# 1855 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

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vte :
The 1855 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held in the 8th Wisconsin Legislature between January 30, 1855, and February 1, 1855. Incumbent Democratic U.S. senator Isaac P. Walker did not run for re-election. Former U.S. representative Charles Durkee was elected United States senator on the eighth ballot, and became the first Republican U.S. senator from Wisconsin.
This was the first U.S. Senate election in Wisconsin after the creation of the Republican Party. Republicans held a majority in the Wisconsin State Assembly, with 44 of 82 seats; Democrats held a narrow majority in the Wisconsin Senate, with 13 of 25 seats. As the Republican Party was a new creation, party loyalties were still in flux, with several members of the legislature not officially aligned with either major party.
With 44 seats in the Assembly and 11 seats in the Senate, Republicans technically held a bare majority of the total legislator votes, but they struggled for three days to unify behind their candidate. Durkee ultimately received 53 of the 55 votes of Republican legislators. The two holdouts who did not vote for Durkee were representatives Joseph Schrage of Sheboygan County and Mitchell L. Delaney of Washington County. To secure the necessary 54 votes, Durkee won the vote of independent (later Republican) Alexander Randall.

## Major candidates
### Democratic

* Byron Kilbourn, one of the founders of Milwaukee and a former mayor of the city.
* Harrison Carroll Hobart, former state senator and former speaker of the state Assembly.
* Morgan Lewis Martin, state representative and former delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Wisconsin Territory.

### Republican

* Charles Durkee, former U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 1st congressional district.
* James Duane Doty, former governor of the Wisconsin Territory, former U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district.

## Results
### Votes on January 30, 1855

The legislature met in joint session on January 30 and took three votes in succession to try to pick a U.S. senator.
1st Vote of the 8th Wisconsin Legislature, January 30, 1855 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Charles Durkee | 50 | 47.62% |
| | Democratic | Byron Kilbourn | 18 | 17.14% |
| | Republican | James Duane Doty | 10 | 9.52% |
| | Democratic | Harrison Carroll Hobart | 5 | 4.76% |
| | Democratic | Edward G. Ryan | 5 | 4.76% |
| | Democratic | Morgan Lewis Martin | 3 | 2.86% |
| | Republican | Edward D. Holton | 2 | 1.90% |
| | Republican | James T. Lewis | 2 | 1.90% |
| | Democratic | William Pitt Lynde | 2 | 1.90% |
| | Republican | Marshall Strong | 2 | 1.90% |
| | | Henry S. Baird | 1 | 0.95% |
| | | John A. Brown | 1 | 0.95% |
| | Democratic | Stephen A. Douglas | 1 | 0.95% |
| | Democratic | Abram D. Smith | 1 | 0.95% |
| | | John Y. Smith | 1 | 0.95% |
| | | Frank H. Waite | 1 | 0.95% |
| | | Absent or not voting | 2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 53 | 50.48% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 105 | 98.13% |
| Void election result ||||||
2nd Vote of the 8th Wisconsin Legislature, January 30, 1855 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Charles Durkee | 49 | 46.67% | −1 |
| | Democratic | Byron Kilbourn | 22 | 20.95% | +4 |
| | Republican | James Duane Doty | 9 | 8.57% | −1 |
| | Democratic | Harrison Carroll Hobart | 6 | 5.71% | +1 |
| | Democratic | Edward G. Ryan | 3 | 2.86% | −2 |
| | Democratic | David Agry | 2 | 1.90% | +2 |
| | Republican | Edward D. Holton | 2 | 1.90% | |
| | | John H. Lathrop | 2 | 1.90% | +2 |
| | Democratic | Morgan Lewis Martin | 2 | 1.90% | −1 |
| | Republican | Marshall Strong | 2 | 1.90% | |
| | Republican | James T. Lewis | 1 | 0.95% | −1 |
| | Democratic | William Pitt Lynde | 1 | 0.95% | −1 |
| | Democratic | Abram D. Smith | 1 | 0.95% | |
| | | John Y. Smith | 1 | 0.95% | |
| | | John H. Vance | 1 | 0.95% | +1 |
| | | Frank H. Waite | 1 | 0.95% | |
| | | Absent or not voting | 2 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 53 | 50.48% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 105 | 98.13% | |
| Void election result ||||||
3rd Vote of the 8th Wisconsin Legislature, January 30, 1855 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Charles Durkee | 45 | 42.86% | −4 |
| | Democratic | Byron Kilbourn | 20 | 19.05% | −2 |
| | Republican | James Duane Doty | 12 | 11.43% | +3 |
| | Democratic | Harrison Carroll Hobart | 6 | 5.71% | |
| | | John H. Lathrop | 6 | 5.71% | +4 |
| | Democratic | Eleazer Wakeley | 3 | 2.86% | +3 |
| | Republican | Edward D. Holton | 2 | 1.90% | |
| | Republican | James T. Lewis | 2 | 1.90% | +1 |
| | Republican | Marshall Strong | 2 | 1.90% | |
| | Democratic | Charles Dunn | 1 | 0.95% | +1 |
| | Democratic | Morgan Lewis Martin | 1 | 0.95% | −1 |
| | Democratic | William Pitt Lynde | 1 | 0.95% | |
| | Democratic | Edward G. Ryan | 1 | 0.95% | −2 |
| | Democratic | Abram D. Smith | 1 | 0.95% | |
| | | John H. Vance | 1 | 0.95% | |
| | | Frank H. Waite | 1 | 0.95% | |
| | | Absent or not voting | 2 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 53 | 50.48% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 105 | 98.13% | |
| Void election result ||||||
No person securing the majority, the convention voted to adjourn until 11am the following day.

### Votes on January 31, 1855

The legislature re-convened in joint session on Wednesday, January 31, and took three more votes for U.S. senator.
4th Vote of the 8th Wisconsin Legislature, January 31, 1855 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Charles Durkee | 50 | 47.17% | +5 |
| | Democratic | Byron Kilbourn | 15 | 14.15% | −5 |
| | Republican | James Duane Doty | 11 | 10.38% | −1 |
| | Democratic | Harrison Carroll Hobart | 5 | 4.72% | −1 |
| | Democratic | Eleazer Wakeley | 5 | 4.72% | +2 |
| | Democratic | William Pitt Lynde | 3 | 2.83% | +2 |
| | Democratic | Solomon Juneau | 2 | 1.89% | +2 |
| | | John H. Lathrop | 2 | 1.89% | −4 |
| | Republican | Marshall Strong | 2 | 1.89% | |
| | | Henry S. Baird | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | Democratic | Gabriel Bouck | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | Democratic | Samuel Crawford | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | Democratic | William M. Dennis | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | | Albert W. Emery | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | Republican | Edward D. Holton | 1 | 0.94% | −1 |
| | | Jerome Lalor | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | Republican | James T. Lewis | 1 | 0.94% | −1 |
| | Republican | Walter D. McIndoe | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | Democratic | William Rudolph Smith | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | | Frank H. Waite | 1 | 0.94% | |
| | | Absent or not voting | 1 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 54 | 50.94% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 106 | 99.07% | |
| Void election result ||||||
5th Vote of the 8th Wisconsin Legislature, January 31, 1855 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Charles Durkee | 50 | 47.17% | |
| | Democratic | Byron Kilbourn | 14 | 13.21% | −1 |
| | Republican | James Duane Doty | 13 | 12.26% | +2 |
| | Democratic | Eleazer Wakeley | 6 | 5.66% | +1 |
| | Democratic | William Pitt Lynde | 3 | 2.83% | |
| | Democratic | Harrison Carroll Hobart | 2 | 1.89% | −3 |
| | | John H. Lathrop | 2 | 1.89% | |
| | Republican | Marshall Strong | 2 | 1.89% | |
| | Democratic | David Agry | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | | Henry S. Baird | 1 | 0.94% | |
| | Democratic | William A. Barstow | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | | E. B. Bowen | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | | William W. Brown | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | Democratic | Nelson Dewey | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | Democratic | Charles Dunn | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | | Albert W. Emery | 1 | 0.94% | |
| | Republican | Edward D. Holton | 1 | 0.94% | |
| | Democratic | Daniel Howell | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | | H. K. Laughlin | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | | General McManman | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | | Frank H. Waite | 1 | 0.94% | |
| | | Absent or not voting | 1 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 54 | 50.94% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 106 | 99.07% | |
| Void election result ||||||
6th Vote of the 8th Wisconsin Legislature, January 31, 1855 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Charles Durkee | 51 | 48.11% | +1 |
| | Republican | James Duane Doty | 14 | 13.21% | +1 |
| | Democratic | Byron Kilbourn | 12 | 11.32% | −2 |
| | Democratic | Eleazer Wakeley | 10 | 9.43% | +4 |
| | Democratic | Morgan Lewis Martin | 3 | 2.83% | +3 |
| | Democratic | Charles Dunn | 2 | 1.89% | +1 |
| | | John H. Lathrop | 2 | 1.89% | |
| | Democratic | William Pitt Lynde | 2 | 1.89% | −1 |
| | Republican | Marshall Strong | 2 | 1.89% | |
| | | Henry S. Baird | 1 | 0.94% | |
| | Republican | William H. Ebbets | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | Democratic | Charles A. Eldredge | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | Democratic | Harrison Carroll Hobart | 1 | 0.94% | −1 |
| | Republican | Edward D. Holton | 1 | 0.94% | |
| | Democratic | William Hull | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | Republican | James T. Lewis | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | | Frank H. Waite | 1 | 0.94% | |
| | | Absent or not voting | 1 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 54 | 50.94% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 106 | 99.07% | |
| Void election result ||||||
No person securing the majority, the convention voted to adjourn until 3pm the following day.

### Votes on February 1, 1855

The legislature re-convened in joint session on Thursday, February 1, and took two more votes for U.S. senator, finally achieving a majority on the 2nd vote of the day, the 8th ballot overall.
7th Vote of the 8th Wisconsin Legislature, February 1, 1855 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Charles Durkee | 53 | 50.00% | +2 |
| | Democratic | Byron Kilbourn | 38 | 35.85% | +26 |
| | | John H. Lathrop | 4 | 3.77% | +2 |
| | Republican | James Duane Doty | 2 | 1.89% | −12 |
| | Democratic | Harrison Carroll Hobart | 2 | 1.89% | +1 |
| | Democratic | David Agry | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | | Henry S. Baird | 1 | 0.94% | |
| | Democratic | James S. Brown | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | Democratic | Charles Dunn | 1 | 0.94% | −1 |
| | | Joseph Pierce | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | Democratic | Edward G. Ryan | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | Democratic | Abram D. Smith | 1 | 0.94% | +1 |
| | | Absent or not voting | 1 | | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 54 | 50.94% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 106 | 99.07% | |
| Void election result ||||||
8th Vote of the 8th Wisconsin Legislature, February 1, 1855 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Charles Durkee | 54 | 50.47% | +1 |
| | Democratic | Byron Kilbourn | 39 | 35.45% | +1 |
| | Democratic | Charles Dunn | 5 | 4.67% | +4 |
| | Republican | James Duane Doty | 4 | 3.74% | |
| | Democratic | David Agry | 2 | 1.87% | +1 |
| | Democratic | Harrison Carroll Hobart | 2 | 1.87% | |
| | Republican | James McMillan Shafter | 1 | 0.93% | +1 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 54 | 50.47% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 107 | 100.0% | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |
Charles Durkee, having received a majority of the 107 votes of the legislature, was declared elected U.S. senator.