# 1890–91 United States Senate elections

The 1890–91 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 1890 and 1891, 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 3.
The Republican Party lost four seats, though still retaining a slim majority. That majority was increased, however, upon the admission of two more states with Republican senators.

## Results summary

Senate party division, 52nd Congress (1891–1893)
* Majority party: Republican (47)
* Minority party: Democratic (39)
* Other parties: Populist (2)
* Total seats: 88

## Change in Senate composition
### Before the elections

After the admission of Montana's new senators in January 1890.
| | | | | | | | | D$_1$ | D$_2$ |
| D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ | D$_{10}$ | D$_9$ | D$_8$ | D$_7$ | D$_6$ | D$_5$ | D$_4$ | D$_3$ |
| D$_{13}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{18}$ | D$_{19}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{22}$ |
| D$_{32}$ Ran | D$_{31}$ Ran | D$_{30}$ Ran | D$_{29}$ Ran | D$_{28}$ Ran | D$_{27}$ Ran | D$_{26}$ Ran | D$_{25}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{23}$ |
| D$_{33}$ Ran | D$_{34}$ Ran | D$_{35}$ Ran | D$_{36}$ Retired | D$_{37}$ Retired | R$_{47}$ Retired | R$_{46}$ Ran | R$_{45}$ Ran | R$_{44}$ Ran | R$_{43}$ Ran |
| R$_{43}$ Ran |||||||||
| R$_{33}$ Ran | R$_{34}$ Ran | R$_{35}$ Ran | R$_{36}$ Ran | R$_{37}$ Ran | R$_{38}$ Ran | R$_{39}$ Ran | R$_{40}$ Ran | R$_{41}$ Ran | R$_{42}$ Ran |
| R$_{32}$ Ran | R$_{31}$ | R$_{30}$ | R$_{29}$ | R$_{28}$ | R$_{27}$ | R$_{26}$ | R$_{25}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{23}$ |
| R$_{13}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{18}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{21}$ | R$_{22}$ |
| R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_9$ | R$_8$ | R$_7$ | R$_6$ | R$_5$ | R$_4$ | R$_3$ |
| | | | | | | | | R$_1$ | R$_2$ |

### After the class 3 elections

| | | | | | | | | D$_1$ | D$_2$ |
| D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ | D$_{10}$ | D$_9$ | D$_8$ | D$_7$ | D$_6$ | D$_5$ | D$_4$ | D$_3$ |
| D$_{13}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{18}$ | D$_{19}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{22}$ |
| D$_{32}$ Re-elected | D$_{31}$ Re-elected | D$_{30}$ Re-elected | D$_{29}$ Re-elected | D$_{28}$ Re-elected | D$_{27}$ Re-elected | D$_{26}$ Re-elected | D$_{25}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{23}$ |
| D$_{33}$ Hold | D$_{34}$ Hold | D$_{35}$ Hold | D$_{36}$ Hold | D$_{37}$ Gain | D$_{38}$ Gain | D$_{39}$ Gain | V$_1$ D Loss | I$_1$ Gain | P$_1$ Gain |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | R$_{43}$ New seat |
| R$_{33}$ Re-elected | R$_{34}$ Re-elected | R$_{35}$ Re-elected | R$_{36}$ Re-elected | R$_{37}$ Re-elected | R$_{38}$ Re-elected | R$_{39}$ Re-elected | R$_{40}$ Re-elected | R$_{41}$ Hold | R$_{42}$ Hold |
| R$_{32}$ Re-elected | R$_{31}$ | R$_{30}$ | R$_{29}$ | R$_{28}$ | R$_{27}$ | R$_{26}$ | R$_{25}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{23}$ |
| R$_{13}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{18}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{21}$ | R$_{22}$ |
| R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_9$ | R$_8$ | R$_7$ | R$_6$ | R$_5$ | R$_4$ | R$_3$ |
| | | | | | | | | R$_1$ | R$_2$ |

### Beginning of the next Congress

| | | | | | | D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ |
| D$_{14}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ | D$_{10}$ | D$_9$ | D$_8$ | D$_7$ | D$_6$ | D$_5$ |
| D$_{15}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{18}$ | D$_{19}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{23}$ | D$_{24}$ |
| D$_{34}$ | D$_{33}$ | D$_{32}$ | D$_{31}$ | D$_{30}$ | D$_{29}$ | D$_{28}$ | D$_{27}$ | D$_{26}$ | D$_{25}$ |
| D$_{35}$ | D$_{36}$ | V$_1$ D seated late | V$_2$ D elected late | V$_3$ D died Later D | I$_1$ Later P | P$_1$ | V$_3$ D died Later R | R$_{46}$ New seat | R$_{45}$ New seat |
| R$_{45}$ New seat |||||||||
| R$_{35}$ | R$_{36}$ | R$_{37}$ | R$_{38}$ | R$_{39}$ | R$_{40}$ | R$_{41}$ | R$_{42}$ | R$_{43}$ | R$_{44}$ New seat |
| R$_{34}$ | R$_{33}$ | R$_{32}$ | R$_{31}$ | R$_{30}$ | R$_{29}$ | R$_{28}$ | R$_{27}$ | R$_{26}$ | R$_{25}$ |
| R$_{15}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{18}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{21}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{24}$ |
| R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_9$ | R$_8$ | R$_7$ | R$_6$ | R$_5$ |
| | | | | | | R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ |
| Key: | D$_#$ Democratic I$_#$ Independent P$_#$ Populist R$_#$ Republican V$_#$ Vacant |

## Race summaries
### Elections during the 51st Congress

In these elections, the winners were seated during 1890 or in 1891 before March 4; ordered by election date.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Montana (Class 1) | None (new state) | None (new state) | None (new state) | Montana admitted to the Union November 8, 1889. First senator elected January 1, 1890. Sanders's election was challenged based on the legitimacy of the nascent state legislature. The Senate resolved the dispute in his favor April 16, 1890, and he was seated that day. Republican gain. | ▌Y Wilbur F. Sanders (Republican) ▌William A. Clark (Democratic) |
| Montana (Class 2) | None (new state) | None (new state) | None (new state) | Montana admitted to the Union November 8, 1889. Second senator elected January 2, 1890. Power's election was challenged based on the legitimacy of the nascent state legislature. The Senate resolved the dispute in his favor April 16, 1890, and he was seated that day. Republican gain. | ▌Y Thomas C. Power (Republican) ▌Martin Maginnis (Democratic) |
| Kentucky (Class 2) | James B. Beck | Democratic | 1876 1882 1888 | Incumbent died May 3, 1890. New senator elected May 26, 1890. Democratic hold. | ▌Y John G. Carlisle (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Wyoming (Class 2) | None (new state) | None (new state) | None (new state) | Wyoming admitted to the Union July 10, 1890. First senators elected November 15, 1890. Republican gain. | ▌Y Joseph M. Carey (Republican) 39 ▌George W. Baxter (Democratic) 7 |
| Wyoming (Class 1) | None (new state) | None (new state) | None (new state) | Wyoming admitted to the Union July 10, 1890. First senators elected November 18, 1890. Republican gain. | ▌Y Francis E. Warren (Republican) 29 ▌ Henry A. Coffeen (Democratic) 9 ▌M. C. Brown (Unknown) 7 ▌John McCormick (Unknown) 3 ▌H. R. Mann (Unknown) 1 |
| Idaho (Class 2) | None (new state) | None (new state) | None (new state) | Idaho admitted to the Union July 3, 1890. First senators elected December 18, 1890. Republican gain. | ▌Y George L. Shoup (Republican) [data missing] |
| Idaho (Class 3) | None (new state) | None (new state) | None (new state) | Idaho admitted to the Union July 3, 1890. First senators elected December 18, 1890. Republican gain. | ▌Y William J. McConnell (Republican) [data missing] |

### Races leading to the 52nd Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1891; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Alabama | James L. Pugh | Democratic | 1880 (special) 1884 | Incumbent re-elected in 1890. | ▌Y James L. Pugh (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Arkansas | James K. Jones | Democratic | 1885 | Incumbent re-elected in 1891. | ▌Y James K. Jones (Democratic) [data missing] |
| California | Leland Stanford | Republican | 1885 | Incumbent re-elected in 1891. | ▌Y Leland Stanford (Republican) [data missing] |
| Colorado | Henry M. Teller | Republican | 1885 | Incumbent re-elected in 1891. | ▌Y Henry M. Teller (Republican) [data missing] |
| Connecticut | Orville H. Platt | Republican | 1879 1885 | Incumbent re-elected in 1891. | ▌Y Orville H. Platt (Republican) [data missing] |
| Florida | Wilkinson Call | Democratic | 1879 1885 | Legislature failed to elect. Democratic loss. | None. |
| Georgia | Joseph E. Brown | Democratic | 1880 (special) 1885 | Incumbent retired due to illness. Democratic hold. | ▌Y John B. Gordon (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Idaho | William J. McConnell | Republican | 1890 (special) | McConnell was elected only to finish the term (see above) and thereafter retired. New senator elected December 18, 1890. Republican hold. | ▌Y Fred Dubois (Republican) [data missing] |
| Illinois | Charles B. Farwell | Republican | 1887 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected on March 11, 1891, after 154 ballots. Democratic gain. | ▌Y John M. Palmer (Democratic) 102 ▌Cicero Lindly (Republican) 100 ▌Alson Streeter (Farmers' Alliance) 1 |
| Indiana | Daniel W. Voorhees | Democratic | 1877 (appointed) 1879 (special) 1885 | Incumbent re-elected in 1891. | ▌Y Daniel W. Voorhees (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Iowa | William B. Allison | Republican | 1872 1878 1884 | Incumbent re-elected March 5, 1890. | ▌Y William B. Allison (Republican) 79 ▌Samuel L. Bestow (Democratic) 63 ▌William Larrabee (Republican) 8 |
| Kansas | John J. Ingalls | Republican | 1873 1879 1885 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1891. Populist gain. | ▌Y William A. Peffer (Populist) ▌John J. Ingalls (Republican) [data missing] |
| Kentucky | J. C. S. Blackburn | Democratic | 1884 | Incumbent re-elected in 1890. | ▌Y J. C. S. Blackburn (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Louisiana | James B. Eustis | Democratic | 1890–91 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1891. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Edward Douglass White (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Maryland | Ephraim Wilson | Democratic | 1884 | Incumbent re-elected in 1890, but died February 24, 1891, before the beginning of the next term. Seat remained vacant until November 19, 1891. Democratic loss. | ▌Y Ephraim Wilson (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Missouri | George G. Vest | Democratic | 1879 1885 | Incumbent re-elected in 1891. | ▌Y George G. Vest (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Nevada | John P. Jones | Republican | 1879 1885 | Incumbent re-elected in 1891. | ▌Y John P. Jones (Republican) [data missing] |
| New Hampshire | Henry W. Blair | Republican | 1879 1885 (appointed) 1885 (special) | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected in 1891. Republican hold. | ▌Y Jacob H. Gallinger (Republican) [data missing] |
| New York | William M. Evarts | Republican | 1885 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected January 21, 1891. Democratic gain. | ▌Y David B. Hill (Democratic) 81 ▌William M. Evarts (Republican) 79 |
| North Carolina | Zebulon Vance | Democratic | 1879 1884 | Incumbent re-elected in 1890. | ▌Y Zebulon Vance (Democratic) |
| North Dakota | Gilbert A. Pierce | Republican | 1889 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1891. Republican hold. | ▌Y Henry C. Hansbrough (Republican) ▌Gilbert A. Pierce (Republican) [data missing] |
| Ohio | Henry B. Payne | Democratic | 1884 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 15, 1890 Democratic hold. | ▌Y Calvin S. Brice (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Oregon | John H. Mitchell | Republican | 1885 | Incumbent re-elected in 1890. | ▌Y John H. Mitchell (Republican) [data missing] |
| Pennsylvania | J. Donald Cameron | Republican | 1877 (special) 1879 1885 | Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1891. | ▌Y J. Donald Cameron (Republican) 144 ▌Chauncey F. Black (Democratic) 94 Others 12; see below |
| South Carolina | Wade Hampton III | Democratic | 1884 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1890. Democratic hold. | ▌Y John L. M. Irby (Democratic) ▌Wade Hampton III (Democratic) [data missing] |
| South Dakota | Gideon C. Moody | Republican | 1889 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected February 16, 1891. Independent gain. Winner later became a Populist. | ▌Y James H. Kyle (Independent) 75 ▌Bartlett Tripp (Democratic) 8 ▌Norman B. Campbell (Unknown) 1 |
| Vermont | Justin S. Morrill | Republican | 1866 1872 1878 1884 | Incumbent re-elected in 1890. | ▌Y Justin S. Morrill (Republican) [data missing] |
| Washington | Watson C. Squire | Republican | 1889 | Incumbent re-elected in 1891. | ▌Y Watson C. Squire (Republican) [data missing] |
| Wisconsin | John C. Spooner | Republican | 1885 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected January 28, 1891. Democratic gain. | ▌Y William F. Vilas (Democratic) 61.7% ▌John C. Spooner (Republican) 33.8% Null vote 4.5% |

### Election during the 52nd Congress

In these elections, the winners were elected in 1891 after March 4; ordered by election date.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| California (Class 1) | George Hearst | Democratic | 1887 | Incumbent died February 28, 1891. New senator elected March 19, 1891. Republican gain. | ▌Y Charles N. Felton (Republican) [data missing] |
| Florida (Class 3) | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Legislature had failed to elect; see above. Predecessor re-elected May 26, 1891. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Wilkinson Call (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Virginia (Class 1) | John W. Daniel | Democratic | 1887 | Incumbent re-elected early December 16, 1891 for the term beginning March 4, 1893. | ▌Y John W. Daniel (Democratic) [data missing] |

## Idaho

In July 1890, Idaho became a state. In November, Fred Dubois helped engineer a plan for the Idaho Legislature to effectively elect three people to the U.S. Senate: Governor George Shoup to the class 2 seat up for election in 1894, state constitutional convention member William J. McConnell to serve for the remainder of the Fifty-first United States Congress, ending in March 1891, and Dubois himself to succeed McConnell and serve a full six-year term in the class 3 seat beginning in March 1891.

## Maryland

Ephraim King Wilson II was re-elected by an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 3 seat.

## New York

The New York election was held January 20 and 21, 1891, by the New York State Legislature.
Republican William M. Evarts had been elected to this seat in 1885, and his term would expire on March 3, 1891.
At the State election in November 1889, 19 Republicans and 13 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1890–1891) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1890, 68 Democrats and 60 Republicans were elected for the session of 1891 to the Assembly. The 114th New York State Legislature met from January 6 to April 30, 1891, at Albany, New York.
The Democratic caucus met on January 19, 74 State legislators attended, and State Senator John C. Jacobs presided. Governor David B. Hill was nominated by acclamation.
The Republican caucus met immediately after the Democratic caucus ended, Assemblyman James W. Husted presided. They re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator William M. Evarts unanimously.
On January 20, both Houses of the State legislature took ballots separately. The incumbent U.S. Senator Evarts was the choice of the State Senate, Governor Hill the choice of the Assembly. On January 21, both Houses met in joint session, and comparing nominations, found that they disagreed and proceeded to a joint ballot. Governor Hill was elected by a majority of 2, every member of the Legislature being present.
| House | Democratic | Democratic | Republican | Republican |
| State Senate (32 members) | David B. Hill | 13 | Y William M. Evarts | 19 |
| State Assembly (128 members) | Y David B. Hill | 65 | William M. Evarts | 58 |
| Joint ballot (160 members) | Y David B. Hill | 81 | William M. Evarts | 79 |
The seat became vacant on March 4, 1891. David B. Hill remained in office as Governor of New York until December 31, 1891, and took his seat only on January 7, 1892, missing actually only one month of session. There were no special sessions during the 52nd United States Congress and the regular session began only on December 7, 1891. Hill served a single term, and remained in the U.S. Senate until March 3, 1897. In January 1897, Hill was defeated for re-election by Republican Thomas C. Platt who had been a U.S. Senator briefly in 1881.

## Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania election was held on January 20, 1891. J. Donald Cameron was re-elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 20, 1891. Incumbent Republican J. Donald Cameron, who was elected in an 1877 special election and re-elected in 1879 and 1885, was a successful candidate for re-election to another term. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:
State Legislature Results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | J. Donald Cameron (Incumbent) | 144 | 56.69 |
| | Democratic | Chauncey F. Black | 94 | 37.01 |
| | Republican | Austin L. Taggart | 7 | 2.76 |
| | Republican | Theodore L. Flood | 3 | 1.18 |
| | Democratic | J. C. Sibley | 1 | 0.39 |
| | Republican | Harry White | 1 | 0.39 |
| | N/A | Not voting | 4 | 1.57 |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | 254 | 100% |