The1881 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held in the34th Wisconsin LegislatureJanuary 26, 1881. Incumbent Republican U.S. senatorAngus Cameron did not run for re-election. Republican former U.S. representativePhiletus Sawyer was electedUnited States senator on the first ballot.[1]
In the 1881 term, Republicans held overwhelming majorities in both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature, so had more than enough votes to elect a RepublicanUnited States senator. The main contest was in the Republican legislative caucus, but the former U.S. representative, Sawyer, was quickly nominated after demonstrating a clear majority of support.
Prior to the 1880 legislative elections, Sawyer made it clear that he was seeking to succeed Angus Cameron asUnited States senator, supporting allies in legislative nominating contests throughout the state.[2] After the election, Sawyer was projected to easily achieve a majority of the caucus on the first ballot. Those predictions were confirmed when the Republican caucus met on January 19, 1881. An informal poll found a clear majority for Sawyer's nomination, and the caucus then chose to formally recognize him as their nominee by acclamation.[3]
The34th Wisconsin Legislature met in joint session on January 26, 1881, to elect a U.S. senator. The voting went almost exactly along party lines, with three members absent. Of the members present and voting,Philetus Sawyer received the votes of all but two Republican legislators, winning the election.[1]
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