The 1872–73 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states, coinciding with President Ulysses S. Grant's re-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 1872 and 1873, 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 24 of the 74 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections) 38 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1872–73 United States Senate elections

← 1870 & 1871 Dates vary by state (And other dates for special elections) 1874 & 1875 →
24 of the 74 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections) 38 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Henry B. Anthony[lower-alpha 1] Party Republican Democratic Leader since March 4, 1863 Leader's seat Rhode Island Last election 58 seats 9 seats Seats before 56 17 Seats won 18 5 Seats after 54 19 Seat change 2 2 Seats up 20 3   Third party   Party Liberal Republican Last election 0 seats Seats before 1 Seats won 0 Seats after 0 Seat change 1 Seats up 1
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      Liberal Republican gain      Legislature Failed to Elect
Majority Party before election Republican Elected Majority Party Republican

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The Republican Party, while still retaining a commanding majority, lost two seats. By the beginning of the Congress, however, they would lose three more: two as defections to the Liberal Republican Party, and one a resignation of Henry Wilson to become U.S. Vice President. This remains the last election in which Republicans held a 2/3 majority in the Senate.

Senate party division, 43rd Congress (1873–1875)

• Majority party: Republican (50–51)
• Minority party: Democratic (19–20)
• Other parties: Liberal Republican (3–2)
• Vacant: (2–1)
• Total seats: 74

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

George R. Dennis was elected by a margin of 75.27%, or 70 votes, for the Class 3 seat.^[13]

The New York election was held January 21, 1873.^{[lower-alpha 3]} Republican Roscoe Conkling had been elected in January 1867 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1873.

At the State election in November 1871, 21 Republicans and 11 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1872–1873) in the State Senate. In 1872, a faction of the Republican Party opposed the re-election of President Ulysses S. Grant and the Radical Republicans who supported him, and under the name Liberal Republican Party nominated a joint ticket with the Democratic Party. At the State election in November 1872, 91 Republicans, 35 Democrats and 2 Independents were elected for the session of 1873 to the Assembly. The 96th New York State Legislature met from January 7 to May 30, 1873, at Albany, New York.

The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 8, State Senator William B. Woodin, of Auburn (25th D.), presided. 18 state senators and 88 assemblymen were present. They re-nominated Conkling unanimously. The caucus of the Democratic State legislators nominated Ex-First Judge of Dutchess County Charles Wheaton.

Roscoe Conkling was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected.

Note: The vote for Ex-U.S. Attorney General William M. Evarts was cast by Norman M. Allen (32nd district), the vote for Ex-Judge of the New York Court of Appeals Henry R. Selden by Gabriel T. Harrower (27th district). Allen, Harrower and Abiah W. Palmer (11th district) were the three Liberal Republicans in the State Senate.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania State Senate, voted on January 21, 1873. Incumbent Republican Simon Cameron, who was elected in 1867, won re-election.^[14]

• 1872 United States elections
  • 1872–73 United States House of Representatives elections
  • 1872 United States presidential election
• 42nd United States Congress
• 43rd United States Congress