1894 and 1895 United States Senate elections
The 1894 and 1895 United States Senate elections to the 54th Congress resulted in plurality control of the Senate by the Republican Party with Populist and Silver support. As these elections were prior to the ratification of the seventeenth amendment, senators were chosen by state legislatures. Results summary. Senate Party Division, 54th Congress (1895–1897) Change in composition. Before the elections. At the beginning of 1894, including early elections in Mississippi and Virginia. Race summaries. Elections during the 53rd Congress. In these elections, the winners were seated during 1894 or in 1895 before March  4; ordered by election date. Elections leading to the 54th Congress. In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1895; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats. Elections during the 54th Congress. There were no elections in 1895 after March 4. Louisiana. Interim appointee Donelson Caffery (D) was elected May 14, 1894 to the next term. He was later (May 23, 1894) elected to finish the current term. Louisiana (Special, class 2). Randall L. Gibson (D) had been re-elected in 1889, but died December 15, 1892. Donelson Caffery  (D) was appointed by the Governor of Louisiana December 31, 1892 to continue the term, pending a special election. On May 14, 1894 Caffery was elected to the next term, and on May 23, 1894 Caffery was elected to finish the current term. Louisiana (Special, class 3). Edward Douglass White (D) had been elected in 1891, but resigned March 12, 1894 when appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Newton C. Blanchard (D) was appointed by the Governor of Louisiana March 12, 1894 to continue the term, pending a special election. On May 23, 1894 Blanchard was elected to finish the  current term, which would end March 3, 1897. Washington (Special). John B. Allen (R) had been elected in 1889 as one of the first senators from Washington. In 1893, however, the Washington State Legislature failed to elect a senator for the term beginning March 4, 1893. The governor appointed Allen to serve until March 20, 1893, but the Senate rejected his credentials. John L. Wilson (R) was elected February 1, 1895 to finish the term, that would end March 3, 1899, taking his seat February 19, 1895.