1860–61 United States Senate elections

1860–61 United States Senate elections

January 14, 1860– April 2, 1861
31 of the 68 seats in the United States Senate 35 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Dem Leader John P. Hale Party Democratic Republican Leader's seat New Hampshire Seats before 38 25 Seats won 31 31 Seat change 8 6 Seats up 15 9 Races won 7 15   Third party   Party American Seats before 2 Seats won 1 Seat change 1 Seats up 1 Races won 0
Results      Democratic gain      Republican gain      Union gain      Democratic hold      Republican hold      Confederate state

The 1860–61 United States Senate elections were held from January 14, 1860, to April 2, 1861. Regularly scheduled elections were held for 23 out of the 68 seats in the United States Senate, and special elections were held in California, Oregon, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. One seat was previously elected on December 12, 1859. Following the start of the 37th Congress on July 4, 1861, special elections were held in Virginia and Kentucky to fill vacancies resulting from the secession of the Confederacy. The Republican Party flipped six Democratic-held seats and gained control of the Senate for the first time following the departure of senators representing Confederate states.

U.S. senators are divided into three classes whose six-year terms are staggered, such that one-third of the Senate is elected every two years. Senators in Class 3 were elected in 1860 and 1861. Prior to ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment, senators were elected by the U.S. state legislatures. There was no fixed calendar, and states held elections on various dates preceding the first session of Congress. In states with split partisan control of the legislature, multiple rounds of voting could be required to elect a senator, leading to extended vacancies.

The elections took place amidst rising sectional tension over slavery and the related issue of territorial expansion. In the previous Congress, the debate on the proposed Lecompton Constitution and the application of the Dred Scott decision split the Democratic Party between allies of the senator from Illinois Stephen A. Douglas, who opposed the measures, and the administration of James Buchanan. Douglas was nominated for president by his supporters in 1860, while the Buchanan wing consisting of most Southern Democrats and doughfaces coalesced behind the outgoing vice president and senator-elect from Kentucky John C. Breckinridge. In California, Missouri, and Oregon, vote-splitting between Douglas and Breckinridge Democrats resulted gridlock that persisted over multiple rounds of balloting. Republicans were the beneficiaries of Democratic infighting, picking up an open seat in Oregon and using their influence to elect a Douglas Democrat over his Breckinridge Democratic opponent in California.

In the slave states, the opposition to the Democrats was fragmented and generally lacked sufficient numbers to threaten Democratic senators. Of the five slave states to hold regularly scheduled elections, only in Missouri was there a protracted struggle over the selection of the state's senator. In Maryland the American Party was the second party in the legislature, and in North Carolina the Whig label was revived; elsewhere the opponents of the Democrats were called Oppositionists or Constitutional Unionists. These groups subsequently would join forces with unionist Democrats and Republicans in Union coalitions that resisted secession in the Upper South and border states during and after 1861.

Besides Oregon, the Republicans flipped Democratic-held seats in Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania and added two seats representing the new state of Kansas, swelling their caucus to 31 senators. The Democrats flipped an American-held seat in Kentucky, but lost five seats from states that seceded before the end of the 36th Congress; the departure of 16 more Southern senators before July 4 reduced the Democratic caucus to 15 seats. The Republican victory in the 1860 United States presidential election precipitated the resignations of senators Hannibal Hamlin of Maine, Simon Cameron of Pennsylvania, and Salmon P. Chase of Ohio, who became vice president, secretary of war, and secretary of the treasury, respectively, in the incoming Lincoln administration; Republicans won all three special elections to select their replacements. Other notable departures included William H. Seward of New York, who retired in order to accept an appointment as secretary of state; Douglas, who died on June 3, 1861, and was replaced by a Republican appointee; Breckinridge, who was expelled from the Senate in December 1861 after enlisting in the Confederate States Army; and Joseph Lane of Oregon, the former vice presidential candidate of the Breckinridge Democrats, whose seat was filled by a Douglas Democrat.

Summary results

Parties							Total
		Democratic	Republican	American	Union	Vacant
Last elections (1858–59)		38	25	2	—	1	66
Not up		23	16	1	—	—	40
	Class 1 (1856–57→1862–63)	10	8	1	—	—	19
	Class 2 (1858–59→1864–65)	13	8	—	—	—	21
Up		15	9	1	—	3	28
	Class 3 (1854–55→1860–61)	14	7	1	—	—	22
	Special: Class 1 & 2	1	3	—	—	1	5
	New states	—	—	—	—	2	2
General election
1859		—	—	1	—	—	1
	Replaced by other party	1 American replaced by 1 Democrat					1
	Result	1	—	—	—	—	1
1860		5	4	—	—	—	9
	Held by same party	3	4	—	—	—	7
	Replaced by other party	1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican 1 Democrat replaced by 1 vacancy					2
	Result	3	5	—	—	1	9
1861		9	3	—	—	2	14
	Held by same party	3	3	—	—	—	6
	Replaced by other party	4 Democrats replaced by 4 vacancies 2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans 2 vacancies replaced by 2 Republicans					8
	Result	3	7	—	—	4	14
Special elections
1860		1	—	—	—	1	2
	Held by same party	1	—	—	—	—	1
	Replaced by other party	1 vacancy replaced by 1 Republican					1
	Result	1	1	—	—	—	2
1861		—	3	—	—	—	3
	Held by same party	—	3	—	—	—	3
	Result	—	3	—	—	—	3
Secession
Before March 4, 1861		9	—	—	—	—	9
	Replaced by other party	9 Democrats replaced by 9 vacancies					9
	Result	—	—	—	—	9	9
After March 4, 1861		8	—	—	—	—	8
	Held by same party	1	—	—	—	—	1
	Replaced by other party	7 Democrats replaced by 7 vacancies					7
	Result	1	—	—	—	7	8
Result		15	31	1	3	18	68

Change in composition

Each block represents one of the 66 seats in the U.S. Senate. (The admission of Kansas on January 29, 1861, increased the number of seats in the Senate to 68.) "A_#" is an American senator, "D_#" is a Democratic senator, "R_#" is a Republican senator, "U_#" is a Union senator, and "V_#" is a vacant seat. They are arranged so that the parties are separated, and a majority is clear by crossing the middle.

Before the elections

This diagram shows the composition of the Senate on January 1, 1860.

D3	D2	D1
D4	D5	D6	D7	D8	D9	D10	D11	D12	D13
D23	D22	D21	D20	D19	D18	D17	D16	D15	D14
D24 Md. Ran	D25 Mo. Ran	D26 N.C. Ran	D27 Ohio Ran	D28 Ark. Retired	D29 Calif. (reg) Retired	D30 Calif. (sp) Retired	D31 Ind. Retired	D32 Ore. (reg) Retired	D33 Pa. Retired
Majority →									D34 Ala. Withdrew
R23 Vt. Ran	R24 N.Y. Retired	R25 Wis. Retired	A1	A2 Ky. Retired	D38 S.C. Withdrew	D37 La. Withdrew	D36 Ga. Withdrew	D35 Fla. Withdrew
R22 N.H. Ran	R21 Iowa Ran	R20 Ill. Ran	R19 Conn. Ran	R18	R17	R16	R15	R14	R13
R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R19	R10	R11	R12
R2	R1	V1 Ore. (sp)

After the elections

This diagram shows the projected composition of the Senate as a result of the regularly scheduled elections for the Class III seats and special elections in California and Oregon. In consequence of secession, several more seats had been vacated by the time the 37th United States Congress convened, as shown below.

D1	V3 Ga. D Loss	V2 Fla. D Loss	V1 Ala. D Loss
D2	D3	D4	D5	D6	D7	D8	D9	D10	D11
D21	D20	D19	D18	D17	D16	D15	D14	D13	D12
D22	D23	D24 Ark. Hold	D25 Calif. (reg) Hold	D26 Calif. (sp) Hold	D27 Ky. Gain	D28 Md. Re-elected	D29 Mo. Hold	D30 N.C. Re-elected	D31 Ore. (reg) Hold
No majority
R23 Kan. Gain	R24 Kan. Gain	R25 N.H. Re-elected	R26 N.Y. Hold	R27 Ohio Gain	R28 Ore. (sp) Gain	R29 Pa. Gain	R30 Vt. Re-elected	R31 Wis. Hold	A1
R22 Iowa Re-elected	R21 Ind. Gain	R20 Ill. Re-elected	R19 Conn. Re-elected	R18	R17	R16	R15	R14	R13
R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12
R2	R1	V5 S.C. D Loss	V4 La. D Loss

Beginning of the first session

This diagram shows the composition of the Senate on July 11, 1861, after the start of the first session, following the withdrawal or expulsion of 16 senators from states which had seceded from the Union between Election Day (November 8, 1860,) and the opening of Congress on July 4. Special elections held in Pennsylvania, Maine, and Ohio filled three vacancies which had occurred on or before March 4; a final vacancy, occurring as a result of the death of Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois, was filled by appointment pending a special election.

V4	V3	V2	V1
V5	V6 Ala. D Loss	V7 Ark. D Loss	V8 Ark. D Loss	V9 Fla. D Loss	V10 Ga. D Loss	V11 La. D Loss	D1	D2	D3
D13	D12	D11	D10	D9	D8	D7	D6	D5	D4
D14	A1	R32 Pa. (sp) Hold	R31 Ohio (sp) Hold	R30 Maine (sp) Hold	R29 Ill. (ap) Gain	R28	R27	R26	R25
Majority →									R24
R15	R16	R17	R18	R19	R20	R21	R22	R23
R14	R13	R12	R11	R10	R9	R8	R7	R6	R5
V16 S.C. D Loss	V17 Tenn. D Loss	V18 Texas D Loss	V19 Texas D Loss	V20 Va. D Loss	V21 Va. D Loss	R1	R2	R3	R4
V15 N.C. D Loss	V14 N.C. D Loss	V13 Miss. D Loss	V12 Miss. D Loss

Beginning of the second session

This diagram shows the composition of the Senate on December 10, 1861, after the start of the second session, following special elections held in Kentucky and Virginia to fill vacancies resulting from the expulsion of pro-Confederate senators; a final vacancy, occurring from the death of Edward D. Baker, was filled by appointment pending a special election.

V4	V3	V2	V1
V5	V6	V7	V8	V9	V10	D1	D2	D3	D4
D14	D13	D12	D11	D10	D9	D8	D7	D6	D5
D15 Ore. (ap) Gain	A1	U1 Ky. (sp) Gain	U2 Va. (sp) Gain	U3 Va. (sp) Gain	R31	R30	R29	R28	R27
Majority →									R26
R17	R18	R19	R20	R21	R22	R23	R24	R25
R16	R15	R14	R13	R12	R11	R10	R9	R8	R7
V16	V17	V18	V19	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6
V15	V14	V13	V12

Key:	A# American D# Democratic R# Republican U# Union V# Vacant

Race summary

Special elections during the preceding Congress

Special elections were held between January 14, 1860, and January 9, 1861, to fill three vacancies in the 36th United States Congress.

State	Incumbent			This race
	Senator	Party	Electoral history	Results	Candidates
California (Class 1)	Henry P. Haun	Democratic	1859 (app.)	Interim appointee retired. New member elected January 14, 1860. Democratic hold.	First ballot (January 14, 1860) ▌Y Milton Latham (Lecompton Democrat) 97 ▌ Edward Randolph (Anti-Lecompton Democrat) 14 ▌ Oscar L. Shafter (Republican) 3
Oregon (Class 2)	Vacant (legislature failed to elect)			Seat vacant since March 4, 1859. New member elected October 2, 1860. Republican gain.	Fourteenth ballot (October 2, 1860) ▌Y Edward D. Baker (Republican) 26 ▌ George H. Williams (Douglas Democrat) 20 ▌ George L. Curry (Breckinridge Democrat) 2 ▌ Lansing Stout (Breckinridge Democrat) 1 Blank 1
Maine (Class 1)	Hannibal Hamlin	Republican	1848 (sp.) 1851 1857 (r.) 1857	Incumbent resigned January 7, 1861. New member elected January 9, 1861. Republican hold.	First ballot (January 9, 1861) ▌Y Lot M. Morrill (Republican) 124 HTooltip Maine House of Representatives; 29 STooltip Maine Senate ▌ George F. Shepley (Democratic) 23 HTooltip Maine House of Representatives; 0 STooltip Maine Senate

Elections leading to the next Congress

Eighteen senators were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1861.

State	Incumbent			This race
	Senator	Party	Electoral history	Results	Candidates
Alabama	Benjamin Fitzpatrick	Democratic	1848 (app.) 1849 (ret.) 1853 (app.) 1853 (sp.) 1855	No election. Democratic loss.	None.
Arkansas	Robert W. Johnson	Democratic	1853 (app.) 1854 (sp.) 1855	Incumbent retired. Democratic hold.	Ninth ballot (December 20, 1860) ▌ Charles B. Mitchel (Democratic) 52 ▌ Samuel H. Hempstead (Democratic) 26 ▌ George C. Watkins (Democratic) 8 ▌ Robert W. Johnson (Democratic) 2 Scattering 5
California	William M. Gwin	Democratic	1850 1855 (f.) 1857 (sp.)	Incumbent retired. Democratic hold.	Twenty-third ballot (April 2, 1861) ▌Y James A. McDougall (DD–A-L) 57 ▌ John Nugent (DD–L) 39 ▌ John B. Weller (Breckinridge Democratic) 4 Scattering 2
Connecticut	Lafayette S. Foster	Republican	1854	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot (May 10, 1860) ▌Y Lafayette S. Foster (Republican) 139 HTooltip Connecticut House of Representatives; 16 STooltip Connecticut Senate ▌ William W. Eaton (Democratic) 70 HTooltip Connecticut House of Representatives; 7 STooltip Connecticut Senate
Florida	David L. Yulee	Democratic	1855	No election. Democratic loss.	None.
Georgia	Alfred Iverson	Democratic	1854–55	No election. Democratic loss.	None.
Illinois	Lyman Trumbull	Republican	1855	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot (January 10, 1861) ▌Y Lyman Trumbull (Republican) 54 ▌ Samuel S. Marshall (Democratic) 46
Indiana	Graham N. Fitch	Democratic	1857 (sp.)	Incumbent retired. Republican gain.	First ballot (January 16, 1861) ▌Y Henry S. Lane (Republican) 88 ▌ Joseph A. Wright (Democratic) 57
Iowa	James Harlan	Republican	1855 1857 (inv.) 1857 (sp.)	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot (January 14, 1860) ▌Y James Harlan (Republican) 73 ▌ Augustus C. Dodge (Democratic) 52
Kansas (2 seats)	None (new state)			Seat created January 29, 1861. Republican gain.	First ballot (April 4, 1861) ▌Y James H. Lane (Republican) 55 ▌Y Samuel C. Pomeroy (Republican) 52 ▌ Marcus J. Parrott (Republican) 49 ▌ Frederick P. Stanton (Republican) 21 ▌ A. J. Isacks (Democratic) 11 ▌ Samuel A. Kingman (Republican) 3 ▌ Mark W. Delahay (Republican) 2 Scattering 2
				Seat created January 29, 1861. Republican gain.
Kentucky	John J. Crittenden	American	1816 1819 (r.) 1835 1841 (ret.) 1842 (app.) 1842 (sp.) 1843 1848 (r.) 1854	Incumbent retired. Democratic gain.	First ballot (December 12, 1859) ▌Y John C. Breckinridge (Democratic) 81 ▌ Joshua F. Bell (Opposition) 52
Louisiana	John Slidell	Democratic	1853 (sp.) 1854–55	No election. Democratic loss.	None.
Maryland	James Pearce	Democratic	1843 1849 1855	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot (March 3, 1860) ▌Y James Pearce (Democratic) 50 ▌ James U. Dennis (American) 34 Blank 1
Missouri	James S. Green	Democratic	1857 (sp.)	Incumbent withdrew during election. Democratic hold.	Fifteenth ballot (March 18, 1861) ▌Y Waldo P. Johnson (Breckinridge Democratic) 81 ▌ Alexander W. Doniphan (Constitutional Union) 36 ▌ Thomas B. English (Douglas Democratic) 29
New Hampshire	Daniel Clark	Republican	1857	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot (June 13, 1860) ▌Y Daniel Clark (Republican) 184 HTooltip New Hampshire House of Representatives; 8 STooltip New Hampshire Senate ▌ John S. Wells (Democratic) 108 HTooltip New Hampshire House of Representatives; 2 STooltip New Hampshire Senate Scattering 2 HTooltip New Hampshire House of Representatives; 0 STooltip New Hampshire Senate
New York	William H. Seward	Republican	1849 1855	Incumbent retired. Republican hold.	First ballot (February 5, 1861) ▌Y Ira Harris (Republican) 88 ATooltip New York State Assembly; 22 STooltip New York State Senate ▌ Horatio Seymour (Democratic) 31 ATooltip New York State Assembly; 9 STooltip New York State Senate
North Carolina	Thomas L. Clingman	Democratic	1858 (app.) 1858 (sp.)	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot (January 31, 1861) ▌Y Thomas L. Clingman (Democratic) 85 ▌ William A. Graham (Whig) 17 ▌ Bedford Brown (Democratic) 16 ▌ Sion H. Rogers (Whig) 11 ▌ Burgess S. Gaither (Whig) 6 ▌ William N. H. Smith (Whig) 4 ▌ Richard S. Donnell (Whig) 2 Scattering 6
Ohio	George E. Pugh	Democratic	1854	Incumbent lost re-election. Republican gain.	First ballot (February 3, 1860) ▌Y Salmon P. Chase (Republican) 76 ▌ George E. Pugh (Democratic) 53 ▌ Thomas Corwin (Republican) 5
Oregon	Joseph Lane	Democratic	1859	Incumbent retired. Democratic hold.	Fourteenth ballot (October 2, 1860) ▌Y James Nesmith (Douglas Democratic) 27 ▌ Matthew Deady (Breckinridge Democratic) 22 Blank 1
Pennsylvania	William Bigler	Democratic	1856	Incumbent retired. People's gain.	First ballot (January 8, 1861) ▌Y Edgar Cowan (People's) 98 ▌ Henry D. Foster (Democratic) 35
South Carolina	James H. Hammond	Democratic	1857	No election. Democratic loss.	None.
Vermont	Jacob Collamer	Republican	1855	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot (October 16, 1860) ▌Y Jacob Collamer (Republican) 198 HTooltip Vermont House of Representatives; 27 STooltip Vermont Senate ▌ Paul Dillingham (Democratic) 24 HTooltip Vermont House of Representatives; 1 STooltip Vermont Senate
Wisconsin	Charles Durkee	Republican	1855	Incumbent retired. Republican hold.	First ballot (January 23, 1861) ▌Y Timothy O. Howe (Republican) 82 ▌ Henry L. Palmer (Democratic) 34

Special elections during the next Congress

State	Incumbent			This race
	Senator	Party	Electoral history	Results	Candidates
Pennsylvania (Class 1)	Simon Cameron	People's	1857	Incumbent resigned March 4, 1861. New member elected March 14, 1861. People's hold.	First ballot (March 14, 1861) ▌Y David Wilmot (People's) 95 ▌ William H. Welsh (Democratic) 35 Scattering 2
Ohio (Class 3)	Salmon P. Chase	Republican	1849 1855 (ret.) 1860	Incumbent resigned March 6, 1861. New member elected March 21, 1861. Republican hold.	First ballot (March 21, 1861) ▌Y John Sherman (Republican) 76 ▌ William Kennon (Democratic) 53
Virginia (Class 1)	James M. Mason	Democratic	1847 (sp.) 1850 1856	Incumbent expelled July 11, 1861. New member elected July 9, 1861. Union gain.	First ballot (July 9, 1861) ▌Y Waitman T. Willey (Union) 22 ▌ Peter G. Van Winkle (Union) 10 ▌ Daniel Lamb (Union) 6
Virginia (Class 2)	Robert M. T. Hunter	Democratic	1846 1852 1858	Incumbent expelled July 11, 1861. New member elected July 9, 1861. Union gain.	First ballot (July 9, 1861) ▌Y John S. Carlile (Union) 38
Kentucky (Class 3)	John C. Breckinridge	Democratic	1859	Incumbent expelled December 4, 1861. New member elected December 10, 1861. Union gain.	First ballot (December 10, 1861) ▌Y Garrett Davis (Union) 84 ▌ William Johnson (Southern Rights) 12 ▌ William O. Butler (Union) 1

Alabama

See also: List of United States senators from Alabama

Alabama election

No election

Senator before election Benjamin Fitzpatrick Democratic Elected Senator None (vacant from January 21, 1861)

One-term Democrat Benjamin Fitzpatrick was elected in 1855. He withdrew from the Senate on January 21, 1861, following the secession of Alabama. The Alabama Legislature did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1868.

Arkansas

Main article: 1860 United States Senate election in Arkansas

See also: List of United States senators from Arkansas and 1860 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas

Arkansas election

December 20, 1860
Members of the Arkansas General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Charles B. Mitchel Samuel H. Hempstead George C. Watkins Party Democratic Democratic Democratic 1st ballot 27 (29.7%) 33 (33.0%) 23 (25.3%) 9th ballot 52 (55.9%) 26 (28.0%) 8 (8.6%)
Senator before election Robert W. Johnson Democratic Elected Senator Charles B. Mitchel Democratic

One-term Democrat Robert W. Johnson was elected in 1855. He was not a candidate for re-election.

The Arkansas General Assembly met on December 20, 1860, to hold an election for the next term. Democrats Charles B. Mitchel, Samuel H. Hempstead, N. B. Burrow, and George C. Watkins were nominated as candidates. Burrow, a secessionist, declined to be considered; the remaining candidates were notably cautious in their responses to Lincoln's election.

Mitchel was elected with 52 votes on the ninth ballot. He subsequently was expelled from Congress on July 11, 1861, following the secession of Arkansas.

California

See also: List of United States senators from California

There were two elections in California, due to the death of David C. Broderick.

California (special)

Main article: 1860 United States Senate special election in California

California special election

January 9, 1860
Members of the California State Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Milton Latham Edmund Randolph Party Lecompton Democratic Democratic 1st ballot 97 (85.1%) 14 (12.3%)
Senator before election Henry Haun (interim) Democratic Elected Senator Milton Latham Lecompton Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Henry P. Haun was appointed in 1859 to fill the vacancy created by Broderick's death.

The California State Legislature met in joint session on January 14, 1861, to hold a special election for the unexpired term. The Lecompton Democratic governor of California Milton Latham defeated the Anti-Lecompton Democrat Edward Randolph. The Republican candidate Oscar L. Shafter received only three votes out of the 114 cast.

California (regular)

Main article: 1861 United States Senate election in California

California election

March 9–20, 1861 (1st–22nd) April 2, 1861 (23rd)
Members of the California State Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee James A. McDougall John Nugent John B. Weller Party Douglas Democratic (Anti-Lecompton) Douglas Democratic (Lecompton) Breckinridge Democratic 1st ballot 27 (23.9%) 9 (8.0%) 27 (23.9%) 23rd ballot 57 (54.8%) 39 (37.5%) 4 (3.8%)   Nominee Timothy G. Phelps James W. Denver Party Republican Douglas Democratic (Lecompton) 1st ballot 23 (20.4%) 16 (14.3%) 23rd ballot — —
Senator before election William M. Gwin Democratic Elected Senator James A. McDougall Democratic

Two-term Democrat William M. Gwin was re-elected in 1857 following the failure of the California State Legislature to elect a senator in 1855. He was not a candidate for re-election.

The California Democratic Party was divided between proslavery Chivalry or Lecompton Democrats, and free soil Anti-Lecompton Democrats. The 1860 U.S. presidential election multiplied these divisions, producing splits between supporters of the presidential candidacies of Stephen A. Douglas and John C. Breckinridge, and between Lecompton and Anti-Lecompton Douglas Democrats. The Constitutional Union Party, composed of conservative former Whigs, was of minimal importance. California Republicans were able to capitalize on the bitterness between the Democratic factions to carry the state in the national election with less than one third of the votes cast.

Gwin's term ended on March 3, 1861, without the legislature having chosen his successor. On March 9, the Senate and the House of Representatives met in joint session to hold an election for the next term. Anti-Lecompton Douglas Democrat James A. McDougall, Breckinridge Democrat John B. Weller, Republican Timothy G. Phelps, and Lecompton Douglas Democrats James W. Denver and John Nugent were the major candidates.

Several coalitions of various factions were attempted during the balloting. Lacking the votes to elect their own candidate, the Republicans threw their support to McDougall in order to forestall a coalition of the Breckinridge and Lecompton Douglas Democrats.

After multiple rounds of voting spread out over several days, McDougall was apparently elected on March 20 with 56 votes on the 22nd ballot. Subsequently, it was discovered that McDougall's total fell one vote short of the requisite majority for a legal election. The joint session reconvened on April 2, when McDougall received the necessary 57 votes on the first (23rd overall) ballot.

Connecticut

Main article: 1860 United States Senate election in Connecticut

See also: List of United States senators from Connecticut and 1861 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut

Connecticut election

May 10, 1860
Members of the Connecticut General Assembly Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Lafayette S. Foster William W. Eaton Party Republican Democratic House 139 (66.5%) 70 (33.5%) Senate 16 (69.6%) 7 (21.4%)
Senator before election Lafayette S. Foster Republican Elected Senator Lafayette S. Foster Republican

One-term Republican Lafayette S. Foster was elected in 1854.

The Senate and the House of Representatives met separately on May 10, 1860, to hold an election for the next term. Foster defeated the Democratic candidate William W. Eaton on the first ballot.

Florida

See also: List of United States senators from Florida and 1860 United States House of Representatives election in Florida

Florida election

No election

Senator before election David L. Yulee Democratic Elected Senator None (vacant from January 21, 1861)

One-term Democrat David L. Yulee was elected in 1855. He withdrew from the Senate on January 21, 1861, following the secession of Florida. The Florida Legislature did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1868.

Georgia

See also: List of United States senators from Georgia

Georgia election

No election

Senator before election Alfred Iverson Democratic Elected Senator None (vacant from January 28, 1861)

One-term Democrat Alfred Iverson was elected in 1854 or 1855. He withdrew from the Senate on January 28, 1861, following the secession of Georgia. The Georgia Legislature did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1871.

Illinois

Main article: 1861 United States Senate election in Illinois

See also: List of United States senators from Illinois and 1860 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois

Illinois election

January 10, 1861
Members of the Illinois General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Lyman Trumbull Samuel S. Marshall Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 54 (54.0%) 46 (46.0%)
Senator before election Lyman Trumbull Republican Elected Senator Lyman Trumbull Republican

One-term Republican Lyman Trumbull was elected in 1855.

The Illinois General Assembly met in joint session on January 10, 1861, to hold an election for the next term. Trumbull defeated the Democratic candidate Samuel S. Marshall on the first ballot.

Indiana

Main article: 1861 United States Senate election in Indiana

See also: List of United States senators from Indiana and 1860 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana

Indiana election

January 16, 1861
Members of the Indiana General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Henry S. Lane Joseph A. Wright Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 88 (60.7%) 57 (39.3%)
Senator before election Graham N. Fitch Democratic Elected Senator Henry S. Lane Republican

Incumbent Democrat Graham N. Fitch was elected in 1857 following the failure of the legislature to elect a senator in 1855. He was not a candidate for re-election.

The Indiana General Assembly met in joint session on January 16, 1861, to hold an election for the next term. The Republican governor of Indiana Henry S. Lane defeated the Democratic former governor Joseph A. Wright on the first ballot. Wright was subsequently appointed to the other Indiana seat following the expulsion of Democrat Jesse D. Bright later in 1861. Lane's election elevated the lieutenant governor Oliver P. Morton to the governorship in accordance with an arrangement between the two men worked out in advance of the 1860 state elections.

Iowa

Main article: 1860 United States Senate election in Iowa

See also: List of United States senators from Iowa and 1860 United States House of Representatives elections in Iowa

Iowa election

January 14, 1860
Members of the Iowa General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee James Harlan Augustus C. Dodge Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 73 (58.4%) 52 (41.6%)
Senator before election James Harlan Republican Elected Senator James Harlan Republican

One-term Republican James Harlan was re-elected in 1857 following the invalidation of his initial election in 1855.

The Iowa General Assembly met in joint session on January 14, 1860, to hold an election for the next term. Harlan defeated the Democratic candidate Augustus C. Dodge on the first ballot.

Kansas

Main article: 1861 United States Senate elections in Kansas

See also: List of United States senators from Kansas

Kansas election

April 4, 1861
100 members of the Kansas Legislature 51 votes needed to win
Nominee James H. Lane Samuel C. Pomeroy Marcus J. Parrott Party Republican Republican Republican 1st ballot 55 (55.0%) 52 (52.0%) 49 (49.0%)   Nominee Frederick P. Stanton A. J. Isacks Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 21 (21.0%) 11 (11.0%)
Senators before election None Elected Senators James H. Lane (Class 2) Samuel C. Pomeroy (Class 3) Republican

Kansas elected two senators following its admission on January 29, 1861.

The Kansas Legislature met in joint session on April 4, 1861, to hold elections for both seats. Members voted for two candidates, with the first and second-place finishers being elected.

James H. Lane, Marcus J. Parrott, Samuel C. Pomeroy, and Frederick P. Stanton were the leading Republican candidates in a field that also included Mark W. Delahay and Thomas Ewing. Ewing withdrew prior to the election, while Delahay exerted little effort on his own behalf. The Kansas Democratic Party was hopelessly outnumbered in the legislature, and those Democrats like Archibald Williams and P. T. Abell who allowed their names to be mentioned did not seriously hope to be elected.

Voting took place over two hours, with members switching their votes frequently as the fortunes of the candidates rose and fell. Lane and Pomeroy had 55 and 52 votes, respectively, on the final tally and were pronounced elected.

Kentucky

See also: List of United States senators from Kentucky and 1861 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky

Two elections were held in Kentucky, due to the election and subsequent expulsion of John C. Breckinridge.

Kentucky (regular)

Main article: 1859 United States Senate election in Kentucky

Kentucky election

December 12, 1859
Members of the Kentucky General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee John C. Breckinridge Joshua F. Bell Party Democratic Opposition 1st ballot 81 (60.9%) 52 (39.1%)
Senator before election John J. Crittenden American Elected Senator John C. Breckinridge Democratic

Three-term American John J. Crittenden was re-elected in 1854. Crittenden had served previous non-consecutive terms from 1817 to 1819, from 1835 to 1841, and from 1842 to 1848. He was not a candidate for re-election.

Linn Boyd, John C. Breckinridge, Elijah Hise, and John C. Mason were candidates for the Democratic nomination. A caucus of Democratic legislators selected Breckinridge on December 11, 1859, in advance of the election.

The Kentucky General Assembly met in joint session on December 12, 1859, to hold an election for the next term, more than a year before the expiration of Crittenden's term. Breckinridge defeated the Opposition candidate Joshua F. Bell on the first ballot.

Kentucky (special)

Main article: 1861 United States Senate special election in Kentucky

Kentucky special election

December 10, 1861
Members of the Kentucky General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Garrett Davis William Johnson Party Union Southern Rights 1st ballot 84 (86.6%) 12 (12.4%)
Senator before election None (vacant from March 4, 1861) Elected Senator Garrett Davis Union

Breckinridge did not return to Washington when the Senate resumed session on December 2, 1861, having enlisted in the Confederate States Army. He was expelled from Congress on December 4 for supporting the Confederacy.

The Unionist members of the legislature held a caucus on December 10, 1861, in advance of the special election. Garrett Davis, James Guthrie, Joshua F. Bell, John J. Crittenden, Joseph R. Underwood, and Joseph Holt were candidates on the first ballot. Allies of Crittenden, now a U.S. representative, asked that his name be withdrawn from further consideration, for fear that a special election for his congressional seat could be won by a secessionist. The contest then narrowed to Bell, Davis, and Guthrie. After several rounds of voting yielded no result, Bell withdrew his candidacy; Davis defeated Guthrie on the 10th ballot with 65 votes to Guthrie's 64.

The Kentucky General Assembly met on December 10, 1861, to hold a special election for the unexpired term. Voting proceeded separately in the Senate and the House of Representatives, after which the votes were tallied jointly. Davis defeated the Southern Rights candidate William Johnson on the first ballot.

Louisiana

See also: List of United States senators from Louisiana

Louisiana election

No election

Senator before election John Slidell Democratic Elected Senator None (vacant from February 4, 1861)

One-term Democrat John Slidell was elected in 1854 or 1855. He withdrew from the Senate on February 4, 1861, following the secession of Louisiana. The Louisiana State Legislature did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1868.

Maine (special)

Main article: 1861 United States Senate special election in Maine

See also: List of United States senators from Maryland

Maine special election

January 9, 1861
Members of the Maine Legislature Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Lot M. Morrill George F. Shepley Party Republican Democratic House 124 (84.4%) 23 (15.6%) Senate 29 (100.0%) —
Senator before election Hannibal Hamlin Republican Elected Senator Lot M. Morrill Republican

Two-term Republican Hannibal Hamlin was re-elected in 1857. Hamlin was elected vice president in 1860 and resigned his Senate seat on January 7, 1861.

The Senate and the House of Representatives met separately on January 9, 1861, to hold a special election for the unexpired term. The Republican candidate Lot M. Morrill defeated the Democratic candidate George F. Shepley on the first ballot.

Maryland

Main article: 1860 United States Senate election in Maryland

See also: List of United States senators from Maryland and 1861 United States House of Representatives elections in Maryland

Maryland election

March 2, 1860
Members of the Maryland General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee James A. Pearce James U. Dennis Party Democratic American 1st ballot 50 (59.5%) 34 (40.5%)
Senator before election James A. Pearce Democratic Elected Senator James A. Pearce Democratic

Three-term Democrat James A. Pearce was re-elected in 1855.

The Maryland General Assembly met on March 2, 1860, to hold an election for the next term. Voting proceeded separately in the Senate and the House of Delegates, after which the tellers withdrew and to count the ballots in the Senate chamber. Pearce defeated the American candidate James U. Dennis on the first ballot.

Missouri

Main article: 1861 United States Senate election in Missouri

See also: List of United States Senators from Missouri and 1860 United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri

Missouri election

March 13–18, 1861
Members of the Missouri General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Waldo P. Johnson Alexander W. Doniphan Thomas B. English Party Breckinridge Democratic Constitutional Union Douglas Democratic 1st ballot — 26 (16.9%) 9 (5.8%) 15th ballot 81 (55.5%) 36 (24.6%) 29 (19.9%)   Nominee James S. Green John S. Phelps Robert Wilson Party Breckinridge Democratic Douglas Democratic Constitutional Union 1st ballot 68 (44.2%) 13 (8.4%) 10 (6.5%) 15th ballot — — —   Nominee Willard P. Hall Party Douglas Democratic 1st ballot 8 (5.2%) 15th ballot —
Senator before election James S. Green Democratic Elected Senator Waldo P. Johnson Breckinridge Democratic

One-term Democrat James S. Green was elected in 1857 following the failure of the legislature to elect a senator in 1855.

Green's term expired on March 4, 1861. The Missouri General Assembly met in joint session on March 13 to hold an election for the next term. No candidate had a majority on the first ballot, necessitating several subsequent rounds of voting over the ensuing five days.

Green, Constitutional Unionist Alexander W. Doniphan, and Douglas Democrats John S. Phelps and Thomas B. English were the leading candidates on the first ballot, with several other candidates polling between one and 10 votes. Green's secessionist, proslavery views were an issue during the election; supporters argued that failure to re-elect the incumbent would be interpreted as a concession to the abolitionist movement.

Green's support dwindled over the first two days of balloting. On March 18, prior to the start of voting, his supporters withdrew his name in favor of Breckinridge Democrat Waldo P. Johnson, who was elected on the 15th ballot.

Johnson, a secessionist, did not attend the 37th Congress when it convened on July 4, 1861. He was expelled from the Senate on January 10, 1862, for supporting the Confederacy. Robert Wilson, who received 10 votes as a Constitutional Unionist on the first ballot, was appointed to Johnson's vacant seat pending a special election in 1863.

New Hampshire

Main article: 1860 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

See also: List of United States senators from New Hampshire

New Hampshire election

June 13, 1860
Members of the New Hampshire General Court Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Daniel Clark John S. Wells Party Republican Democratic House 184 (62.6%) 108 (36.7%) Senate 8 (80.0%) 2 (20.0%)
Senator before election Daniel Clark Republican Elected Senator Daniel Clark Republican

Incumbent Republican Daniel Clark was elected in 1857 to fill the vacancy created by the death of James Bell.

The Republican members of the New Hampshire General Court nominated Clark for re-election at their caucus on June 12, 1861, in advance of the election. The Democrats nominated John S. Wells.

The Senate and the House of Representatives met separately on June 13, 1861, to hold an election for the next term. Clark defeated Wells on the first ballot.

New York

Main article: 1861 United States Senate election in New York

See also: List of United States senators from New York and 1860 United States House of Representatives elections in New York

New York election

February 5, 1861
Members of the New York State Legislature Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Ira Harris Horatio Seymour Party Republican Democratic Assembly 88 (73.9%) 31 (26.0%) Senate 22 (71.0%) 9 (29.0%)
Senator before election William H. Seward Republican Elected Senator Ira Harris Republican

Two-term Republican William H. Seward was re-elected in 1855. He was not a candidate for re-election.

The Senate and the Assembly met separately on February 5, 1861, to hold an election for the next term. The Republican candidate Ira Harris defeated the Democratic candidate Horatio Seymour on the first ballot.

North Carolina

Main article: 1861 United States Senate election in North Carolina

See also: List of United States senators from North Carolina

North Carolina election

January 31, 1861
Members of the North Carolina General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Thomas L. Clingman William A. Graham Party Democratic Whig 1st ballot 85 (57.8%) 17 (11.6%)   Nominee Bedford Brown Sion H. Rogers Party Democratic Whig 1st ballot 16 (10.9%) 11 (7.5%)
Senator before election Thomas L. Clingman Democratic Elected Senator Thomas L. Clingman Democratic

Incumbent Democrat Thomas L. Clingman was elected in 1858 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Asa Biggs.

Although it declined nationally after 1855, the Whig Party survived in North Carolina and contested the 1860 state elections under its former name. Whigs elected 19 senators and 55 members of the House of Commons, holding the Democrats to narrow majorities in both chambers.

Clingman, a former Whig from Western North Carolina, was by 1860 the leader of the state's secessionist Democrats. Unionists in the North Carolina Senate attempted to draft Democrat Bedford Brown, but he declined consideration. Opposition to Clingman was divided and distracted by the proposal to call a state convention to consider secession which had passed the legislature on January 29.

The North Carolina General Assembly met on January 31, 1861, to hold an election for the next term. Voting proceeded separately in the Senate and the House of Commons, after which the votes were tallied jointly. Clingman and Whig Sion H. Rogers were nominated by members of the House of Commons, while Brown was nominated by the Senate. Clingman defeated his various rivals on the first ballot.

North Carolina seceded on May 20, 1861. Clingman did not attend the 37th Congress when it convened on July 4 and was expelled on July 11 for supporting the Confederacy.

Ohio

See also: List of United States senators from Ohio and 1860 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio

Two elections were held in Ohio, due to the election and subsequent resignation of Salmon P. Chase.

Ohio (regular)

Main article: 1860 United States Senate election in Ohio

Ohio election

February 3, 1860
Members of the Ohio General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Salmon P. Chase George E. Pugh Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 76 (56.7%) 53 (39.6%)
Senator before election George E. Pugh Democratic Elected Senator Salmon P. Chase Republican

One-term Democrat George E. Pugh was elected in 1854.

The Ohio General Assembly met in joint session on February 3, 1860, to hold an election for the next term. The Republican candidate Salmon P. Chase defeated Pugh on the first ballot.

Ohio (special)

Main article: 1861 United States Senate special election in Ohio

Ohio special election

March 21, 1861
Members of the Ohio General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee John Sherman William Kennon Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 76 (58.9%) 53 (41.1%)
Senator before election None (vacant from March 6, 1861) Elected Senator John Sherman Republican

Chase resigned from the Senate on March 6, 1861, following his appointment as U.S. secretary of the treasury.

The Ohio General Assembly met in joint session on March 21 to hold a special election for the unexpired term. The Republican candidate John Sherman defeated the Democratic candidate William Kennon on the first ballot.

Oregon

See also: List of United States senators from Oregon and 1860 United States House of Representatives elections in Oregon

There were two elections in Oregon, due to the vacancy of the Class 2 seat.

Democrats Joseph Lane and Delazon Smith were elected in 1858, Smith for the term ending March 3, 1859, and Lane for the term ending March 3, 1861. After the expiration of Smith's term, but before the 36th Congress convened, the governor of Oregon John Whiteaker called a special session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly in May 1859 to hold an election for the succeeding term. The Oregon Democratic Party was divided between partisans of Lane and Asahel Bush, who were identified with support or opposition to the Buchanan administration's policy on slavery in the U.S. territories, respectively. In the Democratic caucus, Smith, a Lane Democrat, was narrowly renominated with 22 out of 43 votes. The Bush Democrats subsequently refused to support Smith's re-election in the legislative joint session, and the legislature adjourned on July 4 without having elected a senator.

In the interim, Lane was nominated for vice president by the Breckinridge Democratic National Convention; the Lane faction became identified with Breckinridge's presidential candidacy in Oregon, while the Anti-Lane forces supported Stephen Douglas. In elections held in June 1860, an ad-hoc Anti-Lane coalition of Republicans and Douglas Democrats handed a decisive defeat to the Lane faction, which was reduced to a minority in the legislature. Besides their shared hatred of Lane, both groups opposed the United States Supreme Court's ruling in Dred Scott v. Sandford and supported popular sovereignty. The election of an Anti-Lane majority cleared the way for a cooperation between Republicans and Douglas Democrats in the upcoming senatorial elections.

The legislature met again in joint session on September 21, 1860, to hold concurrent elections for both seats. The combined membership of both chambers included 19 Lane Democrats, 18 Douglas Democrats, and 13 Republicans. In an attempt to prevent a quorum in the Senate, six Lane Democrats absented themselves from the proceedings; during their absence, the House of Representatives attempted to conduct the election, but no candidate for either seat gained a majority over twenty ballots.

At length, the absent senators were persuaded to return, and balloting resumed on October 1. A coalition between the Republicans and Douglas Democrats remained elusive until the following day, when Douglas Democrat James Nesmith and Republican Edward D. Baker were elected on the 14th (34th overall) ballot.

Oregon (regular)

Main article: 1860 United States Senate election in Oregon

Oregon election

October 2, 1860
Members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee James Nesmith Matthew Deady Party Douglas Democratic Breckinridge Democratic 1st ballot 16 (32.0%) — 14th ballot 27 (54.0%) 22 (44.0%)   Nominee Delazon Smith Edward D. Baker Party Breckinridge Democratic Republican 1st ballot 19 (38.0%) 12 (24.0%) 14th ballot — —
Senator before election Joseph Lane Democratic Elected Senator James Nesmith Douglas Democratic

The incumbent Lane was not a candidate for re-election. Republican Edward D. Baker, Douglas Democrat James Nesmith, and Breckinridge Democrats Delazon Smith and Matthew Deady were the major candidates.

On October 2, Baker withdrew his candidacy for the Class 3 seat in order to seek election to the Class 2 seat. The Republican members switched their support to Nesmith, who was elected.

Oregon (special)

Main article: 1860 United States Senate special election in Oregon

Oregon special election

October 2, 1860
Members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Edward D. Baker George H. Williams George L. Curry Party Republican Douglas Democratic Breckinridge Democratic 1st ballot — 11 (22.4%) 8 (16.3%) 14th ballot 26 (52.0%) 20 (40.0%) 2 (4.0%)   Nominee La Fayette Grover Amory Holbrook Party Douglas Democratic Republican 1st ballot 16 (32.6%) 11 (22.4%) 14th ballot — —
Senator before election None (vacant from March 4, 1859) Elected Senator Edward D. Baker Republican

The term of the previous incumbent Smith ended on March 4, 1859, after which the seat was vacant.

Republican Amory Holbrook, Douglas Democrats George H. Williams and La Fayette Grover, and Breckinridge Democrat George L. Curry were the major candidates during the balloting on October 1.

On October 2, the Republican members switched their votes from Holbrook to Baker, who had withdrawn his candidacy for the Class 3 seat. Fifteen Douglas Democrats joined the Republicans to elect Baker. Holbrook, who thought fusion ill-advised and mistrusted Baker's Republican credentials, cast a blank ballot all through the voting on October 2.

Pennsylvania

See also: List of United States senators from Pennsylvania and 1860 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania

There were two elections in Pennsylvania, due to the resignation of Simon Cameron.

Pennsylvania (regular)

Main article: 1861 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania election

January 8, 1861
Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Edgar Cowan Henry D. Foster Party People's Democratic 1st ballot 98 (73.7%) 35 (26.3%)
Senator before election William Bigler Democratic Elected Senator Edgar Cowan People's

One-term Democrat William Bigler was elected in 1856 following the failure of the legislature to elect a senator in 1855.

The People's Party held a caucus on January 7, 1861, in advance of the election. Edgar Cowan and David Wilmot were the leading candidates. Wilmot was famous for his opposition to slavery in the U.S. territories and had the support of the incoming governor of Pennsylvania Andrew G. Curtin, but was opposed by conservative members who alleged his election would further antagonize the slave states. The junior U.S. senator from Pennsylvania Simon Cameron remained publicly neutral in the campaign for the Republican nomination while privately backing Cowan. In the caucus, Cowan defeated Wilmot on the sixth ballot with 58 votesto Wilmot's 38.

The Democrats selected Henry D. Foster over the incumbent Bigler.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly met in joint session on January 8, 1861, to hold an election for the next term. Cowan defeated Foster on the first ballot.

Pennsylvania (special)

Main article: 1861 United States Senate special election in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania special election

March 14, 1861
Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee David Wilmot William H. Welsh Party People's Democratic 1st ballot 95 (73.5%) 34 (26.0%)
Senator before election None (vacant from March 4, 1861) Elected Senator David Wilmot People's

One-term People's incumbent Simon Cameron was elected in 1857. Cameron resigned from the Senate on March 4, 1861, following his appointment as U.S. secretary of war.

Wilmot was nominated by the People's Party caucus on the first ballot with 76 votes to 21 for other candidates. The Democrats selected William H. Welsh after the frontrunner for the nomination, William H. Witte, withdrew.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly met in joint session on March 14, 1861, to hold a special election for the unexpired term. Wilmot defeated Welsh on the first ballot.

South Carolina

See also: List of United States senators from South Carolina and 1860 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

South Carolina election

No election

Senator before election James H. Hammond Democratic Elected Senator None (vacant from November 11, 1860)

Incumbent Democrat James H. Hammond was elected in 1857 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Andrew Butler. He withdrew from the Senate on November 11, 1860, in anticipation of the secession of South Carolina. The South Carolina General Assembly did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1868.

Vermont

Main article: 1860 United States Senate election in Vermont

See also: List of United States senators from Vermont and 1860 United States House of Representatives elections in Vermont

Vermont election

October 16, 1860
Members of the Vermont General Assembly Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Jacob Collamer Paul Dillingham Party Republican Democratic House 198 (89.2%) 24 (10.8%) Senate 27 (96.4%) 1 (3.6%)
Senator before election Jacob Collamer Republican Elected Senator Jacob Collamer Republican

One-term Republican Jacob Collamer was elected in 1855.

The Republican members of the legislature held a caucus on October 15, 1860, in advance of the election; Collamer was nominated unanimously on the first ballot.

The Senate and the House of Representatives met separately on October 16, 1860, to hold an election for the next term. Collamer defeated the Democratic candidate Paul Dillingham the first ballot.

Virginia (special)

Main article: 1861 United States Senate special elections in Virginia

See also: List of United States senators from Virginia and 1861 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia

Two special elections were held in Virginia, due to the expulsions of Robert M. T. Hunter and James M. Mason.

The Restored Virginia General Assembly met on July 9, 1861, to hold concurrent special elections for the unexpired terms. Voting proceeded separately in the Senate and the House of Delegates, after which the votes were tallied jointly. Waitman T. Willey and John S. Carlile were elected.

Virginia (Class 1)

Virginia special election

July 9, 1861
Members of the Restored Virginia General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Waitman T. Willey Peter G. Van Winkle Daniel Lamb Party Union Union Union 1st ballot 22 (57.9%) 10 (26.3%) 6 (15.8%)
Senator before election James M. Mason Democratic Elected Senator Waitman T. Willey Union

Two-term Democrat James M. Mason was re-elected in 1856. Mason did not attend the 37th Congress when it convened on July 4, 1861, and was expelled on July 11 for supporting the Confederacy.

The Restored Virginia General Assembly met on July 9 to hold a special election for the unexpired term, anticipating Mason's expulsion. Unionist Waitman T. Willey defeated Peter G. Van Winkle and Daniel Lamb on the first ballot.

Virginia (Class 2)

Virginia special election

July 9, 1861
Members of the Restored Virginia General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee John S. Carlile Party Union 1st ballot 38 (100.0%)
Senator before election Robert M. T. Hunter Democratic Elected Senator John S. Carlile Union

Three-term Democrat Robert M. T. Hunter was re-elected in 1858. Hunter did not attend the 37th Congress when it convened on July 4, 1861, and was expelled on July 11 for supporting the Confederacy.

The Restored Virginia General Assembly met on July 9 to hold a special election for the unexpired term, anticipating Hunter's expulsion. Unionist John S. Carlile was elected unanimously on the first ballot.

Wisconsin

Main article: 1861 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

See also: List of United States senators from Wisconsin and 1860 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin

Wisconsin election

January 23, 1861
Members of the Wisconsin Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Timothy O. Howe Henry L. Palmer Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 92 (73.0%) 34 (27.0%)
Senator before election Charles Durkee Republican Elected Senator Timothy O. Howe Republican

One-term Republican Charles Durkee was elected in 1855. He was not a candidate for re-election.

The Republican members of the legislature held a caucus from January 17–22, 1861, in advance of the election. Timothy O. Howe, Cadwallader C. Washburn, and Alexander W. Randall were the leading candidates. Voting continued for several days with no result. Randall eventually withdrew his candidacy in favor of Howe, who defeated Washburn on the final ballot with 52 votes to 36 for Washburn, and three abstentions.

The Wisconsin Legislature met in joint session on January 23, 1861, to hold an election for the next term. Howe defeated the Democratic candidate Henry L. Palmer on the first ballot.

See also

• 1860 United States elections
  • 1860 United States presidential election
  • 1860–61 United States House of Representatives elections
• 36th United States Congress
• 37th United States Congress

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