The 1870–71 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 1870 and 1871, 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 2.
The Republican Party lost five seats, though it still retained an overwhelming majority. In advance of these elections, the last four seceded states were readmitted to the Senate.
Mississippian Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first African American to be elected as a U.S. Senator and become a member of Congress.[2]
In Georgia, Foster Blodgett was elected and presented his credentials as Senator-elect, but the Senate declared him not elected.
In Virginia, Republican John F. Lewis and Democrat John W. Johnston were elected on January 26, 1870, to fill seats that had been vacant since 1864 and 1865.
Vacant since July 11, 1861, when John Hemphill (D) was expelled.
State readmitted to the Union. New senator elected February 22, 1870.[6] Allowed to take office when state readmitted on March 30, 1870. Republican gain. Winner was also elected to the next term; see below.
Interim appointee was not elected to finish the term. New senator elected January 22, 1871 to finish the term. Republican hold. Winner was not elected to the next term; see below. Instead, interim appointee was elected to the next term; see below.
Incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in 1876 or 1877. Democratic loss. Senate later refused to seat Senator-elect Foster Blodgett.
Foster Blodgett (R) had presented credentials as Senator-elect, but the Senate declared him not elected. New senator elected November 14, 1871. Democratic gain.
Needed to win: Majority of votes cast in each House of the Legislature 54 votes cast in the House; 28 votes needed 21 votes cast in the Senate; 11 votes needed
Henry G. Davis, a Democratic state legislator, was elected to replace outgoing Republican incumbent Waitman T. Willey. Davis won the Democratic caucus vote over former legislators Daniel Lamb and Benjamin H. Smith. Davis' victory was attributed to widespread support throughout the state, as well as among party leaders. Nearly all of Lamb's votes, meanwhile, were localized to the Northern Panhandle.[10]
^Segar was not seated on the premise that the Union-friendly legislature was illegitimate despite having seated his predecessor based credentials from the same legislature. In reality, the Senate refused because it did not want to set a precedent for easing reentry of Confederate states. See "Musical Chairs (1861–1869)". United States Senate. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
^University of Minnesota Libraries, University of Minnesota. "1871 Minnesota U.S. Senate Special Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
^University of Minnesota Libraries, University of Minnesota. "1871 Minnesota U.S. Senate Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
