1882–83 United States Senate elections

The 1882–83 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 1882 and 1883, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock.[2] In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 2.

1882–83 United States Senate elections
Dates vary by state[lower-alpha 1]
26 of the 76 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections)
39 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Henry B. Anthony[lower-alpha 2]
(retired)		 George H. Pendleton[lower-alpha 3]
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since March 4, 1863 March 4, 1881
Leader's seat Rhode Island Ohio
Seats before 37 37
Seats won 11 13
Seats after 37 36
Seat change Steady Decrease 1
Seats up 11 14
  Third party Fourth party
 
Party Readjuster Independent
Seats before 1 1
Seats won 1 0
Seats after 2 0
Seat change Increase 1 Decrease 1
Seats up 0 1
Results of the elections:
     Democratic gain      Democratic hold
     Republican gain      Republican hold
     Readjuster gain      Legislature failed to elect
Majority Party before election


Republican[1]

 Elected Majority Party


Republican[1]

The Republicans retained a narrow majority — 39 (and later 40) out of 76 seats — with the Readjusters in their caucus.

Results summary

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

Parties Total
Democratic Independent Readjuster Republican
Before these elections 37 1 1 37 76
Not up 23 0 1 26 50
Class 1 (1880/81 → 1886/87) 9 0 1 15 25
Class 3 (1878/79 → 1884/85) 14 0 0 11 25
Up 15 1 0 13 29
Regular: Class 2 14 1 0 11 26
Special: Class 1 0 0 0 0 0
Special: Class 2 1 0 0 2 3
Special: Class 3 0 0 0 0 0
Regular election
Incumbent retired 3 1 0 3 7
Held by same party 2 0 — 2 4
Replaced by other party Decrease1 Independent replaced by Increase1 Republican
Decrease1 Republican replaced by Increase1 Democrat
Decrease1 Democrat replaced by Increase1 Republican		 IncreaseDecrease3
Result 3 0 0 4 7
Incumbent ran 11 0 0 8 19
Won re-election 10 0 0 4 14
Lost re-election and gained by other party Decrease1 Democrat replaced by Increase1 Readjuster IncreaseDecrease1
Lost re-election without an elected successor Decrease1 Republican lost and legislature failed to elect Decrease1
Lost renomination but held by same party 0 0 0 3 3
Result 10 0 1 7 18
Total elected 13 0 1 11 25
Net change Decrease1 Decrease1 Increase1 Steady IncreaseDecrease3
Result 36 0 2 37 75

Change in Senate composition

Before the elections

After the November 15, 1882 special election in Georgia.

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
Ran		 D24
Ran		 D23 D22 D21 D20 D19
D29
Ran		 D30
Ran		 D31
Ran		 D32
Ran		 D33
Ran		 D34
Ran		 D35
Retired		 D36
Retired		 D37
Retired		 I1
Retired
Plurality, with Readjuster in caucus and VP tie-breaking vote ↓ RA1
R29
Ran		 R30
Ran		 R31
Ran		 R32
Ran		 R33
Ran		 R34
Ran		 R35
Retired		 R36
Retired		 R37
Retired
R28
Ran		 R27
Ran		 R26 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
Re-elected		 D24
Re-elected		 D23 D22 D21 D20 D19
D29
Re-elected		 D30
Re-elected		 D31
Re-elected		 D32
Re-elected		 D33
Re-elected		 D34
Hold		 D35
Hold		 D36
Gain		 V1
R Loss		 RA2
Gain
Majority, with Readjusters in caucus ↓ RA1
R29
Re-elected		 R30
Re-elected		 R31
Hold		 R32
Hold		 R33
Hold		 R34
Hold		 R35
Hold		 R36
Gain		 R37
Gain
R28
Re-elected		 R27
Re-elected		 R26 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
Key:
D# Democratic
I# Independent
RA# Readjuster
R# Republican
V# Vacant

Race summaries

Special elections during the 47th Congress

In these elections, the winners were seated during 1882 or in 1883 before March 4; ordered by election date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Iowa
(Class 2)		 James W. McDill Republican 1881 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected January 25, 1882.
Winner did not run for re-election, see below.
Georgia
(Class 2)		 Benjamin H. Hill Democratic 1877 Incumbent died August 16, 1882.
Winner elected November 15, 1882.
Democratic hold.
Winner did not run for re-election, see below.
Colorado
(Class 2)		 George M. Chilcott Republican 1882 (Appointed) Interim appointee retired.
Winner elected January 27, 1883.
Republican hold.
Winner did not run for re-election, see below.

Races leading to the 48th Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1883; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral
history
Alabama John Tyler Morgan Democratic 1876 Incumbent re-elected in 1882.
Arkansas Augustus Garland Democratic 1876 Incumbent re-elected in 1883.
Colorado Horace Tabor Republican 1883 (special) Incumbent retired.
Winner's election date unknown.
Republican hold.
Delaware Eli Saulsbury Democratic 1870
1876		 Incumbent re-elected in 1883.
Georgia Middleton P. Barrow Democratic 1882 (special) Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1883.
Democratic hold.
Illinois David Davis Independent 1876 or 1877 Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1882.
Republican gain.
Iowa James W. McDill Republican 1881 (Appointed)
1882 (special)		 Incumbent retired.
Winner elected January 25, 1882.
Republican hold.
Kansas Preston B. Plumb Republican 1877 Incumbent re-elected January 24, 1883.[4]
Kentucky James B. Beck Democratic 1876 Incumbent re-elected in 1882.
Louisiana Joseph R. West Republican 1876 Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1882.
Democratic gain.
Maine William P. Frye Republican 1881 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1883.
Massachusetts George Frisbie Hoar Republican 1877 Incumbent re-elected in 1883.
Michigan Thomas W. Ferry Republican 1871
1877		 Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1882 or 1883.
Republican hold.
Minnesota William Windom Republican 1870 (Appointed)
1871
1877
1881 (special)		 Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1883.
Republican hold.
Mississippi Lucius Q. C. Lamar II Democratic 1876 Incumbent re-elected in 1883.
Nebraska Alvin Saunders Republican 1877 Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected in 1883.
Republican hold.
New Hampshire Edward H. Rollins Republican 1876 Incumbent lost re-election.
Legislature failed to elect.
Republican loss.		 None.
New Jersey John R. McPherson Democratic 1877 Incumbent re-elected in 1883.
North Carolina Matt W. Ransom Democratic 1872 (special)
1876		 Incumbent re-elected in 1883.
Oregon La Fayette Grover Democratic 1882 or 1883 Incumbent retired.
Winner elected in 1882.
Republican gain.
Rhode Island Henry B. Anthony Republican 1858
1864
1870
1876		 Incumbent re-elected in 1882.
South Carolina Matthew Butler Democratic 1876 Incumbent re-elected in 1882.
Tennessee Isham G. Harris Democratic 1877 Incumbent re-elected in 1883.
Texas Richard Coke Democratic 1876 Incumbent re-elected in 1882.
Virginia John W. Johnston Democratic 1871
1877		 Incumbent lost re-election.
Winner elected early December 21, 1881.[5]
Readjuster gain.
Winner caucused with the Republicans.[5]
West Virginia Henry G. Davis Democratic 1871
1877		 Incumbent retired.
Winner's election date unknown.
Democratic hold.

Elections during the 48th Congress

In this election, the winner was elected in 1883 after March 4.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
New Hampshire Vacant Legislature had failed to elect.
Winner elected August 2, 1883.[6]
Republican gain.

Iowa
Main articles: 1882 United States Senate election in Iowa and 1882 United States Senate special election in Iowa

On January 25, 1882, the Iowa General Assembly elected James W. McDill (Republican) to finish the term over M. M. Ham and Daniel Campbell.[3] James F. Wilson (Republican) was elected to the full six-year term on January 25, 1882 over L. G. Kinne and D. P. Subbs.[3]

West Virginia
1883 United States Senate election in West Virginia
January 23, 1883
Needed to win: Majority of votes cast in each House of the Legislature
62 votes cast in the House, 32 needed
26 votes cast in the Senate, 14 needed
 
Candidate John E. Kenna George Loomis
Party Democratic Republican
House vote 37 votes
59.7%		 22 votes
35.5%
Senate vote 17 votes
65.4%		 7 votes
26.9%
U.S. senator before election

Henry G. Davis
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

John E. Kenna
Democratic

On January 23, 1883, each House of the West Virginia Legislature chose a senator to replace retiring incumbent, Henry G. Davis. In both chambers, the ballot was a three-way race between John E. Kenna, a Democratic congressman, George Loomis, a state judge and former state senator, and Berkeley County resident John Tabb Janney.[7] In the House, the final count was 37 votes for Kenna, 22 votes for Loomis, and 3 votes for Janney. In the Senate, the final count was 17 votes for Kenna, 7 votes for Loomis, and 2 votes for Janney.[8] Kenna, having received the majority of votes in both chambers, was declared duly elected as senator.

See also

Notes
  1. And other dates for special elections
  2. as Republican Conference Chair
  3. as Democratic Caucus Chair

References
  1. The Readjusters caucused with the Republicans.
  2. "17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)". National Archives and Records Administration. February 8, 2022.
  3. Clark, p. 199
  4. Blackmar, Frank Wilson (1912). Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, Embracing Events, Institutions, Industries, Counties, Cities, Towns, Prominent Persons, Etc. ... Kansas: Standard Publishing Company. p. 757. ISBN 9780722249055.
  5. Jones Salmon, Emily. "Harrison H. Riddleberger (1843–1890)". Encyclopedia Virginia/Dictionary of Virginia Biography. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  6. "A Long Dead-Lock Broken: Austin F. Pike Elected Senator from New-Hampshire". New York Times. August 3, 1883. p. 1. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  7. Atkinson, George Wesley (1890). Prominent Men of West Virginia. W.L. Callin. p. 381.
  8. Journal of the House of Delegates of the State of West Virginia. West Virginia Legislature. January 24, 1883. p. 100.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
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