1804–05 United States Senate elections

The 1804–05 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 1804 and 1805, 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 2.

1804–05 United States Senate elections

← 1802 & 1803 Dates vary by state 1806 & 1807 →
11 of the 34 seats in the United States Senate (plus special elections) 18 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic-Republican Federalist Last election 22 seats 9 seats Seats before 25 9 Seats won 9 2 Seats after 27 7 Seat change 2 2 Seats up 7 4
Results:      Dem-Republican hold      Dem-Republican gain      Federalist hold
Majority Party before election Democratic-Republican Elected Majority Party Democratic-Republican

These elections expanded the Democratic-Republican Party's overwhelming control over the Senate. The Federalists went into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats (9 out of 34, or 27%) that even if they had won every election, they would have still remained a minority caucus.

Results summary

Senate party division, 9th Congress (1805–1807)

• Majority party: Democratic-Republican (27)
• Minority party: Federalist (7)
• Other parties: 0
• Total seats: 34

Change in composition

Only reflects results of regular elections.

Before the regular elections

DR7	DR6	DR5	DR4	DR3	DR2	DR1
DR8	DR9	DR10	DR11	DR12	DR13	DR14	DR15	DR16	DR17
Majority →									DR18
F8 N.J. Ran	F9 N.H. Unknown	DR25 Tenn. Retired	DR24 Va. Ran	DR23 S.C. Ran	DR22 R.I. Ran	DR21 N.C. Ran	DR20 Ky. Ran	DR19 Ga. Ran
F7 Mass. Ran	F6 Del. Ran	F5	F4	F3	F2	F1

Result of the regular elections

DR7	DR6	DR5	DR4	DR3	DR2	DR1
DR8	DR9	DR10	DR11	DR12	DR13	DR14	DR15	DR16	DR17
Majority →									DR18
DR27 N.J. Gain	DR26 N.H. Gain	DR25 Tenn. Hold	DR24 R.I. Hold	DR23 N.C. Hold	DR22 Ky. Hold	DR21 Va. Re-elected	DR20 S.C. Re-elected	DR19 Ga. Re-elected
F7 Mass. Re-elected	F6 Del. Re-elected	F5	F4	F3	F2	F1

Key:	DR# Democratic-Republican F# Federalist V# Vacant

Race summaries

Except if/when noted, the number following candidates is the whole number vote(s), not a percentage.

Special elections during the 8th Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1804 or before March 4, 1805; ordered by election date.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
New York (Class 3)	John Armstrong Jr.	Democratic-Republican	1800 (special) 1801 1802 (Resigned) 1803 (Appointed)	Interim appointee resigned December 3, 1804, to become U.S. Senator from Class 1 seat. New senator elected February 3, 1804. Democratic-Republican hold.	▌ Y John Smith (Democratic-Republican) 121 Unopposed^[2]^[3]
New York (Class 1)	Theodorus Bailey	Democratic-Republican	1803	Resigned January 16, 1804, to become Postmaster of New York City. New senator elected February 3, 1804. Democratic-Republican hold.	▌ Y John Armstrong Jr. (Democratic-Republican) 85 ▌Jacob Radcliff (Federalist) 4 ▌Egbert Benson (Federalist) 3^[4]^[5]
Rhode Island (Class 1)	Samuel J. Potter	Democratic-Republican	1802	Died October 14, 1804. New senator elected October 29, 1804. Democratic-Republican hold.	▌ Y Benjamin Howland (Democratic-Republican) ▌Asher Robins (Democratic-Republican) "by a majority of 2"^[6]
New York (Class 1)	John Armstrong Jr.	Democratic-Republican	1804 (special)	Resigned to become U.S. Minister to France. New senator elected November 9, 1804. Democratic-Republican hold.	▌ Y Samuel L. Mitchill (Democratic-Republican) 83.3% ▌Rufus King (Federalist) 15.6% ▌David Thomas (Democratic-Republican) 1.1%^[7]
Delaware (Class 2)	William H. Wells	Federalist	1799 (special) 1799	Resigned November 6, 1804. New senator elected November 13, 1804. Winner also elected to the next term, see below. Federalist hold.	▌ Y James A. Bayard (Federalist) 15 Unopposed^[8]
Virginia (Class 1)	Andrew Moore	Democratic-Republican	1804 (Appointed)	Interim appointee resigned December 3, 1804, to become U.S. Senator from Class 1 seat. New senator elected December 4, 1804. Democratic-Republican hold.	▌ Y William B. Giles (Democratic-Republican) [data missing]
Virginia (Class 2)	William B. Giles	Democratic-Republican	1804 (Appointed)	Interim appointee resigned December 3, 1804, to become U.S. Senator from Class 2 seat. New senator elected December 4, 1804. Winner also elected to the next term, see below. Democratic-Republican hold.	▌ Y Andrew Moore (Democratic-Republican) [data missing]
South Carolina (Class 3)	Pierce Butler	Democratic-Republican	1802 (special)	Resigned November 21, 1804. New senator elected December 6, 1804. Democratic-Republican hold.	▌ Y John Gaillard (Democratic-Republican) [data missing]

Races leading to the 9th Congress

In these regular elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1805; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
Delaware	James A. Bayard	Federalist	1804 (special)	Incumbent re-elected January 24, 1805.	▌ Y James A. Bayard (Federalist) 15 ▌Caesar A. Rodney (Democratic-Republican) 9 ▌James Sykes (Federalist) 1^[9]
Georgia	Abraham Baldwin	Democratic- Republican	1799	Incumbent re-elected November 14, 1804.	▌ Y Abraham Baldwin (Democratic-Republican) Unanimous^[10]
Kentucky	John Brown	Democratic- Republican	1792 (New seat) 1792 1798	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1804 on the seventh ballot. Democratic-Republican hold.	▌ Y Buckner Thruston (Democratic-Republican) 44 ▌John Adair (Democratic-Republican) 43 ▌John Brown (Democratic-Republican) Eliminated^[11]
Massachusetts	Timothy Pickering	Federalist	1803 (special)	Incumbent re-elected February 6, 1805, on the third ballot.	▌ Y Timothy Pickering (Federalist) 102 ▌William Eustis (Democratic-Republican) 99^[12]
New Hampshire	Simeon Olcott	Federalist	1801 (special)	Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected November 28, 1804. Democratic-Republican gain.	▌ Y Nicholas Gilman (Democratic-Republican) 85 ▌Timothy Farrar (Federalist) 70^[13]
New Jersey	Jonathan Dayton	Federalist	1798	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1804. Democratic-Republican gain.	▌ Y Aaron Kitchell (Democratic-Republican) 36 ▌Jonathan Dayton (Federalist)^[14]
North Carolina	Jesse Franklin	Democratic- Republican	1798	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1804 on the fifth ballot. Democratic-Republican hold. Winner would later reject his election and never take the seat. A new election was held the next year, see below.	▌ Y Montfort Stokes (Democratic-Republican) ▌Jesse Franklin (Democratic-Republican) ▌Benjamin Smith (Democratic-Republican) ▌Thomas Blount (Democratic-Republican) Eliminated ▌Stephen Cabarrus Eliminated^[15]
Rhode Island	Christopher Ellery	Democratic- Republican	1801 (special)	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1804. Democratic-Republican hold.	▌ Y James Fenner (Democratic-Republican) ▌Christopher Ellery (Democratic-Republican) "by a majority of 16"^[16]
South Carolina	Thomas Sumter	Democratic- Republican	1801	Incumbent elected December 6, 1804.	▌ Y Thomas Sumter (Democratic-Republican) 101 ▌Henry Middleton (Democratic-Republican) 21 ▌William Hill 4 ▌Joseph Blyth 2 ▌R. Anderson 1 ▌Pierce Butler (Independent) 1 ▌Samuel Farrow (Democratic-Republican) 1 ▌John Gaillard (Democratic-Republican) 1 ▌Elias Horry 1 ▌John Ward 1 ▌"Lost" 1^[17]
Tennessee	William Cocke	Democratic- Republican	1799 (special)	Incumbent retired. New senator elected early September 23, 1803. Democratic-Republican hold.	▌ Y Daniel Smith (Democratic-Republican) 35 ▌Jenkin Whiteside (Democratic-Republican) 1^[18]
Virginia	William B. Giles	Democratic- Republican	1804 (Appointed) 1804 (Resigned) 1804 (special)	Incumbent re-elected December 7, 1804.	▌ Y William B. Giles (Democratic-Republican) [data missing]^[19]

Special elections during the 9th Congress

In this special election, the winner was seated in 1805 after March 4.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
	Senator	Party	Electoral history
Kentucky (Class 3)	John Breckinridge	Democratic-Republican	1800	Resigned August 7, 1805, to become U.S. Attorney General. New senator elected November 8, 1805. Democratic-Republican hold.	▌ Y John Adair (Democratic-Republican) 45 ▌John Pope (Democratic-Republican) 35^[20]
North Carolina (Class 2)	Vacant			Montfort Stokes (DR) had been elected in 1804, see above, but rejected the position. New senator elected November 22, 1805. Democratic-Republican gain.	▌ Y James Turner (Democratic-Republican) 122 ▌Thomas Davis (Federalist) 51 ▌Stephen Cabarrus 1 ▌Blank 1^[21]

Delaware

 

Senator James A. Bayard

See also: List of United States senators from Delaware

There were two elections this cycle to the same seat, because Federalist William H. Wells, who had first been elected in 1799, resigned November 6, 1804.

Delaware (regular)

Federalist James A. Bayard was elected November 13, 1804, to finish the term ending the following March.

Delaware (special)

Federalist James A. Bayard also elected in 1805, to the next term.

Georgia

See also: List of United States senators from Georgia

Kentucky

See also: List of United States senators from Kentucky

Massachusetts

See also: List of United States senators from Massachusetts

New Hampshire

See also: List of United States senators from New Hampshire

New Jersey

See also: List of United States senators from New Jersey

New York (special)

Main articles: February 1804 United States Senate special elections in New York and November 1804 United States Senate special election in New York

See also: List of United States senators from New York

In February 1804 two senators were elected to finish vacant terms. The winner of the class 1 seat later resigned, leading to a November special election.

Theodorus Bailey had been elected to the Class 1 seat (term 1803–1809) but resigned on January 16, 1804, after his appointment as Postmaster of New York City.

John Armstrong had been re-elected to the class 3 seat to the term that would end March 3, 1807. He resigned February 5, 1802, and DeWitt Clinton was elected February 9, 1802 to finish the term.

Clinton then resigned on November 4, 1803, after his appointment as Mayor of New York City, and Governor George Clinton appointed Armstrong to his old seat to continue the term temporarily until another special election.

Armstrong was then elected to the class 1 seat and so resigned from the class 3 seat.

New York (February: special, classes 1 and 3)

Main article: February 1804 United States Senate special elections in New York

The first special election was held February 3, 1804, by the New York State Legislature to elect both senators. The class 1 term ended March 3, 1809, and the class 3 term ended March 3, 1813.

U.S. Senator (Class 1) Incumbent: Theodorus Bailey

House	Democratic-Republican		Federalist		Federalist
State Senate (32 members)	Y John Armstrong
State Assembly (99 members)	Y John Armstrong	83	Jacob Radcliff	4	Egbert Benson	3

U.S. Senator (Class 3) Incumbent: John Armstrong

House	Democratic-Republican		Federalist		Federalist
State Senate (32 members)	Y John Smith
State Assembly (99 members)	Y John Smith	Smith was nominated unanimously by the Assembly, but the exact number of votes given is unclear.

John Smith was seated February 23, 1804. John Armstrong was seated February 25, 1804.

New York (November: special, class 1)

Main article: November 1804 United States Senate special election in New York

Once again, John Armstrong resigned from the Senate on June 30, 1804 (a third time in three years) when appointed U.S. Minister to France. To fill the vacancy, the legislature held a special election November 9, 1804, and elected Samuel L. Mitchill.

House	Democratic-Republican		Federalist		Democratic-Republican
State Senate (30 members)	Y Samuel L. Mitchill
State Assembly (100 members)	Y Samuel L. Mitchill	75	Rufus King	14	David Thomas	1

Mitchill was seated November 23, 1804.

North Carolina

See also: List of United States senators from North Carolina

Rhode Island

See also: List of United States senators from Rhode Island

Rhode Island (regular)

 

Senator James Fenner

Democratic-Republican James Fenner beat incumbent Democratic-Republican Christopher Ellery in 1804.

Rhode Island (special)

Democratic-Republican Samuel J. Potter died October 14, 1804, Democratic-Republican Benjamin Howland was elected October 29, 1804, to finish the term.

South Carolina

See also: List of United States senators from South Carolina

South Carolina (regular)

 

Senator Thomas Sumter

Democratic-Republican Thomas Sumter was re-elected December 6, 1804.

South Carolina (special)

 

Senator John Gaillard

Democratic-Republican Pierce Butler resigned November 21, 1804, and Democratic-Republican John Gaillard was elected December 6, 1804.

Tennessee

See also: List of United States senators from Tennessee

Virginia

See also: List of United States senators from Virginia and 1805 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia

The incumbent senators effectively switched seats due to appointments and special elections.

Class 2

Virginia's class 2 senators

 

Wilson C. Nicholas,
until May 22, 1804

 

Andrew Moore,
August 11, 1804 – December 3, 1804

 

William B. Giles,
from December 4, 1804

Virginia (special, class 2)

Democratic-Republican Wilson C. Nicholas resigned May 22, 1804, and Democratic-Republican Andrew Moore was appointed August 11, 1804, to continue the term. Moore was elected to the other seat, so he resigned and Democratic-Republican William B. Giles, who had already been elected to this seat's next term, was elected December 4, 1804, to finish the term.

Virginia (regular, class 2)

Democratic-Republican William B. Giles was elected December 4, 1804, to the next term.

Virginia (special, class 1)

Virginia's class 1 senators

 

Abraham B. Venable,
until June 7, 1804

 

William B. Giles,
August 11, 1804 – December 3, 1804

 

Andrew Moore,
from December 4, 1804

Democratic-Republican Abraham B. Venable resigned June 7, 1804, and Democratic-Republican William B. Giles was appointed August 11, 1804, to continue the term. Giles was elected to the other seat, so he resigned and Democratic-Republican Andrew Moore was elected December 4, 1804, to finish the term.

See also

• 1804 United States elections
  • 1804 United States presidential election
  • 1804–05 United States House of Representatives elections
• 8th United States Congress
• 9th United States Congress

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. "New York 1804 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing Journal of the New York Assembly, 1804. 35. Journal of the New York State Senate, 1804. 10.
3. "NY US Senate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
4. "New York 1804 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing The Albany Register (Albany, NY). February 7, 1804.
5. "NY US Senate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
6. "Rhode Island 1804 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 10, 2018., citing The True American and Commercial Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). November 19, 1804.
7. "NY US Senate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
8. "Delaware 1804 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing Journal of the Delaware House of Representatives, 1804. 9.
9. "Delaware 1805 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing Journal of the Delaware State Senate, 1805. 41.
10. "Georgia 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing The Enquirer (Richmond, VA). December 6, 1804.
11. "Kentucky 1804 U.S. Senate, Ballot 7". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing Kentucky Gazette and General Advertiser (Lexington, KY). November 27, 1804.
12. "Massachusetts 1805 U.S. Senate, Ballot 3". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 29, 2018., citing The Providence Phoenix (Providence, RI). February 9, 1805.
13. "New Hampshire 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing Oracle Post (Portsmouth, NH). December 11, 1804.
14. "New Jersey 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing The Centinel of Freedom (Newark, NJ). November 13, 1804.
15. "North Carolina 1804 U.S. Senate, Ballot 5". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 9, 2018., citing Raleigh Register, and North-Carolina State Gazette (Raleigh, NC). December 3, 1804.
16. "Rhode Island 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 10, 2018., citing The True American and Commercial Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). November 19, 1804.
17. "South Carolina 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 10, 2018., citing Original Election Returns. South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.
18. "Tennessee 1803 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 30, 2018., citing Journal of the Tennessee House of Representatives, 1803. 27. Gazette of the United States (Philadelphia, PA). October 18, 1803. White, Robert Hiram. Messages of the Governors of Tennessee, 1796–1821. Vol. 1. Nashville: The Tennessee Historical Commission, 1952.
19. "Virginia 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 10, 2018., citing The Enquirer (Richmond, VA). December 15, 1804.
20. "Kentucky 1805 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing The Enquirer (Richmond, VA). December 6, 1805.
21. "North Carolina 1805 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 9, 2018., citing Legislative Papers. State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh.

References

• Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov