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1880–81 United States Senate elections

(Redirected from 1881 United States Senate election in Virginia)

The 1880–81 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states, coinciding with the presidential election of 1880. 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 1880 and 1881, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock.[2] In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 1.

1880–81 United States Senate elections
← 1878 & 1879 Dates vary by state
(And other dates for special elections)		 1882 & 1883 →
25 of the 76 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections)
39 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Henry B. Anthony[a] William A. Wallace[b]
(Lost re-election)
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since March 4, 1863 March 4, 1877
Leader's seat Rhode Island Pennsylvania
Seats before 32 42
Seats won 15 9
Seats after 37 VP[1] 37
Seat change Increase 5 Decrease 5
Seats up 10 14
  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Readjuster Independent
Seats before 0 1
Seats won 1 0
Seats after 1 1
Seat change Increase 1 Steady
Seats up 0 0
  Fifth party
 
Party Anti-Monopoly
Seats before 1
Seats won 0
Seats after 0
Seat change Decrease 1
Seats up 1
Results of the elections:
     Democratic gain      Democratic hold
     Republican gain      Republican hold
     Readjuster gain
Majority Party before election


Democratic

Elected Majority Party


Republican[1]

The Democratic Party lost five seats. The newly elected Readjuster senator William Mahone caucused with the Republicans, and the Republican Vice President's tie-breaking vote gave the Republicans the slightest majority. This changed when Vice President Chester Arthur ascended to the Presidency on September 19, 1881: with the Vice Presidency vacant during the remainder of Arthur's term, the Senate became evenly divided for the first of three times in history.

Results summary

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Senate party division, 47th Congress (1881–1883)

  • Majority party: Republican (37)
  • Minority party: Democratic (37)
  • Other parties: Independent (1); Readjuster (1)
  • Total seats: 76

Change in Senate composition

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Before the elections

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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
Ran 		D30
Ran 		D31
Ran 		D32
Ran 		D33
Ran 		D34
Ran 		D35
Ran 		D36
Ran 		D37
Ran 		D38
Ran
Majority → D39
Unknown
R29
Unknown 		R30
Retired 		R31
Retired 		R32
Retired 		AM1
Retired 		I1 D42
Retired 		D41
Unknown 		D40
Unknown
R28
Unknown 		R27
Ran 		R26
Ran 		R25
Ran 		R24
Ran 		R23
Ran 		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

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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
Re-elected 		D30
Re-elected 		D31
Re-elected 		D33
Re-elected 		D33
Hold 		D34
Hold 		D35
Hold 		D36
Gain 		D37
Gain 		I1
Plurality ↓ RA1
Gain
R29
Hold 		R30
Hold 		R31
Gain 		R32
Gain 		R33
Gain 		R34
Gain 		R35
Gain 		R36
Gain 		R37
Gain
R28
Hold 		R27
Hold 		R26
Re-elected 		R25
Re-elected 		R24
Re-elected 		R23
Re-elected 		R22 R21 R20 R19
R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18
R8 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1
Key:
AM# Anti-Monopoly Party
D# Democratic
I# Independent
RA# Readjuster
R# Republican
V# Vacant

Race summaries

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Elections during the 46th Congress

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In these elections, the winners were seated during 1880 or in 1881 before March 4; ordered by election date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Georgia
(Class 3) 		John B. Gordon Democratic 1873
1879 		Incumbent resigned to promote a venture for the Georgia Pacific Railway.
New senator elected May 26, 1880.
Democratic hold.
Alabama
(Class 3) 		Luke Pryor Democratic 1880 (appointed) Interim appointee retired or lost election.
New senator elected November 23, 1880.
Democratic hold.
Michigan
(Class 1) 		Henry P. Baldwin Republican 1879 (appointed) Interim appointee elected January 19, 1881.

Races leading to the 47th Congress

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In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1881; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
California Newton Booth Anti-Monopoly 1874 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in 1880.
Republican gain.
Connecticut William W. Eaton Democratic 1874 Incumbent retired or lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1881.
Republican gain.
Delaware Thomas F. Bayard Democratic 1869
1875 		Incumbent re-elected in 1881.
Florida Charles W. Jones Democratic 1875 Incumbent re-elected in 1881.
Indiana Joseph E. McDonald Democratic 1874–75 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1881.[4]
Republican gain.
Maine Hannibal Hamlin Republican 1857
1861 (resigned)
1869
1875 		Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in 1881.
Republican hold.
Maryland William P. Whyte Democratic 1868 (appointed)
1869 (retired)
1874 		Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in 1880.
Democratic hold.
Massachusetts Henry L. Dawes Republican 1875 Incumbent re-elected in 1881.
Michigan Henry P. Baldwin Republican 1881 (special) Incumbent retired.
Winner elected January 18, 1881.
Republican hold.
Minnesota Samuel J. R. McMillan Republican 1875 Incumbent re-elected in 1881.
Mississippi Blanche Bruce Republican 1874 Incumbent retired or lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1880.
Democratic gain.
Missouri Francis Cockrell Democratic 1874 Incumbent re-elected in 1881.
Nebraska Algernon Paddock Republican 1875 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1880.
Republican hold.
Nevada William Sharon Republican 1875 Incumbent retired or lost re-election.
New senator elected January 12, 1881.
Democratic gain.
New Jersey Theodore F. Randolph Democratic 1875 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1881.
Republican gain.
New York Francis Kernan Democratic 1875 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected January 20, 1881.
Republican gain.
Ohio Allen G. Thurman Democratic 1868
1874 		Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1880.
Republican gain.
Pennsylvania William A. Wallace Democratic 1875 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected February 23, 1881.
Republican gain.
Rhode Island Ambrose Burnside Republican 1874 Incumbent re-elected in 1880.
Tennessee James E. Bailey Democratic 1877 (special) Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1880 or 1881.
Democratic hold.
Texas Samuel B. Maxey Democratic 1875 Incumbent re-elected in 1881.
Vermont George F. Edmunds Republican 1866 (appointed)
1866 (special)
1868
1874 		Incumbent re-elected in 1880.
Virginia Robert E. Withers Democratic 1875 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1881.
Readjuster gain.
Winner caucused with the Republicans.
West Virginia Frank Hereford Democratic 1877 (special) Incumbent retired or lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1880 or 1881.
Democratic hold.
Wisconsin Angus Cameron Republican 1875 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 26, 1881.
Republican hold.

Elections during the 47th Congress

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In these elections, the winners were elected in 1881 after March 4; ordered by date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Wisconsin
(Class 3) 		Matthew H. Carpenter Republican 1868–9
1875 (lost)
1879 		Incumbent died February 24, 1881.
New senator elected March 14, 1881.
Republican hold.
Maine
(Class 2) 		James G. Blaine Republican 1876 (appointed)
1877 (special)
1877 		Incumbent resigned March 5, 1881 to become U.S. Secretary of State.
New senator elected March 18, 1881.
Republican hold.
New York
(Class 1) 		Thomas C. Platt Republican 1881 Incumbent resigned May 16, 1881 to protest federal appointments in New York.
New senator elected July 27, 1881.
Republican hold.
New York
(Class 3) 		Roscoe Conkling Republican 1867
1873
1879 		Incumbent resigned May 16, 1881 to protest federal appointments in New York.
New senator elected July 29, 1881.
Republican hold.
Rhode Island
(Class 1) 		Ambrose Burnside Republican 1874
1880 		Incumbent died September 13, 1881.
New senator elected October 5, 1881.
Republican hold.
Minnesota
(Class 2) 		Alonzo J. Edgerton Republican 1881 (appointed) Interim appointee replaced by successor elected October 30, 1881.
Republican hold.
Virginia
(Class 2) 		John W. Johnston Democratic 1871
1877 		Incumbent lost re-election for the term beginning March 4, 1883.
Winner elected early December 21, 1881.[6]
Readjuster gain.
Winner caucused with the Republicans.[6]

Maryland

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See also: List of United States senators from Maryland
1880 United States Senate election in Maryland
← 1874 1880 1886 →
80 members of the Maryland General Assembly
     
Candidate Arthur Pue Gorman William Pinkney Whyte
Party Democratic Democratic
Legislative vote -
Percentage -% %

Arthur Pue Gorman won election William Pinkney Whyte for an unknown margin of votes for the Class 1 seat.[7]

Nevada

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See also: List of United States senators from Nevada

On January 12, 1881, James Graham Fair (Republican) was elected.[8]

New York

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Main article: 1881 United States Senate election in New York
See also: List of United States senators from New York

The New York election was held January 18, 1881, by the New York State Legislature. Democrat Francis Kernan had been elected in January 1875 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1881. At the State election in November 1879, 25 Republicans and 7 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1880-1881) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1880, 81 Republicans and 47 Democrats were elected for the session of 1881 to the Assembly. The 104th State Legislature met from January 4, 1881, on at Albany, New York.

The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 13, State Senator Dennis McCarthy presided. All but one of the legislators were present, only State Senator Edward M. Madden (13th D.) was absent. The caucus nominated Ex-Congressman Thomas C. Platt for the U.S. Senate. Platt was a friend of the other U.S. Senator from New York, Roscoe Conkling, and belonged to the Stalwart faction. The opposing Half-Breeds (in the press sometimes referred to as the "anti-machine men") at first wanted to nominate Chauncey M. Depew, but he withdrew before balloting. The majority of the Half-Breeds, led by President pro tempore of the State Senate William H. Robertson, then supported Platt, a minority voted for Sherman S. Rogers, the defeated Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1876. Congressman Richard Crowley was supported by a faction led by Speaker of the State Assembly George H. Sharpe, allied with Governor Alonzo B. Cornell. U.S. Vice President William A. Wheeler, and Congressmen Elbridge G. Lapham and Levi P. Morton also received votes.

1881 Republican caucus for United States Senator result
Office Candidate First ballot
U.S. Senator Thomas C. Platt 54
Richard Crowley 26
Sherman S. Rogers 10
William A. Wheeler 10
Elbridge G. Lapham 4
Levi P. Morton 1

The caucus of the Democratic State legislators met on January 17, State Senator Charles A. Fowler (14th D.) presided. They re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator Francis Kernan by acclamation.

Thomas C. Platt was the choice of both the State Senate and the Assembly, and was declared elected.

1881 United States Senator election result
House Republican Democrat
State Senate
(32 members) 		Thomas C. Platt 25 Francis Kernan 6
State Assembly
(128 members) 		Thomas C. Platt 79 Francis Kernan 44

Notes:

  • The votes were cast on January 18, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 19 to compare nominations, and declare the result.
  • State Senator Stevens (Dem., 22nd D.) was absent and did not vote.

Pennsylvania

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Main article: 1881 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
See also: List of United States senators from Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania election was held on thirty separate dates from January to February 1881. On February 23, 1881, John I. Mitchell was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[9] The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 27, 1881, to elect a Senator to serve the term beginning on March 4, 1881. Thirty-five ballots were recorded on thirty separate dates spanning from January 27 to February 23, 1881. The results of the thirty-fifth and final ballot of both houses combined are as follows:

State legislature results[9][10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John I. Mitchell 150 59.76
Democratic William A. Wallace (Incumbent) 92 36.65%
N/A Not voting 7 2.79%
N/A Other 2 0.80%
Total votes 251 100%

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ as Republican Conference Chair
  2. ^ as Democratic Caucus Chair

References

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  1. ^ a b The Readjuster caucused with the Republicans, and the Republican Vice President's tie-breaking vote gave the Republicans the slightest majority.
  2. ^ "17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)". National Archives and Records Administration. February 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "Formal Election of General Miller". Santa Barbara Daily Press. Santa Barbara. January 12, 1881. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Gugin, Linda C.; St. Clair, James E (2006). The governors of Indiana. Indiana Historical Society Press. ISBN 9780871951960. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  5. ^ "Blue Book for the State of Wisconsin". 1883. p. 463.
  6. ^ a b Jones Salmon, Emily. "Harrison H. Riddleberger (1843–1890)". Encyclopedia Virginia/Dictionary of Virginia Biography. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  7. ^ "Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Jan 00, 1880". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  8. ^ The Journal of the Assembly of the Tenth Session of the Legislature of the State of Nevada. Carson City, NV: State Printing Office. 1881. p. 30.
  9. ^ a b "U.S. Senate Election - 27 January 1881 - 23 February 1881" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  10. ^ "PA US Senate - 1881". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
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