The 1874–75 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 1874 and 1875, 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.

Quick Facts 25 of the 74 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections) 38 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1874–75 United States Senate elections

← 1872 & 1873 Dates vary by state (And other dates for special elections) 1876 & 1877 →
25 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] John W. Stevenson[lower-alpha 2] Party Republican Democratic Leader since March 4, 1863 March 4, 1873 Leader's seat Rhode Island Kentucky Seats before 52 19 Seats won 10 14 Seats after 42 28 Seat change 10 9 Seats up 20 5   Third party Fourth party   Party Liberal Republican Anti-Monopoly Seats before 2 0 Seats won 0 1 Seats after 2 1 Seat change 1 Seats up 0 0
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican hold      Anti-monopoly gain
Majority Party before election Republican Elected Majority Party Republican

Close

Although the Republican Party (the party of incumbent President Ulysses S. Grant) maintained their Senate majority, the Democratic Party gained nine seats.

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

More information Parties, Total ...

Parties						Total
		Democratic	Republican	Liberal Republican	Anti- Monopoly
Before these elections		19	52	2	0	73
Not up		14	32	2	—	48
	Class 2 (1870/71)	9	15	1	—	25
	Class 3 (1872/73)	5	17	1	—	31
Up		5	22	1	—	36
	Regular: Class 1	5	20	—	—	25
	Special: Class 1	0	1	1	—	2
	Special: Class 2	0	1	—	—	1
Incumbent retired		2	11	—	—	13
	Held by same party	1	4	—	—	5
	Replaced by other party	7 Republicans replaced by 7 Democrats 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Anti-Monopolist				8
	Result	8	4	—	1	13
Incumbent's intent unknown		1	4	—	—	5
	Held by same party	1	2	—	—	3
	Replaced by other party	2 Republicans replaced by 2 Democrats				2
	Result	3	2	—	—	5
Incumbent ran		2	5	—	—	7
	Won re-election	2	2	—	—	4
	Lost re-election	1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat				1
	Lost renomination but held by same party	—	2	—	—	2
	Result	3	4	—	—	7
Total elected		14	10	—	1	25
Net change		9	10	—	1	9
Result		28	42	2	1	73

Close

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

William Pinkney Whyte won election for an unknown margin of votes for the Class 1 seat.^[7]

The New York election was held on January 19 and 20, 1875, by the New York State Legislature.

Republican Reuben E. Fenton had been elected in January 1869 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1875.

At the state election in November 1873, a Republican majority was elected for a two-year term (1874–1875) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1874, Democrat Samuel J. Tilden was elected Governor, 75 Democrats and 53 Republicans were elected for the session of 1875 to the Assembly, and Democrat Albert P. Laning was elected in the 31st District to fill a vacancy in the State Senate. The 98th New York State Legislature met from January 5 to May 19, 1875, at Albany, New York.

The caucus of Democratic State legislators met on January 15, State Senator Albert P. Laning, of Buffalo, presided. All but one of the legislators were present, only Assemblyman John M. Roscoe, of Schoharie County, was sick. The caucus nominated Francis Kernan for the U.S. Senate. Kernan had been the Democratic/Liberal Republican candidate for Governor in November 1872 but had been defeated by John Adams Dix. Now Kernan was the choice of Tammany boss John Kelly who had succeeded the corrupt William M. Tweed. Kelly was opposed by John C. Jacobs, who proposed Ex-State Senator Henry C. Murphy, Jacobs's predecessor from the 3rd District, and the Democratic candidate who had lost the U.S. Senate elections in 1867 and 1869 when the Democrats were the minority. Kelly stood firm in his intention to dominate the Democratic Party, and had the caucus nomination made by viva voce vote instead of the more traditional secret ballot. Jacobs and Murphy had expected to get votes from many legislators who would not dare to cross Kelly openly, but had to abandon their hopes when the secret ballot was voted down 74 to 13.

The caucus of the Republican State legislators nominated Ex-U.S. Senator from New York Edwin D. Morgan.

On January 19, the Democratic majority of the Assembly nominated Francis Kernan, and the Republican majority of the State Senate nominated Ex-U.S. Senator Edwin D. Morgan. On January 20, both Houses met in joint session to compare nominations, and finding that they disagreed, proceeded to a joint ballot. Francis Kernan was elected, the first Democratic U.S. Senator from New York since 1851 when Daniel S. Dickinson left office.

Note: The vote for Ex-Governor of New York Hoffman was cast by Reuben E. Fenton's brother-in-law Samuel Scudder, a Democratic Assemblyman from Cattaraugus County.

The Pennsylvania election was held on January 19, 1875. The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, elected William A. Wallace.^[8]

Quick Facts Needed to win: Majority of votes cast jointly by the Legislature, Candidate ...

1875 United States Senate election in West Virginia

← 1869 January 26–February 17, 1875 1877 (special) →
Needed to win: Majority of votes cast jointly by the Legislature
Candidate Allen Caperton Ralph Berkshire Party Democratic Republican First ballot 6 votes 6.9% 1 vote 1.1% 23rd ballot 68 votes 80.9% 14 votes 16.7%
U.S. senator before election Arthur Boreman Republican Elected U.S. Senator Allen Caperton Democratic

Close

On January 26, 1875, each house of the West Virginia Legislature held votes to elect a Senator, with no person receiving the majority of votes in either chamber. Pursuant to the 1866 Act regulating the election of senators (S.414), the legislature convened into a joint assembly the following day and held further voting. After 23 ballots held jointly, Allen T. Caperton received the majority of votes on February 17, 1875, and was declared duly elected as senator. Votes for senator across the 23 rounds were mostly scattered, with Caperton, the eventual winner, only starting out with 6 votes in the first joint ballot, and receiving only 30 (13 votes short) on the round before his victory.^[10]

• 1874 United States elections
  • 1874–75 United States House of Representatives elections
• 43rd United States Congress
• 44th United States Congress