# 1866–67 United States Senate elections

The 1866–67 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 1866 and 1867, 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 gained two seats, as several of the Southern States were readmitted during Reconstruction, enlarging their majority.

## Results summary

Senate party division, 40th Congress (1867–1869)
* Majority party: Republican (57)
* Minority party: Democratic (9)
* Other parties: (0)
* Vacant: (6)
* Total seats: 72

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

After August 31, 1866, appointment in New Hampshire.
| V$_6$ Seceded | V$_5$ Seceded | V$_4$ Seceded | V$_3$ Seceded | V$_2$ | V$_1$ | | | | |
| V$_7$ Seceded | V$_8$ Seceded | V$_9$ Seceded | V$_{10}$ Seceded | D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ |
| R$_{37}$ Retired | UU$_1$ | UU$_2$ Unknown | U$_1$ | U$_2$ | U$_3$ Ran | D$_{10}$ Retired | D$_9$ Ran | D$_8$ | D$_7$ |
| R$_{36}$ Retired | R$_{35}$ Retired | R$_{34}$ Unknown | R$_{33}$ Ran | R$_{32}$ Ran | R$_{31}$ Ran | R$_{30}$ Ran | R$_{29}$ Ran | R$_{28}$ Ran | R$_{27}$ Ran |
| R$_{27}$ Ran |||||||||
| R$_{17}$ | R$_{18}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{21}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{25}$ Ran | R$_{26}$ Ran |
| R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_9$ | R$_8$ | R$_7$ |
| V$_{14}$ | V$_{13}$ | V$_{12}$ | V$_{11}$ | R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ |
| V$_{15}$ | V$_{16}$ | V$_{17}$ | V$_{18}$ | V$_{19}$ | V$_{20}$ | | | | |

### As a result of the elections

| V$_6$ Seceded | V$_5$ Seceded | V$_4$ Seceded | V$_3$ Seceded | V$_2$ | V$_1$ | | | | |
| V$_7$ Seceded | V$_8$ Seceded | V$_9$ Seceded | V$_{10}$ Seceded | D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ |
| R$_{37}$ Hold | R$_{38}$ Gain | R$_{39}$ Gain | UU$_1$ | U$_1$ | U$_2$ | D$_{10}$ Gain | D$_9$ Gain | D$_8$ | D$_7$ |
| R$_{36}$ Hold | R$_{35}$ Hold | R$_{34}$ Hold | R$_{33}$ Hold | R$_{32}$ Hold | R$_{31}$ Hold | R$_{30}$ Hold | R$_{29}$ Re-elected | R$_{28}$ Re-elected | R$_{27}$ Re-elected |
| R$_{27}$ Re-elected |||||||||
| R$_{17}$ | R$_{18}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{21}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{25}$ Re-elected | R$_{26}$ Re-elected |
| R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_9$ | R$_8$ | R$_7$ |
| V$_{14}$ | V$_{13}$ | V$_{12}$ | V$_{11}$ | R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ |
| V$_{15}$ | V$_{16}$ | V$_{17}$ | V$_{18}$ | V$_{19}$ | V$_{20}$ | | | | |

### Beginning of the next Congress

| V$_7$ | V$_6$ | V$_5$ | V$_4$ | V$_3$ | V$_2$ | V$_1$ | | | |
| V$_8$ | V$_9$ | V$_{10}$ | V$_{11}$ Not seated | D$_1$ | D$_2$ | D$_3$ | D$_4$ | D$_5$ | D$_6$ |
| R$_{38}$ | R$_{39}$ | R$_{40}$ Changed | R$_{41}$ Changed | R$_{42}$ New seat | R$_{43}$ New seat | R$_{44}$ Gain | R$_{45}$ Gain | D$_8$ Changed | D$_7$ |
| R$_{37}$ | R$_{36}$ | R$_{35}$ | R$_{34}$ | R$_{33}$ | R$_{32}$ | R$_{31}$ | R$_{30}$ | R$_{29}$ | R$_{28}$ |
| Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | Majority → | R$_{27}$ |
| R$_{18}$ | R$_{19}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{21}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{25}$ | R$_{26}$ | R$_{27}$ |
| R$_{17}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_9$ | R$_8$ |
| V$_{14}$ | V$_{13}$ | V$_{12}$ | R$_1$ | R$_2$ | R$_3$ | R$_4$ | R$_5$ | R$_6$ | R$_7$ |
| V$_{15}$ | V$_{16}$ | V$_{17}$ | V$_{18}$ | V$_{19}$ | V$_{20}$ | V$_{21}$ | | | |
| Key: | D$_#$ Democratic R$_#$ Republican UU$_#$ Unconditional Unionist U$_#$ Unionist V$_#$ Vacant |

## Race summaries
### Special elections during the 39th Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1866 or in 1867 before March 4; ordered by election date.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Maine (Class 2) | Nathan A. Farwell | Republican | 1864 (appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 11, 1865 to finish the term. Winner did not run for re-election to the next term; see below. | ▌Y Nathan A. Farwell (Republican) [data missing] |
| Iowa (Class 3) | James Harlan | Republican | 1855 1857 (voided) 1857 (special) 1860 | Incumbent resigned May 15, 1865, to become U.S. Secretary of the Interior. New senator elected January 13, 1866. Republican hold. Winner did not run for re-election to the next term; see below. | ▌Y Samuel J. Kirkwood (Republican) [data missing] |
| Tennessee (Class 1) | Vacant since March 4, 1862, when Andrew Johnson (D) resigned to become Military Governor of Tennessee. | Vacant since March 4, 1862, when Andrew Johnson (D) resigned to become Military Governor of Tennessee. | Vacant since March 4, 1862, when Andrew Johnson (D) resigned to become Military Governor of Tennessee. | State re-admitted to the Union. New senator elected July 24, 1866. Democratic gain. | ▌Y David T. Patterson (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Tennessee (Class 2) | Vacant since March 3, 1861, when Alfred O. P. Nicholson (D) withdrew in anticipation of secession. | Vacant since March 3, 1861, when Alfred O. P. Nicholson (D) withdrew in anticipation of secession. | Vacant since March 3, 1861, when Alfred O. P. Nicholson (D) withdrew in anticipation of secession. | State re-admitted to the Union. New senator elected July 24, 1866. Unionist gain. | ▌Y Joseph S. Fowler (Unionist) [data missing] |
| New Jersey (Class 2) | John P. Stockton | Democratic | 1864 | Incumbent's election disputed and seat declared vacant. New senator elected September 19, 1866. Republican gain. | ▌Y Alexander G. Cattell (Republican) [data missing] |
| Vermont (Class 1) | George F. Edmunds | Republican | 1866 (appointed) | Interim appointee elected October 24, 1866 to finish the term. | ▌Y George F. Edmunds (Republican) [data missing] |
| Vermont (Class 3) | Luke P. Poland | Republican | 1865 (appointed) | Interim appointee elected October 24, 1866 to finish the term. Winner lost re-election to the next term; see below. | ▌Y Luke P. Poland (Republican) [data missing] |
| Kansas (Class 2) | Edmund G. Ross | Republican | 1866 (appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 23, 1867 to finish the term. | ▌Y Edmund G. Ross (Republican) [data missing] |
| New Jersey (Class 1) | Frederick T. Frelinghuysen | Republican | 1866 (appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 23, 1867 to finish the term. | ▌Y Frederick T. Frelinghuysen (Republican) [data missing] |
| Nebraska (Class 1) | None (new state) | None (new state) | None (new state) | Nebraska admitted to the Union March 1, 1867. Senator elected March 1, 1867. Republican gain. | ▌Y Thomas Tipton (Republican) [data missing] |
| Nebraska (Class 2) | None (new state) | None (new state) | None (new state) | Nebraska admitted to the Union March 1, 1867. Senator elected March 1, 1867. Republican gain. | ▌Y John M. Thayer (Republican) [data missing] |

### Races leading to the 40th Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1867; 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 | Vacant since January 21, 1861, when Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D) withdrew. | Vacant since January 21, 1861, when Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D) withdrew. | Vacant since January 21, 1861, when Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D) withdrew. | Legislature failed to elect during Civil War and Reconstruction. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | None. |
| Arkansas | Vacant since July 11, 1861, when Charles B. Mitchel (D) was expelled. | Vacant since July 11, 1861, when Charles B. Mitchel (D) was expelled. | Vacant since July 11, 1861, when Charles B. Mitchel (D) was expelled. | Legislature failed to elect during Civil War and Reconstruction. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | None. |
| California | James A. McDougall | Democratic | 1860 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1866 or 1867. Republican gain. | ▌Y Cornelius Cole (Republican) [data missing] |
| Connecticut | Lafayette S. Foster | Republican | 1860 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1866. Republican hold. | ▌Y Orris S. Ferry (Republican) ▌Lafayette S. Foster (Republican) [data missing] |
| Florida | Vacant since January 21, 1861, when David Levy Yulee (D) withdrew. | Vacant since January 21, 1861, when David Levy Yulee (D) withdrew. | Vacant since January 21, 1861, when David Levy Yulee (D) withdrew. | Legislature failed to elect during Civil War and Reconstruction. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | None. |
| Georgia | 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. | New senator elected in 1867. Senate refused to seat the winner. Seat remained vacant until 1871 when Georgia was readmitted. | ▌Y Joshua Hill (Republican) [data missing] |
| Illinois | Lyman Trumbull | Republican | 1855 1861 | Incumbent re-elected in 1867. | ▌Y Lyman Trumbull (Republican) [data missing] |
| Iowa | Samuel J. Kirkwood | Republican | 1865 (special) | Incumbent lost nomination. New senator elected January 13, 1866. Republican hold. | ▌Y James Harlan (Republican) 118 votes ▌Henry Hoffman Trimble (Democratic) 20 votes |
| Indiana | Henry S. Lane | Republican | 1860 | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in 1867. Republican hold. | ▌Y Oliver P. Morton (Republican) [data missing] |
| Kansas | Samuel C. Pomeroy | Republican | 1861 | Incumbent re-elected in 1867. | ▌Y Samuel C. Pomeroy (Republican) [data missing] |
| Kentucky | Garrett Davis | Unionist | 1861 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1867 as a Democrat. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Garrett Davis (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Louisiana | Vacant since February 4, 1861, when John Slidell (D) resigned. | Vacant since February 4, 1861, when John Slidell (D) resigned. | Vacant since February 4, 1861, when John Slidell (D) resigned. | Legislature failed to elect during Civil War and Reconstruction. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | None. |
| Maryland | John Creswell | Unconditional Unionist | 1865 (special) | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in 1866 or in 1867. Senate refused to seat him, as he had "given aid and comfort" to the Confederate cause. Seat remained vacant until 1868. Unconditional Unionist loss. | ▌Y Philip Francis Thomas (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Missouri | B. Gratz Brown | Republican | 1863 (special) | Incumbent retired due to ill health. New senator elected in 1866 or 1867. Republican hold. | ▌Y Charles D. Drake (Republican) [data missing] |
| Nevada | James W. Nye | Republican | 1865 | Incumbent re-elected in 1867. | ▌Y James W. Nye (Republican) [data missing] |
| New Hampshire | George G. Fogg | Republican | 1866 (appointed) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1866 or 1867. Republican hold. | ▌Y James W. Patterson (Republican) [data missing] |
| New York | Ira Harris | Republican | 1861 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected January 15, 1867. Republican hold. | ▌Y Roscoe Conkling (Republican) ▌Henry C. Murphy (Democratic) ▌George F. Comstock (Democratic) |
| North Carolina | Vacant since March 11, 1861, when Thomas Clingman (D) resigned. | Vacant since March 11, 1861, when Thomas Clingman (D) resigned. | Vacant since March 11, 1861, when Thomas Clingman (D) resigned. | Legislature failed to elect during Civil War and Reconstruction. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | None. |
| Ohio | John Sherman | Republican | 1861 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1866. | ▌Y John Sherman (Republican) [data missing] |
| Oregon | James Nesmith | Democratic | 1860 or 1861 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1866 or 1867. Republican gain. | ▌Y Henry W. Corbett (Republican) [data missing] |
| Pennsylvania | Edgar Cowan | Republican | 1861 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected January 15, 1867. Republican hold. | ▌Y Simon Cameron (Republican) 61.65% ▌Edgar Cowan (Republican) 36.84% |
| South Carolina | Vacant since November 11, 1860, when James Henry Hammond (D) withdrew. | Vacant since November 11, 1860, when James Henry Hammond (D) withdrew. | Vacant since November 11, 1860, when James Henry Hammond (D) withdrew. | Legislature failed to elect during Civil War and Reconstruction. Seat remained vacant until 1868. | None. |
| Vermont | Luke P. Poland | Republican | 1865 (appointed) 1866 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1866. Republican hold. | ▌Y Justin S. Morrill (Republican) ▌Luke P. Poland (Republican) [data missing] |
| Wisconsin | Timothy O. Howe | Republican | 1861 | Incumbent re-elected January 23, 1867. | ▌Y Timothy O. Howe (Republican) 74.22% ▌Charles A. Eldredge (Democratic) 24.22% ▌Edward S. Bragg (Democratic) 0.78% ▌Joshua J. Guppey (Democratic) 0.78% |

### Elections during the 40th Congress

| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Tennessee | David T. Patterson | Democratic | 1866 (readmission) | Incumbent retired. Winner elected early on October 22, 1867, for the term beginning March 4, 1869. Republican gain. | ▌Y William G. Brownlow (Republican) 63 ▌William B. Stokes (Republican) 39 |

## New York

The New York election was held on January 15, 1867, by the New York State Legislature. Republican Ira Harris had been elected in February 1861 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1867.
At the state election in November 1865, 27 Republicans and 5 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1866–1867) in the State Senate. At the state election in November 1866, 82 Republicans and 46 Democrats were elected for the session of 1867 to the Assembly. The 90th State Legislature met from January 1 to April 20, 1867, at Albany, New York.
The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 10, State Senator Charles J. Folger presided. State Senator Thomas Parsons (28th D.) was absent, but had his vote cast by proxy. They nominated Congressman Roscoe Conkling for the U.S. Senate. The incumbent Senator Ira Harris was voted down.
| Candidate | Informal ballot | First ballot | Second ballot | Third ballot | Fifth ballot |
| Roscoe Conkling | 33 | 39 | 45 | 53 | 59 |
| Noah Davis | 30 | 41 | 44 | 50 | 49 |
| Ira Harris | 32 | 24 | 18 | 6 | |
| Ransom Balcom | 7 | 4 | 2 | wd | |
| Horace Greeley | 6 | wd | | | |
| Charles J. Folger | 1 | 1 | | | 1 |
Notes:
* On the fourth ballot, 110 votes were cast, one too many, and it was annulled.
* "wd" = name withdrawn
The caucus of the Democratic State legislators met also on January 10. State Senator Henry C. Murphy was nominated on the first ballot with 25 votes against 21 for Ex-D.A. of New York A. Oakey Hall. Roscoe Conkling was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected.
1867 United States Senator election result :
| House | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic | Democratic |
| State Senate (32 members) | Roscoe Conkling | 24 | Henry C. Murphy | 2 | George F. Comstock | 1 |
| State Assembly (128 members) | Roscoe Conkling | 78 | Henry C. Murphy | 42 | | |
Notes:
* The vote for Ex-Chief Judge Comstock was cast by Henry C. Murphy.
* The votes were cast on January 15, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 16 to compare nominations, and declare the result.
Conkling was re-elected in 1873 and 1879, and remained in office until May 17, 1881, when he resigned in protest against the distribution of federal patronage in New York by President James A. Garfield without being consulted. The crisis between the Stalwart and the Half-Breed factions of the Republican party arose when the leader of the New Yorker Half-Breeds William H. Robertson was appointed Collector of the Port of New York, a position Conkling wanted to give to one of his Stalwart friends.

## Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania election was held on January 15, 1867. Simon Cameron was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Incumbent Republican Edgar Cowan, who was elected in 1861, was a candidate for re-election to another term, but was defeated by former Democratic Senator and former United States Secretary of War Simon Cameron, who had previously switched to the Republican Party. The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 15, 1867, to elect a Senator to fill the term beginning on March 4, 1867. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:
State Legislature Results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Simon Cameron | 82 | 61.65 |
| | Republican | Edgar Cowan (Inc.) | 49 | 36.84 |
| | N/A | Not voting | 2 | 1.50 |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | 133 | 100.00% |