1908–09 United States Senate elections

The 1908–09 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 primarily chosen by state legislatures. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1906 and 1907, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock.[1] However, some states had already begun direct elections during this time. Oregon pioneered direct election and experimented with different measures over several years until it succeeded in 1907. Soon after, Nebraska followed suit and laid the foundation for other states to adopt measures reflecting the people's will. By 1912, as many as 29 states elected senators either as nominees of their party's primary or in conjunction with a general election.

1908–09 United States Senate elections
January 14, 1908 –
May 26, 1909
31 of the 92 seats in the U.S. Senate
47 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Eugene Hale[lower-alpha 1]
(retired)		 Charles Culberson[lower-alpha 2]
(retired)
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since March 4, 1907 March 4, 1903
Leader's seat Maine Texas
Seats before 61 31
Seats won 16 13
Seats after 60 32
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 1
Seats up 18 13
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

Eugene Hale
Republican

The 31 Class 3 seats were up for election, as well as various special elections to fill vacancies or confirm appointments. The Republicans lost two seats overall.

In Illinois and Florida, the legislature failed to elect until after the beginning of the 61st Congress on March 4.

Results summary

Senate party division, 61st Congress (1909–1911)

  • Majority party: Republican (60 seats)
  • Minority party: Democratic (32 seats)
  • Other parties: 0
  • Total seats: 92

Change in composition

Before the elections

After the January 21, 1908, special election in Rhode Island.

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6
D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8 D7
D17 D18 D19
Ran		 D20
Ran		 D21
Ran		 D22
Ran		 D23
Ran		 D24
Ran		 D25
Ran		 D26
Ran
R57
Ran		 R58
Ran		 R59
Ran		 R60
Retired		 R61
Retired		 D31
Retired		 D30
Retired		 D29
Retired		 D28
Unknown		 D27
Ran
R56
Ran		 R55
Ran		 R54
Ran		 R53
Ran		 R52
Ran		 R51
Ran		 R50
Ran		 R49
Ran		 R48
Ran		 R47
Ran
Majority →
R37 R38 R39 R40 R41 R42 R43 R44
Ran		 R45
Ran		 R46
Ran
R36 R35 R34 R33 R32 R31 R30 R29 R28 R27
R17 R18 R19 R20 R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26
R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11 R10 R9 R8 R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6

Result of the general elections
D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6
D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8 D7
D17 D18 D19
Re-elected		 D20
Re-elected		 D21
Re-elected		 D22
Re-elected		 D23
Re-elected		 D24
Re-elected		 D25
Re-elected		 D26
Re-elected
R57
Hold		 R58
Hold		 R59
Gain		 V1
R loss		 V2
D loss		 D31
Gain		 D30
Gain		 D29
Hold		 D28
Hold		 D27
Hold
R56
Hold		 R55
Hold		 R54
Hold		 R53
Re-elected		 R52
Re-elected		 R51
Re-elected		 R50
Re-elected		 R49
Re-elected		 R48
Re-elected		 R47
Re-elected
Majority due to vacancies→ R46
Re-elected
R37 R38 R39 R40 R41 R42 R43 R44
Re-elected		 R45
Re-elected
R36 R35 R34 R33 R32 R31 R30 R29 R28 R27
R17 R18 R19 R20 R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26
R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11 R10 R9 R8 R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6
Key:
D# Democratic
R# Republican
V# Vacant

Race summaries

Special elections during the 60th Congress

In this election, the winner was seated in 1908 before March 4; ordered by state.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Maryland
(Class 3)		 William P. Whyte Democratic 1906 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected January 14, 1908.[2][3]
Rhode Island
(Class 2)		 Vacant Legislature had failed to elect.
New senator elected January 21, 1908.[2]
Republican gain.
South Carolina
(Class 3)		 Asbury Latimer Democratic 1903 Incumbent died February 20, 1908.
New senator elected March 6, 1908.[2]
Democratic hold.
Winner did not run for the next term, see below.
Maryland
(Class 3)		 William P. Whyte Democratic 1906 (Appointed)
1908		 Incumbent died March 17, 1908.
New senator elected March 24, 1908,[2][3] having already been elected to the next term, see below.
Democratic hold.
Vermont
(Class 1)		 John W. Stewart Republican 1908 (Appointed) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected October 20, 1908.[2]
Republican hold.
Iowa
(Class 3)		 William B. Allison Republican 1872
1878
1884
1890
1896
1902		 Incumbent renominated for the next term but died August 4, 1908.
New senator elected November 24, 1908.
Republican hold.
Winner was later elected to the next term, see below.

In this election, the winner was elected three years early, to be seated in the 62nd Congress starting March 4, 1911.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Mississippi
(Class 1)		 Hernando Money Democratic 1897 (Appointed)
1899
1904		 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected early January 21, 1908.[2]
Democratic hold.

Races leading to the 61st Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1909; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral
history
Alabama Edmund Pettus Democratic 1903 Incumbent re-elected early January 22, 1907.[4]
Winner died July 27, 1907, and new senator elected early August 6, 1907.[4]		 January 22, 1907:
August 6, 1907:
Arkansas James P. Clarke Democratic 1903 Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[5][6][7]
California George Perkins Republican 1895 (special)
1897
1903		 Incumbent re-elected January 12, 1909.[8]
Colorado Henry M. Teller Democratic 1885
1891
1897
1903		 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 19, 1909.[5][6][7]
Democratic hold.
Connecticut Frank B. Brandegee Republican 1905 (special) Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[5][6][7]
  • ▌Green tickY Frank B. Brandegee (Republican) 201 votes
  • ▌A. Heaton Robertson (Democratic) 52 votes
  • ▌E. J. Hill (Republican) 14 votes[5]
Florida William Milton Democratic 1908 (Appointed) Interim appointee retired.
Legislature failed to elect.
Democratic loss.
New senator appointed to start the term, and subsequently elected, see below.		 None
Georgia Alexander S. Clay Democratic 1896
1902		 Incumbent re-elected July 6, 1909.[5]
Idaho Weldon Heyburn Republican 1903 Incumbent re-elected January 12, 1909.[5]
Illinois Albert J. Hopkins Republican 1903 Incumbent renominated but couldn't secure the full support of his party.
Legislature failed to elect.
Republican loss.
Seat remained vacant until May 26, 1909, see below.[9]
Indiana James A. Hemenway Republican 1905 (special) Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected January 20, 1909.[5]
Democratic gain.
Iowa Albert B. Cummins Republican 1908 Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[5]
Kansas Chester I. Long Republican 1903 Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected January 26, 1909.[5][6][7]
Republican hold.
Kentucky James B. McCreary Democratic 1902 Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected February 28, 1908.[2]
Republican gain.
Louisiana Samuel D. McEnery Democratic 1896
1900 (Early)		 Incumbent re-elected May 19, 1908.[10][2]
Maryland William P. Whyte Democratic 1906 (Appointed) Interim appointee either retired or lost election to the next term.
New senator elected January 15, 1908.[2]
Democratic hold.
Missouri William J. Stone Democratic 1903 Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1909.[5]
Nevada Francis G. Newlands Democratic 1903 Incumbent re-elected January 26, 1909, ratifying the popular selection made in 1908 state elections.[5]
New Hampshire Jacob Gallinger Republican 1891
1897
1903		 Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[6][7][12]
New York Thomas C. Platt Republican 1881
1881 (Resigned)
1897
1903		 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 19, 1909.[13][14]
Republican hold.
North Carolina Lee S. Overman Democratic 1903 Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[6][7][13]
North Dakota Henry C. Hansbrough Republican 1891
1897
1903		 Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected January 19, 1909.[13]
Republican hold.
Ohio Joseph B. Foraker Republican 1896
1902		 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 12, 1909.[13][15]
Republican hold.
Oklahoma Thomas Gore Democratic 1907 Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[6][7][13]
Oregon Charles W. Fulton Republican 1903 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected January 19, 1909, ratifying the popular selection made in 1908 state elections.[6][7][13]
Democratic gain.
Pennsylvania Boies Penrose Republican 1897
1903		 Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[6][7]
South Carolina Frank B. Gary Democratic 1908 (special) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 26, 1909.[13]
Democratic hold.
South Dakota Alfred B. Kittredge Republican 1901 (Appointed)
1903 (special)
1903		 Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected January 19, 1909.
Republican hold.[13]
Utah Reed Smoot Republican 1903 Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[6][7][13]
Vermont William P. Dillingham Republican 1900 (special)
1902		 Incumbent re-elected October 20, 1908.[2]
Washington Levi Ankeny Republican 1903 Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected January 19, 1909.[6][7][13]
Republican hold.
Wisconsin Isaac Stephenson Republican 1907 (special) Incumbent re-elected January 27, 1909.
Legislature failed to declare the result and ordered a new election.
Incumbent was finally re-elected March 4, 1909, after many ballots.[13]

Elections during the 61st Congress

In these elections, the winners were elected in 1909 after March 4; ordered by date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Pennsylvania
(Class 1)		 Philander C. Knox Republican 1904 (Appointed)
1905 (special)
1905		 Incumbent resigned March 4, 1909, to become U.S. Secretary of State.
New senator elected March 16, 1909.[5]
Republican hold.
Florida
(Class 3)		 Duncan U. Fletcher Democratic 1909 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected April 20, 1909.
Illinois
(Class 3)		 Vacant Legislature had failed to elect, see above.
New senator elected May 26, 1909.[5]
Republican gain.

Maryland

Maryland (special)
1908 United States Senate special election in Maryland
June 8, 1908
80 members of the Maryland General Assembly
 
Candidate William Pinkney Whyte
Party Democratic
Legislative vote -
Percentage -%

William Pinkney Whyte was elected by an unknown margin, for the Class 3 seat.[17]

Maryland (regular)
1908 United States Senate election in Maryland
November 3, 1908
80 members of the Maryland General Assembly
 
Candidate John Walter Smith
Party Democratic
Legislative vote -
Percentage -%

William Pinkney Whyte died, and John Walter Smith was elected by an unknown margin, for the Class 3 seat.[18]

New York
Main article: 1909 United States Senate election in New York
See also: List of United States senators from New York

The election was held on January 19, 1909, by the New York State Legislature. Republican Thomas C. Platt had been re-elected to this seat in 1903, and his term would expire on March 3, 1909. At the State election in November 1908, 35 Republicans and 16 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1909–1910) in the state senate; and 99 Republicans and 51 Democrats were elected for the session of 1909 to the Assembly. The 132nd New York State Legislature met from January 5 to April 30, 1909, at Albany, New York.

The Republican caucus met on January 18. State Senator J. Mayhew Wainwright presided. The caucus nominated U.S. Secretary of State Elihu Root unanimously. Root was the choice of President Theodore Roosevelt. President pro tempore of the State Senate John Raines lauded warmly Root's nomination, eulogized the retiring U.S. Senator Platt, and declared war on Governor Charles Evans Hughes's reforms.[19] The Democratic caucus met also on January 18. They nominated Ex-Lieutenant Governor Lewis S. Chanler unanimously. Chanler had been elected lieutenant governor in 1906 on the Democratic/Independence League ticket, and had served under Republican governor Hughes. Chanler had just been defeated when running against Hughes for governor in November 1908.[19]

Elihu Root was the choice of both the Assembly and the state senate, and was declared elected.[20]

House Republican Democratic
State Senate
(50 members)		 Green tickY Elihu Root 35 Lewis S. Chanler 15
State Assembly
(150 members)		 Green tickY Elihu Root 90 Lewis S. Chanler 30

Note: The votes were cast on January 19, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 20 to compare nominations, and declare the result.

Pennsylvania
See also: List of United States senators from Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania (regular)
Main article: 1909 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

The regularly-scheduled general election in Pennsylvania was held January 19, 1909. Boies Penrose was re-elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. This was the last Class III U.S. Senate election to be decided by the Pennsylvania General Assembly before the ratification of the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which mandated direct election of U.S. Senators.[21]

The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 19, 1909, to elect a senator to fill the term beginning on March 4, 1909. Incumbent Republican Boies Penrose, who was elected in 1897 and re-elected in 1903, 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[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Boies Penrose (Incumbent) 198 77.04%
Democratic George M. Dimeling 42 16.34%
Republican Edwin S. Stuart 2 0.78%
Republican John O. Sheatz 1 0.39%
Democratic William Potter 1 0.39%
N/A Not voting 13 5.06%
Totals 257 100.00%

Pennsylvania (special)
Main article: 1909 United States Senate special election in Pennsylvania

A special election was held March 16, 1909. George T. Oliver was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[22]

Republican Philander C. Knox was appointed to the Senate in June 1904 after the death of Matthew Quay. Knox was subsequently elected to a full term in the Senate by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, in January 1905. Knox served in the U.S. Senate until his resignation on March 4, 1909, to become United States Secretary of State in the William Howard Taft administration, leaving the seat vacant until a successor was elected.[23]

Following Knox's resignation, the Pennsylvania General Assembly convened on March 16, 1909, to elect a new senator to fill the vacancy. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:

State Legislature Results[22][24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George T. Oliver 201 78.21
Democratic Webster Grim 39 15.18
Republican Nathaniel Ewing 1 0.39
N/A Not voting 16 6.23
Totals 257 100.00%

See also

Notes
  1. as Republican Conference Chairman
  2. as Democratic Conference Chairman
  3. "James H. Hemenway" in source, probably "James A. Hemenway."[5]
  1. "17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)". National Archives and Records Administration. February 8, 2022.
  2. Tribune Almanac (1909), p. 315.
  3. Byrd, p. 121.
  4. Tribune Almanac (1908), p. 258.
  5. Tribune Almanac (1910), p. 271.
  6. "ELECTIONS IN OTHER STATES". The New York Times. January 20, 1909. p. 3.
  7. "NAME CHAMBERLAIN AS OREGON SENATOR". The New York Times. January 20, 1909. p. 3.
  8. "Perkins of California Re-elected". The New York Times. January 13, 1903. p. 5.
  9. "HOPKINS FAILS IN ILLINOIS". The New York Times. January 20, 1909. p. 3.
  10. "Senator McEnery Succeeds Himself". The New York Times. May 20, 1900. p. 2.
  11. "Our Campaigns - NV US Senate Race - Nov 03, 1908". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  12. Tribune Almanac (1910), pp. 271–272.
  13. Tribune Almanac (1910), p. 272.
  14. "ROOT IS CHOSEN SENATOR". The New York Times. January 20, 1909. p. 3.
  15. Walters, Everett (1948). Joseph Benson Foraker: An Uncompromising Republican. Columbus, Ohio: The Ohio History Press. pp. 283–284.
  16. "Our Campaigns - OR US Senate Race - Nov 03, 1908". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  17. "Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Jun 08, 1906". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  18. "Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Nov 03, 1908". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  19. "ROOT IS CHOSEN FOR U.S. SENATOR; ...Democrats Choose Chanler" (PDF). The New York Times. January 19, 1909.
  20. "ROOT IS CHOSEN SENATOR" (PDF). The New York Times. January 20, 1909.
  21. "U.S. Senate Election - 19 January 1909" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  22. "U.S. Senate Election - 17 March 1909" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  23. "KNOX, Philander Chase, (1853 - 1921)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  24. "PA US Senate - Special Election". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 24, 2012.

References
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