1814–15 United States Senate elections (original) (raw)

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1814–15 United States Senate elections
← 1812 & 1813 Dates vary by state 1816 & 1817 →
12 of the 36 seats in the United States Senate (plus special elections)19 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party Party Democratic-Republican Federalist Last election 28 seats 8 seats Seats before 26 10 Seats won 5 5 Seats after 22 11 Seat change Decrease 3 Increase 1 Seats up 8 4
Results: Federalist hold Federalist gain Dem-Republican hold Legislature Failed To Elect
Majority Party before election Democratic-Republican Elected Majority Party Democratic-Republican

The 1814–15 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 1814 and 1815, 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.

The Democratic-Republican Party lost a seat but still retained their overwhelming Senate majority. Unlike in recent elections, the minority Federalists had gone into the elections with a chance of regaining their long-lost majority had they swept almost all the seats. However, only one seat switched parties. Two seats held by Democratic-Republicans were left unfilled until long after the next Congress began.

Change in composition

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Before the elections

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Composition after June 1814 special election in New Hampshire.

DR8 DR7 DR6 DR5 DR4 DR3 DR2 DR1
DR9 DR10 DR11 DR12 DR13 DR14 DR15 DR16 DR17 DR18
Majority → DR19Md.Unknown
F9Mass. (reg)Ran F10R.I.Ran DR26Va.Ran DR25Vt.Retired DR24Tenn. (reg)Retired DR23Pa.Ran DR22Ohio (reg)Retired DR21N.Y.Unknown DR20N.J.Ran
F8Del.Ran F7Conn.Ran F6 F5 F4 F3 F2 F1

Result of the regular elections

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DR8 DR7 DR6 DR5 DR4 DR3 DR2 DR1
DR9 DR10 DR11 DR12 DR13 DR14 DR15 DR16 DR17 DR18
Majority → DR19N.J.Hold
F9Mass. (reg)Re-elected F10R.I.Re-elected F11Vt.Gain V1Tenn. (reg)DR Loss V2Md.DR Loss DR23Va.Hold DR22Pa. (reg)Re-elected DR21Ohio (reg)Hold DR20N.Y.Hold
F8Del.Re-elected F7Conn.Re-elected F6 F5 F4 F3 F2 F1
Key DR# Democratic-Republican F# Federalist V# Vacant

Except when noted, number following candidates is whole number votes.

Special elections during the preceding Congress

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In these special elections, the winner was elected during 1814 or before March 4, 1815; ordered by election date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoralhistory
Pennsylvania(Class 3) Michael Leib Democratic-Republican 1809 (special)1808 Incumbent resigned to become Postmaster of Philadelphia.New senator elected February 24, 1814.[2]Democratic-Republican hold.Winner was never seated due to a failure to qualify. ▌**Green tickY Jonathan Roberts** (Democratic-Republican) 82 ▌Thomas Sergeant (Democratic-Republican) 23 ▌Horace Binney (Federalist) 8 ▌John Steele (Federalist) 1 ▌Horatio Gates Jones (Democratic-Republican) 1 ▌Isaac Wayne (Federalist) 1 Not voting 10[2]
New Hampshire(Class 2) Nicholas Gilman Democratic-Republican 18041810 Incumbent died May 4, 1814.New senator elected June 24, 1814.Federalist gain. ▌**Green tickY Thomas W. Thompson** (Federalist) 93 ▌Samuel Bell (Democratic-Republican) 80 Scattering 5[3]
Ohio(Class 1) Thomas Worthington Democratic-Republican 18031807 (retired)1810 (special) Incumbent resigned to become Governor of Ohio.New senator elected December 10, 1814 on the fourth ballot.Democratic-Republican hold. ▌**Green tickY Joseph Kerr** (Democratic-Republican) 42 ▌Benjamin Ruggles (Democratic-Republican) 36 ▌Duncan MacArthur (Unknown) 1 ▌David Purviance (Unknown) 1[4]
Kentucky(Class 2) George Walker Democratic-Republican 1814 (appointed) Interim appointee retired.New senator elected December 16, 1814.Democratic-Republican hold. ▌**Green tickY William T. Barry** (Democratic-Republican) 58 ▌Benjamin Mills (Unknown) 48[5]
North Carolina(Class 3) David Stone Democratic-Republican 18001807 (resigned)1812 Incumbent resigned December 24, 1814.New senator elected December 30, 1814 on the eleventh ballot.[6][7]Democratic-Republican hold.Winner was never seated due to a failure to qualify. ▌**Green tickY Francis Locke Jr.** (Democratic-Republican) 104 ▌John Stanly (Federalist) 75[6]
Virginia(Class 1) Richard Brent Democratic-Republican 1809 Incumbent died December 30, 1814, having lost re-election, see below.New senator elected January 2, 1815, having already won election to the next term.Democratic-Republican hold. ▌**Green tickY James Barbour** (Democratic-Republican) 107 ▌William Wirt (Democratic-Republican) 80 Scattering 4[8]
Kentucky(Class 3) Jesse Bledsoe Democratic-Republican 1813 Incumbent resigned.New senator elected January 3, 1815 on the second ballot.Democratic-Republican hold. ▌**Green tickY Isham Talbot** (Democratic-Republican) 56 ▌Benjamin Mills (Unknown) 50[9]

Races leading to the next Congress

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In these regular elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1815; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoralhistory
Connecticut Samuel Dana Federalist 1810 (special) Incumbent re-elected in 1814. ▌**Green tickY Samuel Dana** (Federalist) [_data missing_]
Delaware Outerbridge Horsey Federalist 1810 (special) Incumbent re-elected January 13, 1815. ▌**Green tickY Outerbridge Horsey** (Federalist) 18 ▌John Warner (Democratic-Republican) 8[10]
Maryland Samuel Smith Democratic-Republican 18021808 Legislature failed to elect.A successor would not be elected until 1816.[11]Democratic-Republican loss. [_data missing_]
Massachusetts Christopher Gore Federalist 1813 (appointed) Interim appointee elected in 1815. ▌**Green tickY Christopher Gore** (Federalist) [_data missing_]
New Jersey John Lambert Democratic-Republican 1808 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected February 1, 1815 on the third ballot.[12]Democratic-Republican hold. ▌**Green tickY James Wilson** (Democratic-Republican) 29[13] ▌John Lambert (Federalist) 17[13] ▌Ebenezer Elmer (Democratic-Republican) Withdrew[13]
New York Obadiah German Democratic-Republican 1809 Incumbent retired or lost re-election.New senator elected February 7, 1815.[14][15]Democratic-Republican hold. ▌**Green tickY Nathan Sanford** (Democratic-Republican) 89 ▌James Emott (Federalist) 40 ▌John Jay (Federalist) 1 ▌Philetus Swift (Democratic-Republican) 1[14][15]
Ohio Joseph Kerr Democratic-Republican 1814 (special) Incumbent retired.New senator elected January 7, 1815 on the third ballot.[16]Democratic-Republican hold. ▌**Green tickY Benjamin Ruggles** (Democratic-Republican) 42 ▌Duncan MacArthur (Unknown) 34 ▌William Creighton Jr. (Democratic-Republican) 5 ▌Peter Hitchcock (Democratic-Republican) 2[16]
Pennsylvania Jonathan Roberts Democratic-Republican 1814 (special) Incumbent re-elected December 10, 1814.[17] ▌**Green tickY Jonathan Roberts** (Democratic-Republican) 84 ▌Samuel Sitgreaves (Federalist) 32 ▌Jared Ingersoll (Federalist) 1 Not voting 9[17]
Rhode Island William Hunter Federalist 1811 (special) Incumbent re-elected November 4, 1814. ▌**Green tickY William Hunter** (Federalist) Unanimous[18]
Tennessee Joseph Anderson Democratic-Republican 1797 (special)1799 (resigned)1799 (special)18031809 (appointed)1809 (special) Incumbent retired.Legislature failed to elect.Democratic-Republican loss.A new senator would later be elected; see below. None.
Vermont Jonathan Robinson Democratic-Republican 1807 (special)1808 Incumbent retired.New senator elected October 25, 1814.Federalist gain. ▌**Green tickY Isaac Tichenor** (Federalist) 111 ▌Jonathan Robinson (Democratic-Republican) 83 ▌John Strong (Democratic-Republican) 7 Scattering 1[19]
Virginia Richard Brent Democratic-Republican 1808 Incumbent lost re-election, and then died after the election.New senator elected November 14, 1814.Democratic-Republican hold. ▌**Green tickY James Barbour** (Democratic-Republican) 107 ▌William Wirt (Democratic-Republican) 80 Scattering 4[8]

Special elections during the next Congress

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In this special election, the winner was elected in 1815 after March 4; ordered by election date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoralhistory
Tennessee(Class 1) Vacant Legislature had failed to elect, see above.New senator elected October 10, 1815.Democratic-Republican gain. ▌**Green tickY George W. Campbell** (Democratic-Republican) 37 ▌Parry Wayne Humphreys (Democratic-Republican) 23[20]
Tennessee(Class 2) Jesse Wharton Democratic-Republican 1814 (appointed) Interim appointee retired.New senator elected October 10, 1815.Democratic-Republican hold. ▌**Green tickY John Williams** (Democratic-Republican) 32 ▌John Rhea (Democratic-Republican) 26[21]
North Carolina(Class 3) Francis Locke Jr. Democratic-Republican 18001812 Incumbent resigned, having failed to qualify.New senator elected December 5, 1815 on the fifth ballot.[22][23]Democratic-Republican hold. ▌**Green tickY Nathaniel Macon** (Democratic-Republican) 101 ▌John Branch Jr. (Democratic-Republican) 59 Scattering 27[22][23]
Virginia(Class 2) William B. Giles Democratic-Republican 1804 (appointed)1804 (special)18041811 Incumbent resigned March 3, 1815.New senator elected December 7, 1815.Democratic-Republican hold.Winner subsequently declined to serve.A new senator was later elected in 1816. ▌**Green tickY John Eppes** (Democratic-Republican) 125 ▌John Mercer (Democratic-Republican) 43
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There were two special elections in Kentucky: one in 1814 and the other in 1815.

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Massachusetts (regular)

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Massachusetts (special)

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New Hampshire (special)

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North Carolina (special)

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Pennsylvania (special)

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Pennsylvania (regular)

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Tennessee (regular)

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Tennessee (special, class 1)

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Tennessee (special, class 2)

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  1. ^ "17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)". National Archives and Records Administration. February 8, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Senate Election - February 24, 1814" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  3. ^ "New Hampshire 1814 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 25, 2018., citing Concord Gazette (Concord, NH). June 28, 1814. Turner, Lynn Warren. The Ninth State: New Hampshire's Formative Years. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press, 1983. 292.
  4. ^ Taylor, William A. (1900). Ohio in Congress from 1803 to 1901 with Notes and Sketches of Senators and Representatives and Other Historical Data and Incidents. Columbus, Ohio: The XX. Century Publishing Co. pp. 98–99 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ "Kentucky 1814 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 25, 2018., citing The Western Monitor (Lexington, KY). December 23, 1814. Argus of Western America (Frankfort, KY). December 17, 1814.
  6. ^ a b "North Carolina 1814 U.S. Senate, Special, Ballot 11". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 26, 2018., citing Norfolk Gazette and Publick Ledger (Norfolk, VA). January 4, 1815.
  7. ^ "NC US Senate - Special Election". Our Campaigns. January 6, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Virginia 1814 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 27, 2018., citing Norfolk Gazette and Publick Ledger (Norfolk, VA). November 19, 1814.
  9. ^ "Kentucky 1815 U.S. Senate, Ballot 2". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 25, 2018., citing The Union (Washington, KY). January 14, 1815. Argus of Western America (Frankfort, KY). January 7, 1815.
  10. ^ "Delaware 1815 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 25, 2018., citing Journal of the Delaware House of Representatives, 1815. 37.
  11. ^ "MD US Senate". Our Campaigns. August 29, 2004. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  12. ^ "NJ US Senate". Our Campaigns. April 1, 2007. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  13. ^ a b c "New Jersey 1815 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 26, 2018., citing New Jersey Privy Council Records, 1814. 306–307.
  14. ^ a b "New York 1815 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 26, 2018., citing Ontario Messenger (Canandaigua, NY). February 21, 1815.
  15. ^ a b "NY US Senate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  16. ^ a b Taylor, William A. (1900). Ohio in Congress from 1803 to 1901 with Notes and Sketches of Senators and Representatives and Other Historical Data and Incidents. Columbus, Ohio: The XX. Century Publishing Co. p. 99 – via Internet Archive.
  17. ^ a b "U.S. Senate Election - December 10, 1814" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  18. ^ "Rhode Island 1814 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 27, 2018., citing The Rhode-Island American, and General Advertiser (Providence, RI). November 8, 1814.
  19. ^ "Tuesday, October 25th: Senator". Vermont Watchman. Montpelier, VT. October 27, 1814. p. 3. In addition to winning a majority in the legislature, Tichenor also unanimously received the 12 votes of the Governor and Council.
  20. ^ "Tennessee 1815 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 27, 2018., citing Original Tally Sheet. Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville. Journal of the Tennessee House of Representatives, 1815. 112. Journal of the Tennessee State Senate, 1815. 96–97.
  21. ^ "Tennessee 1815 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 27, 2018., citing Original Tally Sheet. Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville. Journal of the Tennessee House of Representatives, 1815. 112. Journal of the Tennessee State Senate, 1815. 96–97.
  22. ^ a b "North Carolina 1815 U.S. Senate, Special, Ballot 5". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 26, 2018., citing The Star (Raleigh, NC). December 8, 1815.
  23. ^ a b "NC US Senate - Special Election". Our Campaigns. January 6, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2015.