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24 of the 74 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections) 38 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results of the elections: Democratic gain Democratic hold Republican gain Republican hold Liberal Republican gain Legislature Failed to Elect | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1872–73 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states, coinciding with President Ulysses S. Grant's re-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 1872 and 1873, 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 3.
The Republican Party, while still retaining a commanding majority, lost two seats. By the beginning of the Congress, however, they would lose three more: two as defections to the Liberal Republican Party, and one a resignation of Henry Wilson to become U.S. Vice President. This remains the last election in which Republicans held a 2/3 majority in the Senate.
Results summary
Senate party division, 43rd Congress (1873–1875)
- Majority party: Republican (50–51)
- Minority party: Democratic (19–20)
- Other parties: Liberal Republican (3–2)
- Vacant: (2–1)
- Total seats: 74
Change in composition
Before the elections
After the January 30, 1872 special election in North Carolina.
D7 | D6 | D5 | D4 | D3 | D2 | D1 | |||
D8 | D9 | D10 | D11 | D12 | D13 | D14 | D15 Ran |
D16 Unknown |
D17 Unknown |
R48 Unknown |
R49 Unknown |
R50 Unknown |
R51 Retired |
R52 Retired |
R53 Retired |
R54 Retired |
R55 Retired |
R56 Resigned |
LR1 Retired |
R47 Ran |
R46 Ran |
R45 Ran |
R44 Ran |
R43 Ran |
R42 Ran |
R41 Ran |
R40 Ran |
R39 Ran |
R38 Ran |
Majority → | |||||||||
R28 | R29 | R30 | R31 | R32 | R33 | R34 | R35 | R36 | R37 Ran |
R27 | R26 | R25 | R24 | R23 | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 | R18 |
R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 |
R7 | R6 | R5 | R4 | R3 | R2 | R1 |
Result of the elections
D7 | D6 | D5 | D4 | D3 | D2 | D1 | |||
D8 | D9 | D10 | D11 | D12 | D13 | D14 | D15 Hold |
D16 Hold |
D17 Hold |
R48 Hold |
R49 Hold |
R50 Hold |
R51 Hold |
R52 Hold |
R53 Gain |
LR1 Re-elected, new party |
V1 R Loss |
D19 Gain |
D18 Gain |
R47 Hold |
R46 Hold |
R45 Hold |
R44 Hold |
R43 Re-elected |
R42 Re-elected |
R41 Re-elected |
R40 Re-elected |
R39 Re-elected |
R38 Re-elected |
Majority → | R37 Re-elected | ||||||||
R28 | R29 | R30 | R31 | R32 | R33 | R34 | R35 | R36 | |
R27 | R26 | R25 | R24 | R23 | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 | R18 |
R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 |
R7 | R6 | R5 | R4 | R3 | R2 | R1 |
Beginning of the next Congress
D7 | D6 | D5 | D4 | D3 | D2 | D1 | |||
D8 | D9 | D10 | D11 | D12 | D13 | D14 | D15 | D16 | D17 |
R48 | R49 | R50 | LR1 | LR2 Changed |
LR3 Changed |
V1 | V2 Resigned |
D19 | D18 |
R47 | R46 | R45 | R44 | R43 | R42 | R41 | R40 | R39 | R38 |
Majority → | R37 | ||||||||
R28 | R29 | R30 | R31 | R32 | R33 | R34 | R35 | R36 | |
R27 | R26 | R25 | R24 | R23 | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 | R18 |
R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 |
R7 | R6 | R5 | R4 | R3 | R2 | R1 |
Key: |
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Race summaries
Special elections during the 42nd Congress
In these elections, the winners were seated during 1872 or in 1873 before March 4; ordered by election date.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
North Carolina (Class 2) |
Vacant | Legislature had failed to elect. New senator elected January 30, 1872. Democratic gain. |
| ||
Kentucky (Class 3) |
Willis B. Machen | Democratic | 1872 (appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 21, 1873. Winner was not elected to the next term; see below. |
|
Louisiana (Class 3) |
William P. Kellogg | Republican | 1868 | Incumbent resigned November 1, 1872 to become Governor of Louisiana. Legislature failed to elect. The seat remained vacant until January 12, 1876, due to a Senate dispute; see below. Republican loss. |
|
Races leading to the 43rd Congress
In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1873; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Alabama | George E. Spencer | Republican | 1868 (readmission) | Incumbent re-elected in 1872. |
|
Arkansas | Benjamin F. Rice | Republican | 1868 (readmission) | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in 1872 or 1873. Republican hold. |
|
California | Cornelius Cole | Republican | 1866–67 | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in 1872 or 1873. Republican hold. |
|
Connecticut | Orris S. Ferry | Republican | 1866 | Incumbent re-elected May 15, 1872 as a Liberal Republican. Liberal Republican gain. |
|
Florida | Thomas W. Osborn | Republican | 1868 (readmission) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1872 or 1873. Republican hold. |
|
Georgia | Joshua Hill | Republican | 1867 (not seated) 1871 (admitted) |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1873. Democratic gain. |
|
Illinois | Lyman Trumbull | Liberal Republican |
1855 1861 1867 |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected January 20, 1873. Republican gain. |
|
Indiana | Oliver P. Morton | Republican | 1867 | Incumbent re-elected in 1873. |
|
Iowa | James Harlan | Republican | 1855 1857 (election voided) 1857 (special) 1860 1865 (resigned) 1866 |
Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected January 17, 1872. Republican hold. |
|
Kansas | Samuel C. Pomeroy | Republican | 1861 1867 |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1873. Republican hold. |
|
Kentucky | Willis B. Machen | Democratic | 1872 (appointed) | Interim appointee retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in 1872. Democratic hold. Winner was not elected to finish the current term, see above. |
|
Louisiana | William P. Kellogg | Republican | 1868 | Incumbent resigned November 1, 1872 to become Governor of Louisiana. Legislature failed to elect and the seat remained vacant until January 12, 1876 due to a Senate dispute. |
|
Maryland | George Vickers | Democratic | 1868 (special) | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in 1872 or 1873. Democratic hold. |
|
Missouri | Francis Blair | Democratic | 1871 (special) | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1872 or 1873. Democratic hold. |
|
Nevada | James W. Nye | Republican | 1865 1867 |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1873. Republican hold. |
|
New Hampshire | James W. Patterson | Republican | 1866–67 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected in 1872. Republican hold. |
|
New York | Roscoe Conkling | Republican | 1867 | Incumbent re-elected January 21, 1873. |
|
North Carolina | John Pool | Republican | 1868 (readmission) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1872. Democratic gain. |
|
Ohio | John Sherman | Republican | 1861 (special) 1866 |
Incumbent re-elected in 1872. |
|
Oregon | Henry W. Corbett | Republican | 1866–67 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1872. Republican hold. |
|
Pennsylvania | Simon Cameron | Republican | 1867 | Incumbent re-elected January 21, 1873. |
|
South Carolina | Frederick A. Sawyer | Republican | 1868 | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in 1872 or 1873. Republican hold. |
|
Vermont | Justin S. Morrill | Republican | 1866 | Incumbent re-elected in 1872. |
|
Wisconsin | Timothy O. Howe | Republican | 1861 1867 |
Incumbent re-elected January 22, 1873. |
|
Elections during the 43rd Congress
In this election, the winner was elected in 1873 after March 4.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Massachusetts (Class 2) |
Henry Wilson | Republican | 1855 (special) 1859 1865 1871 |
Incumbent resigned to become U.S. Vice President. New senator elected March 12, 1873. Republican hold. |
|
California (Class 1) |
Eugene Casserly | Democratic | 1868 | Incumbent resigned. New senator elected December 23, 1873. Democratic hold. |
|
Early election
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
California (Class 1) |
Eugene Casserly | Democratic | 1868 | Incumbent resigned November 29, 1873. New senator elected early December 20, 1873. Anti-Monopoly gain. |
|
Alabama
See also: List of United States senators from Alabama and 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in AlabamaThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Arkansas
See also: List of United States senators from Arkansas and 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in ArkansasThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
California
See also: List of United States senators from California and 1872 United States Senate election in CaliforniaCalifornia (regular, class 3)
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
California (special)
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
California (early)
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Connecticut
See also: List of United States senators from Connecticut and 1873 United States House of Representatives elections in ConnecticutThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Florida
See also: List of United States senators from Florida and 1872 United States House of Representatives election in FloridaThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Georgia
See also: List of United States senators from Georgia and 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in GeorgiaThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Illinois
See also: List of United States senators from Illinois and 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in IllinoisThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Indiana
See also: List of United States senators from Indiana and 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in IndianaThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Iowa
See also: List of United States senators from Iowa and 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in IowaThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Kansas
See also: List of United States senators from Kansas and 1872 United States House of Representatives election in KansasThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Kentucky
See also: List of United States senators from Kentucky and 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in KentuckyKentucky (regular)
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Kentucky (special)
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Louisiana
See also: List of United States senators from Louisiana and 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in LouisianaLouisiana (special)
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Louisiana (regular)
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Maryland
See also: List of United States senators from MarylandThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022) |
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80 members of the Maryland General Assembly | ||||||||||||||||
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George R. Dennis was elected by a margin of 75.27%, or 70 votes, for the Class 3 seat.
Massachusetts (special)
Main article: 1873 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts See also: List of United States senators from MassachusettsThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Missouri
See also: List of United States senators from Missouri and 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in MissouriThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Nevada
See also: List of United States senators from Nevada and 1872 United States House of Representatives election in NevadaThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
New Hampshire
See also: List of United States senators from New Hampshire and 1873 United States House of Representatives elections in New HampshireThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
New York
Main article: 1873 United States Senate election in New York See also: List of United States senators from New York and 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in New YorkThe New York election was held January 21, 1873. Republican Roscoe Conkling had been elected in January 1867 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1873.
At the State election in November 1871, 21 Republicans and 11 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1872–1873) in the State Senate. In 1872, a faction of the Republican Party opposed the re-election of President Ulysses S. Grant and the Radical Republicans who supported him, and under the name Liberal Republican Party nominated a joint ticket with the Democratic Party. At the State election in November 1872, 91 Republicans, 35 Democrats and 2 Independents were elected for the session of 1873 to the Assembly. The 96th New York State Legislature met from January 7 to May 30, 1873, at Albany, New York.
The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 8, State Senator William B. Woodin, of Auburn (25th D.), presided. 18 state senators and 88 assemblymen were present. They re-nominated Conkling unanimously. The caucus of the Democratic State legislators nominated Ex-First Judge of Dutchess County Charles Wheaton.
Roscoe Conkling was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected.
House | Republican | Democratic | Republican | Liberal Republican | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State Senate (32 members) |
Roscoe Conkling | 20 | Charles A. Wheaton | 5 | William M. Evarts | 1 | Henry R. Selden | 1 |
State Assembly (128 members) |
Roscoe Conkling | 92 | Charles A. Wheaton | 26 |
Note: The vote for Ex-U.S. Attorney General William M. Evarts was cast by Norman M. Allen (32nd district), the vote for Ex-Judge of the New York Court of Appeals Henry R. Selden by Gabriel T. Harrower (27th district). Allen, Harrower and Abiah W. Palmer (11th district) were the three Liberal Republicans in the State Senate.
North Carolina
See also: List of United States senators from North Carolina and 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in North CarolinaNorth Carolina (regular)
North Carolina (late)
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Ohio
See also: List of United States senators from Ohio and 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in OhioThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Oregon
See also: List of United States senators from Oregon and 1872 United States House of Representatives election in OregonThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Pennsylvania
Main article: 1873 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania See also: List of United States senators from Pennsylvania and 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in PennsylvaniaThe Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania State Senate, voted on January 21, 1873. Incumbent Republican Simon Cameron, who was elected in 1867, won re-election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Simon Cameron (Incumbent) | 76 | 57.14 | |
Democratic | William A. Wallace | 50 | 37.59 | |
Liberal Republican | Thomas Marshall | 1 | 0.75 | |
Democratic | Hendrick Wright | 1 | 0.75 | |
N/A | Not voting | 5 | 3.76 | |
Totals | 133 | 100.00% |
South Carolina
See also: List of United States senators from South Carolina and 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in South CarolinaThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Vermont
See also: List of United States senators from Vermont and 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in VermontThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
Wisconsin
See also: List of United States senators from Wisconsin and 1872 United States House of Representatives elections in WisconsinThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2021) |
See also
Notes
- as Republican Conference Chair
- Possibly Cornelius Cole
- Although the votes were cast on January 21, both Houses met in a joint session on January 22 to compare nominations, and declare the result.
- Charles A. Wheaton (1834-1886), lawyer, of Poughkeepsie, First Judge of the Dutchess County Court 1863-67
References
- "17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)". National Archives and Records Administration. February 8, 2022.
- Kleber, John E. (October 17, 2014). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. University Press of Kentucky. p. 598. ISBN 9780813159010.
- ^ Taft, pp. 483–512.
- "LA - Louisiana". www.senate.gov.
- "CT US Senate". OurCampaigns.com. May 25, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2019., citing The Journal of the House of Representatives of Connecticut 1872.
- "Our Campaigns - IL US Senate Race - Jan 20, 1873". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
- Clark, p. 167.
- Kleber, John E. (October 17, 2014). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. University Press of Kentucky. p. 595. ISBN 9780813159010.
- ^ "Election of Ex-Secretary Boutwell as United States Senator". The New York Times. March 13, 1873. p. 1. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- "UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. RECENT DECISIONS / CURIOUS LAWSUIT. SENATOR HAGAR, OF CALIFORNIA". The New York Times. December 26, 1873. p. 1. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- "THE CALIFORNIA SENATORSHIP". The New York Times. December 17, 1873. p. 1. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- ^ "THE CALIFORNIAN SENATORSHIP ELECTION OF BOOTH". The New York Times. December 21, 1873. p. 1. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- "Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Jan 18, 1872". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ "U.S. Senate Election - 21 January 1873" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
Sources
- Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov
- Byrd, Robert C. (October 1, 1993). Wolff, Wendy (ed.). The Senate, 1789-1989: Historical Statistics, 1789-1992. United States Senate Historical Office (volume 4 Bicentennial ed.). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780160632563.
- Clark, Dan Elbert (1913). "History of Senatorial Elections in Iowa". Iowa City, Iowa.
- Taft, George S.; Furber, George P.; Buck, George M.; Webb, Charles A.; Pierce, Herbert R. (1913). "Compilation of Senate Election Cases from 1789 to 1913". U.S. Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
- Members of the 43rd United States Congress
- ALBANY.; Unanimous Nomination of Roscoe Conkling for U.S. Senator in NYT on January 9, 1873
- ALBANY.; Nomination of Roscoe Conkling as United States Senator in NYT on January 22, 1873
- The Life and Letters of Roscoe Conkling: Orator, Statesman and Advocate by Alfred R. Conkling (page 449)
- Pennsylvania Election Statistics: 1682-2006 from the Wilkes University Election Statistics Project
(1872 ←) 1873 United States elections (→ 1874) | |
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