1902–03 United States Senate elections

1902–03 United States Senate elections
30 of the 90 seats in the U.S. Senate; 46 seats needed for a majority
	Results of the elections:; Democratic gain Democratic hold; Republican gain Republican hold
Majority conference chairman before election; William B. Allison; Republican	Elected Majority conference chairman ; William B. Allison; Republican

The 1902–03 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 1902 and 1903, 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 3.

The Democratic Party gained four seats, but the Republicans kept their strong majority. This election marked the end of the two third parties, the Populists and Silver Republicans. Republicans took both Populist seats (Idaho and Kansas) along with one Silver Republican seat in Washington. Democrats took the other Silver Republican seat in Colorado as incumbent Senator Henry Teller was re-elected as a Democrat and flipped four Republican seats in Maryland, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Nevada. Republicans flipped only one Democratic seat (Utah), but also gained both vacant Delaware seats, which had been empty due to legislative deadlock in 1898 and 1900, respectively.

Besides the double-barrel special elections in Delaware, a special election was held in Michigan.

In Florida, the legislature failed to elect until shortly after the beginning of the 58th Congress on March 4.

Results summary

Senate party division, 58th Congress (1903–1905)

Majority party: Republican (57)
Minority party: Democratic (33)
Vacant (0)
Total seats: 90

Change in composition

Before the elections

After the January 29, 1902, special election in New Jersey.

					D₁	D₂	D₃	D₄	D₅
D₁₅	D₁₄	D₁₃	D₁₂	D₁₁	D₁₀	D₉	D₈	D₇	D₆
D₁₆	D₁₇	D₁₈	D₁₉	D₂₀	D₂₁	D₂₂ Ala. Ran	D₂₃ Ark. Ran	D₂₄ Fla. Ran	D₂₅ Ga. Ran
SR₁ Colo. Ran	SR₂ Wash. Ran	P₁ Kan. Ran	P₂ Idaho Retired	V₂ Del. (sp cl.2)	V₁ Del. (sp cl.1)	D₂₉ Utah Ran	D₂₈ S.C. Retired	D₂₇ Mo. Retired	D₂₆ La. Ran
R₅₅ Wisc. Ran	R₅₄ Vt. Ran	R₅₃ S.D. Ran	R₅₂ Pa. Ran	R₅₁ Ore. Retired	R₅₀ Ohio Ran	R₄₉ N.D. Ran	R₄₈ N.C. Ran	R₄₇ N.Y. Ran	R₄₆ N.H. Ran
Majority →									R₄₆ N.H. Ran
R₃₆	R₃₇	R₃₈ Calif. Ran	R₃₉ Conn. Ran	R₄₀ Ind. Ran	R₄₁ Ill. Retired	R₄₂ Iowa Ran	R₄₃ Ky. Retired	R₄₄ Md. Retired	R₄₅ Nev. Retired
R₃₅	R₃₄	R₃₃	R₃₂	R₃₁	R₃₀	R₂₉	R₂₈	R₂₇	R₂₆
R₁₆	R₁₇	R₁₈	R₁₉	R₂₀	R₂₁	R₂₂	R₂₃	R₂₄	R₂₅
R₁₅	R₁₄	R₁₃	R₁₂	R₁₁	R₁₀	R₉	R₈	R₇	R₆
					R₁	R₂	R₃	R₄	R₅

Result of the elections

					D₁	D₂	D₃	D₄	D₅
D₁₅	D₁₄	D₁₃	D₁₂	D₁₁	D₁₀	D₉	D₈	D₇	D₆
D₁₆	D₁₇	D₁₈	D₁₉	D₂₀	D₂₁	D₂₂ Ala. Re-elected	D₂₃ Ark. Hold	D₂₄ Colo. Gain	D₂₅ Ga. Re-elected
R₅₆ Wash. Gain	R₅₇ Wisc. Re-elected	V₃ Fla. D Loss	D₃₂ S.C. Hold	D₃₁ N.C. Gain	D₃₀ Nev. Gain	D₂₉ Mo. Hold	D₂₈ Md. Gain	D₂₇ La. Re-elected	D₂₆ Ky. Gain
R₅₅ Vt. Re-elected	R₅₄ Utah Gain	R₅₃ S.D. Elected^[c]	R₅₂ Pa. Re-elected	R₅₁ Ore. Hold	R₅₀ Ohio Re-elected	R₄₉ N.D. Re-elected	R₄₈ N.Y. Re-elected	R₄₇ N.H. Re-elected	R₄₆ Kan. Gain
Majority →									R₄₆ Kan. Gain
R₃₆	R₃₇	R₃₈ Calif. Re-elected	R₃₉ Conn. Re-elected	R₄₀ Del. (sp cl.1) Elected	R₄₁ Del. (sp cl.2) Elected	R₄₂ Idaho Gain	R₄₃ Ill. Hold	R₄₄ Ind. Re-elected	R₄₅ Iowa Re-elected
R₃₅	R₃₄	R₃₃	R₃₂	R₃₁	R₃₀	R₂₉	R₂₈	R₂₇	R₂₆
R₁₆	R₁₇	R₁₈	R₁₉	R₂₀	R₂₁	R₂₂	R₂₃	R₂₄	R₂₅
R₁₅	R₁₄	R₁₃	R₁₂	R₁₁	R₁₀	R₉	R₈	R₇	R₆
					R₁	R₂	R₃	R₄	R₅

Beginning of the next Congress

					D₁	D₂	D₃	D₄	D₅
D₁₅	D₁₄	D₁₃	D₁₂	D₁₁	D₁₀	D₉	D₈	D₇	D₆
D₁₆	D₁₇	D₁₈	D₁₉	D₂₀	D₂₁	D₂₂	D₂₃	D₂₄	D₂₅
R₅₆	R₅₇	D₃₃ Fla. Appointed	D₃₂	D₃₁	D₃₀	D₂₉	D₂₈	D₂₇	D₂₆
R₅₅	R₅₄	R₅₃	R₅₂	R₅₁	R₅₀	R₄₉	R₄₈	R₄₇	R₄₆
Majority →									R₄₆
R₃₆	R₃₇	R₃₈	R₃₉	R₄₀	R₄₁	R₄₂	R₄₃	R₄₄	R₄₅
R₃₅	R₃₄	R₃₃	R₃₂	R₃₁	R₃₀	R₂₉	R₂₈	R₂₇	R₂₆
R₁₆	R₁₇	R₁₈	R₁₉	R₂₀	R₂₁	R₂₂	R₂₃	R₂₄	R₂₅
R₁₅	R₁₄	R₁₃	R₁₂	R₁₁	R₁₀	R₉	R₈	R₇	R₆
					R₁	R₂	R₃	R₄	R₅

Key:

D_#	Democratic
P_#	Populist
R_#	Republican
SR_#	Silver Republican
V_#	Vacant

Race summaries

Elections during the 57th Congress

In these elections, the winners were elected and seated during 1902 or in 1903 before March 4.

Elections ordered by date, then state.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
State	Senator	Party	Electoral history	Results	Candidates
Iowa (Class 2)	Jonathan P. Dolliver	Republican	1900 (appointed) 1901 (appointed)	Interim appointee elected January 22, 1902.^[2]	▌Y Jonathan P. Dolliver (Republican) 119 ▌John J. Seerley (Democratic) 20
New Jersey (Class 2)	William J. Sewell	Republican	1895 1901	Incumbent died December 27, 1901. New senator elected January 28, 1902. Republican hold.	▌Y John F. Dryden (Republican) 65 ▌Allan L. McDermott (Democratic) 18^[3]
Michigan (Class 2)	Russell A. Alger	Republican	1902 (appointed)	Interim appointee elected January 20, 1903.^[4]	▌Y Russell A. Alger (Republican) [data missing]
South Dakota (Class 3)	Alfred B. Kittredge	Republican	1901 (appointed)	Interim appointee elected January 21, 1903.^[5] Winner was also elected to the next term; see below.	▌Y Alfred B. Kittredge (Republican) 109 ▌John A. Bowler^[6] (Democratic) 13^[5]
Delaware (Class 1)	Vacant			Legislature had failed to elect. New senator elected March 2, 1903. Republican gain.	▌Y L. Heisler Ball (Republican) [data missing]
Delaware (Class 2)	Vacant			Legislature had failed to elect. New senator elected March 2, 1903. Republican gain.	▌Y J. Frank Allee (Republican) [data missing]

Races leading to the 58th Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1903; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
State	Senator	Party	Electoral history	Results	Candidates
Alabama	Edmund Pettus	Democratic	1897	Incumbent re-elected January 26, 1903.^[7]	▌Y Edmund Pettus (Democratic) Unopposed
Arkansas	James K. Jones	Democratic	1885 1891 1897	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator re-elected January 20, 1903.^[4] Democratic hold.	▌Y James P. Clarke (Democratic) [data missing]
California	George C. Perkins	Republican	1895 (special) 1897	Incumbent re-elected January 13, 1903.^[8]	▌Y George C. Perkins (Republican) 91 ▌Franklin K. Lane (Democratic) 17 ▌Eugene Schmitz (Union Labor) 7^[8]
Colorado	Henry M. Teller	Silver Republican	1885 1891 1897	Incumbent re-elected January 24, 1903, as a Democrat.^[9] Democratic gain.	▌Y Henry M. Teller (Democratic) [data missing]
Connecticut	Orville H. Platt	Republican	1879 1885 1891 1897	Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1903.^[4]	▌Y Orville H. Platt (Republican) [data missing]
Florida	Stephen Mallory II	Democratic	1897	Legislature failed to elect. Democratic loss. Incumbent was later appointed to begin the term. Incumbent was later re-elected; see below.	None.
Georgia	Alexander S. Clay	Democratic	1896	Incumbent re-elected November 4, 1902.^[10]	▌Y Alexander S. Clay (Democratic) 171 ▌Walter Johnson (Republican) 4^[10]
Idaho	Henry Heitfeld	Populist	1897	Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 13, 1903.^[11] Republican gain.	▌Y Weldon B. Heyburn (Republican) [data missing]
Illinois	William E. Mason	Republican	1897	Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 20, 1903.^[4] Republican hold.	▌Y Albert J. Hopkins (Republican) [data missing]
Indiana	Charles W. Fairbanks	Republican	1897	Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1903.^[4]	▌Y Charles W. Fairbanks (Republican) 101 ▌Benjamin F. Shively (Democratic) 44^[12]
Iowa	William B. Allison	Republican	1872 1878 1884 1890 1896	Incumbent re-elected January 22, 1902.^[2]	▌Y William B. Allison (Republican) 119 ▌Edward Hankinson Thayer (Democratic) 20^[2]
Kansas	William A. Harris	Populist	1897	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected January 28, 1903.^[13] Republican gain.	▌Y Chester I. Long (Republican) 123 ▌William A. Harris (Populist) 35^[13]
Kentucky	William J. Deboe	Republican	1897	Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 15, 1902.^[14] Democratic gain.	▌Y James B. McCreary (Democratic) [data missing]
Louisiana	Samuel D. McEnery	Democratic	1896	Incumbent re-elected early May 22, 1900.^[15]	▌Y Samuel D. McEnery (Democratic) [data missing]
Maryland	George L. Wellington	Republican	1886	Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 15, 1902.^[16] Democratic gain.	▌Y Arthur P. Gorman (Democratic) [data missing]
Missouri	George G. Vest	Democratic	1879 1885 1891 1897	Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 20, 1903.^[17] Democratic hold.	▌Y William J. Stone (Democratic) 107 ▌Richard C. Kerens (Republican) 66^[17]
Nevada	John P. Jones	Republican	1873 1879 1885 1891 1897	Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 27, 1903.^[18] Democratic gain.	▌Y Francis G. Newlands (Democratic) 43 ▌Thomas P. Hawley (Republican) 8^[18]
New Hampshire	Jacob H. Gallinger	Republican	1891 1897	Incumbent re-elected in 1903.	▌Y Jacob H. Gallinger (Republican) Unopposed
New York	Thomas C. Platt	Republican	1881 1881 (resigned) 1897	Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1903.	▌Y Thomas C. Platt (Republican) 111 ▌John B. Stanchfield (Democratic) 78 ▌Elihu Root (Republican) 3
North Carolina	Jeter C. Pritchard	Republican	1894 (special) 1897	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1903. Democratic gain.	▌Y Lee S. Overman (Democratic)
North Dakota	Henry C. Hansbrough	Republican	1891 1897	Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1903.^[4]	▌Y Henry C. Hansbrough (Republican) [data missing]
Ohio	Joseph B. Foraker	Republican	1896	Incumbent re-elected January 15, 1902.^[19]	▌Y Joseph B. Foraker (Republican) 87 ▌Charles W. Baker (Democratic) 53^[19]
Oregon	Joseph Simon	Republican	1898 (special)	Incumbent retired. New senator elected February 21, 1903.^[20] Republican hold.	▌Y Charles W. Fulton (Republican) [data missing]
Pennsylvania	Boies Penrose	Republican	1897	Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1903.^[4]	▌Y Boies Penrose (Republican) 194 ▌James M. Guffey (Democratic) 52 ▌Walter F. Leadom (Republican) 1
South Carolina	John L. McLaurin	Democratic	1897 (appointed) 1898 (special)	Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 27, 1903.^[21] Democratic hold.	▌Y Asbury Latimer (Democratic) Unopposed
South Dakota	Alfred B. Kittredge	Republican	1901 (appointed) 1903 (special)	Interim appointee elected January 21, 1903.^[22] Winner was also elected to finish the current term; see above.	▌Y Alfred B. Kittredge (Republican) 109 ▌John A. Bowler^[6] (Democratic) 13^[22]
Utah	Joseph L. Rawlins	Democratic	1897	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected January 20, 1903.^[23] Republican gain.	▌Y Reed Smoot (Republican) 46 ▌Joseph L. Rawlins (Democratic) 10 ▌Heber M. Wells (Republican) 6^[23]
Vermont	William P. Dillingham	Republican	1900 (special)	Incumbent re-elected October 14, 1902.^[24]	▌Y William P. Dillingham (Republican) [data missing]
Washington	George Turner	Silver Republican	1897	Incumbent lost re-election as a Democrat. New senator elected January 29, 1903.^[25] Republican gain.	▌Y Levi Ankeny (Republican) 99 ▌George Turner (Democratic) 23 ▌Harold Preston (Unknown) 9 ▌John L. Wilson (Republican) 2 ▌Wesley L. Jones (Republican) 1
Wisconsin	John C. Spooner	Republican	1885 1891 (lost) 1897	Incumbent re-elected January 27, 1903.^[26]	▌Y John C. Spooner (Republican) ▌Neall Brown (Democratic)

Election during the 58th Congress

In this election, the winner was elected in 1903 after March 4.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
State	Senator	Party	Electoral history	Results	Candidates
Florida (Class 3)	Stephen Mallory II	Democratic	1897 1903 (appointed)	Interim appointee re-elected April 22, 1903.	▌Y Stephen Mallory II (Democratic) [data missing]

Alabama

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Delaware (special, class 1)

In the 1898–99 elections, the Delaware legislature had failed to elect a successor to Democratic senator George Gray.

Four years later, Republican congressman L. Heisler Ball was elected in 1903 to finish the term.

He would lose re-election at the 1905 end of the term due to yet another deadlock in the state legislature.

After the advent of popular elections, Ball would return in 1919 for a single full term.

Delaware (special, class 2)

In the 1900/1901 elections, the Delaware legislature had failed to elect a successor to Democratic senator Richard R. Kenney.

Two years later, Republican state senator J. Frank Allee was elected in 1903 to finish the term.

Allee would retire at the end of the term in 1907.

Florida

The Florida legislature failed to elect a senator by the March 4, 1903, beginning of the term. One-term incumbent Democrat Stephen Mallory II was therefore appointed to begin the term, pending the late election.

Democratic incumbent Stephen Mallory II was elected late April 22, 1903, to finish the term.

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

There were two elections due to the death of John H. Gear in 1900.

Iowa (regular)

Five-term William B. Allison was re-elected to a sixth term January 22, 1902. He was Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, effectively the leader of the Senate.

Iowa (special)

First-term Republican John H. Gear had died July 14, 1900, and Republican Jonathan P. Dolliver had been appointed August 22, 1900, to finish the term ending in 1901 and to the term beginning thereafter, pending a special election.

Dolliver was elected January 22, 1902, to finish the term that would end in 1907.

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maryland

Arthur Pue Gorman was elected by an unknown margin, for the Class 3 seat.^[27]

Michigan (special)

Missouri

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey (special)

New York

The election in New York was held on January 20, 1903, by the New York State Legislature.

Republican Thomas C. Platt had previously been re-elected to this seat in 1897, and his term would expire on March 3, 1903.

At the State election in November 1902, 28 Republicans and 22 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1903–1904) in the State Senate; and 89 Republicans and 61 Democrats were elected for the session of 1903 to the Assembly. State Senator Patrick F. Trainor who had been re-elected, died on December 25, 1902, and his successor Peter J. Dooling was elected only after the senatorial election, on January 27.^[28] The 126th New York State Legislature met from January 6 to April 23, 1903, at Albany, New York.

The Republican caucus met on January 19. 25 State senators and 84 assemblymen attended, and State Senator William W. Armstrong presided. The caucus re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator Thomas C. Platt almost unanimously. A single vote was cast for U.S. Secretary of War Elihu Root by Assemblyman William A. Denison, of Jefferson County. Besides Denison voting against Platt, a small number of anti-Platt men did not attend the caucus. Boss Platt had forced the nomination of Attorney General John C. Davies to the New York Supreme Court in the 5th District, against the local Republican organization's wishes who accused Davies of incompetence. Davies was defeated in a landslide by Democrat Watson M. Rogers although the 5th District was heavily Republican. Thus boss Platt's power began to wane.

**1903 Republican caucus for United States Senator result**
Candidate	First ballot
√ Thomas C. Platt	108
Elihu Root	1

The Democratic caucus met also on January 19. All 62 State legislators attended, and Assemblyman Charles W. Hinson, of Erie County, presided. They nominated John B. Stanchfield unanimously. Stanchfield had been Mayor of Elmira, and was defeated when running for Governor of New York in 1900 by Republican Benjamin B. Odell Jr.

Thomas C. Platt was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected. Three Republican anti-Platt men, State senators Edgar T. Brackett (28th D.), Elon R. Brown and Nathaniel A. Elsberg (15th D.), voted for Elihu Root.

**1903 United States Senator election result**
House	Republican		Democratic		Republican
State Senate (50 members)	√ Thomas C. Platt	25	John B. Stanchfield	21	Elihu Root	3
State Assembly (150 members)	√ Thomas C. Platt	86	John B. Stanchfield	57

Note: The votes were cast on January 20, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 21 to compare nominations, and declare the result.

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

The election in Pennsylvania was held on January 20, 1903. Boies Penrose was re-elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly^[29]

The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 20, 1903. Incumbent Republican Boies Penrose, who was elected in 1897, was a successful candidate for re-election to another term. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:

State Legislature Results^[29]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Boies Penrose (Incumbent)	194	76.38
	Democratic	James M. Guffey	52	20.47%
	Republican	Walter F. Leadom	1	0.39%
	N/A	Not voting	7	2.76%
Totals			254	100.00%

South Carolina

South Dakota

Two-term Republican James H. Kyle died July 1, 1901, and Republican Alfred Kittredge was appointed July 11, 1901, to continue the term, pending a special election.

South Dakota (special)

Republican Alfred Kittredge was elected January 20, 1903, to finish the term.

South Dakota (regular)

Republican Alfred Kittredge was elected January 21, 1903, to the next the term.

Utah

Vermont

Washington

Wisconsin

Notes

References

^ "17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)". National Archives and Records Administration. February 8, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c Clark, p. 247.
^ "J.F. DRYDEN ELECTED SENATOR". The New York Times. January 29, 1902. p. 3.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "United States senators elected". The New York Times. January 21, 1903. p. 3.
^ ^a ^b "Journal of the Senate of the South Dakota Legislature Commencing January 6, 1903, Eighth Session". Proceedings of the Senate. Pierre, South Dakota: 296. 1903.
^ ^a ^b Bailey, Dana R. (1899). History of Minnehaha county, South Dakota. Sioux Falls: Brown & Saenger, ptrs. p. 462. OCLC 5862932. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
^ "Senator Pettus Re-elected". The New York Times. January 27, 1903. p. 3.
^ ^a ^b "Perkins of California Re-elected". The New York Times. January 14, 1903. p. 12.
^ "TELLER IS AGAIN ELECTED". The New York Times. January 25, 1903. p. 1.
^ ^a ^b "Senator Clay of Georgia Re-elected". The New York Times. November 5, 1902. p. 2.
^ "Idaho Elects Her Senator". The New York Times. January 14, 1903. p. 3.
^ Senate, Indiana. General Assembly (1903). Journal of the Indiana State Senate During the Sixty-Third Session of the General Assembly commencing Thursday, January 9, 1903. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 198.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ ^a ^b Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the State of Kansas. Thirteenth Biennial Session, Topeka, January 13 to March 13, 1903. Topeka, Kansas. 1903. pp. 303–306.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ "MANY VOTES TO ELECT". The New York Times. January 16, 1902. p. 3.
^ "Louisiana senators Elected". The New York Times. May 23, 1900. p. 2.
^ "Ratified Mr. German's Election". The New York Times. January 16, 1902. p. 3.
^ ^a ^b "SUCCEEDS SENATOR VEST". The New York Times. January 21, 1903. p. 3.
^ ^a ^b "Mr. Newlands Elected in Nevada". The New York Times. January 28, 1903. p. 2.
^ ^a ^b "SENATOR FORAKER CHOSEN". The New York Times. January 15, 1902. p. 3.
^ "OREGON SENATOR CHOSEN". The New York Times. February 22, 1903. p. 3.
^ "South Carolina's Choice". The New York Times. January 28, 1903. p. 8.
^ ^a ^b "Journal of the Senate of the South Dakota Legislature Commencing January 6, 1903, Eighth Session". Proceedings of the Senate. Pierre, South Dakota: 299–300. 1903.
^ ^a ^b "REED SMOOT SENATOR". The New York Times. January 21, 1903. p. 3.
^ "Senator Dillingham Re-elected". The New York Times. October 15, 1902. p. 9.
^ "Ankeny Elected in Washington". The New York Times. January 30, 1903. p. 1.
^ "Senator Spooner Re-elected". The New York Times. January 28, 1903. p. 8.
^ "Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Nov 04, 1902". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
^ "DOOLING ELECTED SENATOR" (PDF). The New York Times. January 28, 1903.
^ ^a ^b "U.S. Senate Election - 20 January 1903" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 22, 2013.