The 1860–61 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 1860 and 1861, 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 22 of the 66 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections) 34 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1860–61 United States Senate elections

← 1858 & 1859 Various dates 1862 & 1863 →
22 of the 66 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections) 34 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader John P. Hale[lower-alpha 1] Party Democratic Republican Leader since March 4, 1859 Leader's seat New Hampshire Last election 38 seats 25 seats Seats before 38 26 Seats won 30 29 Seat change 8 3 Seats up 14 7   Third party   Party Know Nothing Last election 2 seats Seats before 2 Seats won 1 Seat change 1 Seats up 1
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      Senator left for the Confederacy
Majority party before election Democratic Elected Majority party Democratic

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These elections corresponded with Abraham Lincoln's election to the presidency. The nascent Republican Party increased their Senate seats in the regular elections, and after southern Democrats withdrew to join the Confederacy, Republicans gained control of the Senate. To establish a quorum with fewer members, a lower total seat number was taken into account.

Senate party division, 37th Congress (1861–1863)

• Majority party: Republican (29), later rose to 30
• Minority party: Democratic (30), later dropped to 14
• Other parties: Unionist (1), later rose to 4
• Vacant: (8), later rose to 20
• Total seats: 68

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022)

James Pearce won re-election by an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 3 seat.^[3]

The New York election was held February 5, 1861.

Whig William H. Seward had been re-elected in February 1855 to this seat, had become a Republican upon the foundation of that party in September 1855, and his term would expire on March 3, 1861. Seward did not seek re-election, instead being certain to be appointed to an office in the incoming Lincoln administration (Lincoln subsequently appointed Seward Secretary of State).

At the state election in November 1859, 23 Republicans and 9 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1860–1861) in the State Senate. At the state election in November 1860, 93 Republicans and 35 Democrats were elected to the Assembly for the session of 1861. The 84th New York State Legislature met from January 1 to April 16, 1861, at Albany, New York.

Ira Harris was the candidate of the Republican Party. Harris had been a Whig assemblyman in 1845 and 1846, and a justice of the New York Supreme Court from 1847 to 1859.

Ex-Governor Horatio Seymour (in office 1853–1854) was the candidate of the Democratic Party.

Both in the Assembly and the Senate a strict party vote confirmed the caucus selections.

In the Assembly 119 votes were given: Republicans Smith Anthony (Cayuga Co.), Martin Finch (Essex Co.), Henry A. Prendergast (Chautauqua Co.), Victor M. Rice (Erie Co.) and Perez H. Field (Ontario Co.), along with Democrats Luke F. Cozans (NYC), Benjamin H. Long (Erie Co.), N. Holmes Odell (Westchester Co.) and Christian B. Woodruff (NYC) did not vote.

In the State Senate, 31 votes were given as William H. Ferry (Rep., 19th D.) was absent.

Ira Harris was the choice of both the Assembly and the Senate, and was declared elected.

There were two elections in Pennsylvania.

• 1860 United States elections
  • 1860 United States presidential election
  • 1860–61 United States House of Representatives elections
• 36th United States Congress
• 37th United States Congress