The 1912–13 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states. They were the last U.S. Senate elections before the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, establishing direct elections for all Senate seats. Senators had been primarily chosen by state legislatures. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1912 and 1913, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock.^[1] Some states elected their senators directly even before passage of Seventeenth Amendment. Oregon pioneered direct election and experimented with different measures over several years until it succeeded in 1907. Soon after, Nebraska followed suit and laid the foundation for other states to adopt measures reflecting the people's will. By 1912, as many as 29 states elected senators either as nominees of their party's primary or in conjunction with a general election.

Quick Facts 32 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1912–13 United States Senate elections

← 1910 & 1911 January 16, 1912 – January 29, 1913 1914 →
32 of the 96 seats in the United States Senate 49 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader John W. Kern[lower-alpha 1] Jacob H. Gallinger[lower-alpha 2] Party Democratic Republican Leader since March 4, 1911 March 4, 1911 Leader's seat Indiana New Hampshire Seats before 43 52 Seats after 47 45 Seat change 4 7 Seats up 13 19 Seats won 17 12
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      No election
Majority conference chairman before election Shelby Moore Cullom Republican Elected Majority conference chairman John W. Kern Democratic

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In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 2. The Democrats gained control of the Senate for the first time in 20 years. Of the 32 seats up for election, 17 were won by Democrats, thereby gaining 4 seats from the Republicans. Two seats were unfilled by state legislators who failed to elect a new senator on time.

These elections coincided with Democrat Woodrow Wilson's victory in the presidential election amid a divide in the Republican Party. In the Senate, Joseph M. Dixon and Miles Poindexter defected from the Republican Party and joined Theodore Roosevelt's new Progressive Party. Dixon, however, lost his seat during this election.

Incumbent Senator John H. Bankhead had already been re-elected early January 17, 1911^[26] for the 1913 term.

One-term incumbent Senator Jeff Davis died January 3, 1913. Democratic Governor of Arkansas Joseph T. Robinson appointed John N. Heiskell January 6, 1913, to continue the term just until a special election.

Arkansas (special)

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Arkansas special election (class 2)

← 1909 January 24, 1913

Nominee William Kavanaugh Scattering Party Democratic Members' vote 77 58 Percentage 57.0% 43.0%

U.S. senator before election John N. Heiskell Democratic Elected U.S. senator William Kavanaugh Democratic

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John N. Heiskell was not a candidate in the special election. On January 29, 1913, the Arkansas Legislature elected Democratic businessman and former judge William Marmaduke Kavanaugh just to finish the term that would end in March 1913.

Y William Kavanaugh (Democratic) 77 votes Others 58 votes[5]

Arkansas (regular)

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Arkansas general election (class 2)

January 24, 1913 1918 →

Nominee Joseph T. Robinson Stephen Brundidge Jr. Party Democratic Democratic Members' vote 71 36 Percentage 53.0% 26.9%

U.S. senator before election John N. Heiskell Democratic Elected U.S. senator Joseph T. Robinson Democratic

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Neither Heiskell nor Kavanaugh were candidates in the general election. On January 29, 1913, the Arkansas Legislature elected the Democratic Governor Joseph T. Robinson to the next term. This would be the last senate election by a state legislature before the April 8, 1913, adoption of the 17th amendment. Robinson would later become leader of Senate Democrats and Senate majority leader.

Y Joseph T. Robinson (Democratic) 71 votes Stephen Brundige (Democratic) 36 votes Norwood 15 votes Kirby 8 votes Oldfield 1 vote Martin 1 vote Reid 1 vote Taylor 1 vote[5]

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Arizona class 1 election

December 12, 1911, March 26, 1912 1916 →

Nominee Henry F. Ashurst Ralph H. Cameron Party Democratic Republican Electoral vote 54 0 Popular vote 10,872 9,640 Percentage 50.00% 44.33%

U.S. senator before election none Elected U.S. Senator To be formally determined by the Arizona legislature

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Arizona class 3 election

December 12, 1911, March 26, 1912 1914 →

Nominee Marcus A. Smith Hoval A. Smith Party Democratic Republican Electoral vote 54 0 Popular vote 10,598 9,228 Percentage 50.35% 43.85%

U.S. senator before election none Elected U.S. Senator To be formally determined by the Arizona legislature

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Arizona became a new state February 14, 1912, with senators in classes 1 (ending 1917) and 3 (ending 1915). For the initial senators there was a popular vote held December 12, 1911 — before statehood — and the newly formed state legislature effectively ratified the popular votes March 26, 1912: Democrat Henry F. Ashurst (class 1) and Democrat Marcus A. Smith (class 3).

Henry F. Ashurst was elected to the Territorial House of Representatives in 1897. He was re-elected in 1899, and became the territory's youngest speaker. In 1902, he was elected to the Territorial Senate. In 1911, Ashurst presided over Arizona's constitutional convention.^[27] During the convention, he positioned himself for a U.S. Senate seat by avoiding the political fighting over various clauses in the constitution which damaged his rivals.^[28]

Marcus A. Smith announced his candidacy for one of Arizona's two senate seats on September 24, 1911.^[30] As the campaign began, Smith abandoned his long standing conservative stand and declared himself a "Progressive".^[31]

With the admission of Arizona as a state in 1912, the Arizona State Legislature confirmed the selection of Smith and Ashurst as the state's first U.S. senators on March 27, 1912,^[33] taking office April 2, 1912.

On January 14, 1913, the Colorado General Assembly elected both of the state's senators: Governor John F. Shafroth for the class 2 seat (ending 1919) and Democrat Charles S. Thomas for the class 3 seat (ending 1915).

Incumbent Republican Harry A. Richardson retired after one term in office.

Democrat Willard Saulsbury Jr. had been a member of the Democratic National Committee since 1908 and had run for U.S. senator in 1899, 1901, 1903, 1905, 1907, and 1911, but Republicans controlled the state legislature and he was unsuccessful. In 1913, however, Democrats were in control of the legislature, Saulsbury was the preference of most Democrats, and he obtained the required majority January 29, 1913, after several days of balloting. This election was the first time since 1883 that a Democrat won a full term for this Senate seat in Delaware.

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Georgia late election

← 1911 (special) June 15, 1913 1914 (special) →

Nominee Augustus Octavius Bacon Party Democratic Percentage Unopposed

U.S. senator before election Augustus Octavius Bacon Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Augustus Octavius Bacon Democratic

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The Georgia General Assembly failed to elect a senator, as Democratic incumbent Augustus O. Bacon's term ended. The Governor of Georgia therefore appointed Bacon to begin the term, pending a late election.

On June 15, 1913, Bacon was elected by the general populace without opposition, becoming the first senator elected under the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Bacon died in early 1914, however, leading to another interim appointment and eventual special election.

In the November 1912 state elections, the Republicans lost control of the state due to the Republican / Progressive split. But while the Democrats held a plurality of the Illinois General Assembly, they did not have a majority. The General Assembly took up the matter of electing the senators on February 1. The General Assembly therefore failed to elect until after the new congress began.

On March 26, in a compromise arranged by governor Dunne, the General Assembly elected Democrat J. Hamilton Lewis to fill the full-term seat and Republican Lawrence Y. Sherman to fill the two remaining years of a vacancy that had just recently opened.

Illinois (regular)

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Illinois general election (class 2)

← 1907 March 26, 1913 1918 →

Nominee J. Hamilton Lewis Frank H. Funk Party Democratic Progressive Members' vote 164 22 Percentage 80.39% 10.78%

U.S. senator before election Shelby Moore Cullom Republican Elected U.S. senator J. Hamilton Lewis Democratic

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On April 12, 1912, five-term Republican incumbent Shelby Moore Cullom lost renomination to Lieutenant Governor of Illinois Lawrence Y. Sherman in the Republican "advisory" primary, where the voters expressed their preference for senator but the decision was not binding on the General Assembly, which made the actual choice. Cullom had suffered politically over his support for the other Illinois senator, William Lorimer, who was embroiled in a scandal over alleged bribery in his 1909 election to the Senate.

After his defeat, Cullom withdrew his name from consideration by the General Assembly.

The Illinois General Assembly eventually elected the Democratic nominee, Congressman J. Hamilton Lewis March 26, 1913, who had also won the Democratic advisory primary, as the sole candidate on the ballot.

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Illinois legislative vote, class 2 (March 26, 1913)^[34][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	J. Hamilton Lewis	164	80.39%
	Progressive	Frank H. Funk	22	10.78%
	Republican	Lawrence Y. Sherman	9	4.41%
	Independent	Abstaining	5	2.45%
	Socialist	Bernard Berlyn	4	1.96%
	Democratic gain from Republican

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Illinois (special)

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Illinois special election (class 3)

← 1909 March 26, 1913 1914 →

Nominee Lawrence Y. Sherman[35] Charles Boeschenstein Party Republican Democratic Members' vote 143 25 Percentage 70.10% 12.26%   Nominee Frank H. Funk Party Progressive Members' vote 22 Percentage 10.78%

U.S. senator before election Vacant Elected U.S. senator Lawrence Y. Sherman Republican

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Three months after the primary in which Sherman defeated Cullom, the U.S. Senate invalidated Lorimer's 1909 election and declared the seat vacant.^[36] The Illinois Attorney General, William H. Stead determined that the General Assembly had failed to properly elect Lorimer in 1909 and so the Governor could not appoint a replacement.^[37] As a result, the General Assembly had a second Senate seat to fill.

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Illinois special legislative vote, class 3 (March 26, 1913)^[38][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Lawrence Y. Sherman	143	70.10
	Democratic	Charles Boeschenstein	25	12.26
	Progressive	Frank H. Funk	22	10.78
	Independent	Abstaining	9	4.41
	Socialist	McDonald	4	1.96
	Democratic	John Fitzpatrick	1	0.49
	Republican gain from Vacant

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Iowa election

← 1911 (special) January 21, 1913 1918 →

Nominee William S. Kenyon Daniel W. Hamilton Party Republican Democratic Members' vote 91 58

U.S. senator before election William S. Kenyon Republican Elected U.S. Senator William S. Kenyon Republican

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Incumbent Republican William S. Kenyon, who had just won a 1911 special election to the seat, was easily re-elected by the Iowa General Assembly over Democratic former congressman Daniel W. Hamilton.^[5]

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Kansas election

← 1907 January 29, 1913 1918 →

Nominee William H. Thompson W. R. Stubbs Party Democratic Republican Electoral vote 160 3 Popular vote 172,601 151,647 Percentage 49.34% 43.35%

County results Thompson:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Stubbs:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Charles Curtis Republican Elected U.S. Senator William H. Thompson Democratic

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One-term incumbent Republican (and future Vice President) Charles Curtis lost renomination to Governor of Kansas Walter R. Stubbs, who then lost the general election to Democratic Judge William H. Thompson as Democrats took control of the Kansas Legislature in the 1912 state elections.

Thompson would only serve one term, losing re-election in 1918. As of 2023, this is the last time the Democrats won the Class 2 Senate seat in Kansas. This represents the longest current winning streak of either party for a single Senate seat.

Curtis' political career, meanwhile, would rebound, as he was elected to Kansas' other US Senate seat, first by defeating Kansas' senior senator Joseph L. Bristow in the Republican primary, and then winning re-election nonconsecutively to the U.S Senate by a very narrow margin over two opponents, becoming the first Kansan to be popularly elected to the U.S Senate in a historic first. Curtis would serve in the Senate for three terms before resigning to become U.S. Vice President in March 1929, the first Native American to serve in that office.

One-term Democrat Thomas H. Paynter retired and Democratic Representative Ollie James was easily elected January 16, 1912.^[2]

The legislature formally elected James a second time January 16, 1912, to comply with a federal rule requiring an election on the second Tuesday after the meeting of the legislature.^[2]

Louisiana held two elections May 21, 1912: an election for the class 2 term that would begin March 4, 1913, and an election for the class 3 term that would begin March 4, 1915.

Five-term incumbent Republican William P. Frye had died August 8, 1911, and Democrat Obadiah Gardner was appointed September 23, 1911, to continue the term, pending a special election. In this election cycle, Gardner would first win the election to finish the term and then lose re-election to the next term.

Maine (special)

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Maine special election

← 1907 April 2, 1912 1913 →

Nominee Obadiah Gardner Frederick A. Powers Party Democratic Republican Members' vote 98 56 Percentage 66.2% 33.8%

U.S. senator before election Obadiah Gardner Democratic Elected U.S. senator Obadiah Gardner Democratic

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Democratic interim appointee Obadiah Gardner was elected April 2, 1912, to finish the term ending March 3, 1913.^[4][2]

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Maine Senate vote (April 2, 1912)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Obadiah Gardner (incumbent)	20	76.9%
	Republican	Frederick A. Powers	6	23.1%

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Maine House of Representatives vote (April 2, 1912)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Obadiah Gardner (incumbent)	78	60.9%
	Republican	Frederick A. Powers	50	39.1%
	Democratic hold

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Maine (regular)

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Maine general election

← 1912 (special) January 15, 1913 1918 →

Nominee Edwin C. Burleigh Obadiah Gardner Party Republican Democratic Members' vote 91 82 Percentage 50.6% 45.6%

U.S. senator before election Edwin C. Burleigh Republican Elected U.S. senator Obadiah Gardner Democratic

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Democrat Obadiah Gardner lost re-election January 15, 1913, to Republican Edwin C. Burleigh for the term starting March 4, 1913.

"There was no choice in the separate balloting on January 14. The next day in joint assembly, [Burleigh was elected]."^[12]

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Maine Legislature vote (January 15, 1913)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Edwin C. Burleigh (incumbent)	91	50.6%
	Democratic	Obadiah Gardner	82	45.6%
	Progressive	E.M. Thompson	7	3.9%
	Republican gain from Democratic

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Maryland special election

← 1910 November 4, 1913 1916 →

Nominee Blair Lee Thomas Parran Sr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 112,485 73,300 Percentage 56.75% 36.98%

County results Parran:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Lee:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election William P. Jackson Republican Elected U.S. senator Blair Lee Democratic

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Democrat Isidor Rayner died November 25, 1912, and Republican William P. Jackson was appointed to continue the term, pending a special election.

Democratic state senator Blair Lee was elected November 4, 1913.

Lee presented his credentials to serve as senator on December 5, 1913, but he did not qualify until January 28, 1914, because Jackson claimed that "since [Jackson] had been appointed under the original constitutional provision, [Jackson] was entitled to hold his seat until the regularly scheduled adjournment date of the Maryland state assembly."^[25] The Senate considered Jackson's challenge but eventually rejected it and seated Lee.

Lee would only serve this one term, as he lost renomination in 1916.

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Massachusetts election

← 1905 (special) January 14, 1913 1918 →

Nominee John W. Weeks Sherman L. Whipple Party Republican Democratic Members' vote 160 80 Percentage 58.82% 29.41%

U.S. senator before election Winthrop M. Crane Republican Elected U.S. Senator John W. Weeks Republican

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Republican Winthrop M. Crane, who was first appointed in 1904, retired. Republican congressman from Newton, Massachusetts, John W. Weeks, was elected January 14, 1913, to succeed him. Republican Eben Sumner Draper had been considered a candidate for the seat, but the Republican party, then under the control of its hardline conservative faction (and in control of the legislature), chose Weeks instead.^[41]

Weeks would only serve for one six-year term. He would lose re-election in 1918 to Democrat David I. Walsh.

Two-term Republican William A. Smith, whose Senate tenure began weeks before his first full-term began, was re-elected January 14, 1913.

He would retire after this term.

Three-term Republican Knute Nelson was overwhelmingly supported in a 1912 popular election.

The Minnesota Legislature unanimously ratified the popular vote January 21, 1913:

Nelson later would be re-elected again in 1918 to a fifth term, before his 1923 death.

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Mississippi election

← 1912 1 August 1911 1918 →

Nominee James K. Vardaman C. H. Alexander Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 79,380 31,300 Percentage 60.04% 23.68%   Nominee LeRoy Percy Party Democratic Popular vote 21,521 Percentage 16.28%

U.S. senator before election LeRoy Percy Democratic Elected U.S. senator James K. Vardaman Democratic

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One-term Democrat LeRoy Percy lost renomination in mid-1911 to white supremacist James K. Vardaman, who was then elected January 16, 1912, to the seat, unopposed.^[2]

Percy had won in 1910 (to finish a vacant term) despite Vardaman's support of a plurality of legislators (all white). The fractured remainder sought to thwart his extreme racial policies. A majority united behind Percy to block Vardaman's election. Percy had advocated education for blacks and worked to improve race relations by appealing to the planters' sense of noblesse oblige. Disenfranchisement of blacks made the Democratic primary the deciding competitive race for state and local offices in Mississippi.

In this rematch, Vardaman's campaign was managed by Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi (and future senator) Theodore Bilbo, who emphasized class tensions and racial segregation, attacking Percy as a representative of the aristocracy of the state and for taking a progressive stance on race relations.

Vardaman, however, would only serve one term, losing renomination in 1918, primarily due to his vote against entry into World War I.