# 1886–87 United States Senate elections

The 1886–87 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 1886 and 1887, 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 1.
The Republican Party lost two seats. At the beginning of the 50th Congress, therefore, Republicans had the slimmest possible majority due to a vacant Democratic seat: 38 out of 75 seats. Once that vacancy was filled, Republicans maintained control as the single Readjuster senator caucused with them.

## Results summary

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.
| Parties | Parties | | | | Total |
| Parties | Parties | Democratic | Readjuster | Republican | Total |
| Before these elections | Before these elections | 34 | 2 | 40 | 78 |
| Not up | Not up | 25 | 1 | 25 | 51 |
| | Class 2 (1886/87 → 1892/93) | 13 | 1 | 12 | 26 |
| | Class 3 (1884/85 → 1890/91) | 11 | — | 13 | 24 |
| Up | Up | 11 | 1 | 16 | 28 |
| | Regular: Class 1 | 9 | 1 | 15 | 25 |
| | Special: Class 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| | Special: Class 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| | Special: Class 3 | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Regular election only ||||||
| Incumbent retired | Incumbent retired | 1 | — | 2 | 3 |
| | Held by same party | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| | Gained by other party | 1 | — | 1 | 1 |
| | No elected successor | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| | Result | 1 | — | 1 | 2 |
| Incumbent ran | Incumbent ran | 6 | 1 | 12 | 19 |
| | Won re-election | 4 | — | 7 | 11 |
| | Held by same party | 1 | — | 3 | 4 |
| | Gained by other party | 1 | — | 1 | 4 |
| | Gained by other party | 2 | — | 2 | 4 |
| | Gained by other party | 1 | 1 | — | 4 |
| | No elected successor | — | — | — | — |
| | Result | 8 | — | 11 | 19 |
| Incumbent's action unknown | Incumbent's action unknown | 2 | — | 1 | 3 |
| | Held by same party | 2 | — | 1 | 3 |
| | No elected successor | — | — | — | — |
| | Gained by other party | — | — | — | — |
| | Result | 2 | — | 1 | 3 |
| Total elected | Total elected | 11 | — | 13 | 24 |
| Net change | Net change | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Result | Result | 36 | 1 | 38 | 75 |

## Change in composition
### Before the elections

After August 4, 1886, special election in California.
| D$_8$ | D$_7$ | D$_6$ | D$_5$ | D$_4$ | D$_3$ | D$_2$ | D$_1$ | | |
| D$_9$ | D$_{10}$ | D$_{11}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{18}$ |
| D$_{28}$ Ran | D$_{27}$ Ran | D$_{26}$ Ran | D$_{25}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{23}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ |
| D$_{29}$ Ran | D$_{30}$ Ran | D$_{31}$ Ran | D$_{32}$ Unknown | D$_{33}$ Unknown | D$_{34}$ Retired | RA$_2$ Ran | RA$_1$ | R$_{40}$ Retired | R$_{39}$ Retired |
| R$_{39}$ Retired |||||||||
| R$_{29}$ Ran | R$_{30}$ Ran | R$_{31}$ Ran | R$_{32}$ Ran | R$_{33}$ Ran | R$_{34}$ Ran | R$_{35}$ Ran | R$_{36}$ Ran | R$_{37}$ Ran | R$_{38}$ Unknown |
| R$_{28}$ Ran | R$_{27}$ Ran | R$_{26}$ Ran | R$_{25}$ | R$_{24}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{21}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{19}$ |
| R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{18}$ |
| R$_8$ | R$_7$ | R$_6$ | R$_5$ | R$_4$ | R$_3$ | R$_2$ | R$_1$ | | |

### After the elections

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

### At the beginning of the first session, December 7, 1887

| D$_8$ | D$_7$ | D$_6$ | D$_5$ | D$_4$ | D$_3$ | D$_2$ | D$_1$ | | |
| D$_9$ | D$_{10}$ | D$_{11}$ | D$_{12}$ | D$_{13}$ | D$_{14}$ | D$_{15}$ | D$_{16}$ | D$_{17}$ | D$_{18}$ |
| D$_{28}$ | D$_{27}$ | D$_{26}$ | D$_{25}$ | D$_{24}$ | D$_{23}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ |
| D$_{29}$ | D$_{30}$ | D$_{31}$ | D$_{32}$ | D$_{33}$ | D$_{34}$ | D$_{35}$ | D$_{36}$ | D$_{37}$ Gain from V | RA$_1$ |
| Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | R$_{38}$ |
| R$_{29}$ | R$_{30}$ | R$_{31}$ | R$_{32}$ | R$_{33}$ | R$_{34}$ | R$_{35}$ | R$_{36}$ | R$_{37}$ | R$_{38}$ |
| R$_{28}$ | R$_{27}$ | R$_{26}$ | R$_{25}$ Hold | R$_{24}$ | R$_{23}$ | R$_{22}$ | R$_{21}$ | R$_{20}$ | R$_{19}$ |
| R$_9$ | R$_{10}$ | R$_{11}$ | R$_{12}$ | R$_{13}$ | R$_{14}$ | R$_{15}$ | R$_{16}$ | R$_{17}$ | R$_{18}$ |
| R$_8$ | R$_7$ | R$_6$ | R$_5$ | R$_4$ | R$_3$ | R$_2$ | R$_1$ | | |
| Key | D$_#$ Democratic RA$_#$ Readjuster R$_#$ Republican V$_#$ Vacant |

## Race summaries
### Elections during the 49th Congress

In these elections, the winners were seated during 1886 or in 1887 before March 4; ordered by election date.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Mississippi (Class 2) | Edward C. Walthall | Democratic | 1885 (appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 20, 1886. | ▌Y Edward C. Walthall (Democratic) [data missing] |
| California (Class 1) | George Hearst | Democratic | 1886 (appointed) | Interim appointee retired or lost election to finish the term. New senator elected August 4, 1886. Republican gain. Winner did not run for election to the next term; see below. | ▌Y Abram Williams (Republican) [data missing] |
| Illinois (Class 3) | John A. Logan | Republican | 1870–71 1877 (lost) 1879 1885 | Incumbent died December 26, 1886. New senator elected January 19, 1887. Republican hold. | ▌Y Charles B. Farwell (Republican) [data missing] |

### Races leading to the 50th Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1887; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| California | Abram Williams | Republican | 1886 (special) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1887. Democratic gain. | ▌Y George Hearst (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Connecticut | Joseph R. Hawley | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent re-elected in 1887. | ▌Y Joseph R. Hawley (Republican) [data missing] |
| Delaware | George Gray | Democratic | 1885 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1887. | ▌Y George Gray (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Florida | Charles W. Jones | Democratic | 1881 | Incumbent retired. Legislature failed to elect. Democratic loss. | [data missing] |
| Indiana | Benjamin Harrison | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1887. Democratic gain. | ▌Y David Turpie (Democratic) ▌Benjamin Harrison (Republican) [data missing] |
| Maine | Eugene Hale | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent re-elected in 1887. | ▌Y Eugene Hale (Republican) [data missing] |
| Maryland | Arthur P. Gorman | Democratic | 1880 | Incumbent re-elected in 1886. | ▌Y Arthur P. Gorman (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Massachusetts | Henry L. Dawes | Republican | 1857 1881 | Incumbent re-elected in 1887. | ▌Y Henry L. Dawes (Republican) [data missing] |
| Michigan | Omar D. Conger | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected in 1887. Republican hold. | ▌Y Francis B. Stockbridge (Republican) [data missing] |
| Minnesota | Samuel J. R. McMillan | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1886. Republican hold. | ▌Y Cushman Davis (Republican) [data missing] |
| Mississippi | James Z. George | Democratic | 1880 | Incumbent re-elected in 1886. | ▌Y James Z. George (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Missouri | Francis Cockrell | Democratic | 1874 1881 | Incumbent re-elected in 1887. | ▌Y Francis Cockrell (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Nebraska | Charles Van Wyck | Republican | 1880 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1886. Republican hold. | ▌Y Algernon Paddock (Republican) ▌Charles Van Wyck (Republican) [data missing] |
| Nevada | James G. Fair | Democratic | 1881 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1887. Republican gain. | ▌Y William M. Stewart (Republican) ▌James G. Fair (Democratic) [data missing] |
| New Jersey | William J. Sewell | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1886. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Rufus Blodgett (Democratic) ▌William J. Sewell (Republican) [data missing] |
| New York | Warner Miller | Republican | 1881 (special) | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected January 20, 1887. Republican hold. | ▌Y Frank Hiscock (Republican) ▌Levi P. Morton (Republican) ▌Smith M. Weed (Democratic) ▌Francis Kernan (Democratic) |
| Ohio | John Sherman | Republican | 1861 (special) 1866 1872 1877 (resigned) 1881 | Incumbent re-elected in 1886. | ▌Y John Sherman (Republican) [data missing] |
| Pennsylvania | John I. Mitchell | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected January 18, 1887. Republican hold. | ▌Y Matthew Quay (Republican) 65.74% ▌Simon P. Wolverton (Democratic) 31.87% |
| Rhode Island | Nelson W. Aldrich | Republican | 1881 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1886. | ▌Y Nelson W. Aldrich (Republican) [data missing] |
| Tennessee | Washington C. Whitthorne | Democratic | 1886 (appointed) | Interim appointee retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in 1887. Democratic hold. | ▌Y William B. Bate (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Texas | Samuel B. Maxey | Democratic | 1875 1881 | Incumbent lost re-election New senator elected in 1887. Democratic hold. | ▌Y John H. Reagan (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Vermont | George F. Edmunds | Republican | 1866 (appointed) 1866 (special) 1868 1874 1880 | Incumbent re-elected in 1886. | ▌Y George F. Edmunds (Republican) [data missing] |
| Virginia | William Mahone | Readjuster | 1881 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1887. Democratic gain. | ▌Y John W. Daniel (Democratic) [data missing] |
| West Virginia | Johnson N. Camden | Democratic | 1880–81 | Incumbent lost renomination. Legislature failed to elect. Democratic loss. A new senator was elected late; see below. | ▌Johnson N. Camden (Democratic) |
| Wisconsin | Philetus Sawyer | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent re-elected January 26, 1887. | ▌Y Philetus Sawyer (Republican) 65.6% ▌John Winans (Democratic) 29.6% ▌John Cochrane (Labor) 4.8% |

### Elections during the 50th Congress

In these elections, the winners were elected in 1887 after March 4; ordered by date.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| West Virginia (Class 1) | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Legislature had failed to elect; see above. New senator elected late May 5, 1887. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Charles J. Faulkner (Democratic) 48 ▌Flick (Republican) 31 ▌Barbee (Greenback) 6 ▌[FNU] Whittaker (Unknown) 2 ▌Johnson N. Camden (Democratic) 1 ▌B. S. Brown (Unknown) 1 |
| Florida (Class 1) | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Legislature had failed to elect; see above. New senator elected late May 19, 1887. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Samuel Pasco (Democratic) [data missing] |
| New Hampshire (Class 2) | Person C. Cheney | Republican | 1886 (appointed) | Interim appointee retired when successor elected. New senator elected June 14, 1887. Republican hold. | ▌Y William E. Chandler (Republican) [data missing] |
| Virginia (Class 2) | Harrison H. Riddleberger | Readjuster | 1881 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected early December 20, 1887 for the term beginning in 1889. Democratic gain. | ▌Y John S. Barbour Jr. (Democratic) [data missing] |

## Maryland

Arthur Pue Gorman won re-election for an unknown margin of votes for the Class 1 seat.

## New York

The election in New York was held from January 18 to 20, 1887. Republican Warner Miller had been elected to this seat in a special election in 1881 to succeed Thomas C. Platt who had resigned. Miller's term would expire on March 3, 1887. At the State election in November 1885, 20 Republicans and 12 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1886–1887) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1886, 74 Republicans and 54 Democrats were elected for the session of 1887 to the Assembly. The 110th New York State Legislature met from January 4 to May 26, 1887, at Albany, New York.
The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 17, President pro tempore of the State Senate Edmund L. Pitts presided. 20 State senators and 71 assemblymen attended. Ex-Speaker of the Assembly George Z. Erwin (a Morton man) moved that a majority of all Republican legislators should be necessary to nominate, not only a majority of those present, meaning that 48 votes were required instead of 46, which was carried by a vote of 52 to 39. The incumbent U.S. senator Warner Miller (Half-Breed faction) failed to be nominated by only four votes. Levi P. Morton (Stalwart faction) was rejected by the caucus, like in 1885. A small faction voted for Congressman Frank Hiscock. After the second ballot, Erwin moved to adjourn, which was carried by 48 to 43. The caucus met again on the next day, no choice was made in another two ballots. The caucus met again on January 19 after the joint ballot of the State Legislature, and after twelve more ballots, Erwin withdrew Morton's name and urged the Morton men to vote for Hiscock. On the next ballot Hiscock received one vote more than Miller (47 to 46), but was one short of the previously established majority of 48. On the 18th and last ballot, Hiscock received 50 votes and was nominated. On the next day, Hiscock was elected on the second joint ballot of the State Legislature. Thus, by blocking Miller's re-election, the Republican boss Thomas C. Platt took his revenge for his defeat at the special election in 1881.
1887 Republican caucus for United States senator :
| Ballot | Date | Warner Miller | Levi P. Morton | √ Frank Hiscock |
| 1st | January 17 | 44 | 35 | 12 |
| 2nd | January 17 | 44 | 36 | 11 |
| 3rd | January 18 | | | |
| 4th | January 18 | | | |
| 5th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
| 6th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
| 7th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
| 8th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
| 9th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
| 10th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
| 11th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
| 12th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
| 13th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
| 14th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
| 15th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
| 16th | January 19 | 46 | 36 | 11 |
| 17th | January 19 | 46 | Withdrew | 47 |
| 18th | January 19 | 43 | | 50 |
The Democratic caucus nominated Smith Mead Weed (1834–1920), a lawyer and businessman of Plattsburgh, New York. Weed had been a member of the New York State Assembly from Clinton County, New York in 1865, 1866, 1867, 1871, 1873 and 1874; and a delegate to the 1876 and 1884 Democratic National Conventions.
1887 regular election for United States senator :
| House | Democratic | Democratic | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican |
| State Senate (32 members) January 18 | Smith M. Weed | 11 | Warner Miller | 10 | Levi P. Morton | 9 | Frank Hiscock | 1 |
| State Assembly (128 members) January 18 | Smith M. Weed | 41 | Warner Miller | 32 | Levi P. Morton | 26 | Frank Hiscock | 10 |
| Joint ballot (160 members) January 19 | Smith M. Weed | 61 | Warner Miller | 43 | Levi P. Morton | 33 | Frank Hiscock | 11 |
| Second joint ballot (160 members) January 20 | Smith M. Weed | 62 | | | | | √ Frank Hiscock | 91 |

## Pennsylvania

The election in Pennsylvania was held January 18, 1887. Matthew Quay was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate. The General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and Senate voted as follows:
State Legislature Results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Matthew Quay | 165 | 65.74 |
| | Democratic | Simon P. Wolverton | 80 | 31.87 |
| | N/A | Not voting | 6 | 2.39 |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | 251 | 100.00% |