1804–05 United States Senate elections

← 1802 & 1803 Dates vary by state 1806 & 1807 →
11 of the 34 seats in theUnited States Senate (plus special elections) 18 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic-Republican Federalist Last election 22 seats 9 seats Seats before 25 9 Seats won 9 2 Seats after 27 7 Seat change 2 2 Seats up 7 4
Results:      Dem-Republican hold     Dem-Republican gain      Federalist hold
Majority Party before election Democratic-Republican Elected Majority Party Democratic-Republican

The1804–05 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states. As theseU.S. Senate elections were prior to the ratification of theSeventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were chosen bystate legislatures. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1804 and 1805, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due tolegislative deadlock.^[1] In these elections, terms were up for the senators inClass 2.

These elections expanded theDemocratic-Republican Party's overwhelming control over the Senate. The Federalists went into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats (9 out of 34, or 27%) that even if they had won every election, they would have still remained a minority caucus.

Senate party division,9th Congress (1805–1807)

• Majority party: Democratic-Republican (27)
• Minority party:Federalist (7)
• Other parties: 0
• Total seats: 34

Only reflects results of regular elections.

Except if/when noted, the number following candidates is the whole number vote(s), not a percentage.

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1804 or before March 4, 1805; ordered by election date.

In these regular elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1805; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

In this special election, the winner was seated in 1805 after March 4.

There were two elections this cycle to the same seat, because FederalistWilliam H. Wells, who had first beenelected in 1799, resigned November 6, 1804.

FederalistJames A. Bayard was elected November 13, 1804, to finish the term ending the following March.

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FederalistJames A. Bayard also elected in 1805, to the next term.

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In February 1804 two senators were elected to finish vacant terms. The winner of the class 1 seat later resigned, leading to a November special election.

Theodorus Bailey had beenelected to the Class 1 seat (term 1803–1809) but resigned on January 16, 1804, after his appointment as Postmaster ofNew York City.

John Armstrong had beenre-elected to the class 3 seat to the term that would end March 3, 1807. He resigned February 5, 1802, andDeWitt Clinton waselected February 9, 1802 to finish the term.

Clinton then resigned on November 4, 1803, after his appointment asMayor of New York City, and GovernorGeorge Clinton appointed Armstrong to his old seat to continue the term temporarily until another special election.

Armstrong was then elected to the class 1 seat and so resigned from the class 3 seat.

The first special election was held February 3, 1804, by theNew York State Legislature to elect both senators. The class 1 term ended March 3, 1809, and the class 3 term ended March 3, 1813.

U.S. Senator (Class 1) Incumbent:Theodorus Bailey

House	Democratic-Republican		Federalist		Federalist
State Senate (32 members)	YJohn Armstrong
State Assembly (99 members)	YJohn Armstrong	83	Jacob Radcliff	4	Egbert Benson	3

U.S. Senator (Class 3) Incumbent:John Armstrong

House	Democratic-Republican		Federalist		Federalist
State Senate (32 members)	YJohn Smith
State Assembly (99 members)	YJohn Smith	Smith was nominated unanimously by the Assembly, but the exact number of votes given is unclear.

John Smith was seated February 23, 1804. John Armstrong was seated February 25, 1804.

Once again,John Armstrong resigned from the Senate on June 30, 1804 (a third time in three years) when appointedU.S. Minister to France. To fill the vacancy, the legislature held a special election November 9, 1804, and electedSamuel L. Mitchill.

House	Democratic-Republican		Federalist		Democratic-Republican
State Senate (30 members)	YSamuel L. Mitchill
State Assembly (100 members)	YSamuel L. Mitchill	75	Rufus King	14	David Thomas	1

Mitchill was seated November 23, 1804.

Democratic-RepublicanJames Fenner beat incumbent Democratic-RepublicanChristopher Ellery in 1804.

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Democratic-RepublicanSamuel J. Potter died October 14, 1804, Democratic-RepublicanBenjamin Howland was elected October 29, 1804, to finish the term.

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Democratic-RepublicanThomas Sumter was re-elected December 6, 1804.

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Democratic-RepublicanPierce Butler resigned November 21, 1804, and Democratic-RepublicanJohn Gaillard was elected December 6, 1804.

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The incumbent senators effectively switched seats due to appointments and special elections.

Virginia's class 2 senators

Wilson C. Nicholas,
until May 22, 1804

Andrew Moore,
August 11, 1804 – December 3, 1804

William B. Giles,
from December 4, 1804

Democratic-RepublicanWilson C. Nicholas resigned May 22, 1804, and Democratic-RepublicanAndrew Moore was appointed August 11, 1804, to continue the term. Moore was elected to the other seat, so he resigned and Democratic-RepublicanWilliam B. Giles, who had already been elected to this seat's next term, was elected December 4, 1804, to finish the term.

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Democratic-RepublicanWilliam B. Giles was elected December 4, 1804, to the next term.

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Virginia's class 1 senators

Abraham B. Venable,
until June 7, 1804

William B. Giles,
August 11, 1804 – December 3, 1804

Andrew Moore,
from December 4, 1804

Democratic-RepublicanAbraham B. Venable resigned June 7, 1804, and Democratic-RepublicanWilliam B. Giles was appointed August 11, 1804, to continue the term. Giles was elected to the other seat, so he resigned and Democratic-RepublicanAndrew Moore was elected December 4, 1804, to finish the term.

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• 1804 United States elections
  • 1804 United States presidential election
  • 1804–05 United States House of Representatives elections
• 8th United States Congress
• 9th United States Congress

• Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov

• 1804 United States Senate elections
• 1805 United States Senate elections
• Jonathan Dayton

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