1837_United_States_Senate_special_election_in_Virginia

1836–37 United States Senate elections

1836–37 United States Senate elections

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The 1836–37 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 1836 and 1837, 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.

Quick Facts 17 of the 52 seats in the United States Senate (plus special elections) 27 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

In this election cycle, the Jacksonian coalition emerged as the Democratic Party, and the Adams, or Anti-Jackson, coalition emerged as the Whig Party.

Results summary

Senate party division, 25th Congress (1837–1839)

  • Majority party: Democratic (35)
  • Minority party: Whig (17–16)
  • Other parties: (0–1)
  • Total seats: 52

Change in composition

Before the special elections

More information Ark. New ...

As a result of the special elections

AJ1 AJ2 AJ3 AJ4 AJ5 AJ6
AJ16 AJ15 AJ14 AJ13 AJ12 AJ11 AJ10 AJ9 AJ8 AJ7
AJ17
Del.
Hold		 AJ18
Del.
Hold		 AJ19
Md.
Hold		 N2 N1 J31
Va.
Gain		 J30
Va.
Gain		 J29
Ark.
Gain		 J28
Ark.
Gain		 J27
N.C.
Gain
Majority →
J17 J18 J19 J20 J21 J22 J23 J24
N.H.
Hold		 J25
La.
Gain		 J26
La.
Gain
J16 J15 J14 J13 J12 J11 J10 J9 J8 J7
J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6

Before the regular elections

AJ1 AJ2 AJ3 AJ4 AJ5 AJ6
AJ16
Ohio
Ran		 AJ15
Ky.
Ran		 AJ14
Ind.
Ran		 AJ13
Ala.
Ran		 AJ12 AJ11 AJ10 AJ9 AJ8 AJ7
AJ17
La.
Ran		 AJ18
Vt.
Ran		 AJ19
Conn.
Unknown		 N2
S.C.
Ran		 N1 J31
Pa.
Ran		 J30
N.C.
Ran		 J29
N.Y.
Ran		 J28
N.H.
Ran		 J27
Mo.
Ran
Majority →
J17 J18 J19 J20 J21 J22 J23
Ark.
Ran		 J24
Ga.
Ran		 J25
Ill.
Ran		 J26
La.
Ran
J16 J15 J14 J13 J12 J11 J10 J9 J8 J7
J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6

As a result of the regular elections

"Hold" means the incumbent lost and the winner was from an affiliated new party, either Anti-Jacksonian to Whig or Jacksonian to Democratic.

AJ1 AJ2 AJ3 AJ4 AJ5 AJ6
W16
Vt.
Re-elected
(was AJ)		 W15
Ind.
Hold
(was AJ)		 W14
La.
Re-elected
(was AJ)		 W13
Ky.
Re-elected
(was AJ)		 AJ12 AJ11 AJ10 AJ9 AJ8 AJ7
W17
S.C.
Re-elected
(was N)		 N1 D34
Ohio
Gain
(was AJ)		 D33
Conn.
Gain
(was AJ)		 D32
Ala.
Gain
(was AJ)		 D31
N.H.
Hold
(was J)		 D30
Ill.
Hold
(was J)		 D29
Pa.
Re-elected
(was J)		 D28
N.C.
Re-elected
(was J)		 D27
N.Y.
Re-elected
(was J)
Majority →
J17 J18 J19 J20 J21 J22 D23
Ark.
Re-elected
(was J)		 D24
Ga.
Re-elected
(was J)		 D25
La.
Re-elected
(was J)		 D26
Mo.
Re-elected
(was J)
J16 J15 J14 J13 J12 J11 J10 J9 J8 J7
J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6

Beginning of the next Congress

W1
New party		 W2
New party		 W3
New party		 W4
New party		 W5
New party		 W6
New party
W16 W15 W14 W13 W12
New party		 W11
New party		 W10
New party		 W9
New party		 W8
New party		 W7
New party
W17 D35
New party		 D34 D33 D32 D31 D30 D29 D28 D27
Majority →
D17
New party		 D18
New party		 D19
New party		 D20
New party		 D21
New party		 D22
New party		 D23 D24 D25 D26
D16
New party		 D15
New party		 D14
New party		 D13
New party		 D12
New party		 D11
New party		 D10
New party		 D9
New party		 D8
New party		 D7
New party
D1
New party		 D2
New party		 D3
New party		 D4
New party		 D5
New party		 D6
New party
More information Key: ...

Race summaries

Bold states link to specific election articles.

Elections seated during the 24th Congress

In these elections, senators were elected to finish terms already in progress either as special elections or as elections to a new state. senators were seated during 1836 or before March 4, 1837; ordered by election date.

More information State, Incumbent ...

Races leading to the 25th Congress

In these regular elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1837; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

More information State, Incumbent ...

Elections during the 25th Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated in 1837 after March 4; ordered by election date.

More information State, Incumbent ...

Alabama

There were two elections in Alabama in this cycle, both for the same seat.

See also: List of United States senators from Alabama and 1837 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama

Alabama (regular)

First-term senator Anti-Jacksonian Gabriel Moore lost re-election in November 1836 to Jacksonian John McKinley.

Alabama (special)

Shortly after the new term started, Jacksonian-now-Democrat John McKinley resigned to become Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He was replaced by fellow Democrat Clement C. Clay in a June 19, 1837 special election.

Clay would serve only until November 15, 1841, when he, too, resigned.

Arkansas

See also: List of United States senators from Arkansas, 1836 United States House of Representatives election in Arkansas, and 1837 United States House of Representatives election in Arkansas

Arkansas became a new state and elected its two senators September 18, 1836.

Jacksonian former Governor of Arkansas Territory William Fulton was elected to the Class 2 seat, with the term ending March 3, 1841.

Jacksonian former delegate Ambrose Sevier was elected to the Class 3 seat, with the term ending March 3, 1837.

Sevier was also re-elected in 1837 to the next term that would end in 1843.

Connecticut

See also: List of United States senators from Connecticut and 1837 United States House of Representatives elections in Connecticut

Delaware

See also: List of United States senators from Delaware and 1836 United States House of Representatives election in Delaware

Georgia

There were two elections in Georgia in this cycle.

See also: List of United States senators from Georgia and 1836 United States House of Representatives election in Georgia

Georgia (regular)

Georgia (special)

Illinois

See also: List of United States senators from Illinois and 1836 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois

Indiana

See also: List of United States senators from Indiana and 1837 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana

Kentucky

See also: List of United States senators from Kentucky and 1837 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky

Louisiana

There were two elections in Louisiana in this cycle, both for the same seat.

See also: List of United States senators from Louisiana and 1836 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana

Anti-Jacksonian Alexander Porter resigned January 5, 1837 due to ill health.

Louisiana (special)

Jacksonian Alexandre Mouton was elected January 12, 1837 to finish Porter's term, ending March 3, 1837.

Louisiana (regular)

Jacksonian Alexandre Mouton was also elected as a Democrat in 1837 (possibly re-elected) to the next term, beginning March 4, 1837.

Maryland

See also: List of United States senators from Maryland

Maryland (special)

Quick Facts 80 members of the Maryland General Assembly, Candidate ...

Anti-Jacksonian Robert Henry Goldsborough died October 5, 1836. Anti-Jacksonian John S. Spence was elected in late 1836 to finish Goldsborough's term, ending March 3, 1837.[5]

Maryland (regular)

Quick Facts 80 members of the Maryland General Assembly, Candidate ...

John S. Spence won election to a full term an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 3 seat.[6]

Missouri

See also: List of United States senators from Missouri and 1836 United States House of Representatives election in Missouri

New Hampshire

See also: List of United States senators from New Hampshire and 1837 United States House of Representatives election in New Hampshire

New York

Main article: 1837 United States Senate election in New York
See also: List of United States senators from New York and 1836 United States House of Representatives elections in New York

Silas Wright Jr., had been elected in 1833 to this seat after the resignation of William L. Marcy who had been elected Governor of New York. Wright's term would expire on March 3, 1837.

At the State election in November 1836, 94 Democrats and 34 Whigs were elected to the Assembly, and seven of the eight State senators elected were Democrats. The 60th New York State Legislature met from January 3 to May 16, 1837, at Albany. The party strength in the Assembly as shown by the election for Speaker was: 80 for Democrat Edward Livingston and 27 for Whig Luther Bradish.

Wright was re-nominated in a Democratic caucus by a large majority. Silas Wright Jr., was the choice of both the Assembly and the Senate, and was declared elected.

More information House, Democratic ...

North Carolina

There were two elections in North Carolina in this cycle, both for the same seat.

See also: List of United States senators from North Carolina and 1837 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina

Anti-Jacksonian Willie P. Mangum resigned November 26, 1836.

North Carolina (special)

Jacksonian Robert Strange was elected in late 1836 to finish Mangum's term, ending March 3, 1837.

North Carolina (regular)

Jacksonian Robert Strange was also elected as a Democrat in 1836, to the next term, beginning March 4, 1837.

Ohio

See also: List of United States senators from Ohio and 1836 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio

Pennsylvania

Main article: 1836 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
See also: List of United States senators from Pennsylvania and 1836 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania General Assembly convened on December 14, 1836, to elect a Senator to serve the term beginning on March 4, 1837. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:

More information Party, Candidate ...

South Carolina

See also: List of United States senators from South Carolina and 1836 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

Vermont

See also: List of United States senators from Vermont and 1836 United States House of Representatives elections in Vermont

Virginia (special)

See also: List of United States senators from Virginia and 1837 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia

There were three special elections in Virginia in this cycle.

Virginia (special, class 1)

Two-term Anti-Jacksonian (and future President) John Tyler resigned February 29, 1836 due to policial differences and conflict with the Virginia House of Delegates, which had come under control of the rival Jacksonians.

Former Jacksonian senator William C. Rives (who had served in the class 2 seat from December 10, 1832, to February 22, 1834) was elected March 4, 1836 to finish Tyler's term that would end March 3, 1839.

Virginia (special, class 2 1836)

Anti-Jacksonian Benjamin W. Leigh, who had served in the seat since an 1834 special election and re-elected in 1835, resigned July 4, 1836 to return to his private legal practice.

Jacksonian Richard E. Parker was elected December 12, 1836, but he would only remain in the seat for four months.

Virginia (special, class 2 1837)

Parker, now a Democrat, was elected to the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and so he resigned from the Senate March 13, 1837.

Fellow Democrat William H. Roane was elected March 14, 1837 to finish the term that would end March 3, 1841.

See also

Notes

  1. Michigan's senators were elected in 1835, but not seated until early 1837

References

  1. [1]
    "17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)". National Archives and Records Administration. February 8, 2022.
  2. [2]
    "Senate". The Arkansas advocate. Little Rock, Ark. September 23, 1836. pp. 2–3. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  3. [3]
    "U.S. Senate Election - 14 December 1836" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  4. [4]
    "Our Campaigns - GA US Senate - Appointment Race - Nov 01, 1837".
  5. [5]
    "Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Feb 00, 1837". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  6. [6]
    "Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Feb 00, 1837". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
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