The 1844–45 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states, coinciding with James K. Polk's election. 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 1844 and 1845, 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 1.
Incumbent resigned in May 1845 to become judge of the Supreme Court of Georgia. He did not remain on the court, however, and was re-electedNovember 13, 1845. Whig hold.
Silas Wright Jr. had been re-elected in 1843 to the Class 3 seat (term 1843-1849), but resigned November 26, 1844, when elected Governor of New York. On November 30, Governor Bouck appointed Democratic State Senator Henry A. Foster to fill the vacancy temporarily, and Foster took his seat on December 9, 1844.
January 18, 1845, United States Senator special election, Class 3
Dickinson re-took his seat under the new credentials on January 27, 1845, and re-elected, remained in office until March 3, 1851, when his term expired.
The regular election was held January 14, 1845. Incumbent Daniel Sturgeon was re-elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate.[6] The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 14, 1845, to elect a Senator to serve the term beginning on March 4, 1845. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:
Following the resignation of senator Buchanan, the Pennsylvania General Assembly convened on March 13, 1845, to elect a new Ssenator to fill the vacancy and serve the remainder of the term set to expire on March 4, 1849. Five ballots were recorded. The results of the fifth and final ballot of both houses combined are as follows:
^"17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)". National Archives and Records Administration. February 8, 2022.
^J. Fred Parker, Secretary of State (1914). Manual, with Rules and Orders, for the use of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island, 1914. State of Rhode Island manual. Providence, RI: E. L. Freeman Company, State Printers. p. 149.
^"Rhode Island". The Whig standard. Washington, D.C. January 29, 1844. p. 2. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
Taylor, William Alexander; Taylor, Aubrey Clarence (1899). Ohio statesmen and annals of progress: from the year 1788 to the year 1900. State of Ohio.
The New York Civil List compiled in 1858 (see: pg. 63 for U.S. Senators; pg. 134f for State Senators 1845; pg. 230f for Members of Assembly 1845)
Political History of the State of New York, from Jan. 1, 1841, to Jan. 1, 1847; Vol. III by Jabez Delano Hammond (State election, 1844: pg. 505f; appointments, 1844: pg. 508f; Speaker election, 1845: pg. 518; U.S. Senate nominations, 1845: pg. 526ff) [gives wrong date for caucus, and election]
Abridgment of the Debates in Congress, from 1789 to 1856: Dec. 4, 1843 to June 18, 1846 (page 197)
Journal of the Senate (68th Session) (1845; pg. 77f and 142f)
August 22, 2023
1844, united, states, senate, elections, were, held, various, dates, various, states, coinciding, with, james, polk, election, these, senate, elections, were, prior, ratification, seventeenth, amendment, 1913, senators, were, chosen, state, legislatures, senat. The 1844 45 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states coinciding with James K Polk s election 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 1844 and 1845 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 1 1844 45 United States Senate elections 1842 amp 1843 Various dates 1846 amp 1847 18 of the 54 seats in the United States Senate with special elections 28 seats needed for a majority Majority party Minority party Third party Party Democratic Whig Law and OrderLast election 23 seats 27 seats New partySeats before 23 27 1Seats won 8 8 0Seats after 27 24 0Seat change 3 3 1Seats up 5 11 1Results Democratic gain Democratic hold Whig gain Whig hold Legislature failed to electMajority Party before electionWhig Elected Majority Party DemocraticThe Democratic Party re captured control of the Senate gaining a net total of eleven seats from the Whigs Contents 1 Results summary 2 Change in Senate composition 2 1 Before the elections 2 2 Result of the elections 2 3 Beginning of the next Congress 2 4 Beginning of the first session of the next Congress December 1 1845 3 Race summaries 3 1 Special elections during the 28th Congress 3 2 Races leading to the 29th Congress 3 3 Special elections during the 29th Congress 4 Arkansas special 5 Connecticut 6 Delaware 7 Florida 7 1 Florida regular 7 2 Florida special 8 Georgia special 9 Indiana 10 Louisiana special 11 Maine 12 Maryland 13 Massachusetts 13 1 Massachusetts regular 13 2 Massachusetts special 14 Michigan 15 Mississippi 16 Missouri 17 New Jersey 18 New York 18 1 New York special class 1 18 2 New York special class 3 18 3 New York regular 19 Ohio 20 Pennsylvania 20 1 Pennsylvania regular 20 2 Pennsylvania special 21 Rhode Island 21 1 Rhode Island regular 21 2 Rhode Island special 22 South Carolina special 23 Tennessee 24 Vermont 25 Virginia 25 1 Virginia regular 25 2 Virginia special 26 See also 27 References 28 Sources and external linksResults summary EditSenate party division 29th Congress 1845 1847 Majority party Democratic 26 31 Minority party Whig 24 Other parties 0 1 Vacant 4 2 Total seats 54 58Change in Senate composition EditBefore the elections Edit D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8 D7D17 D18 D19 D20Ran D21Ran D22Ran D23Ran D24Retired LO1Retired W27RetiredMajority W17Ran W18Ran W19Ran W20Ran W21Unknown W22Unknown W23Retired W24Retired W25Retired W26RetiredW16 W15 W14 W13 W12 W11 W10 W9 W8 W7W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6Result of the elections Edit D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8D18 D19 D20Re elected D21Re elected D22Re elected D23Re elected D24Gain D25Gain D26Gain D27GainMajority W18Re elected W19Re elected W20Hold W21Hold W22Hold W23Gain W24Gain V1W Loss V2New seat V3New seatW17Re elected W16 W15 W14 W13 W12 W11 W10 W9 W8W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7Beginning of the next Congress Edit D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8D18 D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 V4D LossMajority W18 W19 W20 W21 W22 W23 W24 V1 V2 V3W17 W16 W15 W14 W13 W12 W11 W10 W9 W8W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7Beginning of the first session of the next Congress December 1 1845 Edit D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7D17 D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8D18 D19 D20 D21 D22 D23 D24Hold D25Hold D26Hold D27GainMajority D28GainW18 W19 W20 W21 W22 W23Hold W24Hold D30Gain D29GainW17 W16 W15 W14 W13 W12 W11 W10 W9 W8W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7Key D DemocraticLO Law and OrderW WhigV VacantRace summaries EditSpecial elections during the 28th Congress Edit In these special elections the winners were seated during 1844 or in 1845 before March 4 ordered by election date State Incumbent Results CandidatesSenator Party Electoral historyRhode Island Class 1 William Sprague Whig 1842 special Incumbent resigned January 17 1844 New senator elected January 25 1844 Law and Order gain Y John B Francis Law and Order 67 votes Christopher Spencer Liberation 26 votes 2 3 Louisiana Class 3 Alexander Porter Whig 1833 special 1837 Resigned 1843 Incumbent died January 13 1844 New senator elected February 12 1844 Whig hold Y Henry Johnson Whig data unknown missing Arkansas Class 2 William S Fulton Democratic 1836 special 1840 Incumbent died August 15 1844 New senator elected November 8 1844 Democratic hold Y Chester Ashley Democratic data unknown missing New York Class 1 Daniel S Dickinson Democratic 1844 Appointed Appointee elected January 18 1845 New senator would later be elected to the next term see below Y Daniel S Dickinson Democratic 27 Millard Fillmore Whig 3 Jonathan Thompson American Republican 1New York Class 3 Henry A Foster Democratic 1844 Appointed Unknown if appointee retired or lost election New senator elected January 18 1845 Democratic hold Y John Adams Dix Democratic 27 Willis Hall Whig 3 Harman B Cropsey American Republican 1Races leading to the 29th Congress Edit In these regular elections the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4 1845 ordered by state All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats State Incumbent Results CandidatesSenator Party Electoral historyConnecticut Jabez W Huntington Whig 1840 special Incumbent re elected in 1844 or 1845 Y Jabez W Huntington Whig data unknown missing Delaware Richard H Bayard Whig 1836 special 1838 or 18391839 Resigned 1841 special Incumbent retired New senator elected in 1845 Whig hold Y John M Clayton Whig data unknown missing Florida New state Florida was admitted March 3 1845 but its first Class 1 senator elected late during the next Congress Vacant None Indiana Albert White Whig 1838 Incumbent retired New senator elected in 1844 Democratic gain Y Jesse D Bright Democratic data unknown missing Maine John Fairfield Democratic 1843 special Incumbent re elected in 1844 or 1845 Y John Fairfield Democratic data unknown missing Maryland William Merrick Whig 1838 special 1839 Incumbent retired New senator elected in 1844 or 1845 Whig hold Y Reverdy Johnson Whig data unknown missing Massachusetts Rufus Choate Whig 1841 special Incumbent retired New senator elected in 1845 Whig hold Y Daniel Webster Whig data unknown missing Michigan Augustus S Porter Whig 1840 special Incumbent retired New senator elected in 1844 or 1845 Democratic gain Y Lewis Cass Democratic data unknown missing Mississippi John Henderson Whig 1838 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost New senator elected in 1844 Democratic gain Y Jesse Speight Democratic data unknown missing Missouri Thomas H Benton Democratic 1821182718331839 Incumbent re elected in 1845 Y Thomas H Benton Democratic data unknown missing New Jersey William L Dayton Whig 1842 Appointed special Incumbent re elected in 1845 Y William L Dayton Whig New York Daniel S Dickinson Democratic 1844 Appointed 1845 special Incumbent re elected February 4 1845 Y Daniel S Dickinson Democratic 25 John C Clark Whig 4Ohio Benjamin Tappan Democratic 1838 Incumbent retired New senator elected December 5 1844 4 Whig gain Y Thomas Corwin Whig David T Disney Democratic 46 votes Ebenezer Lane 1 vote 4 Pennsylvania Daniel Sturgeon Democratic 1840 Incumbent re elected January 14 1845 Y Daniel Sturgeon Democratic 54 14 James Cooper Whig 36 84 John Ashmead Know Nothing 3 76 E W Keyser Know Nothing 1 50 Jacob Broom Know Nothing 0 75 E C Reigert Know Nothing 0 75 John Sergeant Whig 0 75 Not voting 1 50 Rhode Island John B Francis Law and Order 1844 special Incumbent retired New senator elected in 1844 or 1845 Whig gain Y Albert C Greene Whig data unknown missing Tennessee Ephraim H Foster Whig 1838 special 1839 Re elected but resigned 1843 special Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re election New senator elected in 1844 Democratic gain Y Hopkins L Turney Democratic data unknown missing Vermont Samuel S Phelps Whig 1839 Incumbent re elected in 1845 Y Samuel S Phelps Whig data unknown missing Virginia William C Rives Whig 1832 special 1834 Resigned 1836 special 1839 Legislature failed to elect 1841 special Legislature failed to elect Whig loss data unknown missing Special elections during the 29th Congress Edit In these special elections the winners were elected in 1845 after March 4 ordered by election date State Incumbent Results CandidatesSenator Party Electoral historyPennsylvania Class 3 James Buchanan Democratic 1834 special 18361843 Incumbent resigned March 5 1845 to become U S Secretary of State New senator elected March 13 1845 Democratic hold Y Simon Cameron Democratic 50 38 George W Woodward Democratic 41 35 J R Ingersoll Whig 1 50 John Banks Whig 0 75 Peter A Brown Know Nothing 0 75 Thomas S Bell Unknown 0 75 T D Cochran Whig 0 75 Not voting 3 76 Massachusetts Class 2 Isaac C Bates Whig 1841 special 1841 Incumbent died March 16 1845 New senator elected March 24 1845 Whig hold Y John Davis Whig data unknown missing Florida Class 1 New state Florida was admitted March 3 1845 Its first senators were elected July 1 1845 Democratic gain Y David Levy Yulee Democratic data unknown missing Florida Class 3 Florida was admitted March 3 1845 Its first senators were elected July 1 1845 Democratic gain Y James Westcott Democratic data unknown missing Georgia Class 2 John M Berrien Whig 18251829 Resigned 1840 Incumbent resigned in May 1845 to become judge of the Supreme Court of Georgia He did not remain on the court however and was re elected November 13 1845 Whig hold Y John M Berrien Whig data unknown missing South Carolina Class 2 Vacant Incumbent Democrat Daniel E Huger had resigned in the previous Congress New senator was elected November 26 1845 Democratic gain Y John C Calhoun Democratic data unknown missing Virginia Class 1 Vacant Legislature had failed to elect New senator elected late December 3 1845 Democratic gain Y Isaac S Pennybacker Democratic data unknown missing Arkansas special EditSee also List of United States senators from Arkansas and 1844 United States House of Representatives election in Arkansas This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Connecticut EditMain article 1844 United States Senate election in Connecticut See also List of United States senators from Connecticut and 1845 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Delaware EditSee also List of United States senators from Delaware and 1844 United States House of Representatives election in Delaware This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Florida EditSee also List of United States senators from Florida and 1845 United States House of Representatives election in Florida This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Florida regular Edit Florida special EditGeorgia special EditSee also List of United States senators from Georgia and 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in Georgia This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Indiana EditSee also List of United States senators from Indiana and 1845 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Louisiana special EditSee also List of United States senators from Louisiana and 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Maine EditSee also List of United States senators from Maine and 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Maryland EditSee also List of United States senators from Maryland This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it November 2022 1844 United States Senate election in Maryland 1839 1849 80 members of the Maryland General Assembly Candidate Reverdy JohnsonParty WhigLegislative vote Percentage Reverdy Johnson won election by an unknown margin of votes for the Class 1 seat 5 Massachusetts EditSee also List of United States senators from Massachusetts and 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Massachusetts regular Edit Massachusetts special EditMichigan EditSee also List of United States senators from Michigan and 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Mississippi EditSee also List of United States senators from Mississippi and 1845 United States House of Representatives election in Mississippi This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Missouri EditSee also List of United States senators from Missouri and 1844 United States House of Representatives election in Missouri This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 New Jersey EditSee also List of United States senators from New Jersey and 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in New Jersey This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 New York EditMain article 1845 United States Senate elections in New York See also List of United States senators from New York There were three elections Two special elections were held on January 18 1845 and one regular election was held on February 4 1845 The 68th New York State Legislature met from January 7 to May 14 1845 New York special class 1 Edit Nathaniel P Tallmadge had been re elected in 1840 to the Class 1 seat term 1839 1845 but resigned June 17 1844 to become Governor of Wisconsin Territory On November 30 Governor of New York William C Bouck appointed his Democratic Lieutenant Governor Daniel S Dickinson to fill the vacancy temporarily and Dickinson was seated December 9 1844 January 18 1845 United States Senator special election Class 1 House Democratic Whig AmericanRepublicanState Senate 32 members Y Daniel S Dickinson 27 Millard Fillmore 3 Jonathan Thompson 1State Assembly 128 members Y Daniel S DickinsonNew York special class 3 Edit Silas Wright Jr had been re elected in 1843 to the Class 3 seat term 1843 1849 but resigned November 26 1844 when elected Governor of New York On November 30 Governor Bouck appointed Democratic State Senator Henry A Foster to fill the vacancy temporarily and Foster took his seat on December 9 1844 January 18 1845 United States Senator special election Class 3 House Democratic Whig AmericanRepublicanState Senate 32 members Y John Adams Dix 27 Willis Hall 3 Harman B Cropsey 1State Assembly 128 members Y John Adams DixDix took his seat on January 27 1845 and remained in office until March 3 1849 when his term expired New York regular Edit February 4 1845 United States Senator election Class 1 House Democratic WhigState Senate 32 members Y Daniel S Dickinson 25 John C Clark 4State Assembly 128 members Y Daniel S DickinsonDickinson re took his seat under the new credentials on January 27 1845 and re elected remained in office until March 3 1851 when his term expired Ohio EditSee also List of United States senators from Ohio and 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Pennsylvania EditSee also List of United States senators from Pennsylvania Pennsylvania regular Edit Main article 1845 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania The regular election was held January 14 1845 Incumbent Daniel Sturgeon was re elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate 6 The Pennsylvania General Assembly consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate convened on January 14 1845 to elect a Senator to serve the term beginning on March 4 1845 The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows State Legislature Results 6 7 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Daniel Sturgeon Incumbent 72 54 14Whig James Cooper 49 36 84KN John Ashmead 5 3 76KN E W Keyser 2 1 50KN Jacob Broom 1 0 75KN E C Reigert 1 0 75Whig John Sergeant 1 0 75N A Not voting 2 1 50Totals 133 100 00 Pennsylvania special Edit Main article 1845 United States Senate special election in Pennsylvania A special election was held March 13 1845 Simon Cameron was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate 8 Democratic future U S president James Buchanan was elected in an 1834 special election and was re elected in 1836 and 1843 Senator Buchanan resigned on March 5 1845 after being appointed U S Secretary of State by President James K Polk 9 Following the resignation of senator Buchanan the Pennsylvania General Assembly convened on March 13 1845 to elect a new Ssenator to fill the vacancy and serve the remainder of the term set to expire on March 4 1849 Five ballots were recorded The results of the fifth and final ballot of both houses combined are as follows State Legislature Results 8 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Simon Cameron 67 50 38Democratic George W Woodward 55 41 35Whig J R Ingersoll 2 1 50Whig John Banks 1 0 75KN Peter A Brown 1 0 75Unknown Thomas S Bell 1 0 75Whig T D Cochran 1 0 75N A Not voting 5 3 76Totals 133 100 00 Rhode Island EditSee also List of United States senators from Rhode Island and 1845 United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Rhode Island regular Edit Rhode Island special EditSouth Carolina special EditSee also List of United States senators from South Carolina and 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Tennessee EditSee also List of United States senators from Tennessee and 1845 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Vermont EditSee also List of United States senators from Vermont and 1844 United States House of Representatives elections in Vermont This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Virginia EditSee also List of United States senators from Virginia and 1845 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Virginia regular Edit Virginia special EditSee also Edit1844 United States elections 1844 United States presidential election 1844 45 United States House of Representatives elections 29th United States Congress 30th United States CongressReferences Edit 17th Amendment to the U S Constitution Direct Election of U S Senators 1913 National Archives and Records Administration February 8 2022 J Fred Parker Secretary of State 1914 Manual with Rules and Orders for the use of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island 1914 State of Rhode Island manual Providence RI E L Freeman Company State Printers p 149 Rhode Island The Whig standard Washington D C January 29 1844 p 2 Retrieved November 27 2021 a b Taylor amp Taylor p 215 vol I Our Campaigns MD US Senate Race Feb 00 1845 www ourcampaigns com Retrieved November 5 2022 a b U S Senate Election 14 January 1845 PDF Wilkes University Retrieved December 22 2012 PA US Senate OurCampaigns Retrieved December 22 2012 a b U S Senate Election 13 March 1845 PDF Wilkes University Retrieved December 22 2013 BUCHANAN James 1791 1868 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved December 22 2013 This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it August 2020 Sources and external links EditParty Division in the Senate 1789 Present via Senate gov Members of the 28th United States Congress via GPOaccess gov Members of the 29th United States Congress via GPOaccess gov Pennsylvania Election Statistics 1682 2006 from the Wilkes University Election Statistics Project Taylor William Alexander Taylor Aubrey Clarence 1899 Ohio statesmen and annals of progress from the year 1788 to the year 1900 State of Ohio The New York Civil List compiled in 1858 see pg 63 for U S Senators pg 134f for State Senators 1845 pg 230f for Members of Assembly 1845 Political History of the State of New York from Jan 1 1841 to Jan 1 1847 Vol III by Jabez Delano Hammond State election 1844 pg 505f appointments 1844 pg 508f Speaker election 1845 pg 518 U S Senate nominations 1845 pg 526ff gives wrong date for caucus and election Abridgment of the Debates in Congress from 1789 to 1856 Dec 4 1843 to June 18 1846 page 197 Journal of the Senate 68th Session 1845 pg 77f and 142f Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1844 45 United States Senate elections amp oldid 1143325487, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
