The 1886–87 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 1886 and 1887, 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 76 seats in the United States Senate (as well as special elections) 39 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1886–1887 United States Senate elections

← 1884 & 1885 Dates vary by state 1888 & 1889 →
25 of the 76 seats in the United States Senate (as well as special elections) 39 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader George F. Edmunds[lower-alpha 1] James B. Beck[lower-alpha 2] Party Republican Democratic Leader since March 4, 1885 March 4, 1885 Leader's seat Vermont Kentucky Seats before 40 34 Seats won 13 11 Seats after 38 36 Seat change 2 2 Seats up 15 9   Third party   Party Readjuster Seats before 2 Seats won 0 Seats after 1 Seat change 1 Seats up 1
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      Legislature failed to elect
Majority Party before election Republican[lower-alpha 3] Elected Majority Party Republican[lower-alpha 3]

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The Republican Party lost two seats. At the beginning of the 50th Congress, therefore, Republicans had the slimmest possible majority due to a vacant Democratic seat: 38 out of 75 seats. Once that vacancy was filled, Republicans maintained control as the single Readjuster senator caucused with them.

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.

More information Parties, Total ...

Parties					Total
		Democratic	Readjuster	Republican
Before these elections		34	2	40	78
Not up		25	1	25	51
	Class 2 (1886/87 → 1892/93)	13	1	12	26
	Class 3 (1884/85 → 1890/91)	11	—	13	24
Up		11	1	16	28
	Regular: Class 1	9	1	15	25
	Special: Class 1	1	—	—	1
	Special: Class 2	1	—	—	1
	Special: Class 3	—	—	1	1
Regular election only
Incumbent retired		1	—	2	3
	Held by same party	—	—	1	1
	Gained by other party	1	—	1	1
	No elected successor	1	—	—	1
	Result	1	—	1	2
Incumbent ran		6	1	12	19
	Won re-election	4	—	7	11
	Held by same party	1	—	3	4
	Gained by other party	1	—	1	4
		2	—	2
	1	1	—
	No elected successor	—	—	—	—
Result	8	—	11	19
Incumbent's action unknown		2	—	1	3
	Held by same party	2	—	1	3
	No elected successor	—	—	—	—
	Gained by other party	—	—	—	—
	Result	2	—	1	3
Total elected		11	—	13	24
Net change		2	1	2	1
Result		36	1	38	75

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

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

The election in New York was held from January 18 to 20, 1887. Republican Warner Miller had been elected to this seat in a special election in 1881 to succeed Thomas C. Platt who had resigned. Miller's term would expire on March 3, 1887. At the State election in November 1885, 20 Republicans and 12 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1886-1887) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1886, 74 Republicans and 54 Democrats were elected for the session of 1887 to the Assembly. The 110th New York State Legislature met from January 4 to May 26, 1887, at Albany, New York.

The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 17, President pro tempore of the State Senate Edmund L. Pitts presided. 20 State senators and 71 assemblymen attended. Ex-Speaker of the Assembly George Z. Erwin (a Morton man) moved that a majority of all Republican legislators should be necessary to nominate, not only a majority of those present, meaning that 48 votes were required instead of 46, which was carried by a vote of 52 to 39. The incumbent U.S. senator Warner Miller (Half-Breed faction) failed to be nominated by only four votes. Levi P. Morton (Stalwart faction) was rejected by the caucus, like in 1885. A small faction voted for Congressman Frank Hiscock. After the second ballot, Erwin moved to adjourn, which was carried by 48 to 43. The caucus met again on the next day, no choice was made in another two ballots. The caucus met again on January 19 after the joint ballot of the State Legislature, and after twelve more ballots, Erwin withdrew Morton's name and urged the Morton men to vote for Hiscock. On the next ballot Hiscock received one vote more than Miller (47 to 46), but was one short of the previously established majority of 48. On the 18th and last ballot, Hiscock received 50 votes and was nominated. On the next day, Hiscock was elected on the second joint ballot of the State Legislature. Thus, by blocking Miller's re-election, the Republican boss Thomas C. Platt took his revenge for his defeat at the special election in 1881.

The Democratic caucus nominated Smith Mead Weed (1834-1920), a lawyer and businessman of Plattsburgh, New York. Weed had been a member of the New York State Assembly from Clinton County, New York in 1865, 1866, 1867, 1871, 1873 and 1874; and a delegate to the 1876 and 1884 Democratic National Conventions.

The election in Pennsylvania was held January 18, 1887. Matthew Quay was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate.^[7] The General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and Senate voted as follows:

• 1886 United States elections
  • 1886 United States House of Representatives elections
• 49th United States Congress
• 50th United States Congress