1804 and 1805 United States Senate elections

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1804 and 1805 United States Senate elections
← 1802 & 1803 Dates vary by state 1806 & 1807 →
11 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 22 seats 9 seats
Seats before 25 9
Seats won 9 2
Seats after 27 7
Seat change Increase 2 Decrease 2
Seats up 7 4
Majority Party before election


Democratic-Republican

Elected Majority Party


Democratic-Republican

The 1804 and 1805 United States Senate elections were elections that expanded the Democratic-Republican Party's overwhelming control over the United States Senate. The Federalists went into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats (9 out of 34, or 27%) that even if they had won every election, they would have still remained a minority caucus.

As these elections were prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment, senators were chosen by state legislatures.

Results summary[]

Senate Party Division, 9th Congress (1805–1807)

  • Majority Party: Democratic-Republican (27)
  • Minority Party: Federalist (7)
  • Other Parties: 0
  • Total Seats: 34

Change in composition[]

Only reflects results of regular elections.

Before the regular elections[]

DR7 DR6 DR5 DR4 DR3 DR2 DR1
DR8 DR9 DR10 DR11 DR12 DR13 DR14 DR15 DR16 DR17
Majority → DR18
F8
N.J.
Ran 		F9
N.H.
Unknown 		DR25
Tenn.
Retired 		DR24
Va.
Ran 		DR23
S.C.
Ran 		DR22
R.I.
Ran 		DR21
N.C.
Ran 		DR20
Ky.
Ran 		DR19
Ga.
Ran
F7
Mass.
Ran 		F6
Del.
Ran 		F5 F4 F3 F2 F1

Result of the regular elections[]

DR7 DR6 DR5 DR4 DR3 DR2 DR1
DR8 DR9 DR10 DR11 DR12 DR13 DR14 DR15 DR16 DR17
Majority → DR18
DR27
N.J.
Gain 		DR26
N.H.
Gain 		DR25
Tenn.
Hold 		DR24
R.I.
Hold 		DR23
N.C.
Hold 		DR22
Ky.
Hold 		DR21
Va.
Re-elected 		DR20
S.C.
Re-elected 		DR19
Ga.
Re-elected
F7
Mass.
Re-elected 		F6
Del.
Re-elected 		F5 F4 F3 F2 F1
Key:
DR# Democratic-Republican
F# Federalist
V# Vacant

Race summaries[]

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

Special elections during the 8th Congress[]

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1804 or before March 4, 1805; ordered by election date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
New York
(Class 3) 		John Armstrong Jr. Democratic-Republican 1800 (Special)
1801
1802 (Resigned)
1803 (Appointed) 		Interim appointee resigned December 3, 1804 to become U.S. Senator from Class 1 seat.
New senator elected February 3, 1804.
Democratic-Republican hold.
  • ▌Green tickY John Smith (Democratic-Republican) 121
  • Unopposed[1][2]
New York
(Class 1) 		Theodorus Bailey Democratic-Republican 1803 Resigned January 16, 1804 to become Postmaster of New York City.
New senator elected February 3, 1804.
Democratic-Republican hold.
  • ▌Green tickY John Armstrong Jr. (Democratic-Republican) 85
  • ▌Jacob Radcliff (Federalist) 4
  • ▌Egbert Benson (Federalist) 3[3][4]
Rhode Island
(Class 1) 		Samuel J. Potter Democratic-Republican 1802 Died October 14, 1804.
New senator elected October 29, 1804.
Democratic-Republican hold.
  • ▌Green tickY Benjamin Howland (Democratic-Republican)
  • ▌Asher Robins (Democratic-Republican)
  • "by a majority of 2"[5]
New York
(Class 1) 		John Armstrong Jr. Democratic-Republican 1804 (Special) Resigned to become U.S. Minister to France.
New senator elected November 9, 1804.
Democratic-Republican hold.
  • ▌Green tickY Samuel Latham Mitchill (Democratic-Republican) 83.3%
  • ▌Rufus King (Federalist) 15.6%
  • ▌David Thomas (Democratic-Republican) 1.1%[6]
Delaware
(Class 2) 		William H. Wells Federalist 1799 (Special)
1799 		Resigned November 6, 1804.
New senator elected November 13, 1804.
Winner also elected to the next term, see below.
Federalist hold.
  • ▌Green tickY James A. Bayard (Federalist) 15
  • Unopposed[7]
Virginia
(Class 1) 		Andrew Moore Democratic-Republican 1804 (Appointed) Interim appointee resigned December 3, 1804 to become U.S. Senator from Class 1 seat.
New senator elected December 4, 1804.
Democratic-Republican hold.
  • ▌Green tickY William B. Giles (Democratic-Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing]
Virginia
(Class 2) 		William B. Giles Democratic-Republican 1804 (Appointed) Interim appointee resigned December 3, 1804 to become U.S. Senator from Class 2 seat.
New senator elected December 4, 1804.
Winner also elected to the next term, see below.
Democratic-Republican hold.
  • ▌Green tickY Andrew Moore (Democratic-Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing]
South Carolina
(Class 3) 		Pierce Butler Democratic-Republican 1802 (Special) Resigned November 21, 1804.
New senator elected December 6, 1804.
Democratic-Republican hold.
  • ▌Green tickY John Gaillard (Democratic-Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing]

Races leading to the 9th Congress[]

In these regular elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1805; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral
history
Delaware James A. Bayard Federalist 1804 (Special) Incumbent re-elected January 24, 1805.
  • ▌Green tickY James A. Bayard (Federalist) 15
  • ▌Caesar A. Rodney (Democratic-Republican) 9
  • ▌James Sykes (Federalist) 1[8]
Georgia Abraham Baldwin Democratic-
Republican 		1799 Incumbent re-elected November 14, 1804.
  • ▌Green tickY Abraham Baldwin (Democratic-Republican)
  • Unanimous[9]
Kentucky John Brown Democratic-
Republican 		1792 (New seat)
1792
1798 		Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1804 on the seventh ballot.
Democratic-Republican hold.
  • ▌Green tickY Buckner Thruston (Democratic-Republican) 44
  • ▌John Adair (Democratic-Republican) 43
  • ▌John Brown (Democratic-Republican) Eliminated[10]
Massachusetts Timothy Pickering Federalist 1803 (Special) Incumbent re-elected February 6, 1805 on the third ballot.
  • ▌Green tickY Timothy Pickering (Federalist) 102
  • ▌William Eustis (Democratic-Republican) 99[11]
New Hampshire Simeon Olcott Federalist 1801 (Special) Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
New senator elected November 28, 1804.
Democratic-Republican gain.
  • ▌Green tickY Nicholas Gilman (Democratic-Republican) 85
  • ▌ (Federalist) 70[12]
New Jersey Jonathan Dayton Federalist 1798 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1804.
Democratic-Republican gain.
North Carolina Jesse Franklin Democratic-
Republican 		1798 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1804 on the fifth ballot.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Winner would later reject his election and never take the seat.
A new election was held the next year, see below.
  • ▌Green tickY Montfort Stokes (Democratic-Republican)
  • ▌Jesse Franklin (Democratic-Republican)
  • ▌Benjamin Smith (Democratic-Republican)
  • ▌Thomas Blount (Democratic-Republican) Eliminated
  • ▌Stephen Cabarrus Eliminated[14]
Rhode Island Christopher Ellery Democratic-
Republican 		1801 (Special) Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1804.
Democratic-Republican hold.
  • ▌Green tickY James Fenner (Democratic-Republican)
  • ▌Christopher Ellery (Democratic-Republican)
  • "by a majority of 16"[15]
South Carolina Thomas Sumter Democratic-
Republican 		1801 Incumbent elected December 6, 1804.
  • ▌Green tickY Thomas Sumter (Democratic-Republican) 101
  • ▌Henry Middleton (Democratic-Republican) 21
  • ▌ 4
  • ▌ 2
  • ▌R. Anderson 1
  • ▌Pierce Butler (Independent) 1
  • ▌Samuel Farrow (Democratic-Republican) 1
  • ▌John Gaillard (Democratic-Republican) 1
  • ▌Elias Horry 1
  • ▌John Ward 1
  • ▌"Lost" 1[16]
Tennessee William Cocke Democratic-
Republican 		1799 (Special) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected early September 23, 1803.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Virginia William B. Giles Democratic-
Republican 		1804 (Appointed)
1804 (Resigned)
1804 (Special) 		Incumbent re-elected December 7, 1804.
  • ▌Green tickY William B. Giles (Democratic-Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing][18]

Special elections during the 9th Congress[]

In this special election, the winner was seated in 1805 after March 4.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Kentucky
(Class 3) 		John Breckinridge Democratic-Republican 1800 Resigned August 7, 1805 to become U.S. Attorney General.
New senator elected November 8, 1805.
Democratic-Republican hold.
  • ▌Green tickY John Adair (Democratic-Republican) 45
  • ▌John Pope (Democratic-Republican) 35[19]
North Carolina
(Class 2) 		Vacant Montfort Stokes (DR) had been elected in 1804, see above, but rejected the position.
New senator elected November 22, 1805.
Democratic-Republican gain.

Delaware[]

Senator James A. Bayard
See also: List of United States senators from Delaware

There were two elections this cycle to the same seat, because Federalist William H. Wells, who had first been elected in 1799, resigned November 6, 1804.

Delaware (Regular)[]

Federalist James A. Bayard was elected November 13, 1804, to finish the term ending the following March.

Delaware (Special)[]

Federalist James A. Bayard also elected in 1805, to the next term.

Georgia[]

See also: List of United States senators from Georgia

Kentucky[]

See also: List of United States senators from Kentucky

Massachusetts[]

See also: List of United States senators from Massachusetts

New Hampshire[]

See also: List of United States senators from New Hampshire

New Jersey[]

See also: List of United States senators from New Jersey

New York (Special)[]

Main articles: February 1804 United States Senate special elections in New York and November 1804 United States Senate special election in New York
See also: List of United States senators from New York

In February 1804 two senators were elected to finish vacant terms. The winner of the class 1 seat later resigned, leading to a November special election.

Theodorus Bailey had been elected to the Class 1 seat (term 1803-1809) but resigned on January 16, 1804, after his appointment as Postmaster of New York City.

John Armstrong had been re-elected to the class 3 seat to the term that would end March 3, 1807. He resigned February 5, 1802 and DeWitt Clinton was elected February 9, 1802 to finish the term.

Clinton then resigned on November 4, 1803, after his appointment as Mayor of New York City, and Governor George Clinton appointed Armstrong to his old seat to continue the term temporarily until another special election.

Armstrong was then elected to the Class 1 seat and so resigned from the Class 3 seat.

New York (February: Special Classes 1 and 3)[]

Main article: February 1804 United States Senate special elections in New York

The first special election was held February 3, 1804, by the New York State Legislature to elect both senators. The class 1 term ended March 3, 1809 and the class 3 term ended March 3, 1813.

U.S. Senator (Class 1) Incumbent: Theodorus Bailey

House Democratic-Republican Federalist Federalist
State Senate
(32 members) 		Green tickY John Armstrong
State Assembly
(99 members) 		Green tickY John Armstrong 83 Jacob Radcliff 4 Egbert Benson 3

U.S. Senator (Class 3) Incumbent: John Armstrong

House Democratic-Republican Federalist Federalist
State Senate
(32 members) 		Green tickY John Smith
State Assembly
(99 members) 		Green tickY John Smith Smith was nominated unanimously by the Assembly, but the exact number of votes given is unclear.

John Smith was seated February 23, 1804. John Armstrong was seated February 25, 1804.

New York (November: Special class 1)[]

Main article: November 1804 United States Senate special election in New York

Once again, John Armstrong resigned from the Senate on June 30, 1804 (a third time in three years) when appointed U.S. Minister to France. To fill the vacancy, the legislature held a special election November 9, 1804, and elected Samuel L. Mitchill.

House Democratic-Republican Federalist Democratic-Republican
State Senate
(30 members) 		Green tickY Samuel L. Mitchill    
State Assembly
(100 members) 		Green tickY Samuel L. Mitchill 75 Rufus King 14 David Thomas 1

Mitchill was seated November 23, 1804.

North Carolina[]

See also: List of United States senators from North Carolina

Rhode Island[]

See also: List of United States senators from Rhode Island

Rhode Island (Regular)[]

Senator James Fenner

Democratic-Republican James Fenner beat incumbent Democratic-Republican Christopher Ellery in 1804.

Rhode Island (Special)[]

Democratic-Republican Samuel J. Potter died October 14, 1804 Democratic-Republican Benjamin Howland was elected October 29, 1804 to finish the term.

South Carolina[]

See also: List of United States senators from South Carolina

South Carolina (Regular)[]

Senator Thomas Sumter

Democratic-Republican Thomas Sumter was re-elected December 6, 1804.

South Carolina (Special)[]

Senator John Gaillard

Democratic-Republican Pierce Butler resigned November 21, 1804 and Democratic-Republican John Gaillard was elected December 6, 1804.

Tennessee[]

See also: List of United States senators from Tennessee

Virginia[]

See also: List of United States senators from Virginia and 1805 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia

The incumbent senators effectively switched seats due to appointments and special elections.

Class 2[]

Virginia's class 2 senators
Wilson C. Nicholas
Wilson C. Nicholas,
until May 22, 1804
Andrew Moore
Andrew Moore,
August 11, 1804 – December 3, 1804
William B. Giles
William B. Giles,
from December 4, 1804

Virginia (Special, Class 2)[]

Democratic-Republican Wilson C. Nicholas resigned May 22, 1804 and Democratic-Republican Andrew Moore was appointed August 11, 1804 to continue the term. Moore was elected to the other seat, so he resigned and Democratic-Republican William B. Giles, who had already been elected to this seat's next term, was elected December 4, 1804 to finish the term.

Virginia (Regular, Class 2)[]

Democratic-Republican William B. Giles was elected December 4, 1804 to the next term.

Virginia (Special, Class 1)[]

Virginia's class 1 senators
Abraham B. Venable
Abraham B. Venable,
until June 7, 1804
William B. Giles
William B. Giles,
August 11, 1804 – December 3, 1804
Andrew Moore
Andrew Moore,
from December 4, 1804

Democratic-Republican Abraham B. Venable resigned June 7, 1804 and Democratic-Republican William B. Giles was appointed August 11, 1804 to continue the term. Giles was elected to the other seat, so he resigned and Democratic-Republican Andrew Moore was elected December 4, 1804 to finish the term.

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ "New York 1804 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing Journal of the New York Assembly, 1804. 35. Journal of the New York State Senate, 1804. 10.
  2. ^ "NY US Senate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  3. ^ "New York 1804 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing The Albany Register (Albany, NY). February 7, 1804.
  4. ^ "NY US Senate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  5. ^ "Rhode Island 1804 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 10, 2018., citing The True American and Commercial Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). November 19, 1804.
  6. ^ "NY US Senate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  7. ^ "Delaware 1804 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing Journal of the Delaware House of Representatives, 1804. 9.
  8. ^ "Delaware 1805 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing Journal of the Delaware State Senate, 1805. 41.
  9. ^ "Georgia 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing The Enquirer (Richmond, VA). December 6, 1804.
  10. ^ "Kentucky 1804 U.S. Senate, Ballot 7". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing Kentucky Gazette and General Advertiser (Lexington, KY). November 27, 1804.
  11. ^ "Massachusetts 1805 U.S. Senate, Ballot 3". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 29, 2018., citing The Providence Phoenix (Providence, RI). February 9, 1805.
  12. ^ "New Hampshire 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing Oracle Post (Portsmouth, NH). December 11, 1804.
  13. ^ "New Jersey 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing The Centinel of Freedom (Newark, NJ). November 13, 1804.
  14. ^ "North Carolina 1804 U.S. Senate, Ballot 5". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 9, 2018., citing Raleigh Register, and North-Carolina State Gazette (Raleigh, NC). December 3, 1804.
  15. ^ "Rhode Island 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 10, 2018., citing The True American and Commercial Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). November 19, 1804.
  16. ^ "South Carolina 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 10, 2018., citing Original Election Returns. South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.
  17. ^ "Tennessee 1803 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 Journal of the Tennessee House of Representatives, 1803. 27. Gazette of the United States (Philadelphia, PA). October 18, 1803. White, Robert Hiram. Messages of the Governors of Tennessee, 1796-1821. Vol. 1. Nashville: The Tennessee Historical Commission, 1952.
  18. ^ "Virginia 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 10, 2018., citing The Enquirer (Richmond, VA). December 15, 1804.
  19. ^ "Kentucky 1805 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing The Enquirer (Richmond, VA). December 6, 1805.
  20. ^ "North Carolina 1805 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 9, 2018., citing Legislative Papers. State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh.

References[]

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