1862–63 United States Senate elections

1862–63 United States Senate elections

Various dates
22 of the 68 seats in the United States Senate[a] (with special elections) 25 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader John P. Hale[b] (retired) Party Republican Democratic Leader since March 4, 1859 Leader's seat New Hampshire Last election 29 seats 30 seats Seats before 31 11 Seats won 32 10 Seat change 1 1 Seats up 10 5   Third party Fourth party   Party Union Unconditional Union Last election New party New party Seats before 6 Seats won 5 1 Seat change 1 1 Seats up 4
Results of the elections:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican gain      Republican hold      Unionist Hold      Unconditional Unionist Gain      Confederacy
Majority Party before election Republican Elected Majority Party Republican

The 1862–63 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states, occurring during the American Civil War. 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 1862 and 1863, 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 1.

Since many Southern states seceded in 1860 and 1861, six senators resigned to join the Confederacy, and 14 were expelled for supporting the rebellion: these seats were declared vacant. To establish a quorum with fewer members, a lower total seat number was taken into account.

The Republican Party increased their control of the Senate by gaining three seats, bringing their majority to two-thirds of the body. Also caucusing with them were Unionists and Unconditional Unionists, giving them a commanding majority.

Senate party division, 38th Congress (1863–1865)

• Majority party: Republican (31), later rose to 33
• Minority party: Democratic (10)
• Other parties: Unionist (4), later dropped to 3; Unconditional Unionist (3), later rose to 4
• Vacant: 20, later rose to 22
• Total seats: 48, later rose to 50

At the beginning of 1862.

V4	V3	V2	V1
V5	V6	V7 Fla. No race	V8 Miss. No race	V9 Tenn. No race	V10 Texas No race	D1	D2	D3	D4
U4 Md. Unknown	U3	U2	U1	U10 Mo. Expelled	D9 Minn. Retired	D8 Del. Ran	D7 Calif. Ran	D6	D5
U5 Ind. Retired	U6 Va. Retired	R32 N.J. Retired	R31 Pa. Retired	R30 R.I. Unknown	R29 Wis. Ran	R28 Vt. Ran	R27 Ohio Ran	R26 N.Y. Ran	R25 Mich. Ran
Majority →
R15	R16	R17	R18	R19	R20	R21	R22 Conn. Ran	R23 Maine Ran	R24 Mass. Ran
R14	R13	R12	R11	R10	R9	R8	R7	R6	R5
V16	V15	V14	V13	V12	V11	R1	R2	R3	R4
V17	V18	V19	V20

V4	V3	V2	V1
V5	V6	V7 Fla. No race	V8 Miss. No race	V9 Tenn. No race	V10 Texas No race	D1	D2	D3	D4
U4 Md. Hold	U3	U2	U1	D10 Pa. Gain	D9 N.J. Gain[c]	D8 Ind. Gain[c]	D7 Del. Re-elected	D6	D5
U5 Va. Hold	UU1 Mo. Gain[d]	R32 Minn. Gain	R31 Calif. Gain	R30 R.I. Hold	R29 N.Y. Hold	R28 Wis. Re-elected	R27 Vt. Re-elected	R26 Ohio Re-elected	R25 Mich. Re-elected
Majority →
R15	R16	R17	R18	R19	R20	R21	R22 Conn. Re-elected	R23 Maine Re-elected	R24 Mass. Re-elected
R14	R13	R12	R11	R10	R9	R8	R7	R6	R5
V16	V15	V14	V13	V12	V11	R1	R2	R3	R4
V17	V18	V19	V20

V4	V3	V2	V1
V5	V6	V7	V8	V9	V10	D1	D2	D3 Ill. Gain[c]	D4
U4	U3	U2	U1	D9	D9 N.J. Gain[c]	D8 Ind. Gain[c]	D7	D6	D5
UU3 Md. Changed	UU2 Mo. Changed	UU1	R31	R30 R.I. Hold[c]	R29	R28	R27	R26	R25
Majority →
R15	R16	R17	R18	R19	R20	R21	R22	R23	R24
R14	R13	R12	R11	R10	R9	R8	R7	R6	R5
V16	V15	V14	V13	V12	V11	R1	R2	R3	R4
V17	V18	V19	V20

Key:	D# Democratic R# Republican UU# Unconditional Unionist U# Unionist V# Vacant

Special elections were held to fill six vacancies in the 37th United States Congress.

State	Incumbent			This race
	Senator	Party	Electoral history	Results	Candidates
Michigan (Class 2)	Kinsley S. Bingham	Republican	1858	Incumbent died October 5, 1861. New member elected January 4, 1862. Republican hold.	First ballot (January 4, 1862) ▌Y Jacob M. Howard (Republican) 75 HTooltip Michigan House of Representatives; 28 STooltip Michigan Senate ▌ Alpheus Felch (Democratic) 10 HTooltip Michigan House of Representatives; 2 STooltip Michigan Senate
Oregon (Class 2)	Benjamin Stark	Democratic	1862 (ap.)	Interim appointee retired. New senator elected September 12, 1862. Union gain.	Thirtieth ballot (September 12, 1862) ▌Y Benjamin F. Harding (Union) 28 ▌ Henry W. Corbett (Union) 11 ▌ George H. Williams (Union) 5 ▌ John Whiteaker (Democratic) 3 Blank 1
Rhode Island (Class 1)	James F. Simmons	Republican	1841 1847 (lost) 1856	Incumbent resigned August 15, 1862 before the Senate could vote to expel him. New senator elected September 5, 1862.[2][3] Republican hold. Winner was not a candidate to the next term.	▌Y Samuel G. Arnold (Republican) 87.65% ▌Nathan F. Dixon II (Republican) 8.64% ▌Elisha Dyer (Republican) 1.24% ▌Thomas G. Turner (Republican) 1.24% ▌Moses B. Lockwood (Unknown) 1.24%[3]
Missouri (Class 1)	John B. Henderson	Union	1862 (ap.)	Interim appointee elected with a new party January 6, 1863. Emancipation gain.	First ballot (January 6, 1863) ▌Y John B. Henderson (Emancipation) 104 ▌ Robert Wilson (Conservative Union) 47 ▌ William A. Hall (Democratic) 1
Illinois (Class 2)	Orville H. Browning	Republican	1861 (ap.)	Interim appointee retired. New member elected January 12, 1863. Democratic gain.	First ballot (January 12, 1863) ▌Y William Richardson (Democratic) 65 ▌Richard Yates (Union) 38
Indiana (Class 1)	Joseph A. Wright	Union	1862 (ap.)	Interim appointee retired. New member elected January 14, 1863. Democratic gain.	First ballot (January 14, 1863) ▌Y David Turpie (Democratic) 85 ▌ Daniel D. Pratt (Union) 62
New Jersey (Class 1)	Richard S. Field	Union	1862 (ap.)	Interim appointee lost re-election January 14, 1863. Democratic gain.	First ballot (January 14, 1863) ▌Y James W. Wall (Democratic) 53 ▌ Richard S. Field (Union) 23 ▌ William A. Newell (Union) 2 ▌ William Cook (Democratic) 1

Eighteen senators were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1863.

State	Incumbent			This race
	Senator	Party	Electoral history	Results	Candidates
California	Milton Latham	Democratic	1860 (sp.)	Incumbent retired. Union gain.	First ballot (February 10, 1863) ▌Y John Conness (Union) 98 ▌ Benjamin Shurtleff (Democratic) 15 ▌ Joseph P. Hoge (Democratic) 1
Connecticut	James Dixon	Republican	1856	Incumbent re-elected with a new party. Union gain.	First ballot (May 22, 1862) ▌Y James Dixon (Union) 162 HTooltip Connecticut House of Representatives; 19 STooltip Connecticut Senate ▌ Charles Chapman (Democratic) 57 HTooltip Connecticut House of Representatives; 0 STooltip Connecticut Senate ▌ William A. Buckingham (Union) 2 HTooltip Connecticut House of Representatives; 0 STooltip Connecticut Senate ▌ Orris S. Ferry (Union) 2 HTooltip Connecticut House of Representatives; 0 STooltip Connecticut Senate Blank 1 HTooltip Connecticut House of Representatives; 1 STooltip Connecticut Senate
Delaware	James A. Bayard	Democratic	1851 1857	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot (January 8, 1863) ▌Y James A. Bayard Jr. (Democratic) 19 ▌ Edward G. Bradford (Union) 10
Florida	Vacant			Seat vacant since March 14, 1861. No election.	None.
Indiana	Joseph A. Wright	Union	1862 (ap.)	Interim appointee lost re-election. Democratic gain.	First ballot (January 14, 1863) ▌Y Thomas A. Hendricks (Democratic) 85 ▌ Joseph A. Wright (Union) 61 ▌ Schuyler Colfax (Union) 1
Maine	Lot M. Morrill	Republican	1861 (sp.)	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot (January 13, 1863) ▌Y Lot M. Morrill (Republican) 95 HTooltip Maine House of Representatives; 25 STooltip Maine Senate ▌ William P. Haines (Democratic) 42 HTooltip Maine House of Representatives; 1 STooltip Maine Senate
Maryland	Anthony Kennedy	American	1856–57	Incumbent retired. Union gain.	First ballot (March 5, 1862) ▌Y Reverdy Johnson (Union) 56 Blank 28
Massachusetts	Charles Sumner	Republican	1851 1857	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot (January 15, 1863) ▌Y Charles Sumner (Republican) 194 HTooltip Massachusetts House of Representatives; 33 STooltip Massachusetts Senate ▌ Josiah G. Abbott (People's) 38 HTooltip Massachusetts House of Representatives; 5 STooltip Massachusetts Senate ▌ Caleb Cushing (Democratic) 2 HTooltip Massachusetts House of Representatives; 0 STooltip Massachusetts Senate ▌ Charles F. Adams (Republican) 1 HTooltip Massachusetts House of Representatives; 1 STooltip Massachusetts Senate
Michigan	Zachariah Chandler	Republican	1857	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot (January 8, 1863) ▌Y Zachariah Chandler (Republican) 60 HTooltip Michigan House of Representatives; 18 STooltip Michigan Senate ▌ James F. Joy (Democratic) 34 HTooltip Michigan House of Representatives; 11 STooltip Michigan Senate ▌ Alpheus Felch (Democratic) 0 HTooltip Michigan House of Representatives; 2 STooltip Michigan Senate Scattering 1 HTooltip Michigan House of Representatives; 1 STooltip Michigan Senate
Minnesota	Henry Mower Rice	Democratic	1858	Incumbent retired. Republican gain.	First ballot (January 14, 1863) ▌Y Alexander Ramsey (Republican) 45 ▌ Andrew G. Chatfield (Democratic) 17
Mississippi	Vacant			Seat vacant since March 14, 1861. No election.	None.
Missouri	John B. Henderson	Emancipation	1863 (sp.)	Incumbent re-elected with a new party. Radical Union gain.	First ballot (November 13, 1863) ▌Y John B. Henderson (Radical Union) 84 ▌ John S. Phelps (Conservative) 42 ▌ Benjamin F. Loan (Radical Union) 7 ▌ William A. Hall (Democratic) 3 Scattering 2
New Jersey	James W. Wall	Democratic	1863 (sp.)	Incumbent lost re-nomination. Democratic hold.	First ballot (February 26, 1863) ▌Y William Wright (Democratic) 54 ▌ William A. Newell (Union) 25
New York	Preston King	Republican	1857	Incumbent lost renomination. Union gain.	First ballot (February 3, 1863) ▌Y Edwin D. Morgan (Union) 86 ▌ Erastus Corning (Democratic) 70 Scattering 2
Ohio	Benjamin Wade	Republican	1851 1856	Incumbent re-elected with a new party. Union gain.	First ballot (January 22, 1863) ▌Y Benjamin Wade (Union) 75 ▌ Hugh J. Jewett (Democratic) 35 ▌ Thomas Ewing (Union) 15 ▌ Robert C. Schenck (Union) 1
Pennsylvania	David Wilmot	Republican	1861 (sp.)	Incumbent lost renomination. Democratic gain.	First ballot (January 13, 1863) ▌Y Charles R. Buckalew (Democratic) 67 ▌ Simon Cameron (Union) 65 ▌ William D. Kelley (Union) 1
Rhode Island	James F. Simmons	Republican	1841 1847 (lost) 1856	Incumbent resigned August 15, 1862 before the Senate could vote to expel him. New senator elected in 1862. Republican hold. Winner was not a candidate to finish the term.	▌Y William Sprague IV (Republican) 89.32% ▌James F. Simmons (Republican) 4.85% ▌Nathan F. Dixon II (Republican) 4.85%[4]
Tennessee	Vacant			Seat vacant from March 4, 1862. No election.	None.
Texas	Vacant			Seat vacant from July 11, 1861. No election.	None.
Vermont	Solomon Foot	Republican	1850 1856	Incumbent re-elected in 1862.	▌Y Solomon Foot (Republican) [data missing]
Virginia	Waitman T. Willey	Unionist	1861 (special)	Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1863. Unionist hold.	▌Y Lemuel J. Bowden (Unionist) [data missing]
West Virginia 2 seats	None (new state)			West Virginia admitted to the Union June 19, 1863. Senator elected August 4, 1863. Unconditional Unionist gain.	▌Y Peter G. Van Winkle (Unconditional Unionist) ▌Y Waitman T. Willey (Unconditional Unionist) [data missing]
				West Virginia admitted to the Union June 19, 1863. Senator elected August 4, 1863. Unconditional Unionist gain.
Wisconsin	James R. Doolittle	Republican	1857	Incumbent re-elected on January 22, 1863.[5]	▌Y James R. Doolittle (Republican) 55.30% ▌ Edward George Ryan (Democratic) 43.18% ▌ Matthew H. Carpenter (Republican) 0.76% ▌ James S. Brown (Democratic) 0.76%

In these elections, the winners were elected in 1863 after March 4; ordered by election date.

State	Incumbent			This race
	Senator	Party	Electoral history	Results	Candidates
Missouri (Class 3)	Robert Wilson	Union	1862 (ap.)	Interim appointee retired. New member elected November 13, 1863. Radical Union gain.	Thirty-second ballot (November 13, 1863) ▌Y B. Gratz Brown (Radical Union) 74 ▌ James Broadhead (Conservative) 65 ▌ H. M. Vorhies (Unknown) 2

California election

February 10, 1863
Members of the California State Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee John Conness Benjamin Shurtleff Party Union Democratic 1st ballot 98 (86.0%) 15 (13.2%)
Senator before election Milton Latham Lecompton Democratic Elected Senator John Conness Union

Incumbent Democrat Milton Latham was elected in 1860 to fill the vacancy created by the death of David C. Broderick.^[6] He was not a candidate for re-election.^[7]

The Union members of the legislature held a caucus from January 13 to February 9, 1863.^[8] Timothy G. Phelps, John Conness, Aaron A. Sargent, and Trenor W. Park were the major candidates. Phelps led on the first ballot, but without a majority. During the balloting, an internal inquiry found that Phelps's supporters had offered bribes to several members in exchange for their votes. Although Phelps denied the allegations, the stigma of corruption in effect ended his candidacy.^[9] Conness was nominated on the final ballot with 60 votes to 29 for Sargent, three for Phelps, and eight for other candidates.^[10]

The California State Legislature met in joint session on February 10, 1863, to hold an election for the next term.^[11] Conness defeated the Democratic candidate Benjamin Shurtleff on the first ballot.^[12]

Connecticut election

May 22, 1862
Members of the Connecticut General Assembly Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee James Dixon Charles Chapman Party Union Democratic House 162 (72.3%) 57 (25.4%) Senate 19 (95.0%) —
Senator before election James Dixon Republican Elected Senator James Dixon Union

One-term Republican James Dixon was elected in 1856.^[6]

The Union members of the legislature held a caucus on May 15, 1862. Dixon, William A. Buckingham, Roger S. Baldwin, and Orris S. Ferry were the leading candidates. Dixon defeated the other candidates on the first ballot.^[13]

The Senate and the House of Representatives met separately on May 22, 1862, to hold an election for the next term.^[13] Dixon defeated the Democratic candidate Charles Chapman on the first ballot.^[14]

Delaware election

January 8, 1863
Members of the Delaware General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee James A. Bayard Edward G. Bradford Party Democratic Union 1st ballot 19 (65.5%) 10 (34.5%)
Senator before election James A. Bayard Democratic Elected Senator James A. Bayard Democratic

Two-term Democrat James A. Bayard was re-elected in 1857.^[15]

The Delaware General Assembly met in joint session on January 8, 1863, to hold an election for the next term. Bayard defeated the Union candidate Edward G. Bradford on the first ballot.^[16][17]

Florida election

No election

Senator before election None (vacant from March 14, 1861) Elected Senator None

Two-term Democrat Stephen Mallory withdrew from the Senate on March 14, 1861, following the secession of Florida. The Florida Legislature did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1868.^[18]

Illinois special election

January 12, 1863
Members of the Illinois General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee William A. Richardson Richard Yates Party Democratic Union 1st ballot 65 (63.1%) 38 (36.9%)
Senator before election Orville H. Browning Republican Elected Senator William A. Richardson Democratic

Incumbent Republican Orville H. Browning was appointed in 1861 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Stephen A. Douglas.^[19] He was not a candidate for re-election.

The Illinois General Assembly met on January 12, 1863, to hold a special election for the unexpired term. The Democratic candidate William A. Richardson defeated the Union candidate Richard Yates on the first ballot.^[20]

Incumbent Unionist Joseph A. Wright was appointed in 1862 to fill the vacancy created by the expulsion of Jesse D. Bright. With Bright's expulsion coming little more than a year before the end of his term on March 4, 1863, the Indiana General Assembly would hold concurrent elections in January 1863: a special election for the remainder of the unexpired term, and the regularly scheduled election for the next term.^[21]

The Democratic members of the legislature held a caucus on January 9, 1863. David Turpie was nominated for the unexpired term and Thomas A. Hendricks was nominated for the next term.^[22]

The General Assembly met in joint session on January 14, 1863, to hold concurrent elections for both terms. Turpie and Hendricks were respectively elected.^[23]

Indiana special election

January 14, 1863
Members of the Indiana General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee David Turpie Daniel D. Pratt Party Democratic Union 1st ballot 85 (57.8%) 62 (42.2%)
Senator before election Joseph A. Wright Union Elected Senator David Turpie Democratic

Wright was not a candidate in the special election. Turpie defeated the Union candidate Daniel D. Pratt on the first ballot.^[24]

Indiana election

January 14, 1863
Members of the Indiana General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Thomas A. Hendricks Joseph A. Wright Party Democratic Union 1st ballot 85 (57.8%) 61 (41.5%)
Senator before election Joseph A. Wright Union Elected Senator Thomas A. Hendricks Democratic

Turpie was not a candidate for the next term. Hendricks defeated Wright on the first ballot.^[25]

Maine election

January 13, 1863
Members of the Maine Legislature Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Lot M. Morrill William P. Haines Party Republican Democratic House 95 (68.3%) 42 (30.2%) Senate 25 (96.2%) 1 (3.8%)
Senator before election Lot M. Morrill Republican Elected Senator Lot M. Morrill Republican

Incumbent Republican Lot M. Morrill was elected in 1861 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Hannibal Hamlin.^[26]

The Senate and the House of Representatives met separately on January 13, 1863, to hold an election for the next term. Morrill defeated the Democratic candidate William P. Haines on the first ballot.^[27]

Maryland election

March 5, 1862
Members of the Maryland General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Reverdy Johnson Blank Party Union 1st ballot 56 (66.7%) 28 (33.3%)
Senator before election Anthony Kennedy Union Elected Senator Reverdy Johnson Union

One-term Unionist Anthony Kennedy was elected in 1856 or 1857.^[28] He was not a candidate for re-election.

The Maryland General Assembly met on March 5, 1862, to hold an election for the next term. Voting proceeded separately in the Senate and the House of Delegates, after which the tellers withdrew and to count the ballots in the Senate chamber. The Union candidate Reverdy Johnson was elected on the first ballot.^[29]

Massachusetts election

January 15, 1863
Members of the Massachusetts General Court Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Charles Sumner Josiah G. Abbott Party Republican People's House 194 (82.6%) 38 (16.2%) Senate 33 (84.6%) 5 (12.8%)
Senator before election Charles Sumner Republican Elected Senator Charles Sumner Republican

Two-term Republican Charles Sumner was re-elected in 1857.^[30]

The Republican state convention met at Worcester, Massachusetts, on September 9, 1862. Sumner had earned the disapproval of Conservative Republicans when he opposed Lincoln's plan for gradual emancipation in March 1862, calling instead for Congress to use its authority under the War Powers Clause to abolish slavery immediately. Seeking to preempt a movement to replace Sumner at the next senatorial election, Sumner's allies took the unusual step of having the state convention endorse his bid for re-election. A resolution endorsing Sumner and approving his course in the Senate passed over the protests of conservative delegates, in effect making Sumner's re-election the central issue of the fall campaign.^[31]

Conservative opponents of Sumner held a convention at Boston on October 7, 1862.^[32] Many of the organizers of the convention were former Whigs who had supported the Constitutional Union Party in 1860.^[33] In a nod to antipartisan wartime rhetoric, the movement called itself the People's Party; its express purpose was to defeat Sumner's bid for reelection. The convention adopted a pro-war, anti-abolitionist platform and selected candidates for the upcoming state elections; Charles F. Adams was nominated for U.S. senator, but declined. The preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, issued September 22, had brought the Lincoln administration into line with Sumner's position, while the endorsement of the People's ticket by the Massachusetts Democratic Party undermined the movement's claim to constitute the true pro-administration party in Massachusetts. Following these events, most Conservative Republicans returned to the fold, and the Republican ticket was elected by a large majority.^[34]

The Senate and the House of Representatives met separately on January 15, 1863, to hold an election for the next term. Sumner defeated the People's candidate Josiah G. Abbott on the first ballot.^[35]

There were two elections in Michigan, due to the death of Kinsley S. Bingham.

Michigan special election

January 4, 1862
Members of the Michigan Legislature Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Jacob M. Howard Alpheus Felch Party Republican Democratic House 75 (88.2%) 10 (11.8%) Senate 28 (93.3%) 2 (6.7%)
Senator before election None (vacant from October 5, 1861) Elected Senator Jacob M. Howard Republican

One-term Republican Kinsley S. Bingham was elected in 1858. Bingham died on October 5, 1861, causing a special election.^[36]

The Republican members of the legislature held a caucus on January 3, 1862. Jacob M. Howard, Austin Blair, Hezekiah G. Wells, and Henry Waldron were the leading candidates. Howard was nominated on the sixth ballot.^[37]

The Senate and the House of Representatives met separately on January 4, 1862, to hold a special election for the unexpired term. Howard defeated the Democratic candidate Alpheus Felch on the first ballot.^[38]

Michigan election

January 8, 1863
Members of the Michigan Legislature Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Zachariah Chandler James F. Joy Alpheus Felch Party Republican Democratic Democratic House 60 (63.2%) 34 (35.8%) — Senate 18 (56.2%) 11 (34.4%) 2 (6.2%)
Senator before election Zachariah Chandler Republican Elected Senator Zachariah Chandler Republican

One-term Republican Zachariah Chandler was elected in 1857.^[36]

The Republican members of the legislature held a caucus on January 8, 1863. Chandler was renominated unanimously. The Democratic members met the same day and nominated James F. Joy over Alpheus Felch.^[39]

The Senate and the House of Representatives met separately on January 8, 1863, to hold an election for the next term.^[40] Chandler defeated Joy on the first ballot.^[39]

Minnesota election

January 14, 1863
Members of the Minnesota Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Alexander Ramsey Andrew G. Chatfield Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 45 (72.6%) 17 (27.4%)
Senator before election Henry M. Rice Democratic Elected Senator Alexander Ramsey Republican

One-term Democrat Henry M. Rice was elected in 1858.^[36] He was not a candidate for re-election.

The Republican members of the legislature held a caucus from January 12–13, 1863. Alexander Ramsey, Cyrus Aldrich, David Cooper, William R. Marshall, and James Smith, Jr. were the major candidates.^[41] Ramsey defeated Smith on the 25th ballot.^[42]

The Minnesota Legislature met in joint session on January 14, 1863.^[43] Ramsey defeated the Democratic candidate Andrew G. Chatfield on the first ballot.^[44]

Mississippi election

No election

Senator before election None (vacant from March 14, 1861) Elected Senator None

One-term Democrat Jefferson Davis withdrew from the Senate on March 14, 1861, following the secession of Mississippi. The Mississippi Legislature did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1870.^[45]

Three elections were held in Missouri, due to the expulsions of Trusten Polk and Waldo P. Johnson. With Polk's expulsion coming little more than a year before the end of his term on March 4, 1863, the Missouri General Assembly would hold special elections for both seats, followed by the regularly-scheduled election for the Class 1 seat.

Missouri Unionists were divided in their responses to emancipation and the related issue of Reconstruction. Three main ideological camps emerged: radical Charcoals, who supported immediate emancipation; conservative Claybanks, who favored Lincoln's initial plan of gradual emancipation; and ultra-conservative Snowflakes, who opposed emancipation altogether.^[46] In St. Louis, the ideological divide resulted in a formal split between the Immediatist and Gradualist wings of the Emancipation Party.^[47] Elections held in the fall of 1862 resulted in a clear majority for the Emancipationists in the General Assembly, while five conservatives and four radicals were elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.^[48][e]

The Emancipation members of the legislature held a caucus on January 3, 1863.^[50] The conservatives boycotted the proceedings.^[51] John B. Henderson was nominated for the Class 1 seat and B. Gratz Brown was nominated for the Class 3 seat.^[50]

The General Assembly met in joint session on January 6, 1863, to hold concurrent special elections for both seats.^[52] Henderson was elected to the Class 1 seat for the term ending March 4. The special election for the Class 3 seat remained deadlocked after multiple rounds of voting, and the joint session adjourned without making a choice.^[53]

The joint session reconvened in November 1863. In the interim, the radicals held a convention at Jefferson City that organized the Radical Union Party. The meeting nominated Brown for the Class 3 seat and Benjamin F. Loan for the Class 1 seat. The two conservative factions were aligned in support of the administration of Hamilton R. Gamble, but lacked a formal party organization.^[54] Closely-fought judicial elections in the fall of 1863 helped to clarify party lines.^[53] In the legislature, the Radical Unionists had 65 votes on the joint ballot, just short of an overall majority. The Radical Union members and Henderson-aligned conservatives held a caucus after the first round of voting on November 12 and agreed to form a coalition.^[55] Brown was subsequently elected to the Class 3 seat and Henderson was re-elected to the Class 1 seat for the next term.^[56]

Missouri (Class 1) special election

January 6, 1863
Members of the Missouri General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee John B. Henderson Robert Wilson Party Emancipation Union Faction Conservative Conservative 1st ballot 104 (68.4%) 47 (30.9%)
Senator before election John B. Henderson Emancipation Elected Senator John B. Henderson Emancipation

Incumbent Emancipationist John B. Henderson was appointed in 1862 to fill the vacancy created by the expulsion of Trusten Polk.^[45]

The General Assembly met on January 6, 1863, to hold a special election for the unexpired term. Henderson defeated the conservative candidate Robert Wilson on the first ballot.^[57]

Missouri (Class 3) special election

First session
January 6–11, 1863; February 2–11, 1863
Members of the Missouri General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee John S. Phelps Robert F. Wingate B. Gratz Brown Party Democratic Emancipation Emancipation Faction Conservative Radical Radical 1st ballot 51 (33.1%) — 51 (33.1%) 30th ballot 47 (33.3%) 31 (22.0%) 29 (20.6%)   Nominee Samuel M. Breckinridge Samuel T. Glover Party Emancipation Emancipation Faction Conservative Conservative 1st ballot 11 (7.1%) 34 (22.1%) 30th ballot 28 (19.8%) —
Adjourned session
November 12–13, 1863
Members of the Missouri General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee B. Gratz Brown James Broadhead John S. Phelps Party Radical Union Conservative Conservative 31st ballot 62 (50.0%) 39 (29.5%) 30 (22.7%) 32nd ballot 74 (52.5%) 65 (46.1%) —
Senator before election Robert Wilson Conservative Elected Senator B. Gratz Brown Radical Union

Incumbent conservative Robert Wilson was appointed in 1862 to fill the vacancy created by the expulsion of Waldo P. Johnson.^[58] He was not a candidate for re-election to the Class 3 seat.

The General Assembly met from January 6–11, 1863, to hold a special election for the unexpired term.^[52] Democrat John S. Phelps and Emancipationists B. Gratz Brown, Samuel T. Glover, Samuel M. Breckinridge, John W. Noell, and James Broadhead were candidates on the first ballot.^[59] No candidate had a majority after the sixth ballot, and the joint session adjourned.^[60]

The joint session met again from February 2–11, 1863. Phelps, Brown, Glover, Breckinridge, and Broadhead were candidates.^[61] Noell's name was withdrawn, after which Phelps led on the seventh ballot, but without a majority.^[62] No candidate had a majority after the thirtieth ballot, and the joint session adjourned.^[63]

The joint session met a third time from November 12–13, 1863.^[64] Brown was nominated by the Radical Unionists, while Broadhead received the votes of most of the Conservative members.^[53] Brown defeated Broadhead on the 32nd ballot.^[65]

Missouri election

November 13, 1863
Members of the Missouri General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee John B. Henderson John S. Phelps Benjamin F. Loan Party Radical Union Conservative Radical Union 1st ballot 84 (60.9%) 42 (30.4%) 7 (5.1%)
Senator before election John B. Henderson Emancipation Elected Senator John B. Henderson Radical Union

Incumbent Emancipationist John B. Henderson was elected in 1863 to fill the vacancy created by the expulsion of Trusten Polk.^[45]

The General Assembly met on November 13, 1863, to hold an election for the next term. Henderson defeated Phelps on the first ballot.^[66]

Incumbent Unionist Richard S. Field was appointed in 1862 to fill the vacancy created by the death of John R. Thomson. With Thomson's death coming less than a year before the end of his term on March 4, 1863, the New Jersey Legislature would hold consecutive elections in 1863: a special election for the unexpired term, and the regularly scheduled election for the next term.^[67]

New Jersey special election

January 14, 1863
Members of the New Jersey Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee James W. Wall Richard S. Field Party Democratic Union 1st ballot 53 (67.1%) 23 (29.1%)
Senator before election Richard S. Field Union Elected Senator James W. Wall Democratic

The Democratic members of the legislature held a caucus on January 14, 1863. William Cook, Charles Skelton, Charles Sitgreaves, and James W. Wall were candidates. Cook led on the first two ballots, but without a majority. Skelton and Sitgreaves then withdrew, and Wall defeated Cook on the third ballot.^[68]

The Legislature met in joint session on January 14, 1863, to hold a special election for the unexpired term.^[69] Wall defeated Field on the first ballot.^[68]

New Jersey election

February 26, 1863
Members of the New Jersey Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee William Wright William A. Newell Party Democratic Union 1st ballot 54 (68.4%) 25 (31.6%)
Senator before election James W. Wall Democratic Elected Senator William Wright Democratic

The Democratic members of the legislature held a caucus on February 25, 1863.^[70] Wall and William Wright were candidates.^[71] Wright was nominated on the 23rd ballot.^[70]

The Legislature met in joint session on February 26, 1863, to hold an election for the next term.^[72] Wright defeated the Union candidate William A. Newell on the first ballot.^[73]

New York election

February 3, 1863
Members of the New York State Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Edwin D. Morgan Erastus Corning John A. Dix Party Union Democratic Union Assembly (2nd) — 63 (49.2%) 65 (50.8%) Senate (1st) 23 (76.7%) 7 (23.3%) — Joint ballot 86 (54.4%) 70 (44.3%) 1 (0.6%)
Senator before election Preston King Republican Elected Senator Edwin D. Morgan Union

One-term Republican Preston King was elected in 1857.^[74]

The Union members of the legislature held a caucus on February 2, 1863. Edwin D. Morgan, King, Daniel S. Dickinson, Charles B. Sedgwick, David D. Field, Henry J. Raymond, Ward Hunt, and Henry R. Selden were candidates. Morgan was nominated on the second ballot.^[75]

The Democratic members of the legislature held a caucus on February 2, 1863. The meeting found it inexpedient to nominate a candidate and advised members to vote their conscience in the senatorial election.^[75] The caucus met again on February 3 and voted to reconsider the previous day's motion. Erastus Corning defeated Fernando Wood on the first ballot.^[76]

The Senate and the Assembly met separately on February 3, 1863, to hold an election for the next term. Morgan and John A. Dix were selected by the Senate and the Assembly, on the first and second ballots, respectively. The two chambers being in disagreement, the New York State Legislature met in joint session to resolve the dispute. Morgan defeated Corning on the joint ballot.^[77]

Ohio election

January 22, 1863
Members of the Ohio General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Benjamin Wade Hugh J. Jewett Thomas Ewing Party Union Democratic Union 1st ballot 126 (59.5%) 35 (27.8%) 15 (11.9%)
Senator before election Benjamin Wade Republican Elected Senator Benjamin Wade Union

Two-term Republican Benjamin Wade was re-elected in 1856.

The Union members of the legislature held a caucus from January 15–16, 1863.^[78] Wade, Salmon P. Chase, David Tod, William S. Groesbeck, and Thomas Ewing were mentioned as candidates ahead of the caucus. Wade, a Radical Republican, had earned the enmity of conservatives and personal rivals in the Union Party.^[79] At the first meeting of the caucus, a group of War Democrats expressed their opposition to Wade and requested his name be withdrawn from consideration. The meeting adjourned until the following day, when Wade's supporters refused to honor the War Democrats' request. Wade defeated Robert C. Schenck on the first ballot with 56 votes to Schenck's six.^[80]

The Ohio General Assembly met in joint session on January 22, 1863, to hold an election for the next term. Wade defeated the Democratic candidate Hugh J. Jewett and Ewing on the first ballot.^[81]

Oregon special election

September 11–12, 1863
Members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Benjamin F. Harding Henry W. Corbett George H. Williams Party Union Union Union 1st ballot 7 (14.6%) — 7 (14.6%) 30th ballot 28 (58.3%) 11 (22.9%) 5 (10.4%)   Nominee John Whiteaker Thomas H. Pearne Elisha L. Applegate Party Democratic Union Union 1st ballot 3 (6.25%) 9 (18.8%) 8 (16.7%) 30th ballot 3 (6.25%) — —   Nominee Orange Jacobs Reuben F. Maury Party Union Union 1st ballot 5 (10.4%) 4 (8.3%) 30th ballot — —
Senator before election Benjamin Stark Democratic Elected Senator Benjamin F. Harding Union

Incumbent Democrat Benjamin Stark was appointed in 1862 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Edward D. Baker.^[82] He was not a candidate for re-election.

The Oregon Legislative Assembly met in joint session from September 11–12, 1862, to hold a special election for the unexpired term.^[83] Benjamin F. Harding defeated Henry W. Corbett, George H. Williams, and John Whiteaker on the 30th ballot.^[84]

Pennsylvania election

January 13, 1863
Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Charles R. Buckalew Simon Cameron Party Democratic Union 1st ballot 67 (50.4%) 65 (48.9%)
Senator before election David Wilmot Republican Elected Senator Charles R. Buckalew Democratic

Incumbent Republican David Wilmot was elected in 1861 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Simon Cameron.^[82]

The Democratic members of the legislature held a caucus on January 12, 1863. Charles R. Buckalew, James Campbell, Francis W. Hughes, and Henry D. Foster were the leading candidates. Buckalew defeated Campbell on the sixth ballot.^[85]

The Union members of the legislature held a caucus from January 12–13, 1863.^[86] Cameron and Wilmot were candidates for the nomination. A secret committee formed to assess the relative electability of the candidates in the closely-divided legislature found that the Democratic members were inflexibly opposed to Wilmot, while Cameron claimed several Democrats were prepared to vote for him if nominated. The caucus selected Cameron on the basis of these assurances in the final hours before the election.^[87]

The Pennsylvania General Assembly met in joint session on January 13, 1863, to hold an election for the next term. Buckalew defeated Cameron on the first ballot.^[88]

Two-term (once in the 1840s and again until 1863) Republican James F. Simmons resigned August 15, 1862 as the Senate was preparing to expel him for bribery.

Republican Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island Samuel G. Arnold was elected September 5, 1862 to finish Simmons's term.

Republican Governor of Rhode Island William Sprague IV was elected to the next term.

Tennessee election

No election

Senator before election None (vacant from March 4, 1862) Elected Senator None

Incumbent Democrat Andrew Johnson resigned on March 4, 1862, following his appointment as military governor of Tennessee. The Tennessee General Assembly did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1866.^[89]

Texas election

No election

Senator before election None (vacant from July 11, 1861) Elected Senator None

Incumbent Democrat Louis T. Wigfall was expelled from the Senate on July 11, 1861. The Texas Legislature did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1870.^[90]

1863 United States Senate election in West Virginia

August 4, 1863
Needed to win: Majority support of the Joint Session of the Legislature[f]
Candidate Waitman Willey Peter Van Winkle Archibald Campbell Party Uncond. Union Uncond. Union Republican First ballot 50 votes 73.5% 22 votes 32.3% 27 votes 39.7% Sixth ballot Elected 46 votes 68.6% 12 votes 17.9%   Candidate Others First ballot 34 votes 50.0% Sixth ballot 9 votes 13.4%
Elected U.S. senators Waitman Willey (UU) Peter Van Winkle (UU)

There were two races for the new state.

Peter G. Van Winkle and Waitman T. Willey, both Unconditional Unionists, were elected August 4, 1863.

Van Winkle would serve just until the 1869 end of his term.

Before being elected senator from West Virginia, Willey was a senator from Virginia representing the Restored Government of Virginia, presenting their petition to Congress for West Virginia's statehood. He would be re-elected in 1865 to the next term served until the end of that term in 1871.

Party		Candidate	Ballots
			1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
	Unconditional Union	Waitman Willey	50	Elected
	Unconditional Union	Peter Van Winkle	22	19	23	26	33	46
	Republican	Archibald Campbell	27	26	22	22	15	12
	Democratic	Benjamin H. Smith	24	17	13	5	4	2
	Democratic	Daniel Lamb	Not nominated			6	6	With.
	Scattering		10	6	8	8	9	7
Total			133	68	66	67	67	67
Needed to win			35	35	34	34	34	34

1863 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

January 22, 1863

Nominee James R. Doolittle Edward G. Ryan Party Republican Democratic Legislative vote 73 57 Percentage 55.30% 43.18%

U.S. senator before election James R. Doolittle Republican Elected U.S. Senator James R. Doolittle Republican

Incumbent Republican senator James R. Doolittle was re-elected by the 16th Wisconsin Legislature on the first ballot, January 22, 1863.^[5]

• 1862 United States elections
  • 1862–63 United States House of Representatives elections
• 37th United States Congress
• 38th United States Congress

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