The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of theHouse of Representatives and theSenate, convened on February 13, 1855, for the regularly scheduled Senate election for the term beginning on March 4, 1855. Two ballots were recorded on February 13, followed by three on February 27, 1855. On the fifth and final ballot during this convention, former SenatorSimon Cameron had led with 55 votes to future SenatorCharles R. Buckalew's 23. No candidate was elected, however, and the hung election convention adjourned by a vote of 66 to 65. Upon the expiration of incumbentJames Cooper's term on March 4, 1855, the seat was vacated and would remain vacant until William Bigler's election in January 1856.[2]
On January 14, 1856, the election convention of the General Assembly re-convened and elected Democratic formerGovernor of Pennsylvania William Bigler on the first ballot to serve the remainder of the term that began on March 4, 1855, and would expire on March 4, 1861. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:
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