1801–02 Massachusetts's 12th congressional district special election

A special election was held in Massachusetts's 12th congressional district on five occasions between September 25, 1801, and July 29, 1802, to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Silas Lee (F) on August 20, 1801, prior to the beginning of the 1st Session of the 7th Congress.[1]

Election results

First three ballots

The first three ballots had similar results and were held on September 25 and December 7, 1801, and April 5, 1802

Candidate[2] Party First ballot[3] Second ballot[4] Third ballot[5]
Votes Percent Votes Percent Votes Percent
Orchard Cook Democratic-Republican 521 47.9% 715 42.5% 1,394 45.0%
Martin Kingsley Democratic-Republican 257 23.6% 575 34.2% 1,004 32.4%
Phineas Bruce Federalist 120 7.1% 413 13.3%
Nathaniel Drummer Unknown 262 24.1% 273 16.2% 285 9.2%
Scattering 47 4.3%

Fourth and fifth ballots

Between the third and fourth ballots Cook and Drummer dropped out while Samuel Thatcher (DR) entered the race, eventually winning. The final two votes were held June 7, 1802 and July 29, 1802

Candidate[2] Party Fourth ballot[6] Fifth ballot[7]
Votes Percent Votes Percent
Samuel Thatcher Democratic-Republican 436 33.0% 874 59.3%
Martin Kingsley Democratic-Republican 595 45.0% 600 40.7%
Phineas Bruce Federalist 110 8.3%
Scattering 180 13.6%

Thatcher took office on December 6, 1802[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ House roster for the 7th Congress (footnote 15) Archived December 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b Order based on final ballot
  3. ^ Massachusetts - 1st eastern special election 1st trial from Ourcampaigns.com
  4. ^ Massachusetts - 1st eastern special election 2nd trial from Ourcampaigns.com
  5. ^ Massachusetts - 1st eastern special election 3rd trial from Ourcampaigns.com
  6. ^ Massachusetts - 1st eastern special election 4th trial from Ourcampaigns.com
  7. ^ Massachusetts - 1st eastern special election 5th trial from Ourcampaigns.com
  8. ^ House roster for the 7th Congress (footnote 16) Archived December 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine