The1861 United States Senate special election in Pennsylvania was held on March 14, 1861.David Wilmot was elected by thePennsylvania General Assembly to theUnited States Senate.[1]
TheRepublicanSimon Cameron was elected to the United States Senate by the General Assembly, consisting of theHouse of Representatives and theSenate, inJanuary 1857. Sen. Cameron resigned on March 4, 1861, to becomeUnited States Secretary of War in theAbraham Lincoln administration, vacating the seat.[2]
Following the resignation of Sen. Simon Cameron, the Pennsylvania General Assembly convened on March 14, 1861, to elect a new Senator to fill the vacancy. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Wilmot | 96 | 72.18 | |
| Democratic | William H. Welsh | 34 | 25.56 | |
| Republican | Winthrop W. Ketcham | 1 | 0.75 | |
| Democratic | William Wilkins | 1 | 0.75 | |
| N/A | Not voting | 1 | 0.75 | |
| Totals | 133 | 100.00% | ||
| Preceded by | Pennsylvania U.S. Senate election (Class I) 1861 | Succeeded by |