1886–87 United States Senate elections
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25 of the 76 seats in the United States Senate (as well as special elections) 39 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Results of the elections: Democratic gain Democratic hold Republican gain Republican hold Legislature failed to elect | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1886–87 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states. 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 1886 and 1887, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock.[1] In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 1.
The Republican Party lost two seats. At the beginning of the 50th Congress, therefore, Republicans had the slimmest possible majority due to a vacant Democratic seat: 38 out of 75 seats. Once that vacancy was filled, Republicans maintained control as the single Readjuster senator caucused with them.
Results summary
Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.
Parties | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Democratic | Readjuster | Republican | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Before these elections | 34 | 2 | 40 | 78 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not up | 25 | 1 | 25 | 51 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class 2 (1886/87 → 1892/93) | 13 | 1 | 12 | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class 3 (1884/85 → 1890/91) | 11 | — | 13 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Up | 11 | 1 | 16 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regular: Class 1 | 9 | 1 | 15 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Special: Class 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Special: Class 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Special: Class 3 | — | — | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regular election only | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incumbent retired | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Held by same party | — | — | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gained by other party | ![]() |
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1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No elected successor | 1 | — | — | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Result | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incumbent ran | 6 | 1 | 12 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Won re-election | 4 | — | 7 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Held by same party | 1 | — | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gained by other party | ![]() |
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— | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No elected successor | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Result | 8 | — | 11 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incumbent's action unknown | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Held by same party | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No elected successor | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gained by other party | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Result | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total elected | 11 | — | 13 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net change | ![]() |
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Result | 36 | 1 | 38 | 75 |
Change in composition
Before the elections
After August 4, 1886 special election in California.
D8 | D7 | D6 | D5 | D4 | D3 | D2 | D1 | ||
D9 | D10 | D11 | D12 | D13 | D14 | D15 | D16 | D17 | D18 |
D28 Ran |
D27 Ran |
D26 Ran |
D25 | D24 | D23 | D22 | D21 | D20 | D19 |
D29 Ran |
D30 Ran |
D31 Ran |
D32 Unknown |
D33 Unknown |
D34 Retired |
RA2 Ran |
RA1 | R40 Retired |
R39 Retired |
Majority → | |||||||||
R29 Ran |
R30 Ran |
R31 Ran |
R32 Ran |
R33 Ran |
R34 Ran |
R35 Ran |
R36 Ran |
R37 Ran |
R38 Unknown |
R28 Ran |
R27 Ran |
R26 Ran |
R25 | R24 | R23 | 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
D8 | D7 | D6 | D5 | D4 | D3 | D2 | D1 | ||
D9 | D10 | D11 | D12 | D13 | D14 | D15 | D16 | D17 | D18 |
D28 Re-elected |
D27 Re-elected |
D26 Re-elected |
D25 | D24 | D23 | D22 | D21 | D20 | D19 |
D29 Re-elected |
D30 Hold |
D31 Hold |
D32 Hold |
D33 Gain from RA |
D34 Gain from R |
D35 Gain from R |
D36 Gain from R |
V1 D Loss |
RA1 |
Majority due to vacancy→ | R38 Gain from D | ||||||||
R29 Re-elected |
R30 Re-elected |
R31 Re-elected |
R32 Re-elected |
R33 Hold |
R34 Hold |
R35 Hold |
R36 Hold |
R37 Hold | |
R28 Re-elected |
R27 Re-elected |
R26 Re-elected |
R25 | R24 | R23 | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 |
R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 | R18 |
R8 | R7 | R6 | R5 | R4 | R3 | R2 | R1 |
At the beginning of the first session, December 7, 1887
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 | D30 | D31 | D32 | D33 | D34 | D35 | D36 | D37 Gain from V |
RA1 |
Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | R38 | ||||||||
R29 | R30 | R31 | R32 | R33 | R34 | R35 | R36 | R37 | |
R28 | R27 | R26 | R25 Hold |
R24 | R23 | R22 | R21 | R20 | R19 |
R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 | R18 |
R8 | R7 | R6 | R5 | R4 | R3 | R2 | R1 |
Key |
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Race summaries
Elections during the 49th Congress
In these elections, the winners were seated during 1886 or in 1887 before March 4; ordered by election date.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
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Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Mississippi (Class 2) |
Edward C. Walthall | Democratic | 1885 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 20, 1886.[2] |
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California (Class 1) |
George Hearst | Democratic | 1886 (Appointed) | Unknown if interim appointee retired or lost election to finish the term. New senator elected August 4, 1886. Republican gain. Winner did not run for election to the next term, see below. |
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Illinois (Class 3) |
John A. Logan | Republican | 1870 or 1871 1877 (Lost) 1879 1885 |
Incumbent died December 26, 1886. New senator elected January 19, 1887. Republican hold. |
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Races leading to the 50th Congress
In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1887; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
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Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
California | Abram Williams | Republican | 1886 (special) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1887. Democratic gain. |
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Connecticut | Joseph R. Hawley | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent re-elected in 1887. |
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Delaware | George Gray | Democratic | 1885 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1887. |
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Florida | Charles W. Jones | Democratic | 1881 | Incumbent retired. Legislature failed to elect. Democratic loss. |
[data missing] |
Indiana | Benjamin Harrison | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1887. Democratic gain. |
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Maine | Eugene Hale | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent re-elected in 1887. |
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Maryland | Arthur P. Gorman | Democratic | 1880 | Incumbent re-elected in 1886. |
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Massachusetts | Henry L. Dawes | Republican | 1857 1881 |
Incumbent re-elected in 1887. |
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Michigan | Omar D. Conger | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected in 1887. Republican hold. |
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Minnesota | Samuel J. R. McMillan | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1886. Republican hold. |
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Mississippi | James Z. George | Democratic | 1880 | Incumbent re-elected in 1886. |
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Missouri | Francis Cockrell | Democratic | 1874 1881 |
Incumbent re-elected in 1887. |
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Nebraska | Charles Van Wyck | Republican | 1880 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1886. Republican hold. |
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Nevada | James G. Fair | Democratic | 1881 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1887. Republican gain. |
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New Jersey | William J. Sewell | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1886. Democratic gain. |
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New York | Warner Miller | Republican | 1881 (special) | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected January 20, 1887. Republican hold. |
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Ohio | John Sherman | Republican | 1861 (special) 1866 1872 1877 (resigned) 1881 |
Incumbent re-elected in 1886. |
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Pennsylvania | John I. Mitchell | Republican | 1881 | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected January 18, 1887. Republican hold. |
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Rhode Island | Nelson W. Aldrich | Republican | 1881 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1886. |
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Tennessee | Washington C. Whitthorne | Democratic | 1886 (appointed) | Unknown if interim appointee retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in 1887. Democratic hold. |
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Texas | Samuel B. Maxey | Democratic | 1875 1881 |
Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected in 1887. Democratic hold. |
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Vermont | George F. Edmunds | Republican | 1866 (appointed) 1866 (special) 1868 1874 1880 |
Incumbent re-elected in 1886. |
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Virginia | William Mahone | Readjuster | 1881 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1887. Democratic gain. |
|
West Virginia | Johnson N. Camden | Democratic | 1880 or 1881 | Incumbent lost renomination.[3] Legislature failed to elect. Democratic loss. A new senator was elected late, see below. |
Johnson N. Camden (Democratic) |
Wisconsin | Philetus Sawyer | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent re-elected January 26, 1887. |
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Elections during the 50th Congress
In these elections, the winners were elected in 1887 after March 4; ordered by date.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
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Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
West Virginia (Class 1) |
Vacant | Legislature had failed to elect, see above. New senator elected late May 5, 1887. Democratic gain. |
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Florida (Class 1) |
Vacant | Legislature had failed to elect, see above. New senator elected late May 19, 1887. Democratic gain. |
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New Hampshire (Class 2) |
Person C. Cheney | Republican | 1886 (Appointed) | Interim appointee retired when successor elected. New senator elected June 14, 1887. Republican hold. |
|
Virginia (Class 2) |
Harrison H. Riddleberger | Readjuster | 1881 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected early December 20, 1887 for the term beginning in 1889.[5] Democratic gain. |
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Maryland
![]() | This 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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Arthur Pue Gorman won re-election for an unknown margin of votes for the Class 1 seat.[6]
New York
The election in New York was held from January 18 to 20, 1887. Republican Warner Miller had been elected to this seat in a special election in 1881 to succeed Thomas C. Platt who had resigned. Miller's term would expire on March 3, 1887. At the State election in November 1885, 20 Republicans and 12 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1886-1887) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1886, 74 Republicans and 54 Democrats were elected for the session of 1887 to the Assembly. The 110th New York State Legislature met from January 4 to May 26, 1887, at Albany, New York.
The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 17, President pro tempore of the State Senate Edmund L. Pitts presided. 20 State senators and 71 assemblymen attended. Ex-Speaker of the Assembly George Z. Erwin (a Morton man) moved that a majority of all Republican legislators should be necessary to nominate, not only a majority of those present, meaning that 48 votes were required instead of 46, which was carried by a vote of 52 to 39. The incumbent U.S. senator Warner Miller (Half-Breed faction) failed to be nominated by only four votes. Levi P. Morton (Stalwart faction) was rejected by the caucus, like in 1885. A small faction voted for Congressman Frank Hiscock. After the second ballot, Erwin moved to adjourn, which was carried by 48 to 43. The caucus met again on the next day, no choice was made in another two ballots. The caucus met again on January 19 after the joint ballot of the State Legislature, and after twelve more ballots, Erwin withdrew Morton's name and urged the Morton men to vote for Hiscock. On the next ballot Hiscock received one vote more than Miller (47 to 46), but was one short of the previously established majority of 48. On the 18th and last ballot, Hiscock received 50 votes and was nominated. On the next day, Hiscock was elected on the second joint ballot of the State Legislature. Thus, by blocking Miller's re-election, the Republican boss Thomas C. Platt took his revenge for his defeat at the special election in 1881.
Ballot | Date | Warner Miller | Levi P. Morton | √ Frank Hiscock |
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1st | January 17 | 44 | 35 | 12 |
2nd | January 17 | 44 | 36 | 11 |
3rd | January 18 | |||
4th | January 18 | |||
5th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
6th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
7th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
8th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
9th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
10th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
11th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
12th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
13th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
14th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
15th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
16th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
17th | January 19 | 46 | Withdrew | 47 |
18th | January 19 | 43 | 50 |
The Democratic caucus nominated Smith Mead Weed (1834-1920), a lawyer and businessman of Plattsburgh, New York. Weed had been a member of the New York State Assembly from Clinton County, New York in 1865, 1866, 1867, 1871, 1873 and 1874; and a delegate to the 1876 and 1884 Democratic National Conventions.
House | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | ||||
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State Senate (32 members) January 18 |
Smith M. Weed | 11 | Warner Miller | 10 | Levi P. Morton | 9 | Frank Hiscock | 1 |
State Assembly (128 members) January 18 |
Smith M. Weed | 41 | Warner Miller | 32 | Levi P. Morton | 26 | Frank Hiscock | 10 |
Joint ballot (160 members) January 19 |
Smith M. Weed | 61 | Warner Miller | 43 | Levi P. Morton | 33 | Frank Hiscock | 11 |
Second joint ballot (160 members) January 20 |
Smith M. Weed | 62 | √ Frank Hiscock | 91 |
Pennsylvania
The election in Pennsylvania was held January 18, 1887. Matthew Quay was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate.[7] The General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and Senate voted as follows:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Matthew Quay | 165 | 65.74 | |
Democratic | Simon P. Wolverton | 80 | 31.87 | |
N/A | Not voting | 6 | 2.39 | |
Totals | 251 | 100.00% |
See also
Notes
- ^ as Republican Conference Chair
- ^ as Democratic Caucus Chair
- ^ a b The Readjusters caucused with the Republicans.
References
- ^ "17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)". National Archives and Records Administration. February 8, 2022.
- ^ Byrd, p. 130.
- ^ "STILL FIGHTING OVER CAMDEN" (PDF).
- ^ "WEST VIRGINIA'S SENATOR.; A SUCCESSOR TO CAMDEN CHOSEN AT LAST" (PDF).
- ^ "Barbour, John S. (1820–1892)". www.encyclopediavirginia.org.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Jan 00, 1880". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ a b "U.S. Senate Election - 18 January 1887" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
- ^ "PA US Senate - 1887". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
Further reading
- 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.
- Cox, Harold (January 31, 2007). "Pennsylvania Election Statistics: 1682-2006". The Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
- "HISCOCK WINS THE PRIZE; MORTON WITHDRAWN FROM THE SENATORIAL FIGHT" (PDF). The New York Times. January 20, 1887.
- "Members of the 50th United States Congress" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 6, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
- "MILLER LEADS IN CAUCUS; BUT WANTS FOUR VOTES OF A NOMINATING MAJORITY" (PDF). The New York Times. January 18, 1887.
- "MR. HISCOCK'S ELECTION" (PDF). The New York Times. January 21, 1887.
- "Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present". Senate.gov. United States Senate.
- "SMITH M. WEED DIES IN PLATTSBURG" (PDF). The New York Times. June 8, 1920.