# 1884–85 United States Senate elections

The 1884–85 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states, coinciding with the presidential election of 1884. 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 1884 and 1885, 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.
With three state legislatures failing to elect their senators in time, both Republicans and Democrats lost seats. Republicans, nevertheless, retained majority control and the Readjusters joined their caucus. By the beginning of the first session, in December 1885, Republicans had won all three vacant seats, increasing their majority.

## Results summary

Senate party division, 49th Congress (1885–1887)
* Majority party: Republican (42)
* Minority party: Democratic (34)
* Other parties: (0)
* Total seats: 76

## Change in Senate composition
### Before 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$_{28}$ Ran | D$_{27}$ Ran | D$_{26}$ Ran | D$_{25}$ Ran | D$_{24}$ Ran | D$_{23}$ Ran | D$_{22}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ |
| D$_{29}$ Ran | D$_{30}$ Ran | D$_{31}$ Ran | D$_{32}$ Ran | D$_{33}$ Unknown | D$_{34}$ Retired | D$_{35}$ Retired | D$_{36}$ Retired | RA$_1$ | RA$_2$ |
| Majority, with Readjusters in caucus → | Majority, with Readjusters in caucus → | Majority, with Readjusters in caucus → | Majority, with Readjusters in caucus → | Majority, with Readjusters in caucus → | Majority, with Readjusters in caucus → | Majority, with Readjusters in caucus → | Majority, with Readjusters in caucus → | Majority, with Readjusters in caucus → | R$_{38}$ Retired |
| R$_{29}$ Ran | R$_{30}$ Ran | R$_{31}$ Ran | R$_{32}$ Ran | R$_{33}$ Ran | R$_{34}$ Ran | R$_{35}$ Unknown | R$_{36}$ Unknown | R$_{37}$ Retired | R$_{38}$ Retired |
| R$_{28}$ Ran | R$_{27}$ | R$_{26}$ | 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$_{25}$ Re-elected | D$_{24}$ Re-elected | D$_{23}$ Re-elected | D$_{22}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ |
| D$_{29}$ Re-elected | D$_{30}$ Hold | D$_{31}$ Hold | D$_{32}$ Hold | D$_{33}$ Hold | D$_{34}$ Hold | V$_1$ D Loss | V$_2$ R Loss | V$_3$ R Loss | RA$_1$ |
| Majority due to three vacancies ↓ | Majority due to three vacancies ↓ | Majority due to three vacancies ↓ | Majority due to three vacancies ↓ | Majority due to three vacancies ↓ | Majority due to three vacancies ↓ | Majority due to three vacancies ↓ | Majority due to three vacancies ↓ | Majority due to three vacancies ↓ | RA$_2$ |
| R$_{29}$ Re-elected | R$_{30}$ Re-elected | R$_{31}$ Re-elected | R$_{32}$ Re-elected | R$_{33}$ Re-elected | R$_{34}$ Hold | R$_{35}$ Hold | R$_{36}$ Hold | R$_{37}$ Gain | RA$_2$ |
| R$_{28}$ Re-elected | R$_{27}$ | R$_{26}$ | 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$_1$ | | |

### Beginning of the first session, December 7, 1885

| 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$_{34}$ | RA$_1$ | RA$_2$ | R$_{40}$ Gain | R$_{39}$ Gain |
| R$_{39}$ Gain |||||||||
| R$_{29}$ | R$_{30}$ | R$_{31}$ | R$_{32}$ | R$_{33}$ | R$_{34}$ | R$_{35}$ | R$_{36}$ | R$_{37}$ | R$_{38}$ Gain |
| R$_{28}$ | R$_{27}$ | R$_{26}$ | 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$_1$ | | |
| Key: | D$_#$ Democratic RA$_#$ Readjuster R$_#$ Republican V$_#$ Vacant |

## Race summaries
### Special elections during the 48th Congress

In this election, the winner was seated in 1885 before March 4.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Rhode Island (Class 2) | William P. Sheffield | Republican | 1884 (appointed) | Interim appointee retired when successor elected. New senator elected January 20, 1885. Republican hold. | ▌Y Jonathan Chace (Republican) [data missing] |

### Races leading to the 49th Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1885; 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) | Incumbent re-elected in August 1884. | ▌Y James L. Pugh (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Arkansas | James D. Walker | Democratic | 1878 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1885. Democratic hold. | ▌Y James K. Jones (Democratic) [data missing] |
| California | James T. Farley | Democratic | 1878 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1885. Republican gain. | ▌Y Leland Stanford (Republican) [data missing] |
| Colorado | Nathaniel P. Hill | Republican | 1879 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected in 1885. Republican hold. | ▌Y Henry M. Teller (Republican) [data missing] |
| Connecticut | Orville H. Platt | Republican | 1879 | Incumbent re-elected in 1885. | ▌Y Orville H. Platt (Republican) [data missing] |
| Florida | Wilkinson Call | Democratic | 1879 | Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1885. | ▌Y Wilkinson Call (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Georgia | Joseph E. Brown | Democratic | 1880 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1885. | ▌Y Joseph E. Brown (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Illinois | John A. Logan | Republican | 1879 | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. Legislature failed to elect. Republican loss. Incumbent was later elected to continue the vacant term; see below. | None. |
| Indiana | Daniel W. Voorhees | Democratic | 1877 (appointed) 1879 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1885. | ▌Y Daniel W. Voorhees (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Iowa | William B. Allison | Republican | 1872 1878 | Incumbent re-elected January 23, 1884. | ▌Y William B. Allison (Republican) 90 ▌Benton J. Hall (Democratic) 48 ▌David M. Clark (Greenback) 10 ▌La Vega G. Kinne (Unknown) 1 |
| Kansas | John J. Ingalls | Republican | 1873 1879 | Incumbent re-elected in 1885. | ▌Y John J. Ingalls (Republican) [data missing] |
| Kentucky | John Stuart Williams | Democratic | 1879 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1884. Democratic hold. | ▌Y J. C. S. Blackburn (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Louisiana | Benjamin F. Jonas | Democratic | 1879 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1884 or 1885. Democratic hold. | ▌Y James B. Eustis (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Maryland | James Black Groome | Democratic | 1878–79 | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in 1884. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Ephraim K. Wilson II (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Missouri | George G. Vest | Democratic | 1879 | Incumbent re-elected in 1885. | ▌Y George G. Vest (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Nevada | John P. Jones | Republican | 1873 1879 | Incumbent re-elected in 1885. | ▌Y John P. Jones (Republican) [data missing] |
| New Hampshire | Henry W. Blair | Republican | 1879 | Legislature failed to elect. Republican loss. Incumbent was later appointed, then elected, to continue the vacant term; see below. | [data missing] |
| New York | Elbridge G. Lapham | Republican | 1881 (special) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 20, 1885. Republican hold. | ▌Y William M. Evarts (Republican) 92 ▌Edward Cooper (Democratic) 65 |
| North Carolina | Zebulon Vance | Democratic | 1879 | Incumbent re-elected in 1884. | ▌Y Zebulon Vance (Democratic) |
| Ohio | George H. Pendleton | Democratic | 1878–79 | Incumbent lost renomination. New senator elected January 15, 1884. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Henry B. Payne (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Oregon | James H. Slater | Democratic | 1878–79 | Incumbent retired. Legislature failed to elect. Democratic loss. | [data missing] |
| Pennsylvania | J. Donald Cameron | Republican | 1877 (special) 1879 | Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1885. | ▌Y J. Donald Cameron (Republican) 64.94% ▌William A. Wallace (Democratic) 27.49% Others; see below |
| South Carolina | Wade Hampton III | Democratic | 1878 | Incumbent re-elected in 1884. | ▌Y Wade Hampton III (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Vermont | Justin S. Morrill | Republican | 1866 1872 1878 | Incumbent re-elected in 1884. | ▌Y Justin S. Morrill (Republican) [data missing] |
| Wisconsin | Angus Cameron | Republican | 1881 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 27, 1885. Republican hold. | ▌Y John C. Spooner (Republican) 61.29% ▌ Edward S. Bragg (Democratic) 38.71% |

### Elections during the 49th Congress

In these elections, the winners were elected in 1885 after March 4, sorted by election date.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Delaware (Class 1) | Thomas F. Bayard | Democratic | 1869 1875 1881 | Incumbent resigned March 6, 1885, to become U.S. Secretary of State. New senator elected March 18, 1885. Democratic hold. | ▌Y George Gray (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Arkansas (Class 2) | Augustus Garland | Democratic | 1876 1883 | Incumbent resigned March 6, 1885, to become U.S. Attorney General. New senator elected March 20, 1885. Democratic hold. | ▌Y James H. Berry (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Illinois (Class 3) | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Legislature had failed to elect. New senator elected May 19, 1885. Republican gain. | ▌Y John A. Logan (Republican) 50.49% ▌Lambert Tree (Democratic) 47.06% ▌John C. Black (Democratic) 0.98% ▌John R. Hoxie (Democratic) 0.49% ▌William Ralls Morrison (Democratic) 0.49% ▌Charles J. Schofield (Democratic) 0.49% |
| New Hampshire (Class 3) | Henry W. Blair | Republican | 1879 1885 (appointed) | Interim appointee elected June 17, 1885. | ▌Y Henry W. Blair (Republican) [data missing] |
| Oregon (Class 3) | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Legislature had failed to elect. New senator elected November 18, 1885. Republican gain. | ▌Y John H. Mitchell (Republican) [data missing] |

## Complete list of races
### Maryland

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

### New York

The New York election was held January 20, 1885, by the New York State Legislature.
Republican Elbridge G. Lapham had been elected to this seat in a special election in 1881 to succeed Roscoe Conkling who had resigned. Lapham's term would expire on March 3, 1885.
At the State election in November 1883, 19 Republicans and 13 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1884–1885) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1884, 73 Republicans and 55 Democrats were elected for the session of 1885 to the Assembly. The 108th New York State Legislature met from January 6 to May 22, 1885, at Albany, New York.
The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 19, President pro tempore of the State Senate Dennis McCarthy presided. 19 State senators and 73 assemblymen attended. The Evarts faction required the nomination to be made by viva voce vote, which was opposed by the Morton faction, but was carried by a vote of 64 to 28. The caucus nominated Ex-U.S. Secretary of State William M. Evarts on the first ballot.
1885 Republican caucus nominee :
| Candidate | First ballot |
| William M. Evarts | 61 |
| Levi P. Morton | 28 |
| Chauncey M. Depew | 3 |
The Democratic caucus nominated Ex-Mayor of New York Edward Cooper.
William M. Evarts was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected.
1885 United States Senator election result :
| House | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic |
| State Senate (32 members) | William M. Evarts | 19 | Edward Cooper | 13 |
| State Assembly (128 members) | William M. Evarts | 73 | Edward Cooper | 52 |
Note: The votes were cast on January 20, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 21 to compare nominations, and declare the result.

### Ohio

In 1884, the Democrats held a majority in the Ohio legislature. In a caucus meeting to determine the party's choice for United States Senator, many Democratic legislators looked to replace the incumbent Senator, Democrat George H. Pendleton, because they disagreed with his advocacy of civil service reform and low tariffs. Some of Pendleton's opponents, led by Oliver Payne, promoted Henry B. Payne for the Senate seat, recalling his opposition to both of those positions during his time in the House. After a secret ballot by the Democratic caucus, Henry B. Payne received 46 out of 80 votes. Because Oliver was a trustee and treasurer of the Standard Oil company, many of the Pendleton supporters immediately alleged that $100,000 from the oil trust had been used to bribe Democratic legislators, and claimed that an open ballot would not have favored Payne.
When the full legislature met, Henry B. Payne was elected with 78 votes out of 120. The Democratic legislature initially refused to investigate their members' alleged corruption, but when Republicans regained the majority in the next session, the legislature looked into the allegations and forwarded the results to the federal Senate. The evidence gathered was voluminous, but the Senate declined to expel Payne, who proclaimed his innocence. While there was never enough evidence for definitive proof of bribery, biographer Dewayne Burke wrote that the "circumstantial evidence seems to convict Payne" of the charge.

### Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania election was held January 20, 1885. The Pennsylvania General Assembly convened January 20, 1885. Incumbent Republican J. Donald Cameron, who was elected in an 1877 special election and re-elected in 1879, 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 (Inc.) | 163 | 64.94 |
| | Democratic | William A. Wallace | 69 | 27.49 |
| | Republican | A. W. Acheson | 1 | 0.40 |
| | Republican | Charles N. Brumm | 1 | 0.40 |
| | Republican | George Shiras Jr. | 1 | 0.40 |
| | N/A | Not voting | 14 | 5.58 |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | 251 | 100.00% |