1889 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

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1889 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
← 1883 January 15, 1889 1895 →

Resolution of legislature needed to win
 
Nominee George Frisbie Hoar Patrick Collins
Party Republican Democratic
Senate 32 6
Percentage 84.21% 15.79%
House 171 56
Percentage 75.33% 24.67%

Senator before election

George Frisbie Hoar
Republican

Elected Senator

George Frisbie Hoar
Republican

The 1889 United States Senate election in Massachusetts was held in January 1889. Incumbent Republican Senator George Frisbie Hoar was re-elected to a third term in office with no serious opposition.

At the time, Massachusetts elected United States senators by a resolution of the Massachusetts General Court.

Background[edit]

State legislature[edit]

At the time, the Massachusetts legislature was controlled by the Republican Party, as it had been since that party's founding, typically in dominant fashion. The 1888 election in particular, which coincided with the elections of President Benjamin Harrison and re-election of Governor Oliver Ames, returned the strongest Republican majority in eight years.

The Senate was composed of 33 Republicans and 7 Democrats,[1] and the House had 181 Republicans, 58 Democrats, and 1 independent Democrat.[2]

Candidates[edit]

Declared[edit]

Though Hoar remained unpopular with some younger elements of the party, including those in control of the party State Committee, no Republican candidate was willing to actively put their name forward in opposition to his election.[3] With the unanimous support of the Republican caucus, his re-election was guaranteed in advance. Democrats were expected to give an honorary vote to one of their party leaders, likely U.S. Representative Patrick Collins or Cambridge mayor William Russell, who had run as the party nominee for Governor in 1888.[4]

Election[edit]

Caucuses[edit]

In caucuses held on January 14, Republicans re-nominated Hoar unanimously. Democrats took two ballots to nominate Patrick Collins over William Russell.[5]

First Democratic ballot[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Patrick Collins 21 44.68%
Democratic William Russell 21 44.68%
Democratic John E. Russell 3 6.38%
Scattering Others 2 4.26%
Total votes 47 100.00%
Second Democratic ballot[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Patrick Collins 24 52.17%
Democratic William Russell 22 47.83%
Total votes 46 100.00%

Election[edit]

Hoar was re-elected on January 15 in each house of the General Court, with the full support of his party.[6]

Election in the Senate[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Frisbie Hoar (inc.) 32 84.21%
Democratic Patrick Collins 6 15.79%
Total votes 38 100.00%
Election in the House[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Frisbie Hoar (inc.) 171 75.33%
Democratic Patrick Collins 56 24.67%
Total votes 227 100.00%

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Composition of the Massachusetts State Senate", Resources on Massachusetts Political Figures in the State Library, Mass.gov, archived from the original on June 6, 2020
  2. ^ "Composition of the State of Massachusetts House of Representatives", Resources on Massachusetts Political Figures in the State Library, Mass.gov, archived from the original on June 6, 2020
  3. ^ Leon (January 13, 1889). "Senator Hoar's Coming Re-election". Boston Daily Globe. p. 3.
  4. ^ "Senator Hoar Will Be Re-Elected". The New York Times. January 14, 1889. p. 1.
  5. ^ a b c "Senator Hoar Re-Nominated by Caucus". Cincinnati Enquirer. January 15, 1889. p. 2.
  6. ^ a b c "Massachusetts Re-Elects Senator Hoar". Cincinnati Enquirer. January 16, 1889. p. 1.