The 1858–59 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 1858 and 1859, 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.
U.S. postage stamp, 1958 issue, commemorating the Lincoln and Douglas debates
The Republican Party gained five additional seats in the Senate, but the Democrats retained their majority. That majority would erode in 1860 with the secession of the southern states leading up to the Civil War.
Interim appointee retired when successor elected. Winner elected December 3, 1858. Democratic hold. Winner was also elected to the next term; see below.
Incumbent U.S. Senator Stephen Douglas, a Democrat, defeated a challenge by former U.S. Representative Abraham Lincoln, the Republican nominee. Lincoln, who had been a member of the Whig Party prior to 1856, attacked Douglas for his perceived subservience to the Slave Power, as evidenced by his support for the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the recent Supreme Court ruling in the case of Dred Scott v. Sanford. The election was extremely close, hinging on Douglas' ability to appeal to former Whigs who had resisted joining the Republicans following the decline of the Whig party after 1854. In the finale weeks of the campaign, Douglas received the coveted endorsement of Kentucky's John J. Crittenden, a prominent former Whig and Douglas' colleague in the Senate. Crittenden's support for Douglas considerably diminished Lincoln's chances of winning the election.[10]
On election day, the statewide Republican ticket took 50.6% of the popular vote, outpolling the Democrats by a margin of 3,402 votes. Further down ballot, Republican candidates for the state legislature collectively received 24,094 more votes than the Douglas Democrats. (Buchanan Democrats received almost 10,000 votes, and there were a scattering of votes for write-in candidates.) Despite this, strategically drawn district boundaries produced Democratic majorities in both houses of the state legislature: 40 Democrats and 35 Republicans were elected to the state House of Representatives, while the Democratic margin in the Senate was 14–11. On the day of the election in the Illinois General Assembly, Douglas received 54 votes to Lincoln's 46. The change of just over 300 votes in three state legislative districts from Democrats to Republicans would have been sufficient to deny Democrats a legislative majority and defeat Douglas.[11]
In spite of his defeat, Lincoln's debates with Douglas were followed nationally and established Lincoln as a leading contender for the Republican nomination in the 1860 United States presidential election. In the aftermath of the senatorial election, Lincoln contacted editors looking to publish the texts of the debates. George Parsons, the Ohio Republican committee chairman, got Lincoln in touch with Ohio's main political publisher, Follett and Foster, of Columbus. They published copies of the text under the title, Political Debates Between Hon. Abraham Lincoln and Hon. Stephen A. Douglas in the Celebrated Campaign of 1858, in Illinois. Four printings were made, and the fourth sold 16,000 copies.[12]
^"Hon. Thomas L. Clingman--The new Senator from North Carolina". The New York Times.
^Journal of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, 1859. Springfield, IL: Bailache & Baker, Printers. 1859.
^Clark, Dan Elbert. History of Senatorial Elections in Iowa: A Study in American Politics. p. 119.
^Journal of the House of Representatives of the Seventh General Assembly of the State of Iowa. Des Moines: J. Teesdale, State Printer. 1858. p. 131.
^ ab"From Minnesota.; ELECTION OF A UNITED STATES SENATOR--THREATENED IMPEACHMENT OF THE LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR". The New York Times.
^ abGuelzo, Allen C. (2008). Lincoln and Douglas: the Debates That Defined America. New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 285.
^Guelzo, Allen C. (2008). Lincoln and Douglas: The Debates that Defined America. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. pp. 273-77, 282.
^Guelzo, Allen C. (2008). Lincoln and Douglas: The Debates that Defined America. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. pp. 284–285.
^Guelzo, Allen C. (2008). Lincoln and Douglas: The Debates that Defined America. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. pp. 305-6.
Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov
December 15, 2023
1858, united, states, senate, elections, were, held, various, dates, various, states, these, senate, elections, were, prior, ratification, seventeenth, amendment, 1913, senators, were, chosen, state, legislatures, senators, were, elected, over, wide, range, ti. The 1858 59 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 1858 and 1859 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 1858 59 United States Senate elections 1856 amp 1857 Various dates 1860 amp 1861 22 of the 66 seats in the United States Senate with special elections 34 seats needed for a majority Majority party Minority party Party Democratic RepublicanLast election 34 seats 15 seatsSeats before 42 20Seats won 13 8Seats after 38 25Seat change 4 5Seats up 17 3 Third party Fourth party Party Know Nothing OthersLast election 2 seats 4 seatsSeats before 4 0Seats won 0 0Seats after 2 0Seat change 2Seats up 2 0Results of the elections Democratic gain Democratic hold Republican gain Republican hold Legislature failed to electMajority Party before electionDemocratic Elected Majority Party DemocraticU S postage stamp 1958 issue commemorating the Lincoln and Douglas debatesThe Republican Party gained five additional seats in the Senate but the Democrats retained their majority That majority would erode in 1860 with the secession of the southern states leading up to the Civil War In Illinois incumbent Stephen A Douglas D and challenger Abraham Lincoln R held a series of seven debates known as the Lincoln Douglas debates Contents 1 Results summary 2 Change in Senate composition 2 1 Before the elections 2 2 As a result of the elections 3 Race summaries 3 1 Special elections during the 35th Congress 3 2 Races leading to the 36th Congress 3 3 Elections during the 36th Congress 3 4 Race leading to the 37th Congress 4 Illinois 5 See also 6 ReferencesResults summary editSenate party division 36th Congress 1859 1861 Majority party Democratic 38 25 Minority party Republican 25 26 Other parties American 2 Total seats 66 68Change in Senate composition editBefore the elections edit D3 D2 D1D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13D23 D22 D21 D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14D24 D25 D26Ran D27Ran D28Ran D29Ran D30Ran D31Ran D32Ran D33RanMajority D34RanKN4Unknown D42Retired D41Retired D40Retired D39Retired D38Retired D37Ran D36Ran D35RanKN3Unknown KN2 KN1 R20Ran R19Ran R18Ran R17 R16 R15 R14R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13R3 R2 R1As a result of the elections edit D3 D2 D1D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13D23 D22 D21 D20 D19 D18 D17 D16 D15 D14D24 D25 D26Re elected D27Re elected D28Re elected D29Re elected D30Re elected D31Re elected D32Re elected D33HoldMajority D34HoldR24Gain R25Gain KN1 KN2 V1D Loss D38Gain D37Gain D36Hold D35HoldR23Gain R22Gain R21Gain R20Re elected R19Re elected R18Re elected R17 R16 R15 R14R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13R3 R2 R1Key D DemocraticKN Know NothingR RepublicanV VacantRace summaries editSpecial elections during the 35th Congress edit In these elections the winners were seated during 1858 or in 1859 before March 4 ordered by election date State Incumbent Results CandidatesSenator Party Electoral historyMinnesota Class 1 New state Minnesota s first senators were elected May 11 1858 Democratic gain nbsp Y Henry M Rice Democratic data missing Minnesota Class 2 Minnesota s first senators were elected May 11 1858 Democratic gain nbsp Y James Shields Democratic data missing Oregon Class 2 New state Oregon s first senators were elected in 1858 in advance of statehood 2 Democratic gain nbsp Y Delazon Smith Democratic data missing Oregon Class 3 Oregon s first senators were elected in 1858 in advance of statehood 2 Democratic gain nbsp Y Joseph Lane Democratic data missing North Carolina Class 3 Thomas Clingman Democratic 1858 Appointed Interim appointee elected November 23 1858 to finish the term 3 4 nbsp Y Thomas Clingman Democratic data missing South Carolina Class 2 Arthur P Hayne Democratic 1858 Appointed Interim appointee retired when successor elected Winner elected December 3 1858 Democratic hold Winner was also elected to the next term see below nbsp Y James Chesnut Jr Democratic data missing Races leading to the 36th Congress edit In these regular elections the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4 1859 ordered by state All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats State Incumbent Results CandidatesSenator Party ElectoralhistoryAlabama Clement Claiborne Clay Democratic 1853 special Incumbent re elected in 1858 nbsp Y Clement Claiborne Clay Democratic data missing Arkansas William K Sebastian Democratic 1848 Appointed 1848 special 1853 Incumbent re elected in 1859 nbsp Y William K Sebastian Democratic data missing Delaware Martin W Bates Democratic 1857 special Incumbent lost re election New senator elected in 1858 Democratic hold nbsp Y Willard Saulsbury Sr Democratic data missing Georgia Robert Toombs Democratic 1852 Incumbent re elected in 1858 nbsp Y Robert Toombs Democratic data missing Illinois Stephen A Douglas Democratic 18461852 Incumbent re elected January 5 1859 nbsp Y Stephen A Douglas Democratic 54 Abraham Lincoln Republican 46 5 Iowa George Wallace Jones Democratic 18481852 Incumbent lost renomination New senator elected January 26 1858 6 Republican gain nbsp Y James W Grimes Republican 64 Benjamin M Samuels Democratic 41 7 Kentucky John B Thompson Know Nothing 1851 Early Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re election New senator elected in January 1858 Democratic gain nbsp Y Lazarus W Powell Democratic data missing Louisiana Judah P Benjamin Democratic 1852 Incumbent re elected in 1859 nbsp Y Judah P Benjamin Democratic data missing Maine William P Fessenden Republican 1854 special Incumbent re elected in 1859 nbsp Y William P Fessenden Republican data missing Massachusetts Henry Wilson Republican 1855 special Incumbent re elected in 1859 nbsp Y Henry Wilson Republican data missing Michigan Charles E Stuart Democratic 1853 Incumbent retired New senator elected in 1858 Republican gain nbsp Y Kinsley S Bingham Republican data missing Minnesota James Shields Democratic 1849 Illinois 1849 Illinois Election voided 1849 Illinois Special 1855 Illinois Lost 1858 Minnesota Incumbent lost re election New senator elected December 15 1859 8 Republican gain nbsp Y Morton S Wilkinson Republican 79 votes James Shields Democratic 33 votes W A Gorman Democratic 1 vote 8 Mississippi Albert G Brown Democratic 1854 special Incumbent re elected in 1859 nbsp Y Albert G Brown Democratic data missing New Hampshire John P Hale Republican 18461853 Retired 1855 Incumbent re elected in 1859 nbsp Y John P Hale Republican data missing New Jersey William Wright Democratic 1852 or 1853 Incumbent lost re election New senator elected in 1858 Republican gain nbsp Y John C Ten Eyck Republican data missing North Carolina David Reid Democratic 1854 Incumbent lost re election New senator elected in 1858 or 1859 Democratic hold nbsp Y Thomas Bragg Democratic data missing Oregon Delazon Smith Democratic 1859 Incumbent lost re election Legislature failed to elect Democratic loss Seat would remain vacant until 1860 Delazon Smith Democratic data missing Rhode Island Philip Allen Democratic 1853 Incumbent retired New senator elected in 1858 Republican gain nbsp Y Henry B Anthony Republican data missing South Carolina Arthur P Hayne Democratic 1858 Appointed Interim appointee retired New senator elected December 3 1858 Democratic hold Winner was also elected to finish the current term see above nbsp Y James Chesnut Jr Democratic data missing Tennessee John Bell Know Nothing 18471853 Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re election New senator elected in 1858 Democratic gain nbsp Y Alfred O P Nicholson Democratic data missing Texas Sam Houston Democratic 184618471853 Incumbent retired New senator elected in 1859 Democratic hold nbsp Y John Hemphill Democratic data missing Virginia Robert M T Hunter Democratic 18461852 Incumbent re elected in 1858 nbsp Y Robert M T Hunter Democratic data missing Elections during the 36th Congress edit In this election the winner was elected in 1859 on or after March 4 ordered by date State Incumbent Results CandidatesSenator Party Electoral historyTexas Class 1 Matthias Ward Democratic 1858 Appointed Interim appointee lost nomination to finish the term Winner was elected December 5 1859 Democratic hold nbsp Y Louis Wigfall Democratic data missing Race leading to the 37th Congress edit In this regular election the winner was elected for the term beginning March 4 1861 This election involved a Class 3 seat State Incumbent Results CandidatesSenator Party ElectoralhistoryKentucky Class 3 John J Crittenden Know Nothing 18161819 Resigned 18351841 Retired 1842 Appointed 1842 or 1843 special 18431848 Resigned 1854 Incumbent retired Winner elected December 12 1859 far in advance of the term Winner wasn t seated until term began March 4 1861 Democratic gain nbsp Y John C Breckinridge Democratic data missing Illinois edit1859 United States Senate election in Illinois nbsp 1853 January 5 1859 1861 nbsp nbsp Nominee Stephen Douglas Abraham LincolnParty Democratic RepublicanElectoral vote 54 46Popular vote 166 374 9 190 468 9 Percentage 45 33 51 90 Main article 1859 United States Senate election in Illinois See also Lincoln Douglas debate format Incumbent U S Senator Stephen Douglas a Democrat defeated a challenge by former U S Representative Abraham Lincoln the Republican nominee Lincoln who had been a member of the Whig Party prior to 1856 attacked Douglas for his perceived subservience to the Slave Power as evidenced by his support for the Kansas Nebraska Act and the recent Supreme Court ruling in the case of Dred Scott v Sanford The election was extremely close hinging on Douglas ability to appeal to former Whigs who had resisted joining the Republicans following the decline of the Whig party after 1854 In the finale weeks of the campaign Douglas received the coveted endorsement of Kentucky s John J Crittenden a prominent former Whig and Douglas colleague in the Senate Crittenden s support for Douglas considerably diminished Lincoln s chances of winning the election 10 On election day the statewide Republican ticket took 50 6 of the popular vote outpolling the Democrats by a margin of 3 402 votes Further down ballot Republican candidates for the state legislature collectively received 24 094 more votes than the Douglas Democrats Buchanan Democrats received almost 10 000 votes and there were a scattering of votes for write in candidates Despite this strategically drawn district boundaries produced Democratic majorities in both houses of the state legislature 40 Democrats and 35 Republicans were elected to the state House of Representatives while the Democratic margin in the Senate was 14 11 On the day of the election in the Illinois General Assembly Douglas received 54 votes to Lincoln s 46 The change of just over 300 votes in three state legislative districts from Democrats to Republicans would have been sufficient to deny Democrats a legislative majority and defeat Douglas 11 In spite of his defeat Lincoln s debates with Douglas were followed nationally and established Lincoln as a leading contender for the Republican nomination in the 1860 United States presidential election In the aftermath of the senatorial election Lincoln contacted editors looking to publish the texts of the debates George Parsons the Ohio Republican committee chairman got Lincoln in touch with Ohio s main political publisher Follett and Foster of Columbus They published copies of the text under the title Political Debates Between Hon Abraham Lincoln and Hon Stephen A Douglas in the Celebrated Campaign of 1858 in Illinois Four printings were made and the fourth sold 16 000 copies 12 See also edit1858 United States elections 1858 59 United States House of Representatives elections 35th United States Congress 36th United States Congress Lincoln Douglas debatesReferences edit 17th Amendment to the U S Constitution Direct Election of U S Senators 1913 National Archives and Records Administration February 8 2022 a b Two New Senators The New York Times 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 page 150 Hon Thomas L Clingman The new Senator from North Carolina The New York Times Journal of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois 1859 Springfield IL Bailache amp Baker Printers 1859 Clark Dan Elbert History of Senatorial Elections in Iowa A Study in American Politics p 119 Journal of the House of Representatives of the Seventh General Assembly of the State of Iowa Des Moines J Teesdale State Printer 1858 p 131 a b From Minnesota ELECTION OF A UNITED STATES SENATOR THREATENED IMPEACHMENT OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR The New York Times a b Guelzo Allen C 2008 Lincoln and Douglas the Debates That Defined America New York Simon and Schuster p 285 Guelzo Allen C 2008 Lincoln and Douglas The Debates that Defined America New York NY Simon and Schuster pp 273 77 282 Guelzo Allen C 2008 Lincoln and Douglas The Debates that Defined America New York NY Simon and Schuster pp 284 285 Guelzo Allen C 2008 Lincoln and Douglas The Debates that Defined America New York NY Simon and Schuster pp 305 6 Party Division in the Senate 1789 Present via Senate gov Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1858 59 United States Senate elections amp oldid 1175834612 Mississippi, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
