1891_United_States_Senate_election_in_Kansas
The 1891 United States Senate election in Kansas was held on January 28, 1891, to elect Kansas' Class III senator in its delegation.
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The Farmers' Alliance and People's Party were split into two factions that either supported Peter Percival Elder, who was expected to become the Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives, or William A. Peffer for the senatorial nomination. It was speculated that Jerry Simpson would be chosen as a compromise candidate between the two factions.[1]
On January 27, 1891, the Farmers' Alliance caucus in the state legislature convened to select the party's nominee for the senate election. The balloting started with seventeen candidates and after seventeen ballots Peffer won, with fifty-six votes, against J. T. Willitts, with thirty-eight votes.[2]
Candidates
- William A. Peffer, judge and member of the Kansas Senate[1]
- Peter Percival Elder, member of the Kansas House of Representatives[1]
- J. T. Willitts[1]
On January 27, 1891, both chambers of the Kansas Legislature informally voted separately on the senatorial candidates. In the House of Representatives, 96 members voted for Peffer, 23 members voted for Ingalls, and 5 members voted for Democratic nominee C. W. Blair. In the Senate, 35 members voted for Ingalls, 1 member voted for Peffer, and 2 voted for other candidates.[3]
On January 28, both chambers of the legislature convened to formally elect the senator. In the join ballot of the House of Representatives and Senate, 101 members voted for Peffer, 58 members voted for Ingalls, 3 members voted for Blair, and 3 members voted for other candidates.[4]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance | William A. Peffer | 98 | 59.76% | ||
| Republican | John James Ingalls (incumbent) | 58 | 35.37% | ||
| Democratic | C. W. Blair | 6 | 3.66% | ||
| E. N. Morrill | 1 | 0.61% | |||
| H. B. Kelley | 1 | 0.61% | |||
| Total votes | 164 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance | William A. Peffer | 101 | 61.21% | ||
| Republican | John James Ingalls (incumbent) | 58 | 35.15% | ||
| Democratic | C. W. Blair | 3 | 1.82% | ||
| E. N. Morrill | 1 | 0.61% | |||
| H. B. Kelley | 1 | 0.61% | |||
| Baker | 1 | 0.61% | |||
| Total votes | 165 | 100.00% | |||
- Organizations
- Jackson County Farmers' Alliance[5]
- Sumner County Farmers' Alliance[6]
- Newspapers
- The People's Voice, newspaper of the Farmers' Alliance in Sumner County[7]
- "Ready For Business". The Logan County Banner. January 15, 1891. p. 4. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Peffer Chosen". Emporia Daily Republican. January 27, 1891. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Peffer Chosen". The Kansas City Gazette. January 27, 1891. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- "The Kansas Senatorship". Columbus Courier. January 28, 1891. p. 3. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Jackson County Farmers' Alliance". The Holton Recorder. January 8, 1891. p. 4. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Judge Peffer Endorsed for United States Senator". The Sumner County Standard. January 8, 1891. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Peffer Endorsed By The People's Voice". The Daily Mail. December 20, 1890. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 9, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.