The 1880–81 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states, coinciding with the presidential election of 1880. 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 1880 and 1881, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock.^[2] In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 1.

Quick Facts 25 of the 76 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections) 39 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1880–81 United States Senate elections

← 1878 & 1879 Dates vary by state (And other dates for special elections) 1882 & 1883 →
25 of the 76 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections) 39 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Henry B. Anthony[lower-alpha 1] William A. Wallace[lower-alpha 2] (Lost re-election) Party Republican Democratic Leader since March 4, 1863 March 4, 1877 Leader's seat Rhode Island Pennsylvania Seats before 32 42 Seats won 15 9 Seats after 37 + VP[1] 37 Seat change 5 5 Seats up 10 14   Third party Fourth party   Party Readjuster Independent Seats before 0 1 Seats won 1 0 Seats after 1 1 Seat change 1 Seats up 0 0   Fifth party   Party Anti-Monopoly 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      Readjuster gain
Majority Party before election Democratic Elected Majority Party Republican[1]

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The Democratic Party lost five seats. The newly elected Readjuster senator William Mahone caucused with the Republicans, and the Republican Vice President's tie-breaking vote gave the Republicans the slightest majority. This changed when Vice President Chester Arthur ascended to the Presidency on September 19, 1881: with the Vice Presidency vacant during the remainder of Arthur's term, the Senate became evenly divided for the first of three times in history.

Senate party division, 47th Congress (1881–1883)

• Majority party: Republican (37)
• Minority party: Democratic (37)
• Other parties: Independent (1); Readjuster (1)
• Total seats: 76

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

Arthur Pue Gorman won election William Pinkney Whyte for an unknown margin of votes for the Class 1 seat.^[6]

On January 12, 1881, James Graham Fair (Republican) was elected.^[7]

The New York election was held January 18, 1881, by the New York State Legislature. Democrat Francis Kernan had been elected in January 1875 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1881. At the State election in November 1879, 25 Republicans and 7 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1880-1881) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1880, 81 Republicans and 47 Democrats were elected for the session of 1881 to the Assembly. The 104th State Legislature met from January 4, 1881, on at Albany, New York.

The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 13, State Senator Dennis McCarthy presided. All but one of the legislators were present, only State Senator Edward M. Madden (13th D.) was absent. The caucus nominated Ex-Congressman Thomas C. Platt for the U.S. Senate. Platt was a friend of the other U.S. Senator from New York, Roscoe Conkling, and belonged to the Stalwart faction. The opposing Half-Breeds (in the press sometimes referred to as the "anti-machine men") at first wanted to nominate Chauncey M. Depew, but he withdrew before balloting. The majority of the Half-Breeds, led by President pro tempore of the State Senate William H. Robertson, then supported Platt, a minority voted for Sherman S. Rogers, the defeated Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1876. Congressman Richard Crowley was supported by a faction led by Speaker of the State Assembly George H. Sharpe, allied with Governor Alonzo B. Cornell. U.S. Vice President William A. Wheeler, and Congressmen Elbridge G. Lapham and Levi P. Morton also received votes.

The caucus of the Democratic State legislators met on January 17, State Senator Charles A. Fowler (14th D.) presided. They re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator Francis Kernan by acclamation.

Thomas C. Platt was the choice of both the State Senate and the Assembly, and was declared elected.

Notes:

• The votes were cast on January 18, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 19 to compare nominations, and declare the result.
• State Senator Stevens (Dem., 22nd D.) was absent and did not vote.

The Pennsylvania election was held on thirty separate dates from January to February 1881. On February 23, 1881, John I. Mitchell was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.^[8] The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 27, 1881, to elect a Senator to serve the term beginning on March 4, 1881. Thirty-five ballots were recorded on thirty separate dates spanning from January 27 to February 23, 1881. The results of the thirty-fifth and final ballot of both houses combined are as follows:

• 1880 United States elections
  • 1880 United States presidential election
  • 1880 United States House of Representatives elections
• 46th United States Congress
• 47th United States Congress