# 1870–71 United States Senate elections

The 1870–71 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states. As these U.S. Senate elections were prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were chosen by state legislatures. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1870 and 1871, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock. In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 2.
The Republican Party lost five seats, though it still retained an overwhelming majority. In advance of these elections, the last four seceded states were readmitted to the Senate.
Mississippian Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first African American to be elected as a U.S. Senator and become a member of Congress.
In Georgia, Foster Blodgett was elected and presented his credentials as Senator-elect, but the Senate declared him not elected.
In Virginia, Republican John F. Lewis and Democrat John W. Johnston were elected on January 26, 1870, to fill seats that had been vacant since 1864 and 1865.

## Results summary

Senate party division, 42nd Congress (1871–1873)
* Majority party: Republican (55)
* Minority party: Democratic (14)
* Other parties: Liberal Republican (1)
* Vacant: (4)
* Total seats: 74

## Change in Senate composition
### By March 30, 1870

After the readmission of Virginia, Texas, and Mississippi, and the special elections in Iowa and Maine.
| D$_6$ | D$_5$ | D$_4$ | D$_3$ | D$_2$ | D$_1$ | V$_1$ | | | |
| D$_7$ | D$_8$ | D$_9$ | D$_{10}$ Gain Readmitted | R$_{62}$ Gain Readmitted | R$_{61}$ Gain Readmitted | R$_{60}$ Gain Special | R$_{59}$ Gain Readmitted | R$_{58}$ Gain Readmitted | R$_{57}$ Gain Readmitted |
| R$_{47}$ | R$_{48}$ | R$_{49}$ | R$_{50}$ | R$_{51}$ | R$_{52}$ | R$_{53}$ | R$_{54}$ | R$_{55}$ | R$_{56}$ Appointee elected |
| R$_{46}$ | R$_{45}$ | R$_{44}$ | R$_{43}$ | R$_{42}$ | R$_{41}$ | R$_{40}$ | R$_{39}$ | R$_{38}$ | R$_{37}$ |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | R$_{36}$ |
| R$_{27}$ | R$_{28}$ | R$_{29}$ | R$_{30}$ | R$_{31}$ | R$_{32}$ | R$_{33}$ | R$_{34}$ | R$_{35}$ | R$_{36}$ |
| R$_{26}$ | R$_{25}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{21}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{18}$ | R$_{17}$ |
| R$_7$ | R$_8$ | R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{16}$ |
| R$_6$ | R$_5$ | R$_4$ | R$_3$ | R$_2$ | R$_1$ | V$_2$ | | | |

### Before the elections

Including the February 1871 readmission of Georgia.
| D$_7$ | D$_6$ | D$_5$ | D$_4$ | D$_3$ | D$_2$ | D$_1$ | | | |
| D$_8$ Ran | D$_9$ Ran | D$_{10}$ Unknown | D$_{11}$ Unknown | R$_{63}$ Retired | R$_{62}$ Retired | R$_{61}$ Retired | R$_{60}$ Retired | R$_{59}$ Retired | R$_{58}$ Unknown |
| R$_{48}$ Ran | R$_{49}$ Ran | R$_{50}$ Ran | R$_{51}$ Ran | R$_{52}$ Ran | R$_{53}$ Ran | R$_{54}$ Ran | R$_{55}$ Unknown | R$_{56}$ Unknown | R$_{57}$ Unknown |
| R$_{47}$ Ran | R$_{46}$ Ran | R$_{45}$ Ran | R$_{44}$ Ran | R$_{43}$ Ran | R$_{42}$ | R$_{41}$ | R$_{40}$ | R$_{39}$ | R$_{38}$ |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | R$_{37}$ |
| R$_{28}$ | R$_{29}$ | R$_{30}$ | R$_{31}$ | R$_{32}$ | R$_{33}$ | R$_{34}$ | R$_{35}$ | R$_{36}$ | R$_{37}$ |
| R$_{27}$ | R$_{26}$ | R$_{25}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{21}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{18}$ |
| R$_8$ | R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{17}$ |
| R$_7$ | R$_6$ | R$_5$ | R$_4$ | R$_3$ | R$_2$ | R$_1$ | | | |

### Result of the elections

| D$_7$ | D$_6$ | D$_5$ | D$_4$ | D$_3$ | D$_2$ | D$_1$ | | | |
| D$_8$ Hold | D$_9$ Hold | D$_{10}$ Hold | D$_{11}$ Gain | D$_{12}$ Gain | D$_{13}$ Gain | D$_{14}$ Gain | V$_1$ D Loss | V$_2$ R Loss | R$_{58}$ Hold |
| R$_{48}$ Re-elected | R$_{49}$ Hold | R$_{50}$ Hold | R$_{51}$ Hold | R$_{52}$ Hold | R$_{53}$ Hold | R$_{54}$ Hold | R$_{55}$ Hold | R$_{56}$ Hold | R$_{57}$ Hold |
| R$_{47}$ Re-elected | R$_{46}$ Re-elected | R$_{45}$ Re-elected | R$_{44}$ Re-elected | R$_{43}$ Re-elected | R$_{42}$ | R$_{41}$ | R$_{40}$ | R$_{39}$ | R$_{38}$ |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | R$_{37}$ |
| R$_{28}$ | R$_{29}$ | R$_{30}$ | R$_{31}$ | R$_{32}$ | R$_{33}$ | R$_{34}$ | R$_{35}$ | R$_{36}$ | R$_{37}$ |
| R$_{27}$ | R$_{26}$ | R$_{25}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{21}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{18}$ |
| R$_8$ | R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{17}$ |
| R$_7$ | R$_6$ | R$_5$ | R$_4$ | R$_3$ | R$_2$ | R$_1$ | | | |

### Beginning of the next Congress

| D$_7$ | D$_6$ | D$_5$ | D$_4$ | D$_3$ | D$_2$ | D$_1$ | | | |
| D$_8$ | D$_9$ | D$_{10}$ | D$_{11}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{14}$ Gain | V$_1$ D Loss | V$_2$ | V$_3$ |
| R$_{48}$ | R$_{49}$ | R$_{50}$ | R$_{51}$ | R$_{52}$ | R$_{53}$ | R$_{54}$ | R$_{55}$ | LR$_1$ Change | V$_4$ R Loss |
| R$_{47}$ | R$_{46}$ | R$_{45}$ | R$_{44}$ | R$_{43}$ | R$_{42}$ | R$_{41}$ | R$_{40}$ | R$_{39}$ | R$_{38}$ |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | R$_{37}$ |
| R$_{28}$ | R$_{29}$ | R$_{30}$ | R$_{31}$ | R$_{32}$ | R$_{33}$ | R$_{34}$ | R$_{35}$ | R$_{36}$ | R$_{37}$ |
| R$_{27}$ | R$_{26}$ | R$_{25}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{21}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{18}$ |
| R$_8$ | R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{17}$ |
| R$_7$ | R$_6$ | R$_5$ | R$_4$ | R$_3$ | R$_2$ | R$_1$ | | | |
| Key: | D$_#$ Democratic LR$_#$ Liberal Republican R$_#$ Republican V$_#$ Vacant |

## Race summaries
### Special elections during the 41st Congress

In these elections, the winners were seated during 1870 or in 1871 before March 4; ordered by election date.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Iowa (Class 2) | James W. Grimes | Republican | 1858 1864 | Incumbent resigned December 6, 1869 due to ill health. New senator elected January 18, 1870. Winner did not seek election to the next term. | ▌Y James B. Howell (Republican) ▌John Thompson Stoneman (Democratic) |
| Maine (Class 2) | Lot M. Morrill | Republican | 1861 (special) 1863 1869 (lost) 1869 (appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 19, 1870 to finish the term. Winner was also elected to the next term; see below. | ▌Y Lot M. Morrill (Republican) [data missing] |
| Virginia (Class 1) | Vacant since January 2, 1864, when Joseph Segar (U) was not seated. | Vacant since January 2, 1864, when Joseph Segar (U) was not seated. | Vacant since January 2, 1864, when Joseph Segar (U) was not seated. | State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected January 26, 1870. Republican gain. | ▌Y John F. Lewis (Republican) [data missing] |
| Virginia (Class 2) | Vacant since March 4, 1865, when John Curtiss Underwood (U) was not seated. | Vacant since March 4, 1865, when John Curtiss Underwood (U) was not seated. | Vacant since March 4, 1865, when John Curtiss Underwood (U) was not seated. | State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected January 26, 1870. Democratic gain. Winner was also elected late to the next term; see below. | ▌Y John W. Johnston (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Texas (Class 2) | Vacant since July 11, 1861, when John Hemphill (D) was expelled. | Vacant since July 11, 1861, when John Hemphill (D) was expelled. | Vacant since July 11, 1861, when John Hemphill (D) was expelled. | State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected February 22, 1870. Allowed to take office when state readmitted on March 30, 1870. Republican gain. Winner was also elected to the next term; see below. | ▌Y Morgan C. Hamilton (Republican) [data missing] |
| Mississippi (Class 1) | Vacant since January 21, 1861, when Jefferson Davis (D) resigned | Vacant since January 21, 1861, when Jefferson Davis (D) resigned | Vacant since January 21, 1861, when Jefferson Davis (D) resigned | State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected February 23, 1870. Republican gain. | ▌Y Adelbert Ames (Republican) [data missing] |
| Mississippi (Class 2) | Vacant since January 12, 1861, when Albert G. Brown (D) withdrew. | Vacant since January 12, 1861, when Albert G. Brown (D) withdrew. | Vacant since January 12, 1861, when Albert G. Brown (D) withdrew. | State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected February 23, 1870. Republican gain. Unknown if winner ran for the next term or retired; see below. | ▌Y Hiram R. Revels (Republican) [data missing] |
| Texas (Class 1) | Vacant since March 23, 1861, when Louis Wigfall (D) withdrew. | Vacant since March 23, 1861, when Louis Wigfall (D) withdrew. | Vacant since March 23, 1861, when Louis Wigfall (D) withdrew. | State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected March 30, 1870. Republican gain. | ▌Y J. W. Flanagan (Republican) [data missing] |
| Missouri (Class 3) | Daniel T. Jewett | Republican | 1870 (appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected January 20, 1871 to finish the term. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Francis Preston Blair Jr. (Democratic) 61.5% ▌John B. Henderson (Republican) 35.5% ▌John F. Benjamin (Republican) 3.0% |
| Minnesota (Class 2) | William Windom | Republican | 1865 | Interim appointee was not elected to finish the term. New senator elected January 22, 1871 to finish the term. Republican hold. Winner was not elected to the next term; see below. Instead, interim appointee was elected to the next term; see below. | ▌Y Ozora P. Stearns (Republican) 44 (73.3%) ▌Eugene M. Wilson (Democratic) 13 (21.7%) ▌Amos Coggswell (Democratic) 2 (3.3%) ▌Ignatius L. Donnelly (Democratic) 1 (1.7%) |
| Georgia (Class 3) | Vacant since January 28, 1861, when Alfred Iverson Sr. (D) withdrew. | Vacant since January 28, 1861, when Alfred Iverson Sr. (D) withdrew. | Vacant since January 28, 1861, when Alfred Iverson Sr. (D) withdrew. | State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected in 1867, but not seated until readmission on February 1, 1871. Republican gain. | ▌Y Joshua Hill (Republican) [data missing] |
| Georgia (Class 2) | Vacant since February 4, 1861, when Robert Toombs (D) withdrew. | Vacant since February 4, 1861, when Robert Toombs (D) withdrew. | Vacant since February 4, 1861, when Robert Toombs (D) withdrew. | State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected February 24, 1871. Democratic gain. Unknown if winner ran for the next term or retired; see below. | ▌Y Homer V. M. Miller (Democratic) [data missing] |

### Races leading to the 42nd Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1871; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Alabama | Willard Warner | Republican | 1868 (readmission) | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1870. Democratic gain. | ▌Y George Goldthwaite (Democratic) ▌Willard Warner (Republican) [data missing] |
| Arkansas | Alexander McDonald | Republican | 1868 (readmission) | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1870. Republican hold. | ▌Y Powell Clayton (Republican) ▌Alexander McDonald (Republican) [data missing] |
| Delaware | Willard Saulsbury Sr. | Democratic | 1858 1864 | Incumbent lost re-election to his older brother. New senator elected in 1870. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Eli Saulsbury (Democratic) ▌Willard Saulsbury Sr. (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Georgia | Homer V. M. Miller | Democratic | 1871 (readmission) | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in 1876 or 1877. Democratic loss. Senate later refused to seat Senator-elect Foster Blodgett. | ▌Y Foster Blodgett (Republican) [data missing] |
| Illinois | Richard Yates | Republican | 1864–65 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1870 or 1871. Republican hold. | ▌Y John A. Logan (Republican) [data missing] |
| Iowa | James B. Howell | Republican | 1870 (special) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 18, 1870. Republican hold. | ▌Y George G. Wright (Republican) ▌Thomas W. Claggett (Democratic) |
| Kansas | Edmund G. Ross | Republican | 1866 (appointed) 1867 (special) | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1871. Republican hold. | ▌Y Alexander Caldwell (Republican) ▌Edmund G. Ross (Republican) [data missing] |
| Kentucky | Thomas C. McCreery | Democratic | 1868 (special) | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1871. Democratic hold. | ▌Y John W. Stevenson (Democratic) ▌Thomas C. McCreery (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Louisiana | John S. Harris | Republican | 1868 (readmission) | Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election. New senator elected in 1870 or 1871. Republican hold. | ▌Y Joseph R. West (Republican) [data missing] |
| Maine | Lot M. Morrill | Republican | 1861 (special) 1863 1869 (lost) 1869 (appointed) 1870 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1870 or 1871. | ▌Y Lot M. Morrill (Republican) [data missing] |
| Massachusetts | Henry Wilson | Republican | 1855 (special) 1859 1865 | Incumbent re-elected in 1871. | ▌Y Henry Wilson (Republican) [data missing] |
| Michigan | Jacob M. Howard | Republican | 1862 (special) 1865 | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected January 18, 1871. Republican hold. | ▌Y Thomas W. Ferry (Republican) [data missing] |
| Minnesota | Ozora P. Stearns | Republican | 1871 (special) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in January 1871. Republican hold. | ▌Y William Windom (Republican) 43 (71.7%) ▌Richard A. Jones (Democratic) 14 (23.3%) ▌Morton S. Wilkinson (Republican) 1 (1.7%) ▌Cornelius F. Buck (Democratic) 1 (1.7%) ▌Thomas Wilson (Republican) 1 (1.7%) |
| Mississippi | Hiram Rhodes Revels | Republican | 1870 (readmission) | Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election. New senator elected January 18, 1870. Republican hold. | ▌Y James L. Alcorn (Republican) [data missing] |
| Nebraska | John M. Thayer | Republican | 1867 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1870. Republican hold. | ▌Y Phineas Hitchcock (Republican) ▌John M. Thayer (Republican) [data missing] |
| New Hampshire | Aaron H. Cragin | Republican | 1864 | Incumbent re-elected in 1870. | ▌Y Aaron H. Cragin (Republican) [data missing] |
| New Jersey | Alexander G. Cattell | Republican | 1866 (special) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1870 or 1871. Republican hold. | ▌Y Frederick T. Frelinghuysen (Republican) [data missing] |
| North Carolina | Joseph Abbott | Republican | 1868 (readmission) | Incumbent lost renomination. Legislature failed to elect. Republican loss. Seat remained vacant until January 30, 1872. | [data missing] |
| Oregon | George H. Williams | Republican | 1864 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1870. Democratic gain. | ▌Y James K. Kelly (Democratic) ▌George H. Williams (Republican) [data missing] |
| Rhode Island | Henry B. Anthony | Republican | 1858 1864 | Incumbent re-elected in 1870. | ▌Y Henry B. Anthony (Republican) [data missing] |
| South Carolina | Thomas J. Robertson | Republican | 1868 (readmission) | Incumbent re-elected in 1870. | ▌Y Thomas J. Robertson (Republican) [data missing] |
| Tennessee | Joseph S. Fowler | Republican | 1866 (readmission) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1870 or 1871. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Henry Cooper (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Texas | Morgan C. Hamilton | Republican | 1870 (readmission) | Incumbent re-elected in 1870. | ▌Y Morgan C. Hamilton (Republican) [data missing] |
| Virginia | John W. Johnston | Democratic | 1870 (readmission) | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. Legislature failed to elect. Democratic loss. Seat remained vacant until March 15, 1871. | [data missing] |
| West Virginia | Waitman T. Willey | Republican | 1863 1865 | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in 1871. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Henry G. Davis (Democratic) [data missing] |

### Elections during the 42nd Congress

In this election, the winner was elected in 1871 after March 4.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Virginia (Class 2) | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Legislature had failed to elect. Previous incumbent re-elected March 15, 1871. Democratic gain. | ▌ Y John W. Johnston (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Georgia (Class 2) | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Foster Blodgett (R) had presented credentials as Senator-elect, but the Senate declared him not elected. New senator elected November 14, 1871. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Thomas M. Norwood (Democratic) [data missing] |

## West Virginia

Henry G. Davis, a Democratic state legislator, was elected to replace outgoing Republican incumbent Waitman T. Willey. Davis won the Democratic caucus vote over former legislators Daniel Lamb and Benjamin H. Smith. Davis' victory was attributed to widespread support throughout the state, as well as among party leaders. Nearly all of Lamb's votes, meanwhile, were localized to the Northern Panhandle.
Democratic nomination :
| Candidate | First Ballot | First Ballot |
| Candidate | Votes | % |
| Henry G. Davis | 27 | 52.9 |
| Daniel Lamb | 12 | 23.5 |
| Benjamin H. Smith | 12 | 23.5 |
| Total | 51 | 100 |
| Needed to win | 26 | >50 |
Floor vote :
| Party | Party | Candidate | House | House | Senate | Senate |
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Henry G. Davis | 39 | 72.2 | 14 | 66.7 |
| | Republican | James H. Brown | 15 | 27.8 | 7 | 33.3 |
| Total | Total | Total | 54 | 100 | 21 | 100 |
| Needed to win | Needed to win | Needed to win | 28 | >50 | 11 | >50 |