1886 and 1887 United States Senate elections

The United States Senate elections of 1886 and 1887 were elections that had the Republican Party lose two seats in the United States Senate. At the beginning of the 50th Congress, therefore, Republicans had the slimmest possible majority due to a vacant Democratic seat: 38 out of 75 seats. Once that vacancy was filled, Republicans maintained control as the single Readjuster senator caucused with them.

1886 and 1887 United States Senate elections
Dates vary by state
25 of the 76 seats in the United States Senate (as well as special elections)
39 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Party Republican Democratic Readjuster
Seats before 40 34 2
Seats won 13 11 0
Seats after 38 36 1
Seat change 2 2 1
Seats up 15 9 1
Majority Party before election


Republican[1]

 Elected Majority Party


Republican[1]

For related races, see 1886 United States elections.

As these elections were prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment, senators were chosen by state legislatures.

Results summary

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

Parties Total
Democratic Readjuster Republican
Before these elections 34 2 40 78
Not up 25 1 25 51
Class 2 (1886/87 → 1892/93) 13 1 12 26
Class 3 (1884/85 → 1890/91) 11 — 13 24
Up 11 1 16 28
Regular: Class 1 9 1 15 25
Special: Class 1 1 — — 1
Special: Class 2 1 — — 1
Special: Class 3 — — 1 1
Regular election only
Incumbent retired 1 — 2 3
Held by same party — — 1 1
Gained by other party 1 — 1 1
No elected successor 1 — — 1
Result 1 — 1 2
Incumbent ran 6 1 12 19
Won re-election 4 — 7 11
Held by same party 1 — 3 4
Gained by other party 1 — 1 4
2 — 2
1 1 —
No elected successor — — — —
Result 8 — 11 19
Incumbent's action unknown 2 — 1 3
Held by same party 2 — 1 3
No elected successor — — — —
Gained by other party — — — —
Result 2 — 1 3
Total elected 11 — 13 24
Net change 2 1 2 1
Result 36 1 38 75

Change in Senate composition

Before the elections

After August 4, 1886 special election in California.

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 D24 D23 D22 D21 D20 D19
D29
Ran		 D30
Ran		 D31
Ran		 D32
Unknown		 D33
Unknown		 D34
Retired		 RA2
Ran		 RA1 R40
Retired		 R39
Retired
Majority →
R29
Ran		 R30
Ran		 R31
Ran		 R32
Ran		 R33
Ran		 R34
Ran		 R35
Ran		 R36
Ran		 R37
Ran		 R38
Unknown
R28
Ran		 R27
Ran		 R26
Ran		 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 D24 D23 D22 D21 D20 D19
D29
Re-elected		 D30
Hold		 D31
Hold		 D32
Hold		 D33
Gain from RA		 D34
Gain from R		 D35
Gain from R		 D36
Gain from R		 V1
D Loss		 RA1
Majority due to vacancy→ R38
Gain from D
R29
Re-elected		 R30
Re-elected		 R31
Re-elected		 R32
Re-elected		 R33
Hold		 R34
Hold		 R35
Hold		 R36
Hold		 R37
Hold
R28
Re-elected		 R27
Re-elected		 R26
Re-elected		 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

At the beginning of the first session, December 7, 1887
D8 D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1
D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D17 D18
D28 D27 D26 D25 D24 D23 D22 D21 D20 D19
D29 D30 D31 D32 D33 D34 D35 D36 D37
Gain from V		 RA1
Majority with Readjuster in caucus → R38
R29 R30 R31 R32 R33 R34 R35 R36 R37
R28 R27 R26 R25
Hold		 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
RA# Readjuster
R# Republican
V# Vacant

Race summaries

Elections during the 49th Congress

In these elections, the winners were seated during 1886 or in 1887 before March 4; ordered by election date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Mississippi
(Class 2)		 Edward C. Walthall Democratic 1885 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected January 20, 1886.[2]
California
(Class 1)		 George Hearst Democratic 1886 (Appointed) Unknown if interim appointee retired or lost election to finish the term.
New senator elected August 4, 1886.
Republican gain.
Winner did not run for election to the next term, see below.
  • Y Abram P. Williams (Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing]
Illinois
(Class 3)		 John A. Logan Republican 1870 or 1871
1877 (Lost)
1879
1885		 Incumbent died December 26, 1886.
New senator elected January 19, 1887.
Republican hold.

Races leading to the 50th Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1887; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
California Abram Williams Republican 1886 (Special) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in 1887.
Democratic gain.
Connecticut Joseph Roswell Hawley Republican 1881 Incumbent re-elected in 1887.
Delaware George Gray Democratic 1885 (Special) Incumbent re-elected in 1887.
Florida Charles W. Jones Democratic 1881 Incumbent retired.
Legislature failed to elect.
Democratic loss.		 [data unknown/missing]
Indiana Benjamin Harrison Republican 1881 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1887.
Democratic gain.
Maine Eugene Hale Republican 1881 Incumbent re-elected in 1887.
Maryland Arthur P. Gorman Democratic 1880 Incumbent re-elected in 1886.
  • Y Arthur P. Gorman (Democratic)
  • [data unknown/missing]
Massachusetts Henry L. Dawes Republican 1857
1881		 Incumbent re-elected in 1887.
Michigan Omar D. Conger Republican 1881 Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected in 1887.
Republican hold.
Minnesota Samuel J. R. McMillan Republican 1881 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected in 1886.
Republican hold.
  • Y Cushman Davis (Republican)
  • [data unknown/missing]
Mississippi James Z. George Democratic 1880 Incumbent re-elected in 1886.
Missouri Francis Cockrell Democratic 1874
1881		 Incumbent re-elected in 1887.
Nebraska Charles Van Wyck Republican 1880 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1886.
Republican hold.
Nevada James Graham Fair Democratic 1881 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1887.
Republican gain.
New Jersey William Joyce Sewell Republican 1881 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1886.
Democratic gain.
New York Warner Miller Republican 1881 (Special) Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected January 20, 1887.
Republican hold.
Ohio John Sherman Republican 1861 (Special)
1866
1872
1877 (Resigned)
1881		 Incumbent re-elected in 1886.
Pennsylvania John I. Mitchell Republican 1881 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
New senator elected January 18, 1887.
Republican hold.
Rhode Island Nelson W. Aldrich Republican 1881 (Special) Incumbent re-elected in 1886.
Tennessee Washington C. Whitthorne Democratic 1886 (Appointed) Unknown if interim appointee retired or lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1887.
Democratic hold.
Texas Samuel B. Maxey Democratic 1875
1881		 Incumbent lost re-election
New senator elected in 1887.
Democratic hold.
Vermont George F. Edmunds Republican 1866 (Appointed)
1866 (Special)
1868
1874
1880		 Incumbent re-elected in 1886.
Virginia William Mahone Readjuster 1881 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1887.
Democratic gain.
West Virginia Johnson N. Camden Democratic 1880 or 1881 Incumbent lost renomination.[3]
Legislature failed to elect.
Democratic loss.
A new senator was elected late, see below.		 Johnson N. Camden (Democratic)
Wisconsin Philetus Sawyer Republican 1881 Incumbent re-elected in 1887.

Elections during the 50th Congress

In these elections, the winners were elected in 1887 after March 4; ordered by date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
West Virginia
(Class 1)		 Vacant Legislature had failed to elect, see above.
New senator elected May 5, 1887.
Democratic gain.
Florida
(Class 1)		 Vacant Legislature had failed to elect, see above.
New senator elected late May 19, 1887.
Democratic gain.
New Hampshire
(Class 2)		 Person C. Cheney Republican 1886 (Appointed) Interim appointee retired when successor elected.
New senator elected June 14, 1887.
Republican hold.
Virginia
(Class 2)		 Harrison H. Riddleberger Readjuster 1881 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected December 20, 1887 for the term beginning in 1889.[5]
Democratic gain.

New York
See also: List of United States senators from New York

The election in New York was held from January 18 to 20, 1887. Republican Warner Miller had been elected to this seat in a special election in 1881 to succeed Thomas C. Platt who had resigned. Miller's term would expire on March 3, 1887. At the State election in November 1885, 20 Republicans and 12 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1886-1887) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1886, 74 Republicans and 54 Democrats were elected for the session of 1887 to the Assembly. The 110th New York State Legislature met from January 4 to May 26, 1887, at Albany, New York.

The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 17, President pro tempore of the State Senate Edmund L. Pitts presided. 20 State senators and 71 assemblymen attended. Ex-Speaker of the Assembly George Z. Erwin (a Morton man) moved that a majority of all Republican legislators should be necessary to nominate, not only a majority of those present, meaning that 48 votes were required instead of 46, which was carried by a vote of 52 to 39. The incumbent U.S. senator Warner Miller (Half-Breed faction) failed to be nominated by only four votes. Levi P. Morton (Stalwart faction) was rejected by the caucus, like in 1885. A small faction voted for Congressman Frank Hiscock. After the second ballot, Erwin moved to adjourn, which was carried by 48 to 43. The caucus met again on the next day, no choice was made in another two ballots. The caucus met again on January 19 after the joint ballot of the State Legislature, and after twelve more ballots, Erwin withdrew Morton's name and urged the Morton men to vote for Hiscock. On the next ballot Hiscock received one vote more than Miller (47 to 46), but was one short of the previously established majority of 48. On the 18th and last ballot, Hiscock received 50 votes and was nominated. On the next day, Hiscock was elected on the second joint ballot of the State Legislature. Thus, by blocking Miller's re-election, the Republican boss Thomas C. Platt took his revenge for his defeat at the special election in 1881.

1887 Republican caucus for United States senator
Ballot Date Warner Miller Levi P. Morton √ Frank Hiscock
1st January 17 44 35 12
2nd January 17 44 36 11
3rd January 18
4th January 18
5th January 19 46 36 11
6th January 19 46 36 11
7th January 19 46 36 11
8th January 19 46 36 11
9th January 19 46 36 11
10th January 19 46 36 11
11th January 19 46 36 11
12th January 19 46 36 11
13th January 19 46 36 11
14th January 19 46 36 11
15th January 19 46 36 11
16th January 19 46 36 11
17th January 19 46 Withdrew 47
18th January 19 43 50

The Democratic caucus nominated Smith Mead Weed (1834-1920), a lawyer and businessman of Plattsburgh, New York. Weed had been a member of the New York State Assembly from Clinton County, New York in 1865, 1866, 1867, 1871, 1873 and 1874; and a delegate to the 1876 and 1884 Democratic National Conventions.

1887 regular election for United States senator
House Democratic Republican Republican Republican
State Senate
(32 members)
January 18		 Smith M. Weed 11 Warner Miller 10 Levi P. Morton 9 Frank Hiscock 1
State Assembly
(128 members)
January 18		 Smith M. Weed 41 Warner Miller 32 Levi P. Morton 26 Frank Hiscock 10
Joint ballot
(160 members)
January 19		 Smith M. Weed 61 Warner Miller 43 Levi P. Morton 33 Frank Hiscock 11
Second joint ballot
(160 members)
January 20		 Smith M. Weed 62 √ Frank Hiscock 91

Pennsylvania
See also: List of United States senators from Pennsylvania

The election in Pennsylvania was held January 18, 1887. Matthew Quay was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate.[6] The General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and Senate voted as follows:

State Legislature Results[6][7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matthew Quay 165 65.74
Democratic Simon P. Wolverton 80 31.87
N/A Not voting 6 2.39
Totals 251 100.00%
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See also

Notes
  1. The Readjusters caucused with the Republicans.
  2. Byrd, p. 130.
  3. "STILL FIGHTING OVER CAMDEN" (PDF).
  4. "WEST VIRGINIA'S SENATOR.; A SUCCESSOR TO CAMDEN CHOSEN AT LAST" (PDF).
  5. "Barbour, John S. (1820–1892)". www.encyclopediavirginia.org.
  6. "U.S. Senate Election - 18 January 1887" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  7. "PA US Senate - 1887". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 22, 2012.

References
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