode Island 1809 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 19, 2018., citing Newport Mercury (Newport, RI). July 1, 1809.
17. Taylor, William A. (1900). Ohio in Congress from 1803 to 1901. Columbus, Ohio: Century Publishing Co. pp. 97–98 – via Internet Archive.
18. "Georgia 1809 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 18, 2018., citing The Republican and Savannah Evening Ledger (Savannah, GA). December 5, 1809.
19. "New Jersey 1809 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Archived from the original on February 28, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2018., citing New Jersey Privy Council Records, 1809. 176.
20. ^ "Tennessee 1809 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 29, 2018., citing Journal of the Tennessee House of Representatives, 1809. 115.
21. "Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Nov 14, 1809". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
22. "Massachusetts 1808 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Archived from the original on December 25, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2018., citing The Pittsfield Sun (Pittsfield, MA). June 11, 1808.

External links

• Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov

• 1808 United States Senate elections
• 1809 United States Senate elections