# 1882–83 United States Senate elections

The 1882–83 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 1882 and 1883, 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 2.
The Republicans retained a narrow majority — 39 (and later 40) out of 76 seats — with the Readjusters in their caucus.

## Results summary

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row.
| Parties | Parties | | | | | Total |
| Parties | Parties | Democratic | Independent | Readjuster | Republican | Total |
| Before these elections | Before these elections | 37 | 1 | 1 | 37 | 76 |
| Not up | Not up | 23 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 50 |
| | Class 1 (1880/81 → 1886/87) | 9 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 25 |
| | Class 3 (1878/79 → 1884/85) | 14 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 25 |
| Up | Up | 15 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 29 |
| | Regular: Class 2 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 26 |
| | Special: Class 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Special: Class 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| | Special: Class 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Regular election |||||||
| Incumbent retired | Incumbent retired | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| | Held by same party | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 4 |
| | Replaced by other party | 1 Independent replaced by 1 Republican 1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican | 1 Independent replaced by 1 Republican 1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican | 1 Independent replaced by 1 Republican 1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican | 1 Independent replaced by 1 Republican 1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican | 3 |
| | Result | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| Incumbent ran | Incumbent ran | 11 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 19 |
| | Won re-election | 10 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 14 |
| | Lost re-election and gained by other party | 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Readjuster | 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Readjuster | 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Readjuster | 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Readjuster | 1 |
| | Lost re-election without an elected successor | 1 Republican lost and legislature failed to elect | 1 Republican lost and legislature failed to elect | 1 Republican lost and legislature failed to elect | 1 Republican lost and legislature failed to elect | 1 |
| | Lost renomination but held by same party | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| | Result | 10 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 18 |
| Total elected | Total elected | 13 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 25 |
| Net change | Net change | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 3 |
| Result | Result | 36 | 0 | 2 | 37 | 75 |

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

After the November 15, 1882 special election in Georgia.
| 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$_{23}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ |
| D$_{29}$ Ran | D$_{30}$ Ran | D$_{31}$ Ran | D$_{32}$ Ran | D$_{33}$ Ran | D$_{34}$ Ran | D$_{35}$ Retired | D$_{36}$ Retired | D$_{37}$ Retired | I$_1$ Retired |
| Plurality, with Readjuster in caucus and VP tie-breaking vote ↓ | Plurality, with Readjuster in caucus and VP tie-breaking vote ↓ | Plurality, with Readjuster in caucus and VP tie-breaking vote ↓ | Plurality, with Readjuster in caucus and VP tie-breaking vote ↓ | Plurality, with Readjuster in caucus and VP tie-breaking vote ↓ | Plurality, with Readjuster in caucus and VP tie-breaking vote ↓ | Plurality, with Readjuster in caucus and VP tie-breaking vote ↓ | Plurality, with Readjuster in caucus and VP tie-breaking vote ↓ | Plurality, with Readjuster in caucus and VP tie-breaking vote ↓ | RA$_1$ |
| R$_{29}$ Ran | R$_{30}$ Ran | R$_{31}$ Ran | R$_{32}$ Ran | R$_{33}$ Ran | R$_{34}$ Ran | R$_{35}$ Retired | R$_{36}$ Retired | R$_{37}$ Retired | RA$_1$ |
| R$_{28}$ Ran | R$_{27}$ Ran | 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$_{23}$ | D$_{22}$ | D$_{21}$ | D$_{20}$ | D$_{19}$ |
| D$_{29}$ Re-elected | D$_{30}$ Re-elected | D$_{31}$ Re-elected | D$_{32}$ Re-elected | D$_{33}$ Re-elected | D$_{34}$ Hold | D$_{35}$ Hold | D$_{36}$ Gain | V$_1$ R Loss | RA$_2$ Gain |
| 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 ↓ | RA$_1$ |
| R$_{29}$ Re-elected | R$_{30}$ Re-elected | R$_{31}$ Hold | R$_{32}$ Hold | R$_{33}$ Hold | R$_{34}$ Hold | R$_{35}$ Hold | R$_{36}$ Gain | R$_{37}$ Gain | RA$_1$ |
| R$_{28}$ Re-elected | R$_{27}$ Re-elected | 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 I$_#$ Independent RA$_#$ Readjuster R$_#$ Republican V$_#$ Vacant |

## Race summaries
### Special elections during the 47th Congress

In these elections, the winners were seated during 1882 or in 1883 before March 4; ordered by election date.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Iowa (Class 2) | James W. McDill | Republican | 1881 (appointed) | Interim appointee elected January 25, 1882. Winner did not run for re-election; see below. | ▌Y James W. McDill (Republican) ▌Moses M. Ham (Democratic) ▌Daniel Campbell (Unknown) |
| Georgia (Class 2) | Benjamin H. Hill | Democratic | 1877 | Incumbent died August 16, 1882. New senator elected November 15, 1882. Democratic hold. Winner did not run for re-election; see below. | ▌Y Pope Barrow (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Colorado (Class 2) | George M. Chilcott | Republican | 1882 (appointed) | Interim appointee retired. New senator elected January 27, 1883. Republican hold. Winner did not run for re-election; see below. | ▌Y Horace Tabor (Republican) [data missing] |

### Races leading to the 48th Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1883; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Alabama | John T. Morgan | Democratic | 1876 | Incumbent re-elected in 1882. | ▌Y John T. Morgan (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Arkansas | Augustus Garland | Democratic | 1876 | Incumbent re-elected in 1883. | ▌Y Augustus Garland (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Colorado | Horace Tabor | Republican | 1883 (special) | Incumbent retired. Republican hold. | ▌Y Thomas M. Bowen (Republican) [data missing] |
| Delaware | Eli Saulsbury | Democratic | 1870 1876 | Incumbent re-elected in 1883. | ▌Y Eli Saulsbury (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Georgia | Middleton P. Barrow | Democratic | 1882 (special) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1883. Democratic hold. | ▌Y Alfred H. Colquitt (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Illinois | David Davis | Independent | 1876–77 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1882. Republican gain. | ▌Y Shelby M. Cullom (Republican) [data missing] |
| Iowa | James W. McDill | Republican | 1881 (appointed) 1882 (special) | Incumbent retired. New senator elected January 25, 1882. Republican hold. | ▌Y James F. Wilson (Republican) ▌La Vega G. Kinne (Unknown) ▌Daniel P. Stubbs (Greenback) |
| Kansas | Preston B. Plumb | Republican | 1877 | Incumbent re-elected January 24, 1883. | ▌Y Preston B. Plumb (Republican) 127 ▌John Martin (Democratic) 20 ▌J. G. Bayne (Unknown) 12 ▌John A. Anderson (Republican) 3 ▌George W. Glick (Democratic) 1 |
| Kentucky | James B. Beck | Democratic | 1876 | Incumbent re-elected in 1882. | ▌Y James B. Beck (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Louisiana | Joseph R. West | Republican | 1876 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1882. Democratic gain. | ▌Y Randall L. Gibson (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Maine | William P. Frye | Republican | 1881 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1883. | ▌Y William P. Frye (Republican) [data missing] |
| Massachusetts | George Frisbie Hoar | Republican | 1877 | Incumbent re-elected in 1883. | ▌Y George Frisbie Hoar (Republican) [data missing] |
| Michigan | Thomas W. Ferry | Republican | 1871 1877 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1882 or 1883. Republican hold. | ▌Y Thomas W. Palmer (Republican) [data missing] |
| Minnesota | William Windom | Republican | 1870 (appointed) 1871 1877 1881 (special) | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1883. Republican hold. | ▌Y Dwight M. Sabin (Republican) [data missing] |
| Mississippi | Lucius Q. C. Lamar | Democratic | 1876 | Incumbent re-elected in 1883. | ▌Y Lucius Q. C. Lamar (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Nebraska | Alvin Saunders | Republican | 1877 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected in 1883. Republican hold. | ▌Y Charles F. Manderson (Republican) [data missing] |
| New Hampshire | Edward H. Rollins | Republican | 1876 | Incumbent lost re-election. Legislature failed to elect. Republican loss. | None. |
| New Jersey | John R. McPherson | Democratic | 1877 | Incumbent re-elected in 1883. | ▌Y John R. McPherson (Democratic) 43 ▌Garret Hobart (Republican) 36 Others 2 [data missing] |
| North Carolina | Matt W. Ransom | Democratic | 1872 (special) 1876 | Incumbent re-elected in 1883. | ▌Y Matt W. Ransom (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Oregon | La Fayette Grover | Democratic | 1882–83 | Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1882. Republican gain. | ▌Y Joseph N. Dolph (Republican) [data missing] |
| Rhode Island | Henry B. Anthony | Republican | 1858 1864 1870 1876 | Incumbent re-elected in 1882. | ▌Y Henry B. Anthony (Republican) [data missing] |
| South Carolina | Matthew Butler | Democratic | 1876 | Incumbent re-elected in 1882. | ▌Y Matthew Butler (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Tennessee | Isham G. Harris | Democratic | 1877 | Incumbent re-elected in 1883. | ▌Y Isham G. Harris (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Texas | Richard Coke | Democratic | 1876 | Incumbent re-elected in 1882. | ▌Y Richard Coke (Democratic) [data missing] |
| Virginia | John W. Johnston | Democratic | 1871 1877 | Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected early December 21, 1881. Readjuster gain. Winner caucused with the Republicans. | ▌Y Harrison H. Riddleberger (Readjuster) ▌John W. Johnston (Democratic) [data missing] |
| West Virginia | Henry G. Davis | Democratic | 1871 1877 | Incumbent retired. Democratic hold. | ▌Y John E. Kenna (Democratic) [data missing] |

### Elections during the 48th Congress

In this election, the winner was elected in 1883 after March 4.
| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| New Hampshire | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Legislature had failed to elect. New senator elected August 2, 1883. Republican gain. | ▌Y Austin F. Pike (Republican) 181 ▌Hiram Bingham III (Republican) 112 ▌Gilman Marston (Republican) 19 ▌Edward H. Rollins (Republican) 1 ▌William S. Ladd (Republican) 1 ▌Aaron F. Stevens (Republican) 1 |

## Iowa

On January 25, 1882, the Iowa General Assembly elected James W. McDill (Republican) to finish the term over Moses M. Ham and Daniel Campbell. James F. Wilson (Republican) was elected to the full six-year term on January 25, 1882, over La Vega G. Kinne and Daniel P. Stubbs.

## West Virginia

On January 23, 1883, each House of the West Virginia Legislature chose a senator to replace retiring incumbent, Henry G. Davis. In both chambers, the ballot was a three-way race between John E. Kenna, a Democratic congressman, George Loomis, a state judge and former state senator, and Berkeley County resident John Tabb Janney. In the House, the final count was 37 votes for Kenna, 22 votes for Loomis, and 3 votes for Janney. In the Senate, the final count was 17 votes for Kenna, 7 votes for Loomis, and 2 votes for Janney. Kenna, having received the majority of votes in both chambers, was declared duly elected as senator.