1854–55 United States Senate elections

The 1854–55 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 1854 and 1855, 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.

1854–55 United States Senate elections
Various dates
21 of the 62 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections)
32 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Party Democratic Whig Republican
Last election 34 seats 20 seats New party
Seats before 36 18
Seats won 8 3 3
Seats after 33 14 3
Seat change Decrease 3 Decrease 4 Increase 3
Seats up 11 7 Steady
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Party Free Soil Know Nothing
Last election 2 seats 1 seat
Seats before 4 1
Seats won 1 0
Seats after 2 1
Seat change Decrease 2 Steady
Seats up 3 0
Results:
     Democratic gain      Democratic hold
     Whig hold
     Free Soil Gain      Know Nothing Gain
     Republican Gain      Legislature failed to elect
Majority party before election


Democratic

 Elected Majority party


Democratic

These elections saw the final decline of the Whig Party and the maintained majority of the Democrats. Those Whigs in the South who were opposed to secession ran on the "Opposition Party" ticket, and were elected to a minority. Along with the Whigs, the Senate roster also included Free Soilers, Know Nothings, and a new party: the Republicans. Only five of the twenty-one senators up for election were re-elected.

Results summary

Senate party division, 34th Congress (1855-1857)

  • Majority party: Democratic (35)
  • Minority party: Opposition (20) (Whigs, Republicans, Know Nothings, Free Soilers)
  • Vacant: 7
  • Total seats: 62

Change in Senate composition

Before the elections

After the October 14, 1854 special election in Vermont.

D1
D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11
D21 D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12
D22 D23 D24 D25 D26
Ran		 D27
Ran		 D28
Ran		 D29
Ran		 D30
Ran		 D31
Ran
Majority → D32
Ran
FS4
Retired		 KN1 V1 V2 V3 D36
Retired		 D35
Unknown		 D34
Unknown		 D33
Ran
FS3
Retired		 FS2
Retired		 FS1 W18
Retired		 W17
Retired		 W16
Retired		 W15
Unknown		 W14
Unknown		 W13
Ran		 W12
Ran
W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 W10 W11
W1

As a result of the elections
D1
D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11
D21 D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12
D22 D23 D24 D25 D26
Re-elected		 D27
Re-elected		 D28
Re-elected		 D29
Hold		 D30
Gain		 D31
Gain
Majority → D32
Gain
V2 V3 V4 V5
D Loss		 V6
D Loss		 V7
D Loss		 V8
D Loss		 V9
D Loss		 D33
Gain
V1
W Loss		 KN1 FS2
Gain		 FS1 R3
Gain		 R2
Gain		 R1
Gain		 W14
Hold		 W13
Re-elected		 W12
Re-elected
W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 W10 W11
W1

Beginning of the next Congress
D1
D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11
D21 D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12
D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30 D31
Majority → D32
V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 D35
Gain		 D34
Gain		 D33
V1 KN2
Changed		 KN1 FS2 FS1 R7
Gain		 R6
Changed		 R5
Changed		 R4
Changed		 R3
W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 R1 R2
W1

Beginning of the first session, December 3, 1855
D1
D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11
D21 D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12
D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D27 D28 D29 D30 D31
Majority → D32
KN2 V1 V2 V3 V4 D36
Gain		 D35 D34 D33
KN1 FS2 FS1 R9
Gain		 R8
Gain		 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3
W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 R1 R2
W1
Key:
D# Democratic
FS# Free Soil
KN# Know Nothing
R# Republican
W# Whig
V# Vacant

Race summaries

Special elections during the 33rd Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1854 or in 1855 before March 4; ordered by election date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Mississippi
(Class 2)		 Vacant Legislature had failed to elect in 1853.
Successor elected January 7, 1854.
Democratic gain.
Connecticut
(Class 3)		 Truman Smith Whig 1848 or 1849 Incumbent resigned May 24, 1854.
Successor elected May 24, 1854.
Free Soil gain.
Successor did not run for the next term, see below.
Vermont
(Class 3)		 Samuel S. Phelps Whig 1853 (Appointed) Incumbent lost entitlement to sit on March 16, 1854.[2]
Successor elected October 14, 1854.
Free Soil gain.
Successor did not run for the next term, see below.
Arkansas
(Class 3)		 Robert W. Johnson Democratic 1853 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected November 10, 1854.[3]
Successor would also later be elected to the next term, see below.
North Carolina
(Class 2)		 Vacant Legislature had failed to elect in 1853.
Successor elected December 6, 1854.
Democratic gain.
Massachusetts
(Class 2)		 Julius Rockwell Whig 1854 (Appointed) Interim appointee lost election.
Successor elected January 31, 1855.
Know Nothing gain.

Elections leading to the 34th Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1855; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Alabama Benjamin Fitzpatrick Democratic 1848 (Appointed)
1849 (Successor elected)
1853 (Appointed)
1853 (special)		 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Legislature failed to elect.
Democratic loss.
Seat would remain vacant until November 26, 1855, see below.		 [data missing]
Arkansas Robert W. Johnson Democratic 1853 (Appointed)
1854 (special)		 Incumbent re-elected in 1855.
California William M. Gwin Democratic 1850 Legislature failed to elect.
Democratic loss.
Seat would remain vacant until 1857.		 ▌William M. Gwin (Democratic)
Connecticut Francis Gillette Free Soil 1854 (special) Incumbent retired.
Successor elected in 1854.
Republican gain.
Florida Jackson Morton Whig 1848 Incumbent retired.
Successor elected in 1854.
Democratic gain.
Georgia William Crosby Dawson Whig 1847[4] Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Successor elected in 1854 or 1855.
Democratic gain.
Illinois James Shields Democratic 1849 Incumbent lost re-election.
Successor elected February 8, 1855.[5]
Democratic hold.
Indiana John Pettit Democratic 1853 (special) Incumbent lost re-election.
Legislature failed to elect.
Democratic loss.
Seat would remain vacant util 1857.		 ▌John Pettit (Democratic)
[data missing]
Iowa Augustus C. Dodge Democratic 1848
1849		 Incumbent lost re-election.
Incumbent then resigned February 22, 1855 to become U.S. Minister to Spain.
Successor elected in 1855.
Free Soil gain.
Kentucky Archibald Dixon Whig 1851 (special) Incumbent retired.
Successor elected in 1854.
Whig hold.
Louisiana John Slidell Democratic 1853 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1854 or 1855.
Maryland James Pearce Whig 1843
1849		 Incumbent re-elected in 1855.
Missouri David Rice Atchison Democratic 1843 (Appointed)
1843 (special)
1849		 Incumbent lost re-election.
Legislature failed to elect.
Democratic loss.
Seat would remain vacant until 1857.
New Hampshire John S. Wells Democratic 1855 (Appointed) Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Legislature failed to elect.
Democratic loss.
Seat would remain vacant until July 30, 1855, see below.		 [data missing]
New York William H. Seward Whig 1849
 Incumbent re-elected February 6, 1855.
Successor became a Republican shortly thereafter.
North Carolina George Badger Whig 1846 (special)
1849		 Incumbent retired.
Successor elected in 1855.
Democratic gain.
Ohio Salmon P. Chase Free Soil 1849 Incumbent retired.
Successor elected March 4, 1854.[7]
Democratic gain.
Pennsylvania James Cooper Whig 1849 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
Legislature failed to elect.
Whig loss.
Seat would remain vacant until 1856.
South Carolina Andrew Butler Democratic 1852 (Appointed)
? (special)
1848		 Incumbent re-elected in 1854.
Vermont Lawrence Brainerd Free Soil 1854 Incumbent retired.
Successor elected in 1855.
Republican gain.
Wisconsin Isaac P. Walker Democratic 1848
1849		 Incumbent retired.
Successor elected in 1854.
Republican gain.

Elections during the 34th Congress

In these elections, the winners were elected in 1855 after March 4.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
New Hampshire
(Class 2)		 Vacant Democrat Charles G. Atherton had died November 15, 1853.
Democrat Jared W. Williams was appointed to continue Atherton's term.
Williams's appointment expired July 15, 1854 when the legislature then failed to elect a successor.
Winner was elected July 30, 1855.
Republican gain.
New Hampshire
(Class 3)		 Vacant Democrat John S. Wells's term had expired March 3, 1855.
Legislature had failed to elect.
Winner was elected late July 30, 1855.
Republican gain.
Alabama
(Class 3)		 Vacant Democrat Benjamin Fitzpatrick's term had expired March 3, 1855.
Legislature had failed to elect.
Incumbent was then elected late November 26, 1855.
Democratic gain.

Kentucky
Senator John J. Crittenden

On January 10, 1854 the Kentucky legislature elected Whig U.S. Attorney General (and former-senator and former-Governor of Kentucky) John J. Crittenden to succeed Dixon, beating the then-incumbent Governor of Kentucky, Lazarus W. Powell.

Maryland
See also: List of United States senators from Maryland
1855 United States Senate election in Maryland
January 1855
80 members of the Maryland General Assembly
 
Candidate James Pearce
Party Whig
Legislative vote -
Percentage -%

James Pearce won re-election by an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 3 seat.[8]

New York
Main article: 1855 United States Senate election in New York

The election was held on February 6, 1855. William H. Seward had been elected in 1849 to this seat and his term would expire on March 3, 1855. At the time the Democratic Party was split into two opposing factions: the "Hards" and the "Softs". After most of the "Barnburners" had left the party, joining the Whigs, the majority of "Hunkers" split over the question of reconciliation with the minority of Barnburners who had remained Democrats. The Hard faction (led by Daniel S. Dickinson) was against it, in true Hunker fashion claiming all patronage for themselves; the Soft faction (led by William L. Marcy, which included the former Barnburners, advocated party unity as a necessity to defeat the Whigs.

In 1854, the Republican Party was founded as a national party, but in New York the Whigs and the Anti-Nebraska Party ran concurrently at the State election. The unification of these occurred in New York only during the nomination convention for the State election in November 1855. Also running in the 1854 election were the American Party and nominees of the Temperance movement. In a general way, party lines were blurred until the re-alignment during the late 1850s after the disbanding of the American Party.

At the State election in November 1853, 23 Whigs, 7 Hards and 2 Softs were elected for a two-year term (1854-1855) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1854, Whig State Senator Myron H. Clark was elected Governor of New York, and 82 Whigs, 26 Softs, 16 Hards and 3 Temperance men were elected for the session of 1855 to the New York State Assembly. "Know Nothings are sprinkled miscellaneously among Whigs, Hards and Softs; and exactly how many there are of these gentry in the Assembly Nobody Knows."[9] The 78th New York State Legislature met from January 2 to April 14, 1855, at Albany, New York.

In the Assembly, Seward received 69 votes, given by 65 Whigs; 1 Democrat; 1 Temperance man; 1 Republican and 1 Whig-Republican. Dickinson received 14 votes, given by 13 Democrats and 1 American. Horatio Seymour received the votes of 12 Democrats. Dix received 7 votes, given by 5 Democrats; 1 Independent Democrat and 1 Temperance man. Fillmore received 4 votes, given by 2 Whigs; 1 Democrat and 1 Temperance-American. Horatio Seymour, Jr., received the votes of 2 Americans. King, Butler, Lester, Wait and Bronson received 1 Democratic vote each. Campbell received 1 Temperance-American vote. Howell received 1 American vote. Hoffman and Haven received 1 Whig vote each.

In the State Senate, Seward received 18 Whig votes, Dickinson 5 Hard votes, and Allen 2 Whig votes. Preston and Church received 1 Soft vote each. Hoffman, Babcock, Ullmann and Fillmore received 1 American vote each.

Seward was the choice of both the Assembly and the Senate, and was declared elected.

Candidate Party Senate
(32 members)		 Assembly
(128 members)
√ William H. Seward Whig √ 18 √ 69
Daniel S. Dickinson Dem./Hard 5 14
Horatio Seymour Dem./Soft 12
Washington Hunt Whig 9
John Adams Dix Dem./Soft 7
Millard Fillmore Whig 1 4
William F. Allen Democratic 2
Horatio Seymour Jr. 2
Preston King 1 1
Ogden Hoffman Whig 1 1
Daniel Ullmann American 1
Sanford E. Church Democratic 1
George R. Babcock Whig 1
William W. Campbell American 1
Benjamin F. Butler Democratic 1
Albert Lester Democratic 1
Greene C. Bronson Democratic 1
Solomon G. Haven Opposition 1
John D. Howell 1
L. or J. Wait 1

See also

Notes
  1. "17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)". National Archives and Records Administration. February 8, 2022.
  2. Samuel S. Phelps (W-VT) had been appointed by the governor during a recess of the state legislature, and the legislature later convened and adjourned a session without electing a senator to replace fill the vacancy. The Senate ruled that Phelps had lost his entitlement to sit when the legislature adjourned. See Currie, David P. (May 10, 2005). The Constitution in Congress. ISBN 9780226129006.
  3. Byrd, Robert C.; Wolff, Wendy (October 1, 1993). The Senate, 1789-1989: Historical Statistics, 1789-1992 (volume 4 Bicentennial ed.). U.S. Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780160632563., page 80
  4. "Stryker's American Register and Magazine". 1849.
  5. Journal of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, 1855. Springfield, IL: Lanphier & Walker, Printers. 1855.
  6. Journal of the Senate of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, December 31, 1853 - March 10, 1854. Frankfort, Kentucky: Albert G. Hodges. 1853. p. 67.
  7. Taylor & Taylor, p. 30, vol II.
  8. "Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Jan 00, 1855". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  9. Result and comment in The Whig Almanac 1855 compiled by Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune

References
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