# 1860–61 United States Senate elections

The 1860–61 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 1860 and 1861, 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.
These elections corresponded with Abraham Lincoln's election to the presidency. The nascent Republican Party increased their Senate seats in the regular elections, and after southern Democrats withdrew to join the Confederacy, Republicans gained control of the Senate. To establish a quorum with fewer members, a lower total seat number was taken into account.

## Results summary

Senate party division, 37th Congress (1861–1863)
* Majority party: Republican (29), later rose to 30
* Minority party: Democratic (30), later dropped to 14
* Other parties: Unionist (1), later rose to 4
* Vacant: (8), later rose to 20
* Total seats: 68

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

After the October 2, 1860 special election in Oregon.
| D$_3$ | D$_2$ | D$_1$ | | | | | | | |
| D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ | D$_7$ | D$_8$ | D$_9$ | D$_{10}$ | D$_{11}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{13}$ |
| D$_{23}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ | D$_{18}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ |
| D$_{24}$ | D$_{25}$ Ran | D$_{26}$ Ran | D$_{27}$ Ran | D$_{28}$ Unknown | D$_{29}$ Unknown | D$_{30}$ Retired | D$_{31}$ Retired | D$_{32}$ Retired | D$_{33}$ Retired |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | D$_{34}$ Resigned |
| R$_{24}$ Ran | R$_{25}$ Unknown | R$_{26}$ Retired | KN$_1$ | KN$_2$ Ran | D$_{38}$ Withdrew | D$_{37}$ Withdrew | D$_{36}$ Withdrew | D$_{35}$ Withdrew | D$_{34}$ Resigned |
| R$_{23}$ Ran | R$_{22}$ Ran | R$_{21}$ Ran | R$_{20}$ Ran | R$_{19}$ | R$_{18}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ |
| R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ | R$_8$ | R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{13}$ |
| R$_3$ | R$_2$ | R$_1$ | | | | | | | |

### As a result of the elections

| V$_3$ D Loss | V$_2$ D Loss | V$_1$ D Loss | | | | | | | |
| D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ | D$_7$ | D$_8$ | D$_9$ | D$_{10}$ |
| D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ | D$_{18}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ |
| D$_{21}$ | D$_{23}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{25}$ Re-elected | D$_{26}$ Re-elected | D$_{27}$ Hold | D$_{28}$ Hold | D$_{29}$ Hold | D$_{30}$ Gain |
| Plurality ↑ | Plurality ↑ | Plurality ↑ | Plurality ↑ | Plurality ↑ | Plurality ↑ | Plurality ↑ | Plurality ↑ | Plurality ↑ | KN$_1$ |
| R$_{21}$ Re-elected | R$_{22}$ Re-elected | R$_{23}$ Re-elected | R$_{24}$ Re-elected | R$_{25}$ Hold | R$_{26}$ Hold | R$_{27}$ Gain | R$_{28}$ Gain | R$_{29}$ Gain | KN$_1$ |
| R$_{20}$ Re-elected | R$_{19}$ | R$_{18}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ |
| R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ | R$_8$ | R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ |
| V$_4$ D Loss | V$_5$ D Loss | V$_6$ D Loss | | | | | | | |

### Beginning of the next Congress

| V$_4$ D Loss | V$_3$ D Loss | V$_2$ D Loss | V$_1$ D Loss | | | | | | |
| V$_5$ D Loss | V$_6$ D Loss | V$_7$ D Loss | V$_8$ D Loss | D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ |
| D$_{16}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ | D$_{10}$ | D$_9$ | D$_8$ | D$_7$ |
| D$_{17}$ | D$_{18}$ | D$_{19}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{22}$ | U$_1$ Changed | R$_{29}$ Hold | R$_{28}$ | R$_{27}$ |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | R$_{26}$ |
| R$_{17}$ | R$_{18}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{21}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{25}$ | R$_{26}$ |
| R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_9$ | R$_8$ | R$_7$ |
| V$_{12}$ | V$_{11}$ | V$_{10}$ | V$_9$ | R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ |
| V$_{13}$ | V$_{14}$ | V$_{15}$ New state | V$_{16}$ New state | | | | | | |

### End of 1861

| V$_4$ | V$_3$ | V$_2$ | V$_1$ | | | | | | |
| V$_5$ | V$_6$ | V$_7$ | V$_8$ | V$_9$ D Loss | V$_{10}$ D Loss | D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ |
| D$_{14}$ Gain | D$_{13}$ Gain | D$_{12}$ | D$_{11}$ | D$_{10}$ | D$_9$ | D$_8$ | D$_7$ | D$_6$ | D$_5$ |
| U$_4$ Gain | U$_3$ Gain | U$_2$ Gain | U$_1$ | R$_{30}$ Gain | R$_{29}$ Hold | R$_{28}$ Hold | R$_{27}$ Hold | R$_{26}$ | R$_{25}$ |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | R$_{24}$ |
| 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$_5$ |
| V$_{16}$ | V$_{15}$ | V$_{14}$ | V$_{13}$ | V$_{12}$ R Loss | V$_{11}$ R Loss | R$_1$ Gain | R$_2$ Gain | R$_3$ | R$_4$ |
| V$_{17}$ | V$_{18}$ D Loss | V$_{19}$ D Loss | V$_{20}$ D Loss | | | | | | |
| Key: | D$_#$ Democratic KN$_#$ Know Nothing R$_#$ Republican U$_#$ Unionist V$_#$ Vacant |

## Race summaries
### Special elections during the 36th Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1860 or in 1861 before March 4; ordered by election date.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| California (Class 1) | Henry P. Haun | Democratic | 1859 (appointed) | Interim appointee lost election to finish the term. Winner elected March 5, 1860. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Milton Latham (Democratic) ▌Henry P. Haun (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Oregon (Class 2) | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Legislature had failed to elect in 1858/1859. Winner elected October 2, 1860. Republican gain. | ▌Y Edward D. Baker (Republican) [data missing] |
| Maine (Class 1) | Hannibal Hamlin | Republican | 1848 (special) 1851 1857 (resigned) 1857 | Incumbent resigned to become U.S. Vice President. Winner elected January 17, 1861. Republican hold. | ▌Y Lot M. Morrill (Republican) [data missing] |

### Races leading to the 37th Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1861; 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 | Benjamin Fitzpatrick | Democratic | 1848 (appointed) 1849 (retired) 1853 (appointed) 1853 (special) 1855 | Incumbent withdrew January 21, 1861. No replacement was elected. Democratic loss. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | None. |
| Arkansas | Robert W. Johnson | Democratic | 1853 (appointed) 1854 (special) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1860 or 1861. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Charles B. Mitchel (Democratic) [data missing] |
| California | William M. Gwin | Democratic | 1850 1855 (failure to elect) 1857 (special) | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in 1860. Democratic hold. | ▌Y James A. McDougall (Democratic) |
| Connecticut | Lafayette S. Foster | Republican | 1854 | Incumbent re-elected in 1860. | ▌Y Lafayette S. Foster (Republican) [data missing] |
| Florida | David Levy Yulee | Democratic | 1855 | Incumbent withdrew January 21, 1861. No replacement was elected. Democratic loss. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | None. |
| Georgia | Alfred Iverson, Sr. | Democratic | 1854–55 | Incumbent withdrew January 28, 1861. No replacement was elected. Democratic loss. Seat remained vacant until 1871. | None. |
| Illinois | Lyman Trumbull | Republican | 1855 | Incumbent re-elected, January 9, 1861. | ▌Y Lyman Trumbull (Republican) 54 ▌Samuel S. Marshall (Democratic) 46 |
| Iowa | James Harlan | Republican | 1855 1857 (election voided) 1857 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1860. | ▌Y James Harlan (Republican) [data missing] |
| Indiana | Graham N. Fitch | Democratic | 1857 (special) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1860. Republican gain. | ▌Y Henry S. Lane (Republican) [data missing] |
| Kansas | None (new state) | None (new state) | None (new state) | Kansas became a state January 29, 1861, but did not elect its senators until the next Congress; see below. | None. |
| Kentucky | John J. Crittenden | Know Nothing | 1816 1819 (resigned) 1835 1841 (retired) 1842 (appointed) 1842–43 (special) 1843 1848 (resigned) 1854 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected December 12, 1859, far in advance of the term. Democratic gain. Winner was subsequently expelled; see below. | ▌Y John C. Breckinridge (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Louisiana | John Slidell | Democratic | 1853 (special) 1854–55 | Incumbent resigned February 4, 1861. No replacement was elected. Democratic loss. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | None. |
| Maryland | James Pearce | Democratic | 1843 1849 1855 | Incumbent re-elected in 1861. | ▌Y James Pearce (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Missouri | James S. Green | Democratic | 1857 | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. Legislature failed to elect. Democratic loss. Seat remained vacant until March 17, 1861; see below. | [data missing] |
| New Hampshire | Daniel Clark | Republican | 1857 | Incumbent re-elected in 1861. | ▌Y Daniel Clark (Republican) [data missing] |
| New York | William H. Seward | Republican | 1849 1855 | Incumbent retired, expecting appointment to the Lincoln Administration. New senator elected February 5, 1861. Republican hold. | ▌Y Ira Harris (Republican) ▌Horatio Seymour (Democratic) |
| North Carolina | Thomas Clingman | Democratic | 1858 (appointed) 1858 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1861. | ▌Y Thomas Clingman (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Ohio | George E. Pugh | Democratic | 1854 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1860. Republican gain. | ▌Y Salmon P. Chase (Republican) ▌George E. Pugh (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Oregon | Joseph Lane | Democratic | 1859 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1860 or 1861. Democratic hold. | ▌Y James Nesmith (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Pennsylvania | William Bigler | Democratic | 1856 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 8, 1861. Republican gain. | ▌Y Edgar Cowan (Republican) 73.68% ▌Henry Foster (Democratic) 26.32% |
| South Carolina | James H. Hammond | Democratic | 1857 | Incumbent withdrew November 11, 1860. No replacement was elected. Democratic loss. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | None. |
| Vermont | Jacob Collamer | Republican | 1855 | Incumbent re-elected in 1861. | ▌Y Jacob Collamer (Republican) [data missing] |
| Wisconsin | Charles Durkee | Republican | 1855 | Incumbent retired. New member elected January 23, 1861. Republican hold. | ▌Y Timothy O. Howe (Republican)▌ Henry L. Palmer (Democratic) |

### Elections during the 37th Congress

In these elections, the winners were elected in 1861 after March 4.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Pennsylvania (Class 1) | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Incumbent had resigned in the previous Congress. New senator elected March 14, 1861. Republican gain. | ▌Y David Wilmot (Republican) 72.18% ▌William H. Welsh (Democratic) 25.56% ▌Winthrop W. Ketcham (Republican) 0.75% ▌William Wilkins (Democratic) 0.75% |
| Missouri (Class 3) | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Legislature had failed to elect. New senator elected March 17, 1861. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Waldo P. Johnson (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Ohio (Class 3) | Salmon P. Chase | Republican | 1849 1855 (retired) 1860 | Incumbent resigned December 4, 1860, to become U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. New senator elected March 21, 1861. Republican hold. | ▌Y John Sherman (Republican) [data missing] |
| Kansas (Class 2) | None (new state) | None (new state) | None (new state) | Kansas became a state January 29, 1861. Senator was elected late April 4, 1861. Republican gain. | ▌Y Jim Lane (Republican) [data missing] |
| Kansas (Class 3) | None (new state) | None (new state) | None (new state) | Kansas became a state January 29, 1861. Senator was elected late April 4, 1861. Republican gain. | ▌Y Samuel C. Pomeroy (Republican) [data missing] |
| Virginia (Class 1) | James M. Mason | Democratic | 1847 (special) 1850 1856 | Incumbent expelled July 11, 1861 for supporting the Confederacy. New senator elected July 13, 1861. Unionist gain. | ▌Y Waitman T. Willey (Unionist) [data missing] |
| Virginia (Class 2) | Robert M. T. Hunter | Democratic | 1846 1852 1858 | Incumbent expelled July 11, 1861 for supporting the Confederacy. New senator elected July 13, 1861. Unionist gain. | ▌Y John S. Carlile (Unionist) [data missing] |
| Kentucky (Class 3) | John C. Breckinridge | Democratic | 1859 | Incumbent expelled December 4, 1861 for supporting the Confederacy. New senator elected December 10, 1861. Unionist gain. | ▌Y Garrett Davis (Unionist) [data missing] |

## Maryland

James Pearce won re-election by an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 3 seat.

## New York

The New York election was held February 5, 1861.
Whig William 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 incoming Lincoln administration (Lincoln subsequently appointed Seward Secretary of State).
At the state election in November 1859, 23 Republicans and 9 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1860–1861) in the State Senate. At the state election in November 1860, 93 Republicans and 35 Democrats were elected to the Assembly for the session of 1861. The 84th New York State Legislature met from January 1 to April 16, 1861, at Albany, New York.
Ira Harris was the candidate of the Republican Party. Harris had been a Whig assemblyman in 1845 and 1846, and a justice of the New York Supreme Court from 1847 to 1859.
Ex-Governor Horatio Seymour (in office 1853–1854) was the candidate of the Democratic Party.
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.), along with 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 as William H. Ferry (Rep., 19th D.) was absent.
Ira Harris was the choice of both the Assembly and the Senate, and was declared elected.
| House | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic |
| State Senate (31 members voting) | Ira Harris | 22 | Horatio Seymour | 9 |
| State Assembly (119 members voting) | Ira Harris | 88 | Horatio Seymour | 31 |

## Pennsylvania

There were two elections in Pennsylvania.

### Pennsylvania (regular)

The regular election in Pennsylvania was held January 8, 1861. Edgar Cowan was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate.
Incumbent Democrat William Bigler, who was elected in 1856, was not a candidate for re-election to another term. The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 8, 1861, to elect a new Senator to fill the term beginning on March 4, 1861. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:
General election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Edgar Cowan | 98 | 73.68 |
| | Democratic | Henry Foster | 35 | 26.32% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 133 | 100% |

### Pennsylvania (special)

A special election was held in Pennsylvania on March 14, 1861. David Wilmot was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate.
Republican Simon Cameron had been elected to the United States Senate by the General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, in January 1857. After Senator Cameron resigned his seat on March 4, 1861, to become United States Secretary of War in Abraham Lincoln's administration, the Pennsylvania General Assembly convened on March 14, 1861, to elect a new Senator to fill the vacancy.
The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:
Special election results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David Wilmot | 96 | 72.18 |
| | Democratic | William H. Welsh | 34 | 25.56% |
| | Republican | Winthrop W. Ketcham | 1 | 0.75% |
| | Democratic | William Wilkins | 1 | 0.75% |
| | N/A | Not voting | 1 | 0.75% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 133 | 100% |