1870 and 1871 United States Senate elections

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1870 and 1871 United States Senate elections
← 1868 & 1869 Dates vary by state
(And other dates for special elections)		 1872 & 1873 →
25 of the 70 (4 vacant)/74 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections)
36 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
  Henry B. Anthony - Brady-Handy.jpg Blank2x3.svg
Leader Henry B. Anthony[a]
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since March 4, 1863
Leader's seat Rhode Island
Last election 57 seats 9 seats
Seats before 63 11
Seats won 17 7
Seats after 58 14
Seat change Decrease 4 Increase 3
Seats up 21 4
Majority Party before election


Republican

Elected Majority Party


Republican

In the 1870 and 1871 United States Senate elections, the Republican Party lost five seats in the United States Senate, though it still retained an overwhelming majority. In advance of these elections, the last four seceded states were readmitted to the Senate.

As these elections were prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment, Senators were chosen by state legislatures.

Reconstruction[]

That election marked the first time that, with Mississippian Hiram Rhodes Revels, an African American was elected as a US senator and became a member of Congress.[1]

In Georgia, Foster Blodgett was elected and presented his credentials as Senator-elect, but the Senate declared him not elected.

In Virginia, Republican John F. Lewis and Democrat John W. Johnston were elected on January 26, 1870 to fill seats that had been vacant since 1864 and 1865.

Results summary[]

Senate party division, 42nd Congress (1871–1873)

  • Majority party: Republican (55)
  • Minority party: Democratic (14)
  • Other parties: Liberal Republican (1)
  • Vacant: (4)
  • Total seats: 74

Change in Senate composition[]

By March 30, 1870[]

After the readmission of Virginia, Texas, and Mississippi, and the special elections in Iowa and Maine.

D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 V1
D7 D8 D9 D10
Gain
Readmitted 		R62
Gain
Readmitted 		R61
Gain
Readmitted 		R60
Gain
Special 		R59
Gain
Readmitted 		R58
Gain
Readmitted 		R57
Gain
Readmitted
R47 R48 R49 R50 R51 R52 R53 R54 R55 R56
Appointee elected
R46 R45 R44 R43 R42 R41 R40 R39 R38 R37
Majority → R36
R27 R28 R29 R30 R31 R32 R33 R34 R35
R26 R25 R24 R23 R22 R21 R20 R19 R18 R17
R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16
R6 R5 R4 R3 R2 R1 V2

Before the elections[]

Including the February 1871 readmission of Georgia.

D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1
D8
Ran 		D9
Ran 		D10
Unknown 		D11
Unknown 		R63
Retired 		R62
Retired 		R61
Retired 		R60
Retired 		R59
Retired 		R58
Unknown
R48
Ran 		R49
Ran 		R50
Ran 		R51
Ran 		R52
Ran 		R53
Ran 		R54
Ran 		R55
Unknown 		R56
Unknown 		R57
Unknown
R47
Ran 		R46
Ran 		R45
Ran 		R44
Ran 		R43
Ran 		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

Result of the elections[]

D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1
D8
Hold 		D9
Hold 		D10
Hold 		D11
Gain 		D12
Gain 		D13
Gain 		D14
Gain 		V1
D Loss 		V2
R Loss 		R58
Hold
R48
Re-elected 		R49
Hold 		R50
Hold 		R51
Hold 		R52
Hold 		R53
Hold 		R54
Hold 		R55
Hold 		R56
Hold 		R57
Hold
R47
Re-elected 		R46
Re-elected 		R45
Re-elected 		R44
Re-elected 		R43
Re-elected 		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

Beginning of the next Congress[]

D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1
D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14
Gain 		V1
D Loss 		V2 V3
R48 R49 R50 R51 R52 R53 R54 R55 LR1
Change 		V4
R Loss
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:
D# Democratic
LR# Liberal Republican
R# Republican
V# Vacant

Race summaries[]

Special elections during the 41st Congress[]

In these elections, the winners were seated during 1870 or in 1871 before March 4; ordered by election date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Iowa
(Class 2) 		James W. Grimes Republican 1858
1864 		Incumbent resigned December 6, 1869 due to ill health.
State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected January 18, 1870.[2]
Winner did not seek election to the next term.
Maine
(Class 2) 		Lot M. Morrill Republican 1861 (Special)
1863
1869 (Lost)
1869 (Appointed) 		Interim appointee elected January 19, 1870 to finish the term.
Winner was also elected to the next term, see below.
Virginia
(Class 1) 		Vacant since January 2, 1864,
when Joseph Segar (U) was not seated.[3] 		State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected January 26, 1870.
Republican gain.
Virginia
(Class 2) 		Vacant since March 4, 1865, when
John Curtiss Underwood (U) was not seated.[4] 		State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected January 26, 1870.
Democratic gain.
Winner was also elected late to the next term, see below.
Texas
(Class 2) 		Vacant since July 11, 1861,
when John Hemphill (D) was expelled. 		State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected February 22, 1870.[5]
Allowed to take office when state readmitted on March 30, 1870.
Republican gain.
Winner was also elected to the next term, see below.
Mississippi
(Class 1) 		Vacant since January 21, 1861,
when Jefferson Davis (D) resigned 		State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected February 23, 1870.
Republican gain.
Mississippi
(Class 2) 		Vacant since January 12, 1861,
when Albert G. Brown (D) withdrew. 		State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected February 23, 1870.
Republican gain.
Unknown if winner ran for the next term or retired, see below.
Texas
(Class 1) 		Vacant since March 23, 1861,
when Louis Wigfall (D) withdrew. 		State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected March 30, 1870.
Republican gain.
Missouri
(Class 3) 		Daniel T. Jewett Republican 1870 (Appointed) Interim appointee retired.
New senator elected January 20, 1871 to finish the term.
Democratic gain.
Minnesota
(Class 2) 		William Windom Republican 1865 Interim appointee was not elected to finish the term.
Winner elected January 22, 1871 to finish the term.
Republican hold.
Winner was not elected to the next term, see below.
Instead, interim appointee was elected to the next term, see below.
Georgia
(Class 3) 		Vacant since January 28, 1861,
when Alfred Iverson Sr. (D) withdrew. 		State readmitted to the Union.
Winner had been elected in 1867, but not seated until readmission.
Winner finally seated February 1, 1871.
Republican gain.
Georgia
(Class 2) 		Vacant since February 4, 1861,
when Robert Toombs (D) withdrew. 		State readmitted to the Union.
Winner elected February 24, 1871.
Democratic gain.
Unknown if winner ran for the next term or retired, see below.

Races leading to the 42nd Congress[]

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1871; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral
history
Alabama Willard Warner Republican 1868 (Readmission) Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1870.
Democratic gain.
Arkansas Alexander McDonald Republican 1868 (Readmission) Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1870.
Republican hold.
  • ▌Green tickY Powell Clayton (Republican)
  • ▌Alexander McDonald (Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing]
Delaware Willard Saulsbury Sr. Democratic 1858
1864 		Incumbent lost re-election to his older brother.
New senator elected in 1870.
Democratic hold.
Georgia Homer V. M. Miller Democratic 1871 (Readmission) Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election.
New senator elected in 1876 or 1877.
Democratic hold.
Senate later refused to seat Senator-elect Foster Blodgett.
Illinois Richard Yates Republican 1864 or 1865 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in 1870 or 1871.
Republican hold.
Iowa James B. Howell Republican 1870 (Special) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 18, 1870.[2]
Republican hold.
Kansas Edmund G. Ross Republican 1866 (Appointed)
1867 (Special) 		Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1871.
Republican hold.
  • ▌Green tickY Alexander Caldwell (Republican)
  • ▌Edmund G. Ross (Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing]
Kentucky Thomas C. McCreery Democratic 1868 (Special) Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1871.
Democratic hold.
  • ▌Green tickY John W. Stevenson (Democratic)
  • ▌Thomas C. McCreery (Democratic)
  • [data unknown/missing]
Louisiana John S. Harris Republican 1868 (Readmission) Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election.
New senator elected in 1870 or 1871.
Republican hold.
Maine Lot M. Morrill Republican 1861 (Special)
1863
1869 (Lost)
1869 (Appointed)
1870 (Special) 		Incumbent re-elected in 1870 or 1871.
Massachusetts Henry Wilson Republican 1855 (Special)
1859
1865 		Incumbent re-elected in 1871.
  • ▌Green tickY Henry Wilson (Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing]
Michigan Jacob M. Howard Republican 1862 (Special)
1865 		Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election.
New senator elected January 18, 1871.
Republican hold.
Minnesota Ozora P. Stearns Republican 1871 (Special) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in January 1871.
Republican hold.
Mississippi Hiram Rhodes Revels Republican 1870 (Readmission) Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election.
New senator elected January 18, 1870.
Republican hold.
Nebraska John M. Thayer Republican 1867 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1870.
Republican hold.
New Hampshire Aaron H. Cragin Republican 1864 Incumbent re-elected in 1870.
New Jersey Alexander G. Cattell Republican 1866 (Special) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in 1870 or 1871.
Republican hold.
North Carolina Joseph Abbott Republican 1868 (Readmission) Incumbent lost renomination.
Legislature failed to elect.
Republican loss.
Seat remained vacant until January 30, 1872. 		[data unknown/missing]
Oregon George H. Williams Republican 1864 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1870.
Democratic gain.
  • ▌Green tickY James K. Kelly (Democratic)
  • ▌George H. Williams (Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing]
Rhode Island Henry B. Anthony Republican 1858
1864 		Incumbent re-elected in 1870.
  • ▌Green tickY Henry B. Anthony (Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing]
South Carolina Thomas J. Robertson Republican 1868 (Readmission) Incumbent re-elected in 1870.
Tennessee Joseph S. Fowler Republican 1866 (Readmission) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in 1870 or 1871.
Democratic gain.
  • ▌Green tickY Henry Cooper (Democratic)
  • [data unknown/missing]
Texas Morgan C. Hamilton Republican 1870 (Readmission) Incumbent in 1870.
Virginia John W. Johnston Democratic 1870 (Readmission) Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election.
Legislature failed to elect.
Democratic loss.
Seat remained vacant until March 15, 1871. 		[data unknown/missing]
West Virginia Waitman T. Willey Republican 1863
1865 		Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election.
New senator elected in 1871.
Democratic gain.
  • ▌Green tickY Henry G. Davis (Democratic)
  • [data unknown/missing]

Elections during the 42nd Congress[]

In this election, the winner was elected in 1871 after March 4.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Virginia
(Class 2) 		Vacant Legislature had failed to elect.
Previous incumbent re-elected March 15, 1871.
Democratic gain. 		▌ Green tickY John W. Johnston (Democratic)
[data unknown/missing]
Georgia
(Class 2) 		Vacant Foster Blodgett had presented credentials as Senator-elect, but the Senate declared him not elected.
Winner elected November 14, 1871.
Democratic gain. 		▌Green tickY Thomas M. Norwood (Democratic)
[data unknown/missing]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ as Republican Conference Chair

References[]

  1. ^ "Facts & Milestones". United States Senate.
  2. ^ a b Clark, Dan Elbert (1913). "History of Senatorial Elections in Iowa". Iowa. pp. 150–151.
  3. ^ Segar was not seated on the premise that the Union-friendly legislature was illegitimate despite having seated his predecessor based credentials from the same legislature. In reality, the Senate refused because it did not want to set a precedent for easing reentry of Confederate states. See "Musical Chairs (1861–1869)". United States Senate. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
  4. ^ "Musical Chairs (1861–1869)". United States Senate. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
  5. ^ "HAMILTON, Morgan Calvin - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved October 31, 2019."HAMILTON, Morgan Calvin - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  6. ^ "Our Campaigns - MO US Senate - Special Election Race - Jan 20, 1871". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 31, 2019."Our Campaigns - MO US Senate - Special Election Race - Jan 20, 1871". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  7. ^ University of Minnesota Libraries, University of Minnesota. "1871 Minnesota U.S. Senate Special Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Archived from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
  8. ^ University of Minnesota Libraries, University of Minnesota. "1871 Minnesota U.S. Senate Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Archived from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2021-08-24.

External links[]

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