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The1891 United States Senate election in Illinois was held from January 13 to March 11, 1891. The contentious election was determined by a joint session of theIllinois General Assembly. The election went on for 154 ballots and cost the State of Illinois approximately $150,000.[1]
In the 1890 general election for theIllinois Senate andIllinois House of Representatives, voters returned 101 Democrats, 100 Republicans, and 3 Farmers' Alliance candidates to theIllinois General Assembly. This placed the balance of power with the "Big Three"; the three legislators affiliated with Farmers' Alliance. They wereJames Cockrell,Hosea H. Moore, andHerman Taubeneck.[2]
The 37th Illinois General Assembly was convened on January 7, 1891.[3]The Republican caucus nominatedRichard J. Oglesby with 48 votes on the first ballot and 64 votes on the second ballot defeating incumbent SenatorCharles B. Farwell.[4] A combination of backlash from farmers, personal grudges, and a lethargic campaign for renomination doomed Farwell's candidacy at the caucus.[5] Oglesby had initially declined to be a candidate in March 1890[6] Oglesby was nominated during the House proceedings byDavid P. Keller ofMacon County and in the Senate byGeorge E. Bacon ofEdgar County.[7][8][3] The Democratic candidateJohn M. Palmer was nominated during House proceedings byFrank H. Jones ofSangamon County and in the Senate byMartin Newell ofWoodford County, but faced opposition from future Illinois governorJohn Peter Altgeld during the primary.[7][8][3]Alson Streeter the candidate of theUnion Labor Party in the1888 United States presidential election and choice of theFarmers' Alliance members, was nominated during House proceedings byJames Cockrell ofMarion County.[7][3]
The election was deadlocked as both the Democratic caucus and Republican caucus struggled to get the "Big Three" to support their chosen candidates. Eventually, Cockrell and Moore defected to the Democratic Party's candidate. The Republican caucus lined up unanimously behind Lindly. Herman Taubeneck remained behind Streeter.[2]
