1800–01 United States Senate elections

1800–01 United States Senate elections
← 1798 & 1799 Dates vary by state 1802 & 1803 →
10 of the 32 seats in the United States Senate (plus special elections)
17 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Federalist Democratic-Republican
Seats before 21 (65.6%) 11 (34.4%)
Seats after 17 (54.8%) 14 (45.2%)
Seat change Decrease 4 Increase 3
Seats up 7 3
Races won 3 6
Results:
     Federalist hold      Federalist gain
     Dem-Republican hold      Dem-Republican gain
Majority Party before election


Federalist

Elected Majority Party


Federalist

The 1800–01 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states, coinciding with Thomas Jefferson being elected to the White House. 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 1800 and 1801, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock.[1] In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 3.

Although the Federalists began the 7th Congress with a slim majority, Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party took over the majority shortly thereafter due to mid-year special elections. By the time the first proper session of the 7th Congress met in December 1801, three seats had been gained by the Democratic-Republicans, leaving them with an overall majority of 17 seats and a government trifecta.

Change in composition

Before the November elections

After the November 6, 1800 special election in New York.

DR6 DR5 DR4 DR3 DR2 DR1
DR7 DR8 DR9
N.H.
Ran 		DR10
N.Y.
Ran 		DR11
N.C.
Retired 		F21
Vt.
Ran 		F20
S.C.
Ran 		F19
Pa.
Retired 		F18
Md.
Unknown 		F17
Ky.
Ran
Majority →
F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12 F13 F14 F15
Conn.
Ran 		F16
Ga.
Retired
F6 F5 F4 F3 F2 F1

Result of the November elections

DR6 DR5 DR4 DR3 DR2 DR1
DR7 DR8 DR9
Ga.
Gain 		DR10
Ky.
Gain 		DR11
N.Y.
Re-elected 		DR12
N.C.
Hold 		DR13
Pa.
Gain 		DR14
S.C.
Gain 		V1
Md.
F loss 		F17
Vt.
Re-elected
Majority →
F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12 F13 F14 F15
Conn.
Re-elected 		F16
N.H.
Gain
F6 F5 F4 F3 F2 F1

Beginning of the 7th Congress, March 4, 1801

DR6 DR5 DR4 DR3 DR2 DR1
DR7 DR8 DR9 DR10 DR11 DR12 DR13 DR14 F18
Md.
Appointed 		F17
Majority →
F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12 F13 F14 F15 F16
F6 F5 F4 F3 F2 F1

End of 1801

DR6 DR5 DR4 DR3 DR2 DR1
DR7 DR8 DR9 DR10 DR11 DR12 DR13
Md.
Gain 		DR14
Pa.
Hold 		DR15
R.I.
Gain 		DR16
S.C.
Hold
Majority → DR17
Vt.
Gain
F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12 F13 F14 F15
N.H.
Hold
F6 F5 F4 F3 F2 F1
Key
DR# Democratic-Republican
F# Federalist
V# Vacant

Race summaries

Except if/when noted, the number following candidates is the whole number vote(s), not a percentage.

Special elections during the preceding Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated before March 4, 1801; ordered by election date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral
history
New York
(Class 1) 		James Watson Federalist 1798 (special) Incumbent resigned March 19, 1800, to become Naval Officer of the Port of New York.
New senator elected April 3, 1800.
Federalist hold.
Massachusetts
(Class 2) 		Samuel Dexter Federalist 1798 Incumbent resigned May 30, 1800 to become U.S. Secretary of War.
New senator elected June 6, 1800.
Federalist hold.
New York
(Class 3) 		John Laurance Federalist 1796 (special) Incumbent resigned August 1800.
New senator elected November 6, 1800.
Democratic-Republican gain.
Massachusetts
(Class 1) 		Benjamin Goodhue Federalist 1796 (special)
1796 		Incumbent resigned November 8, 1800.
New senator elected November 14, 1800.
Federalist hold.
Maryland
(Class 3) 		James Lloyd Federalist 1797 (special) Incumbent resigned December 1, 1800.
New senator elected December 12, 1800.
Federalist hold.
New Jersey
(Class 1) 		James Schureman Federalist 1799 (special) Incumbent resigned February 16, 1801.
New senator elected February 28, 1801.
Federalist hold.

Races leading to the next Congress

In these regular elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1801; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral
history
Connecticut Uriah Tracy Federalist 1796 (special) Incumbent re-elected in May 1801.
Georgia James Gunn Federalist 1789
1794 		Incumbent retired.
New senator elected November 19, 1800.
Democratic-Republican gain.
Kentucky Humphrey Marshall Federalist 1794 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected November 20, 1800.
Democratic-Republican gain.
Maryland William Hindman Federalist 1797 (special) Legislature failed to elect.
Incumbent was later appointed to begin the next term. 		None.
New Hampshire John Langdon Democratic-
Republican 		1788
1794 or 1795 		Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected June 21, 1800.
Federalist gain.
New York John Armstrong Democratic-
Republican 		1800 (special) Incumbent re-elected January 27, 1801.
North Carolina Timothy Bloodworth Democratic-
Republican 		1795 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected November 27, 1800.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Pennsylvania William Bingham Federalist 1795 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected February 18, 1801.[12]
Democratic-Republican gain.
South Carolina Jacob Read Federalist 1794 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1800 on the second ballot.
Democratic-Republican gain.
Vermont Elijah Paine Federalist 1794 Incumbent re-elected October 21, 1800.

Special elections during the next Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated after March 4, 1801; ordered by election date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral
history
Rhode Island
(Class 2) 		Ray Greene Federalist 1797 (special)
1798 		Incumbent resigned March 5, 1801.
New senator elected May 6, 1801.
Democratic-Republican gain.
New Hampshire
(Class 2) 		Samuel Livermore Federalist 1798 (special) Incumbent resigned June 12, 1801.
New senator elected June 17, 1801.
Federalist hold.
Vermont
(Class 3) 		Elijah Paine Federalist 1794
1800 		Incumbent resigned September 1, 1801.
New senator elected October 14, 1801.
Democratic-Republican gain.
Maryland
(Class 3) 		William Hindman Federalist 1800 (Appointed) Incumbent appointee did not run to finish the term
New senator elected November 12, 1801 on the second ballot.
Democratic-Republican gain.
South Carolina
(Class 2) 		Charles Pinckney Democratic-
Republican 		1798 (special)
1798 		Incumbent resigned June 6, 1801.
New senator elected December 3, 1801.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Pennsylvania
(Class 3) 		Peter Muhlenberg Democratic-
Republican 		1801 Incumbent resigned June 30, 1801.
New senator elected December 17, 1801.[19]
Democratic-Republican hold.

Connecticut

Senator Uriah Tracy
See also: List of United States senators from Connecticut and 1800 United States House of Representatives election in Connecticut

Federalist Uriah Tracy was easily re-elected.

Georgia

See also: List of United States senators from Georgia and 1800 United States House of Representatives election in Georgia

Kentucky

See also: List of United States senators from Kentucky and 1801 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky

Maryland

See also: List of United States senators from Maryland

Maryland (special, 1800)

1800 United States Senate special election in Maryland
← 1797 December 9, 1800 1801 →
80 members of the Maryland General Assembly
 
Candidate William Hindman Richard Tilghman Earle
Party Federalist
Legislative vote 45 44
Percentage 50.56% 49.44%

William Hindman won election over Richard Tilghman Earle by a margin of 10.11%, or 9 votes, for the Class 3 seat.[20]

Maryland (regular)

The Maryland legislature failed to elect a senator before the March 4, 1801 beginning of the term. As such, William Hindman was appointed to fill the vacancy, and retired when a successor was elected.

Maryland (special, 1801)

1801 United States Senate special election in Maryland
← 1800 December 9, 1800 1806 →
80 members of the Maryland General Assembly
 
Candidate Robert Wright William Winder
Party Democratic-Republican Democratic-Republican
Legislative vote 60 26
Percentage 50.56% 30.23%

Robert Wright won election over William Winder by a margin of 39.53%, or 34 votes, for the Class 3 seat.[21]

Massachusetts

See also: List of United States senators from Massachusetts and 1800–1801 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts

Massachusetts (special, class 2)

Massachusetts (special, class 1)

New Hampshire

See also: List of United States senators from New Hampshire and 1800 United States House of Representatives election in New Hampshire

New Hampshire (regular)

New Hampshire (special)

New Jersey (special)

See also: List of United States senators from New Jersey and 1800 United States House of Representatives election in New Jersey

New York

See also: List of United States senators from New York and 1800 United States House of Representatives elections in New York

New York (regular)

Main article: 1801 United States Senate election in New York

New York (special, class 1)

Main article: April 1800 United States Senate special election in New York

New York (special, class 3)

Main article: November 1800 United States Senate special election in New York

North Carolina

See also: List of United States senators from North Carolina and 1800 United States House of Representatives elections in North Carolina

Pennsylvania

See also: List of United States senators from Pennsylvania and 1800 United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania (regular)

Main article: 1801 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania (special)

Main article: 1801 United States Senate special election in Pennsylvania

Rhode Island (special)

See also: List of United States senators from Rhode Island and 1800–1801 United States House of Representatives elections in Rhode Island

South Carolina

See also: List of United States senators from South Carolina and 1800 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina

South Carolina (regular)

South Carolina (special)

Vermont

See also: List of United States senators from Vermont and 1800 United States House of Representatives elections in Vermont

Vermont (regular)

Vermont (special)

See also

References

  1. ^ "17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)". National Archives and Records Administration. February 8, 2022.
  2. ^ "New York 1800 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 25, 2018., citing Journal of the New York Assembly, 1800. 265. The Albany Centinel (Albany, NY). April 4, 1800. Aurora. General Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). April 10, 1800. The Centinel of Liberty, or George-town and Washington Advertiser (Georgetown, DC). April 15, 1800.
  3. ^ "Massachusetts 1800 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 25, 2018., citing Hampshire Gazette (Northhampton). June 11, 1800. The Kentucky Gazette (Lexington, KY). July 3, 1800.
  4. ^ "New York 1800 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 25, 2018., citing Journal of the New York Assembly, 1800. 10, 11. Journal of the New York State Senate, 1800. 8. American Citizen and General Advertiser (New York, NY). November 10, 1800. The Centinel of Freedom (Newark, NJ). November 11, 1800. Columbian Museum and Savannah Advertiser (Savannah, GA). November 19, 1800. Universal Gazette (Washington, DC). November 20, 1800.
  5. ^ "Maryland 1800 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 25, 2018., citing Votes and Proceedings of the Maryland State Senate, 1800. 26. Connecticut Gazette, and the Commercial Intelligencer (New London, CT). December 24, 1800. Mattern, David B., J. C. A. Stagg, Jeanne K. Cross and Susan Holbrook Perdue, ed. The Papers of James Madison, Congressional Series. Vol. 17. Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia Press, 1991. 435–436.
  6. ^ "Connecticut 1801 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing Connecticut Gazette, and the Commercial Intelligencer (New London, CT). May 17, 1801. Impartial Journal (Stonington, CT). June 2, 1801. The Bee (New London, CT). June 3, 1801. The Bee (Hudson, NY). November 16, 1802.
  7. ^ "Georgia 1800 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing Columbian Museum and Savannah Advertiser (Savannah, GA). November 25, 1800.
  8. ^ "Kentucky 1800 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing The Palladium: A Literary and Political Weekly Repository (Frankfort, KY). November 25, 1800.
  9. ^ "New Hampshire 1800 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing The Ninth State: New Hampshire's Formative Years. 182.
  10. ^ "New York 1801 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing The Albany Centinel (Albany, NY). January 30, 1801.
  11. ^ "North Carolina 1800 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing Legislative Papers for 1800. Box 176. State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh. Raleigh Register, and North-Carolina Weekly Advertiser (Raleigh, NC). December 2, 1800.
  12. ^ "Our Campaigns - PA US Senate Race - Feb 18, 1801".
  13. ^ "South Carolina 1800 U.S. Senate, Ballot 2". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing National Intelligencer and Washington Advertiser (Washington, DC). December 15, 1800.
  14. ^ "Vermont 1800 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Journal of the New York Assembly, 1800. 265. The Albany Centinel (Albany, NY). April 4, 1800. Aurora. General Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). April 10, 1800. The Centinel of Liberty, or George-town and Washington Advertiser (Georgetown, DC). April 15, 1800.
  15. ^ "New Hampshire 1801 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing Courier of New Hampshire (Concord, NH). June 18, 1801.
  16. ^ "New Hampshire 1801 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing Spooner's Vermont Journal (Windsor, VT). October 20, 1801.
  17. ^ "Maryland 1801 U.S. Senate, Ballot 2". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing The Albany Gazette (Albany, NY). November 21, 1796.
  18. ^ "South Carolina 1801 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 5, 2018., citing The Augusta Chronicle and Gazette of the State (Augusta, GA). December 12, 1801.
  19. ^ "Our Campaigns - PA US Senate - Special Election Race - Dec 16, 1801".
  20. ^ "Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Dec 09, 1800". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  21. ^ "Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Nov 12, 1801". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.