The 1898–99 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 1898 and 1899, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock.[3] In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 1.
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30 of the 90 seats in the United States Senate (as well as special elections) 46 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Results of the elections: Democratic gain Democratic hold Republican gain Republican hold Silver hold Legislature failed to elect | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Republican Party gained eight seats at the expense of the Democrats and several minor third parties. The Democrats saw strong gains in the concurrent 1898 House of Representatives elections. However, this group of Senators were last up for election in 1892, since which a major political realignment had occurred. Many state legislatures in northern states that had been controlled by Democrats during the third party system had flipped in the Republican wave years of 1894 and 1896, resulting in the huge number of seats the party gained in 1898.
The Democrats flipped a Silver Republican held seat in Montana while Republicans flipped a Populist held seat in Nebraska. In North Dakota, Wisconsin, Indiana, West Virginia, Maryland, New York, and New Jersey, Republicans flipped Democratic held seats.
A large number of state legislatures failed to fill their Senators during this election cycle: in Utah, a Silver Republican failed to secure re-election; in Delaware and California, a Democrat did so; in Pennsylvania, a Republican seat was lost.
In Nebraska and Florida, senators were elected shortly after the beginning of the 56th Congress on March 4.
In Oregon, a special election was held to fill a vacant seat.
Results summary
Senate party division, 56th Congress (1899–1901)
- Majority party: Republican (52)
- Minority party: Democratic (25)
- Other parties: Populist (4); Silver Republican (2); Silver (2)
- Vacant: 5
- Total seats: 90
Change in composition
Before the elections
After the October 7, 1898 special election in Oregon.
| D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | |||||
| D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 | D10 | D9 | D8 | D7 | D6 |
| D16 | D17 | D18 | D19 | D20 Ran |
D21 Ran |
D22 Ran |
D23 Ran |
D24 Ran |
D25 Ran |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P5 Ran |
D34 Retired |
D33 Retired |
D32 Retired |
D31 Retired |
D30 Ran |
D29 Ran |
D28 Ran |
D27 Ran |
D26 Ran |
| P4 | P3 | P2 | P1 | S2 | S1 | SR1 | SR2 | SR3 Ran |
SR4 Ran |
| Plurality ↓ | SR5 Ran | ||||||||
| R36 Ran |
R37 Ran |
R38 Ran |
R39 Ran |
R40 Ran |
R41 Ran |
R42 Ran |
R43 Ran |
R44 Ran | |
| R35 Ran |
R34 Ran |
R33 | R32 | R31 | R30 | R29 | R28 | R27 | R26 |
| R16 | R17 | R18 | R19 | R20 | R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 |
| R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 | R10 | R9 | R8 | R7 | R6 |
| R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | |||||
Result of the general elections
| D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | |||||
| D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 | D10 | D9 | D8 | D7 | D6 |
| D16 | D17 | D18 | D19 | D20 Re-elected |
D21 Re-elected |
D22 Re-elected |
D23 Re-elected |
D24 Hold |
D25 Gain from SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R50 Gain from D |
SR3 Re-elected |
SR2 | SR1 | S1 | S2 | P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 |
| R49 Gain from D |
R48 Gain from D |
R47 Gain from D |
R46 Gain from D |
R45 Gain from D |
R44 Gain from D |
R43 Hold |
V1 D Loss |
V2 D Loss |
V3 D Loss |
| Majority → | |||||||||
| R42 Re-elected |
V6 R Loss |
V5 SR Loss |
V4 P Loss | ||||||
| R36 Re-elected |
R37 Re-elected |
R38 Re-elected |
R39 Re-elected |
R40 Re-elected |
R41 Re-elected | ||||
| R35 Re-elected |
R34 Re-elected |
R33 | R32 | R31 | R30 | R29 | R28 | R27 | R26 |
| R16 | R17 | R18 | R19 | R20 | R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 |
| R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 | R10 | R9 | R8 | R7 | R6 |
| R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | |||||
Beginning of the next Congress
| D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 | D5 | |||||
| D15 | D14 | D13 | D12 | D11 | D10 | D9 | D8 | D7 | D6 |
| D16 | D17 | D18 | D19 | D20 | D21 | D22 | D23 | D24 | D25 |
| SR3 | SR2 | SR1 | S1 | S2 | P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | D26 Appointed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R50 | R49 | R48 | R47 | R46 | R45 | R44 | V1 | V2 | V3 |
| Majority → | R43 | ||||||||
| V5 | V4 | ||||||||
| R36 | R37 | R38 | R39 | R40 | R41 | R42 | |||
| R35 | R34 | R33 | R32 | R31 | R30 | R29 | R28 | R27 | R26 |
| R16 | R17 | R18 | R19 | R20 | R21 | R22 | R23 | R24 | R25 |
| R15 | R14 | R13 | R12 | R11 | R10 | R9 | R8 | R7 | R6 |
| R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | |||||
| Key: |
|
|---|
Race summaries
Elections during the 55th Congress
In these elections, the winners were seated during 1898 or in 1899 before March 4; ordered by election date.
| State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
| Ohio (Class 1) |
Mark Hanna | Republican | 1897 (Appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 12, 1898. Winner also elected to the next term; see below. |
|
| Oregon (Class 3) |
Vacant | Legislature had failed to elect. New senator elected October 7, 1898. Republican gain. |
| ||
Races leading to the 56th Congress
In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1899; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.
| State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
| California | Stephen M. White | Democratic | 1893 | Incumbent retired. Legislature failed to elect.[4] Democratic loss. Seat remained vacant until February 7, 1900. |
|
| Connecticut | Joseph R. Hawley | Republican | 1881 1887 1893 |
Incumbent re-elected January 17, 1899.[5] |
|
| Delaware | George Gray | Democratic | 1885 (special) 1887 1893 |
Legislature failed to elect.[6] Democratic loss. Seat remained vacant until 1903. |
▌George Gray (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Florida | Samuel Pasco | Democratic | 1887 1893 (failure to elect) 1893 (appointed) 1893 (special) |
Legislature failed to elect.[7] Democratic loss. Incumbent appointed to begin the term.[7] Incumbent lost election to finish the term; see below. |
[data missing] |
| Indiana | David Turpie | Democratic | 1863 (special) 1863 (retired) 1887 1893 |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected January 17, 1899. Republican gain. |
|
| Maine | Eugene Hale | Republican | 1881 1887 1893 |
Incumbent re-elected January 17, 1899. |
|
| Maryland | Arthur P. Gorman | Democratic | 1880 1886 1892 |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected January 25, 1898.[9] Republican gain. |
|
| Massachusetts | Henry Cabot Lodge | Republican | 1893 | Incumbent re-elected in 1899. |
|
| Michigan | Julius C. Burrows | Republican | 1895 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1899. |
|
| Minnesota | Cushman Davis | Republican | 1886 1892 |
Incumbent re-elected January 18, 1899.[11] |
|
| Mississippi | Hernando Money | Democratic | 1897 (appointed) | Interim appointee elected in 1899. |
|
| Missouri | Francis Cockrell | Democratic | 1874 1881 1887 1893 |
Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1899.[12] |
|
| Montana | Lee Mantle | Silver Republican |
1895 (special) | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected in 1899. Democratic gain. |
|
| Nebraska | William V. Allen | Populist | 1893 | Legislature failed to elect.[13] Populist loss. The seat was filled in March 1899; see below. |
▌William V. Allen (Populist) |
| Nevada | William M. Stewart | Silver Republican |
1887 1893 |
Incumbent re-elected January 24, 1899.[14] |
|
| New Jersey | James Smith Jr. | Democratic | 1893 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected January 24, 1899.[17] Republican gain. |
|
| New York | Edward Murphy Jr. | Democratic | 1893 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected January 17, 1899. Republican gain. |
|
| North Dakota | William N. Roach | Democratic | 1893 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected January 20, 1899.[18] Republican gain. |
|
| Ohio | Mark Hanna | Republican | 1897 (appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 12, 1898. Winner also elected to finish the term; see above. |
|
| Pennsylvania | Matthew S. Quay | Republican | 1887 1893 |
Legislature failed to elect. Republican loss. Incumbent appointed to start the term, but Senate rejected credentials. Seat remained vacant until 1901. |
▌Matthew S. Quay (Republican) |
| Rhode Island | Nelson W. Aldrich | Republican | 1881 (special) 1886 1892 |
Incumbent re-elected in 1898. |
|
| Tennessee | William B. Bate | Democratic | 1887 1893 |
Incumbent re-elected in 1899. |
|
| Texas | Roger Q. Mills | Democratic | 1892 1893 |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 24, 1899.[19] Democratic hold. |
|
| Utah | Frank J. Cannon | Silver Republican |
1896 | Legislature failed to elect.[20] Silver Republican loss. Seat remained vacant until 1901. |
|
| Vermont | Redfield Proctor | Republican | 1891 (appointed) 1892 (special) 1892 |
Incumbent re-elected October 19, 1898.[21] |
|
| Virginia | John W. Daniel | Democratic | 1887 1893 |
Incumbent re-elected in 1899. |
|
| Washington | John L. Wilson | Republican | 1895 (special) | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected February 1, 1899.[22] Republican hold. |
|
| West Virginia | Charles J. Faulkner | Democratic | 1887 1893 |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 25, 1899.[23] Republican gain. |
|
| Wisconsin | John L. Mitchell | Democratic | 1893 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 31, 1899.[24] Republican gain. |
|
| Wyoming | Clarence D. Clark | Republican | 1895 (special) | Incumbent re-elected January 24, 1899.[25] |
|
Elections during the 56th Congress
In these elections, the winners were elected in 1899 after March 4, and seated in the 56th Congress.
| State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
| Nebraska (Class 1) |
Vacant | Legislature had failed to elect; see above. New senator elected late March 8, 1899.[26] Republican gain. |
| ||
| Florida (Class 1) |
Samuel Pasco | Democratic | 1887 1893 (failure to elect) 1893 (appointed) 1893 (special) 1899 (failure to elect) 1899 (appointed) |
Interim appointee lost election to finish the term. New senator elected April 19, 1899.[27] Democratic hold. |
|
In this election, the winner was seated in the 57th Congress, starting March 4, 1901.
| State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
| Virginia (Class 2) |
Thomas S. Martin | Democratic | 1893 (early) | Incumbent re-elected early December 19, 1899 for the term beginning March 4, 1901.[28] |
|
Maryland
![[icon]](#/media/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2022) |
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80 members of the Maryland General Assembly | ||||||||||||||||
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Louis E. McComas won election by an unknown margin of votes for the Class 1 seat.[29]
Minnesota
New York
The election in New York was held January 17, 1899.
Democrat Edward Murphy Jr. had been elected to this seat in 1893, and his term would expire on March 3, 1899. At the State election in November 1898, 27 Republicans and 23 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1899–1900) in the State Senate; and 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats were elected for the session of 1899 to the Assembly. The 122nd New York State Legislature met from January 4 to April 28, 1899, at Albany, New York.
The Republican caucus met on January 12. State Senator Hobart Krum presided. They nominated Chauncey M. Depew unanimously. Depew had been Secretary of State of New York from 1864 to 1865, and was the frontrunning candidate to succeed Thomas C. Platt at the U.S. Senate special election in 1881 when he withdrew after the 41st ballot. Parallel to his political career, he moved up the ladder in the Vanderbilt Railroad System, being President of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad from 1885 to 1898, and holding positions in dozens of other railroad companies.
The Democratic caucus met also on January 12. State Senator George W. Plunkitt presided. They re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator Edward Murphy Jr. unanimously.
Chauncey M. Depew was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected.
| House | Republican | Democratic | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Senate (50 members) |
27 | Edward Murphy Jr. | 23 | |
| State Assembly (150 members) |
84 | Edward Murphy Jr. | 60 | |
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.
Ohio
Oregon
Oregon (special)
Rhode Island
South Carolina (special)
Utah
In mid-August 1898, Alfred W. McCune decided to seek office as a Democrat for the United States Senate.[30] State legislators had already indicated they would not support the incumbent, Frank J. Cannon for reelection. Cannon, a Republican, had voted against the Dingley Act, which would have raised tariffs on sugar and helped the Utah sugar industry.[31] The Dingley bill was strongly supported by the LDS Church hierarchy, who now opposed his reelection.[31] Other factors were his support for Free Silver; rumors about immoral acts he may have committed while living in Washington, D.C.; and that the Utah legislature was controlled by Democrats.[31] The McCunes were close friends with Heber J. Grant, seventh LDS Church president and an ordained LDS apostle.[32] Although the LDS church had (just weeks before) made a decision to stay out of state politics, McCune asked Grant for the church's assistance in winning office.[30] Grant consulted with Joseph F. Smith (Apostle and sixth LDS president) and John Henry Smith (a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of the LDS Church), both of whom supported McCune's senatorial bid.[30] But McCune was not alone in seeking the office. Former Representative William H. King was also running (and backed by two Apostles), as was James Moyle (a prominent attorney and founder of the Utah Democratic Party who was backed by state legislators) and George Q. Cannon (an Apostle and member of the First Presidency).[30]
At the time, members of the Senate were still elected by their respective state legislatures.[30] The Utah state legislature convened in January 1899.[33] There were 13 Republicans and 50 Democrats in the state legislature.[34] From the beginning, McCune was considered the leading candidate.[33] But the legislature quickly deadlocked over the election. One-hundred and twenty-one ballots were cast, and no winner emerged.[33] McCune was one or two votes shy of winning on several ballots.[33] on February 18, before the 122nd ballot, state representative Albert A. Law (a Republican from Cache County and a Cannon supporter) claimed McCune offered him $1,500 for his vote.[35] McCune strenuously denied the charge, and a seven-member legislative established to investigate the allegation.[33][35] The committee voted 7-to-2 to absolve McCune of the charge, and this outcome was announced to the legislature on March 6.[33][35] Balloting resumed, and on March 8, on the 149th ballot, McCune still lacked enough votes to win office (he had only 25 votes).[33][35] The legislature adjourned without having chosen a senator,[36] and McCune traveled in Europe for several weeks to regain his health (returning in June 1899).[37]
Utah's U.S. Senate seat remained vacant until January 1901.
Vermont
See also
Notes
References
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