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The1861 United States Senate election in New York was held on February 5, 1861, by theNew York State Legislature to elect aU.S. Senator (Class 3) to represent the State ofNew York in theUnited States Senate.
WhigWilliam H. Seward had been re-elected in February 1855 to this seat, had become a Republican upon the foundation of that party in September 1855, and his term would expire on March 3, 1861. Seward did not seek re-election, instead being certain to be appointed to an office in the incomingAbraham Lincoln administration.
The election was held amid the ongoing secession crisis, as much of the South had already seceded in anticipation of the impending inauguration of President Lincoln.
At the1859 state election, 23 Republicans and 9 Democrats were elected for a two-year term in the State Senate. At the1860 election, 93 Republicans and 35 Democrats were elected to the Assembly for the session of 1861. The84th New York State Legislature met from January 1 to April 16, 1861, atAlbany, New York.
Thus, Republicans were assured of electing the next Senator unless the party split.
Though Seward was no longer a factor in the election, his political patronThurlow Weed expected to control the outcome. His preferred candidate wasWilliam Evarts, a leading member of theNew York City bar who had chaired the New York delegation at the1860 Republican National Convention. However, Evarts was opposed byHorace Greeley, the influential editor of theNew York Tribune who had joined Weed and Seward to control the Whig and Republican parties in the state for the past several years. A third candidate in the race,Ira Harris, held himself out at Weed's disposal in case Evarts could not be elected.[1]
After weeks of canvassing, formal ballots were held in which Greeley and Evarts exchanged the lead as Harris slipped behind. On the ninth ballot, when it appeared Greeley would win the nomination (and thus the election), Weed ordered the Evarts men to vote for Harris.[1]
Greeley fell short of a majority on the ninth ballot, and on the tenth, Harris was nominated.[1]
Both in the Assembly and the Senate a strict party vote confirmed the caucus selections.
In the Assembly 119 votes were given. Republicans Smith Anthony (Cayuga Co.), Martin Finch (Essex Co.), Henry A. Prendergast (Chautauqua Co.), Victor M. Rice (Erie Co.) and Perez H. Field (Ontario Co.); and Democrats Luke F. Cozans (NYC), Benjamin H. Long (Erie Co.), N. Holmes Odell (Westchester Co.) and Christian B. Woodruff (NYC); did not vote.
In the State Senate, 31 votes were given. William H. Ferry (Rep., 19th D.) was absent.
Ira Harris was the choice of both the Assembly and the Senate, and was declared elected.
| Office | House | Republican | Democrat | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senator | State Senate (32 members) | Ira Harris | 22 | Horatio Seymour | 9 |
| State Assembly (128 members) | Ira Harris | 88 | Horatio Seymour | 31 | |
Harris served one term, and remained in office until March 3, 1867.
