The 1892–93 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states, coinciding with former Democratic President Grover Cleveland's return to power. 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 1892 and 1893, 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 29 of the 88 seats in the United States Senate (as well as special elections) 45 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1892–93 United States Senate elections

← 1890 & 1891 Dates vary by state 1894 & 1895 →
29 of the 88 seats in the United States Senate (as well as special elections) 45 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Arthur Pue Gorman[lower-alpha 1] John Sherman[lower-alpha 2] Party Democratic Republican Leader since March 4, 1889 March 4, 1891 Leader's seat Maryland Ohio Seats before 39 47 Seats won 14 9 Seats after 43 37 Seat change 4 10 Seats up 11 18   Third party Fourth party   Party Populist Silver Republican Seats before 2 New party Seats won 1 1 Seats after 3 1 Seat change 1 1 Seats up 0
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican hold      Silver Republican gain      Populist gain      Legislature failed to elect
Majority Party before election Republican Elected Majority Party Democratic

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The Republican Party lost nine seats, losing its majority to the Democratic Party. The Democratic majority, however, was minimal and did not last past the next Congress.

Senate party division, 53rd Congress (1893–1895)

• Majority party: Democratic (43)
• Minority party: Republican (37)
• Other parties: Populist (3); Silver (1)
• Vacant: 4
• Total seats: 88

The New York election was held on January 18, 1893, by the New York State Legislature.

Incumbent Senator Frank Hiscock was elected to this seat in 1887, with his term to expire on March 3, 1893.

At the controversial State election in November 1891, 17 Democrats, 14 Republicans and 1 Independent were elected for a two-year term (1892-1893) in the State Senate. This was the only time a Democratic majority was seated in the State Senate between 1874 and 1910. At the State election in November 1892, 74 Democrats and 54 Republicans were elected for the session of 1893 to the Assembly. The 116th New York State Legislature met from January 3 to April 20, 1893, at Albany, New York.

The Democratic caucus met on January 10. 90 State legislators attended, only Assemblyman John Cooney, of Brooklyn, was absent due to illness. State Senator Amasa J. Parker Jr. presided. Edward Murphy Jr., a wealthy brewer of Troy, and Chairman of the Democratic State Committee, was nominated by a large majority. The New York Times had suggested earlier to nominate Carl Schurz, a former Republican U.S. Senator from Missouri and U.S. Secretary of the Interior, who lived now in New York City,^[27] but the political machines of upstate boss David B. Hill and Tammany Hall chose a loyal party machine man rather than an Ex-Republican advocate of civil service reform. Even President-elect Grover Cleveland had voiced his disapproval of Murphy, to no avail.^[28]

More information Candidate, First ballot ...

1893 Democratic caucus

Candidate	First ballot
Y Edward Murphy Jr.	85
W. Bourke Cockran	5

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The Republican caucus met on January 11. State Senator Thomas Hunter presided. They re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator Frank Hiscock by acclamation.

Edward Murphy, Jr., was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected. State Senator James T. Edwards (32nd D.), of Randolph, voted for the defeated Republican vice presidential candidate of 1892, Whitelaw Reid.

More information House, Democratic ...

1893 United States Senator election

House	Democratic		Republican		Republican
State Senate (32 members)	Y Edward Murphy Jr.	17	Frank Hiscock	12	Whitelaw Reid	1
State Assembly (128 members)	Y Edward Murphy Jr.	73	Frank Hiscock	52

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Note: The votes were cast on January 17, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 18 to compare nominations, and declare the result.

When Murphy took his seat, for the first time since 1849 New York was represented by two Democrats in the U.S. Senate. Murphy served a single term, remaining in the U.S. Senate until March 3, 1899. In January 1899, Murphy was defeated for re-election by Republican Chauncey M. Depew.

The election in Pennsylvania was held January 17, 1893. Incumbent Matthew Quay was re-elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.^[29]

Two-term Republican Philetus Sawyer retired and two-term Democratic congressman John L. Mitchell was elected to the next term. In the Wisconsin Legislature, Democrats had a majority, but it took 31 ballots for Democrats to pick Mitchell over fellow Democrats John H. Knight and Edward S. Bragg.^[31]

• 1892 United States elections
  • 1892 United States presidential election
  • 1892 United States House of Representatives elections
• 52nd United States Congress
• 53rd United States Congress