1860–61 United States Senate elections

← 1858 & 1859 January 14, 1860– April 2, 1861[a] 1862 & 1863 →
31[b] of the 68 seats in theUnited States Senate 35 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Dem Leader John P. Hale[d] Party Democratic Republican Leader's seat New Hampshire Seats before 38 25 Seats won 31[c] 31 Seat change 8 6 Seats up 15 9 Races won 7 15   Third party   Party American Seats before 2 Seats won 1 Seat change 1 Seats up 1 Races won 0
Summary results Elections held in 1859 Elections held in 1860 Elections held in 1861 Special elections held after July 4, 1861 Results      Democratic gain     Republican gain     Union gain      Democratic hold     Republican hold     Confederate state

The1860–61 United States Senate elections were held from January 14, 1860, to April 2, 1861. Regularly scheduled elections were held for 23 out of the 68 seats in theUnited States Senate, and special elections were held inCalifornia,Oregon,Maine,Pennsylvania, andOhio.One seat was previously elected on December 12, 1859. Following the start of the37th Congress on July 4, 1861, special elections were held inVirginia andKentucky to fill vacancies resulting from thesecession of theConfederacy. TheRepublican Party flipped sixDemocratic-held seats and gained control of the Senate for the first time following the departure of senators representing Confederate states.

U.S. senators are divided into threeclasses whose six-year terms are staggered, such that one-third of the Senate is elected every two years. Senators in Class 3 were elected in 1860 and 1861. Prior to ratification of theSeventeenth Amendment, senators were elected by theU.S. state legislatures. There was no fixed calendar, and states held elections on various dates preceding the first session of Congress. In states with split partisan control of the legislature, multiple rounds of voting could be required to elect a senator, leading to extended vacancies.^[1]

The elections took place amidst rising sectional tension overslavery and the related issue ofterritorial expansion. In theprevious Congress, the debate on the proposedLecompton Constitution and the application of theDred Scott decision split the Democratic Party between allies of the senator fromIllinoisStephen A. Douglas, who opposed the measures, and theadministration of James Buchanan. Douglas wasnominated for president by his supporters in 1860, while the Buchanan wing consisting of mostSouthern Democrats anddoughfaces coalesced behind the outgoingvice president and senator-elect from KentuckyJohn C. Breckinridge.^[2] In California,Missouri, and Oregon, vote-splitting between Douglas and Breckinridge Democrats resulted ingridlock that persisted over multiple rounds of balloting. Republicans were the beneficiaries of Democratic infighting, picking up an open seat in Oregon and using their influence to elect a Douglas Democrat over his Breckinridge Democratic opponent in California.^[3]

In the slave states, the opposition to the Democrats was fragmented and generally lacked sufficient numbers to threaten Democratic senators. Of the five slave states to hold regularly scheduled elections, only in Missouri was there a protracted struggle over the selection of the state's senator.^[4] InMaryland theAmerican Party was the second party in the legislature, and inNorth Carolina theWhig label was revived; elsewhere the opponents of the Democrats were calledOppositionists orConstitutional Unionists.^[5] These groups subsequently would join forces with unionist Democrats and Republicans inUnion coalitions that resisted secession in the Upper South andborder states during and after 1861.^[6]

Besides Oregon, the Republicans flipped Democratic-held seats inIndiana,Ohio, andPennsylvania and added two seats representing the new state ofKansas, swelling their caucus to 31 senators. The Democrats flipped an American-held seat in Kentucky, but lost five seats from states that seceded before the end of the 36th Congress; the departure of 16 more Southern senators before July 4 reduced the Democratic caucus to 15 seats. In special elections held after the start of Congress,Unionists filled two vacancies in Virginia and flipped a Democratic-held seat in Kentucky, reducing the Democratic caucus to 14 seats by the end of 1861.^[7]

The Republican victory in the1860 United States presidential election precipitated the resignations of senatorsHannibal Hamlin ofMaine,Simon Cameron of Pennsylvania, andSalmon P. Chase of Ohio, who became vice president,secretary of war, andsecretary of the treasury, respectively, in the incomingLincoln administration; Republicans won all three special elections to select their replacements. Other notable departures includedWilliam H. Seward ofNew York, who retired in order to accept an appointment assecretary of state; Douglas, who died on June 3, 1861, and was replaced by a Republican appointee; Breckinridge, who was expelled from the Senate in December 1861 after enlisting in theConfederate States Army; andJoseph Lane of Oregon, the former vice presidential candidate of the Breckinridge Democrats, whose seat was filled by a Douglas Democrat.^[7]

Parties							Total
		Democratic	Republican	American	Union	Vacant
Last elections (1858–59)		38	25	2	—	1	66
Not up		23	16	1	—	—	40
	Class 1 (1856–57→1862–63)	10	8	1	—	—	19
	Class 2 (1858–59→1864–65)	13	8	—	—	—	21
Up		15	9	1[e]	—	3	28
	Class 3 (1854–55→1860–61)	14[f]	7	1	—	—	22
	Special: Class 1 & 2	1	2[f]	—	—	1	4
	Special: Class 3	—	1[f]	—	—	—	1
	New states	—	—	—	—	2[g]	2
General election
1859		—	—	1[e]	—	—	1
	Replaced by other party	1 American replaced by 1 Democrat[e]					1
	Result	1[e]	—	—	—	—	1
1860		5[f]	4	—	—	—	9
	Held by same party	3	4	—	—	—	7
	Replaced by other party	1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican[f] 1 Democrat replaced by 1 vacancy					2
	Result	3	5[f]	—	—	1[h]	9
1861		9	3	—	—	2	14
	Held by same party	3	3	—	—	—	6
	Replaced by other party	4 Democrats replaced by 4 vacancies 2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republicans 2 vacancies replaced by 2 Republicans					8
	Result	3	7	—	—	4[i]	14
Special elections
1860		1	—	—	—	1	2
	Held by same party	1	—	—	—	—	1
	Replaced by other party	1 vacancy replaced by 1 Republican					1
	Result	1	1	—	—	—	2
1861		—	3[f]	—	—	—	3
	Held by same party	—	3[f]	—	—	—	3
	Result	—	3[f]	—	—	—	3
Secession
Before March 4, 1861		9	—	—	—	—	9
	Replaced by other party	9 Democrats replaced by 9 vacancies					9
	Result	—	—	—	—	9	9
After March 4, 1861		8	—	—	—	—	8
	Held by same party	1	—	—	—	—	1
	Replaced by other party	7 Democrats replaced by 7 vacancies					7
	Result	1	—	—	—	7	8
Result		15	31	1	—	21	68
Changes after July 4, 1861		1			3	2	68

Each block represents one of the 66 seats in the U.S. Senate. (The admission of Kansas on January 29, 1861, increased the number of seats in the Senate to 68.) "A_#" is an American senator, "D_#" is a Democratic senator, "R_#" is a Republican senator, "U_#" is a Union senator, and "V_#" is a vacant seat. They are arranged so that the parties are separated, and a majority is clear by crossing the middle.

This diagram shows the composition of the Senate on January 1, 1860.^[8]

This diagram shows the projected composition of the Senate as a result of the regularly scheduled elections for the Class III seats and special elections in California and Oregon. In consequence of secession, several more seats had been vacated by the time the37th United States Congress convened, as shown below.^[9]

This diagram shows the composition of the Senate on July 11, 1861, after the start of the first session, following the withdrawal or expulsion of 16 senators from states which had seceded from the Union betweenElection Day (November 8, 1860,) and the opening of Congress on July 4. Special elections held in Pennsylvania, Maine, and Ohio filled three vacancies which had occurred on or before March 4; a final vacancy, occurring as a result of the death of Stephen A. Douglas ofIllinois, was filled by appointment pending a special election.^[10]

This diagram shows the composition of the Senate on December 10, 1861, after the start of the second session, following special elections held in Kentucky and Virginia to fill vacancies resulting from the expulsion of pro-Confederate senators; a final vacancy, occurring from the death ofEdward D. Baker, was filled by appointment pending a special election.^[10]

Special elections were held between January 14, 1860, and January 9, 1861, to fill three vacancies in the36th United States Congress.

Eighteen senators were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1861.

One-term DemocratBenjamin Fitzpatrick waselected in 1855. He withdrew from the Senate on January 21, 1861, following the secession of Alabama. TheAlabama Legislature did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1868.^[11]

Arkansas election

← 1855 December 20, 1860 1868 →
Members of theArkansas General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Charles B. Mitchel Samuel H. Hempstead George C. Watkins Party Democratic Democratic Democratic 1st ballot 27 (29.7%) 33 (33.0%) 23 (25.3%) 9th ballot 52 (55.9%) 26 (28.0%) 8 (8.6%)
Senator before election Robert W. Johnson Democratic Elected Senator Charles B. Mitchel Democratic

One-term DemocratRobert W. Johnson waselected in 1855. He was not a candidate for re-election.^[12]

TheArkansas General Assembly met on December 20, 1860, to hold an election for the next term. DemocratsCharles B. Mitchel, Samuel H. Hempstead, N. B. Burrow, andGeorge C. Watkins were nominated as candidates.^[13] Burrow, a secessionist, declined to be considered; the remaining candidates were notably cautious in their responses to Lincoln's election.^[14]

Mitchel was elected with 52 votes on the ninth ballot.^[15] He subsequently was expelled from Congress on July 11, 1861, following the secession of Arkansas.^[16]

There were two elections in California, due to the death ofDavid C. Broderick.

California special election

← 1857 January 9, 1860 1863 →
Members of theCalifornia State Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Milton Latham Edmund Randolph Party Lecompton Democratic Democratic 1st ballot 97 (85.1%) 14 (12.3%)
Senator before election Henry Haun(interim) Democratic Elected Senator Milton Latham Lecompton Democratic

Incumbent DemocratHenry P. Haun was appointed in 1859 to fill the vacancy created by Broderick's death.^[16]

TheCalifornia State Legislature met injoint session on January 14, 1861, to hold a special election for the unexpired term.^[17] TheLecompton Democraticgovernor of CaliforniaMilton Latham defeated theAnti-Lecompton Democrat Edward Randolph. The Republican candidateOscar L. Shafter received only three votes out of the 114 cast.^[18]

California election

← 1857 (special) March 9–20, 1861(1st–22nd) April 2, 1861(23rd) 1865 →
Members of theCalifornia State Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee James A. McDougall John Nugent John B. Weller Party Douglas Democratic (Anti-Lecompton) Douglas Democratic (Lecompton) Breckinridge Democratic 1st ballot 27 (23.9%) 9 (8.0%) 27 (23.9%) 23rd ballot 57 (54.8%) 39 (37.5%) 4 (3.8%)   Nominee Timothy G. Phelps James W. Denver Party Republican Douglas Democratic (Lecompton) 1st ballot 23 (20.4%) 16 (14.3%) 23rd ballot — —
Senator before election William M. Gwin Democratic Elected Senator James A. McDougall Democratic

Two-term DemocratWilliam M. Gwin wasre-elected in 1857 following the failure of the California State Legislature to elect a senator in 1855. He was not a candidate for re-election.^[16]

TheCalifornia Democratic Party was divided betweenproslavery Chivalry or Lecompton Democrats, and free soil Anti-Lecompton Democrats. The1860 U.S. presidential election multiplied these divisions, producing splits between supporters of the presidential candidacies of Stephen A. Douglas and John C. Breckinridge, and between Lecompton and Anti-Lecompton Douglas Democrats. TheConstitutional Union Party, composed of conservative formerWhigs, was of minimal importance.California Republicans were able to capitalize on the bitterness between the Democratic factions to carry the state in the national election with less than one third of the votes cast.^[19]

Gwin's term ended on March 3, 1861, without the legislature having chosen his successor.^[20] On March 9, theSenate and theHouse of Representatives met in joint session to hold an election for the next term.^[21] Anti-Lecompton Douglas DemocratJames A. McDougall, Breckinridge DemocratJohn B. Weller, RepublicanTimothy G. Phelps, and Lecompton Douglas DemocratsJames W. Denver andJohn Nugent were the major candidates.^[22]

Several coalitions of various factions were attempted during the balloting. Lacking the votes to elect their own candidate, the Republicans threw their support to McDougall in order to forestall a coalition of the Breckinridge and Lecompton Douglas Democrats.^[23]

After multiple rounds of voting spread out over several days, McDougall was apparently elected on March 20 with 56 votes on the 22nd ballot.^[24] Subsequently, it was discovered that McDougall's total fell one vote short of the requisite majority for a legal election. The joint session reconvened on April 2, when McDougall received the necessary 57 votes on the first (23rd overall) ballot.^[25]

Connecticut election

← 1854 May 10, 1860 1864 →
Members of theConnecticut General Assembly Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Lafayette S. Foster William W. Eaton Party Republican Democratic House 139 (66.5%) 70 (33.5%) Senate 16 (69.6%) 7 (21.4%)
Senator before election Lafayette S. Foster Republican Elected Senator Lafayette S. Foster Republican

One-term RepublicanLafayette S. Foster waselected in 1854.

TheSenate and theHouse of Representatives met separately on May 10, 1860, to hold an election for the next term. Foster defeated the Democratic candidateWilliam W. Eaton on the first ballot.^[26]

One-term DemocratDavid L. Yulee waselected in 1855. He withdrew from the Senate on January 21, 1861, following the secession of Florida. TheFlorida Legislature did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1868.^[27]

One-term DemocratAlfred Iverson waselected in 1854 or 1855. He withdrew from the Senate on January 28, 1861, following the secession of Georgia. TheGeorgia Legislature did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1871.^[28]

Illinois election

← 1855 January 10, 1861 1867 →
Members of theIllinois General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Lyman Trumbull Samuel S. Marshall Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 54 (54.0%) 46 (46.0%)
Senator before election Lyman Trumbull Republican Elected Senator Lyman Trumbull Republican

One-term RepublicanLyman Trumbull waselected in 1855.

TheIllinois General Assembly met in joint session on January 10, 1861, to hold an election for the next term. Trumbull defeated the Democratic candidateSamuel S. Marshall on the first ballot.^[29]

Indiana election

← 1857 (special) January 16, 1861 1867 →
Members of theIndiana General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Henry S. Lane Joseph A. Wright Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 88 (60.7%) 57 (39.3%)
Senator before election Graham N. Fitch Democratic Elected Senator Henry S. Lane Republican

Incumbent DemocratGraham N. Fitch waselected in 1857 following the failure of the legislature to elect a senator in 1855. He was not a candidate for re-election.^[30]

TheIndiana General Assembly met in joint session on January 16, 1861, to hold an election for the next term. The Republicangovernor of IndianaHenry S. Lane defeated the Democratic former governorJoseph A. Wright on the first ballot.^[31] Wright was subsequently appointed to the other Indiana seat following the expulsion of DemocratJesse D. Bright later in 1861. Lane's election elevated thelieutenant governorOliver P. Morton to the governorship in accordance with an arrangement between the two men worked out in advance of the 1860 state elections.^[32]

Iowa election

← 1857 (special) January 14, 1860 1867 →
Members of theIowa General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee James Harlan Augustus C. Dodge Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 73 (58.4%) 52 (41.6%)
Senator before election James Harlan Republican Elected Senator James Harlan Republican

One-term RepublicanJames Harlan wasre-elected in 1857 following the invalidation of his initial electionin 1855.^[33]

TheIowa General Assembly met in joint session on January 14, 1860, to hold an election for the next term. Harlan defeated the Democratic candidateAugustus C. Dodge on the first ballot.^[34]

Kansas election

April 4, 1861 1865(Class 2) → 1867(Class 3) →
100 members of theKansas Legislature 51 votes needed to win
Nominee James H. Lane Samuel C. Pomeroy Marcus J. Parrott Party Republican Republican Republican 1st ballot 55 (55.0%) 52 (52.0%) 49 (49.0%)   Nominee Frederick P. Stanton A. J. Isacks Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 21 (21.0%) 11 (11.0%)
Senators before election None Elected Senators James H. Lane(Class 2) Samuel C. Pomeroy(Class 3) Republican

Kansas elected two senators following its admission on January 29, 1861.

TheKansas Legislature met in joint session on April 4, 1861, to hold elections for both seats. Members voted for two candidates, with the first and second-place finishers being elected.^[35]

James H. Lane,Marcus J. Parrott,Samuel C. Pomeroy, andFrederick P. Stanton were the leading Republican candidates in a field that also includedMark W. Delahay andThomas Ewing. Ewing withdrew prior to the election, while Delahay exerted little effort on his own behalf. TheKansas Democratic Party was hopelessly outnumbered in the legislature, and those Democrats likeArchibald Williams and P. T. Abell who allowed their names to be mentioned did not seriously hope to be elected.^[36]

Voting took place over two hours, with members switching their votes frequently as the fortunes of the candidates rose and fell.^[37] Lane and Pomeroy had 55 and 52 votes, respectively, on the final tally and were pronounced elected.^[38]

Two elections were held in Kentucky, due to the election and subsequent expulsion ofJohn C. Breckinridge.

Kentucky election

← 1854 December 12, 1859 1861 (special) →
Members of theKentucky General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee John C. Breckinridge Joshua F. Bell Party Democratic Opposition 1st ballot 81 (60.9%) 52 (39.1%)
Senator before election John J. Crittenden American Elected Senator John C. Breckinridge Democratic

Three-term AmericanJohn J. Crittenden wasre-elected in 1854. Crittenden had served previous non-consecutive terms from 1817 to 1819, from 1835 to 1841, and from 1842 to 1848.^[39] He was not a candidate for re-election.

Linn Boyd, John C. Breckinridge,Elijah Hise, andJohn C. Mason were candidates for the Democratic nomination. A caucus of Democratic legislators selected Breckinridge on December 11, 1859, in advance of the election.^[40]

TheKentucky General Assembly met in joint session on December 12, 1859, to hold an election for the next term, more than a year before the expiration of Crittenden's term.^[41] Breckinridge defeated theOpposition candidateJoshua F. Bell on the first ballot.^[42]

Kentucky special election

← 1859 December 10, 1861 1867 →
Members of theKentucky General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Garrett Davis William Johnson Party Union Southern Rights 1st ballot 84 (86.6%) 12 (12.4%)
Senator before election None (vacant from March 4, 1861) Elected Senator Garrett Davis Union

Breckinridge did not return to Washington when the Senate resumed session on December 2, 1861, having enlisted in the Confederate States Army.^[43] He was expelled from Congress on December 4 for supporting the Confederacy.^[44]

TheUnionist members of the legislature held a caucus on December 10, 1861, in advance of the special election.Garrett Davis,James Guthrie, Joshua F. Bell, John J. Crittenden,Joseph R. Underwood, andJoseph Holt were candidates on the first ballot. Allies of Crittenden, now a U.S. representative, asked that his name be withdrawn from further consideration, for fear that a special election for hiscongressional seat could be won by a secessionist. The contest then narrowed to Bell, Davis, and Guthrie. After several rounds of voting yielded no result, Bell withdrew his candidacy; Davis defeated Guthrie on the 10th ballot with 65 votes to Guthrie's 64.^[45]

The Kentucky General Assembly met on December 10, 1861, to hold a special election for the unexpired term. Voting proceeded separately in theSenate and theHouse of Representatives, after which the votes were tallied jointly.^[46] Davis defeated the Southern Rights candidate William Johnson on the first ballot.^[45]

One-term DemocratJohn Slidell waselected in 1854 or 1855. He withdrew from the Senate on February 4, 1861, following the secession of Louisiana. TheLouisiana State Legislature did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1868.^[47]

Maine special election

← 1857 January 9, 1861 1863 →
Members of theMaine Legislature Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Lot M. Morrill George F. Shepley Party Republican Democratic House 124 (84.4%) 23 (15.6%) Senate 29 (100.0%) —
Senator before election Hannibal Hamlin Republican Elected Senator Lot M. Morrill Republican

Two-term RepublicanHannibal Hamlin wasre-elected in 1857. Hamlin was elected vice president in 1860 and resigned his Senate seat on January 7, 1861.^[48]

TheSenate and theHouse of Representatives met separately on January 9, 1861, to hold a special election for the unexpired term. The Republican candidateLot M. Morrill defeated the Democratic candidateGeorge F. Shepley on the first ballot.^[49]

Maryland election

← 1855 March 2, 1860 1864 (special) →
Members of theMaryland General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee James A. Pearce James U. Dennis Party Democratic American 1st ballot 50 (59.5%) 34 (40.5%)
Senator before election James A. Pearce Democratic Elected Senator James A. Pearce Democratic

Three-term DemocratJames A. Pearce wasre-elected in 1855.

TheMaryland General Assembly met on March 2, 1860, to hold an election for the next term. Voting proceeded separately in theSenate and theHouse of Delegates, after which the tellers withdrew and to count the ballots in the Senate chamber.^[50] Pearce defeated the American candidateJames U. Dennis on the first ballot.^[51]

Missouri election

← 1857 (special) March 13–18, 1861 1863 (special) →
Members of theMissouri General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Waldo P. Johnson Alexander W. Doniphan Thomas B. English Party Breckinridge Democratic Constitutional Union Douglas Democratic 1st ballot — 26 (16.9%) 9 (5.8%) 15th ballot 81 (55.5%) 36 (24.6%) 29 (19.9%)   Nominee James S. Green John S. Phelps Robert Wilson Party Breckinridge Democratic Douglas Democratic Constitutional Union 1st ballot 68 (44.2%) 13 (8.4%) 10 (6.5%) 15th ballot — — —   Nominee Willard P. Hall Party Douglas Democratic 1st ballot 8 (5.2%) 15th ballot —
Senator before election James S. Green Democratic Elected Senator Waldo P. Johnson Breckinridge Democratic

One-term DemocratJames S. Green waselected in 1857 following the failure of the legislature to elect a senator in 1855.^[52]

Green's term expired on March 4, 1861. TheMissouri General Assembly met in joint session on March 13 to hold an election for the next term. No candidate had a majority on the first ballot, necessitating several subsequent rounds of voting over the ensuing five days.^[53]

Green, Constitutional UnionistAlexander W. Doniphan, and Douglas DemocratsJohn S. Phelps and Thomas B. English were the leading candidates on the first ballot, with several other candidates polling between one and 10 votes. Green's secessionist, proslavery views were an issue during the election; supporters argued that failure to re-elect the incumbent would be interpreted as a concession to the abolitionist movement.^[4][53]

Green's support dwindled over the first two days of balloting. On March 18, prior to the start of voting, his supporters withdrew his name in favor of Breckinridge DemocratWaldo P. Johnson, who was elected on the 15th ballot.^[53]

Johnson, a secessionist, did not attend the 37th Congress when it convened on July 4, 1861. He was expelled from the Senate on January 10, 1862, for supporting the Confederacy.Robert Wilson, who received 10 votes as a Constitutional Unionist on the first ballot, was appointed to Johnson's vacant seat pending a special election in1863.^[54]

New Hampshire election

← 1857 June 13, 1860 1866 →
Members of theNew Hampshire General Court Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Daniel Clark John S. Wells Party Republican Democratic House 184 (62.6%) 108 (36.7%) Senate 8 (80.0%) 2 (20.0%)
Senator before election Daniel Clark Republican Elected Senator Daniel Clark Republican

Incumbent RepublicanDaniel Clark waselected in 1857 to fill the vacancy created by the death ofJames Bell.^[55]

The Republican members of theNew Hampshire General Court nominated Clark for re-election at their caucus on June 12, 1861, in advance of the election. The Democrats nominatedJohn S. Wells.^[56]

TheSenate and theHouse of Representatives met separately on June 13, 1861, to hold an election for the next term. Clark defeated Wells on the first ballot.^[57]

New York election

← 1855 February 5, 1861 1867 →
Members of theNew York State Legislature Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Ira Harris Horatio Seymour Party Republican Democratic Assembly 88 (73.9%) 31 (26.0%) Senate 22 (71.0%) 9 (29.0%)
Senator before election William H. Seward Republican Elected Senator Ira Harris Republican

Two-term RepublicanWilliam H. Seward wasre-elected in 1855. He was not a candidate for re-election.^[33]

TheSenate and theAssembly met separately on February 5, 1861, to hold an election for the next term. The Republican candidateIra Harris defeated the Democratic candidateHoratio Seymour on the first ballot.^[58]

North Carolina election

← 1858 (special) January 31, 1861 1868 (special) →
Members of theNorth Carolina General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Thomas L. Clingman William A. Graham Party Democratic Whig 1st ballot 85 (57.8%) 17 (11.6%)   Nominee Bedford Brown Sion H. Rogers Party Democratic Whig 1st ballot 16 (10.9%) 11 (7.5%)
Senator before election Thomas L. Clingman Democratic Elected Senator Thomas L. Clingman Democratic

Incumbent DemocratThomas L. Clingman waselected in 1858 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation ofAsa Biggs.^[59]

Although it declined nationally after 1855, theWhig Party survived in North Carolina and contested the1860 state elections under its former name.^[60] Whigs elected 19 senators and 55 members of theHouse of Commons, holding the Democrats to narrow majorities in both chambers.^[61]

Clingman, a former Whig fromWestern North Carolina, was by 1860 the leader of the state's secessionist Democrats.Unionists in theNorth Carolina Senate attempted to draft DemocratBedford Brown, but he declined consideration. Opposition to Clingman was divided and distracted by the proposal to call a state convention to consider secession which had passed the legislature on January 29.^[62]

TheNorth Carolina General Assembly met on January 31, 1861, to hold an election for the next term. Voting proceeded separately in the Senate and the House of Commons, after which the votes were tallied jointly. Clingman and WhigSion H. Rogers were nominated by members of the House of Commons, while Brown was nominated by the Senate.^[63] Clingman defeated his various rivals on the first ballot.^[64]

North Carolina seceded on May 20, 1861.^[65] Clingman did not attend the 37th Congress when it convened on July 4 and was expelled on July 11 for supporting the Confederacy.^[59]

Two elections were held in Ohio, due to the election and subsequent resignation ofSalmon P. Chase.

Ohio election

← 1854 February 3, 1860 1861 (special) →
Members of theOhio General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Salmon P. Chase George E. Pugh Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 76 (56.7%) 53 (39.6%)
Senator before election George E. Pugh Democratic Elected Senator Salmon P. Chase Republican

One-term DemocratGeorge E. Pugh waselected in 1854.^[66]

TheOhio General Assembly met in joint session on February 3, 1860, to hold an election for the next term. The Republican candidate Salmon P. Chase defeated Pugh on the first ballot.^[67]

Ohio special election

← 1860 March 21, 1861 1866 →
Members of theOhio General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee John Sherman William Kennon Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 76 (58.9%) 53 (41.1%)
Senator before election None (vacant from March 6, 1861) Elected Senator John Sherman Republican

Chase resigned from the Senate on March 6, 1861, following his appointment as U.S. secretary of the treasury.^[66]

The Ohio General Assembly met in joint session on March 21 to hold a special election for the unexpired term. The Republican candidateJohn Sherman defeated the Democratic candidateWilliam Kennon on the first ballot.^[68]

There were two elections in Oregon, due to the vacancy of the Class 2 seat.

DemocratsJoseph Lane andDelazon Smith wereelected in 1858, Smith for the term ending March 3, 1859, and Lane for the term ending March 3, 1861. After the expiration of Smith's term, but before the 36th Congress convened, thegovernor of OregonJohn Whiteaker called a special session of theOregon Legislative Assembly in May 1859 to hold an election for the succeeding term. TheOregon Democratic Party was divided between partisans of Lane andAsahel Bush, who were identified with support or opposition to theBuchanan administration's policy on slavery in theU.S. territories, respectively. In the Democratic caucus, Smith, a Lane Democrat, was narrowly renominated with 22 out of 43 votes. The Bush Democrats subsequently refused to support Smith's re-election in the legislative joint session, and the legislature adjourned on July 4 without having elected a senator.^[69]

In the interim, Lane was nominated for vice president by theBreckinridge Democratic National Convention; the Lane faction became identified with Breckinridge's presidential candidacy in Oregon, while the Anti-Lane forces supported Stephen Douglas. In elections held in June 1860, an ad-hoc Anti-Lane coalition of Republicans and Douglas Democrats handed a decisive defeat to the Lane faction, which was reduced to a minority in the legislature. Besides their shared hatred of Lane, both groups opposed theUnited States Supreme Court's ruling inDred Scott v. Sandford and supportedpopular sovereignty. The election of an Anti-Lane majority cleared the way for a cooperation between Republicans and Douglas Democrats in the upcoming senatorial elections.^[70]

The legislature met again in joint session on September 21, 1860, to hold concurrent elections for both seats.^[71] The combined membership of both chambers included 19 Lane Democrats, 18 Douglas Democrats, and 13 Republicans. In an attempt to prevent aquorum in theSenate, six Lane Democrats absented themselves from the proceedings; during their absence, theHouse of Representatives attempted to conduct the election, but no candidate for either seat gained a majority over twenty ballots.^[72]

At length, the absent senators were persuaded to return, and balloting resumed on October 1. A coalition between the Republicans and Douglas Democrats remained elusive until the following day, when Douglas DemocratJames Nesmith and RepublicanEdward D. Baker were elected on the 14th (34th overall) ballot.

Oregon election

← 1858 October 2, 1860 1866 →
Members of theOregon Legislative Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee James Nesmith Matthew Deady Party Douglas Democratic Breckinridge Democratic 1st ballot 16 (32.0%) — 14th ballot 27 (54.0%) 22 (44.0%)   Nominee Delazon Smith Edward D. Baker Party Breckinridge Democratic Republican 1st ballot 19 (38.0%) 12 (24.0%) 14th ballot — —
Senator before election Joseph Lane Democratic Elected Senator James Nesmith Douglas Democratic

The incumbent Lane was not a candidate for re-election. Republican Edward D. Baker, Douglas Democrat James Nesmith, and Breckinridge Democrats Delazon Smith andMatthew Deady were the major candidates.^[73]

On October 2, Baker withdrew his candidacy for the Class 3 seat in order to seek election to the Class 2 seat. The Republican members switched their support to Nesmith, who was elected.^[74]

Oregon special election

← 1858 October 2, 1860 1862 (special) →
Members of theOregon Legislative Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Edward D. Baker George H. Williams George L. Curry Party Republican Douglas Democratic Breckinridge Democratic 1st ballot — 11 (22.4%) 8 (16.3%) 14th ballot 26 (52.0%) 20 (40.0%) 2 (4.0%)   Nominee La Fayette Grover Amory Holbrook Party Douglas Democratic Republican 1st ballot 16 (32.6%) 11 (22.4%) 14th ballot — —
Senator before election None (vacant from March 4, 1859) Elected Senator Edward D. Baker Republican

The term of the previous incumbent Smith ended on March 4, 1859, after which the seat was vacant.^[75]

RepublicanAmory Holbrook, Douglas DemocratsGeorge H. Williams andLa Fayette Grover, and Breckinridge DemocratGeorge L. Curry were the major candidates during the balloting on October 1.^[76]

On October 2, the Republican members switched their votes from Holbrook to Baker, who had withdrawn his candidacy for the Class 3 seat. Fifteen Douglas Democrats joined the Republicans to elect Baker.^[73] Holbrook, who thought fusion ill-advised and mistrusted Baker's Republican credentials, cast a blank ballot all through the voting on October 2.^[77]

There were two elections in Pennsylvania, due to the resignation ofSimon Cameron.

Pennsylvania election

← 1856 (special) January 8, 1861 1867 →
Members of thePennsylvania General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Edgar Cowan Henry D. Foster Party People's Democratic 1st ballot 98 (73.7%) 35 (26.3%)
Senator before election William Bigler Democratic Elected Senator Edgar Cowan People's

One-term DemocratWilliam Bigler waselected in 1856 following the failure of the legislature to elect a senator in 1855.^[78]

ThePeople's Party held a caucus on January 7, 1861, in advance of the election.Edgar Cowan andDavid Wilmot were the leading candidates. Wilmot was famous for hisopposition to slavery in the U.S. territories and had the support of the incominggovernor of PennsylvaniaAndrew G. Curtin, but was opposed by conservative members who alleged his election would further antagonize the slave states. The junior U.S. senator from Pennsylvania Simon Cameron remained publicly neutral in the campaign for the Republican nomination while privately backing Cowan. In the caucus, Cowan defeated Wilmot on the sixth ballot with 58 votesto Wilmot's 38.^[79]

The Democrats selectedHenry D. Foster over the incumbent Bigler.^[80]

ThePennsylvania General Assembly met in joint session on January 8, 1861, to hold an election for the next term. Cowan defeated Foster on the first ballot.^[81]

Pennsylvania special election

← 1857 March 14, 1861 1863 →
Members of thePennsylvania General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee David Wilmot William H. Welsh Party People's Democratic 1st ballot 95 (73.5%) 34 (26.0%)
Senator before election None (vacant from March 4, 1861) Elected Senator David Wilmot People's

One-term People's incumbent Simon Cameron waselected in 1857. Cameron resigned from the Senate on March 4, 1861, following his appointment as U.S. secretary of war.^[75]

Wilmot was nominated by the People's Party caucus on the first ballot with 76 votes to 21 for other candidates. The Democrats selected William H. Welsh after the frontrunner for the nomination, William H. Witte, withdrew.^[82]

The Pennsylvania General Assembly met in joint session on March 14, 1861, to hold a special election for the unexpired term. Wilmot defeated Welsh on the first ballot.^[83]

Incumbent DemocratJames H. Hammond waselected in 1857 to fill the vacancy created by the death ofAndrew Butler. He withdrew from the Senate on November 11, 1860, in anticipation of the secession of South Carolina. TheSouth Carolina General Assembly did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1868.^[84]

Vermont election

← 1855 October 16, 1860 1866 (special) →
Members of theVermont General Assembly Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Jacob Collamer Paul Dillingham Party Republican Democratic House 198 (89.2%) 24 (10.8%) Senate 27 (96.4%) 1 (3.6%)
Senator before election Jacob Collamer Republican Elected Senator Jacob Collamer Republican

One-term RepublicanJacob Collamer waselected in 1855.^[85]

The Republican members of the legislature held a caucus on October 15, 1860, in advance of the election; Collamer was nominated unanimously on the first ballot.^[86]

TheSenate and theHouse of Representatives met separately on October 16, 1860, to hold an election for the next term.^[87] Collamer defeated the Democratic candidatePaul Dillingham the first ballot.^[86]

Two special elections were held in Virginia, due to the expulsions ofRobert M. T. Hunter andJames M. Mason.

TheRestored Virginia General Assembly met on July 9, 1861, to hold concurrent special elections for the unexpired terms. Voting proceeded separately in the Senate and the House of Delegates, after which the votes were tallied jointly.Waitman T. Willey andJohn S. Carlile were elected.^[88]

Virginia special election

← 1856 July 9, 1861 1863 →
Members of theRestored Virginia General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Waitman T. Willey Peter G. Van Winkle Daniel Lamb Party Union Union Union 1st ballot 22 (57.9%) 10 (26.3%) 6 (15.8%)
Senator before election James M. Mason Democratic Elected Senator Waitman T. Willey Union

Two-term Democrat James M. Mason wasre-elected in 1856.^[85] Mason did not attend the 37th Congress when it convened on July 4, 1861, and was expelled on July 11 for supporting the Confederacy.^[89]

The Restored Virginia General Assembly met on July 9 to hold a special election for the unexpired term, anticipating Mason's expulsion. Unionist Waitman T. Willey defeatedPeter G. Van Winkle and Daniel Lamb on the first ballot.^[90]

Virginia special election

← 1858 July 9, 1861 1870 →
Members of theRestored Virginia General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee John S. Carlile Party Union 1st ballot 38 (100.0%)
Senator before election Robert M. T. Hunter Democratic Elected Senator John S. Carlile Union

Three-term Democrat Robert M. T. Hunter wasre-elected in 1858.^[85] Hunter did not attend the 37th Congress when it convened on July 4, 1861, and was expelled on July 11 for supporting the Confederacy.^[89]

The Restored Virginia General Assembly met on July 9 to hold a special election for the unexpired term, anticipating Hunter's expulsion. Unionist John S. Carlile was elected unanimously on the first ballot.^[90]

Wisconsin election

← 1855 January 23, 1861 1867 →
Members of theWisconsin Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Timothy O. Howe Henry L. Palmer Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 92 (73.0%) 34 (27.0%)
Senator before election Charles Durkee Republican Elected Senator Timothy O. Howe Republican

One-term RepublicanCharles Durkee waselected in 1855. He was not a candidate for re-election.^[91]

The Republican members of the legislature held a caucus from January 17–22, 1861, in advance of the election.Timothy O. Howe,Cadwallader C. Washburn, andAlexander W. Randall were the leading candidates. Voting continued for several days with no result. Randall eventually withdrew his candidacy in favor of Howe, who defeated Washburn on the final ballot with 52 votes to 36 for Washburn, and three abstentions.^[92]

TheWisconsin Legislature met in joint session on January 23, 1861, to hold an election for the next term.^[93] Howe defeated the Democratic candidateHenry L. Palmer on the first ballot.^[92]

• 1860 United States elections
  • 1860 United States presidential election
  • 1860–61 United States House of Representatives elections
• 36th United States Congress
• 37th United States Congress

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• 1860 United States Senate elections
• 1861 United States Senate elections

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