1796–97 United States Senate elections

1796 and 1797 United States Senate elections
11 of the 32 seats in the United States Senate (plus special elections); 17 seats needed for a majority
Majority Party before election; ; Federalist	Elected Majority Party ; ; Federalist

The United States Senate elections of 1796 and 1797 were elections for the United States Senate which, coinciding with John Adams's election as President, had the ruling Federalist Party gain one seat.

As these elections were prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment, Senators were chosen by state legislatures.

Results summary

Senate Party Division, 5th Congress (1797–1799)

Majority Party: Federalist (22)
Minority Party: Democratic-Republican (9)
Vacant: 1 (later filled by Democratic-Republican)
Total Seats: 32

Change in composition

Before the elections

After the August 2, 1796 admission of Tennessee.

DR₆	DR₅	DR₄	DR₃	DR₂	DR₁
DR₇	DR₈	DR₉ Va. Unknown	DR₁₀ Tenn. Ran	DR₁₁ N.Y. Ran	V₂	V₁	F₁₉ Vt. Resigned	F₁₈ Mass. Resigned	F₁₇ R.I. Ran
Majority →									F₁₇ R.I. Ran
F₇	F₈	F₉	F₁₀	F₁₁	F₁₂ Conn. Ran	F₁₃ Del. Ran	F₁₄ Md. Ran	F₁₅ N.J. Ran	F₁₆ Pa. Ran
F₆	F₅	F₄	F₃	F₂	F₁

Results of the regular elections

DR₆	DR₅	DR₄	DR₃	DR₂	DR₁
DR₇	DR₈	DR₉ Va. Re-elected	V₂ Tenn. DR Loss	V₂	V₁	F₂₀ N.Y. Gain	F₁₉ Vt. Hold	F₁₈ Mass. Hold	F₁₇ R.I. Re-elected
Majority →									F₁₇ R.I. Re-elected
F₇	F₈	F₉	F₁₀	F₁₁	F₁₂ Conn. Re-elected	F₁₃ Del. Re-elected	F₁₄ Md. Re-elected	F₁₅ N.J. Re-elected	F₁₆ Pa. Re-elected
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 4th Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated before March 4, 1797; ordered by election date.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
State	Senator	Party	Electoral history	Results	Candidates
Georgia (Class 3)	George Walton	Federalist	1795 (Appointed)	Appointee retired when successor elected. New senator elected February 20, 1796. Democratic-Republican gain.	Y Josiah Tattnall (Democratic-Republican) [data missing]
Connecticut (Class 1)	Oliver Ellsworth	Federalist	1788 1791	Incumbent resigned to become Chief Justice of the United States. New senator elected May 12, 1796. Federalist hold.	Y James Hillhouse (Federalist) [data missing]
Massachusetts (Class 1)	George Cabot	Federalist	1790	Incumbent resigned June 9, 1796. New senator elected June 11, 1796 on the second ballot. Federalist hold. Successor also elected the same day to the next term, see below.	Y Benjamin Goodhue (Federalist) 75 Edward H. Robbins 65^[1]
Massachusetts (Class 2)	Caleb Strong	Federalist	1788 1793	Incumbent resigned June 1, 1796. New senator elected June 11, 1796 on the second ballot. Federalist hold.	Y Theodore Sedgwick (Federalist) 107 Edward H. Robbins 43 Levi Lincoln 2 Nathaniel Dane (Federalist) 1 Thompson J. Skinner 1^[2]
Connecticut (Class 3)	Jonathan Trumbull, Jr.	Federalist	1794 or 1795	Incumbent resigned June 10, 1796 to become Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut. New senator elected October 13, 1796. Federalist hold.	Y Uriah Tracy (Federalist) [data missing]
Vermont (Class 1)	Moses Robinson	Democratic-Republican	1791 (New state)	Incumbent resigned October 15, 1796. New senator elected October 18, 1796. Federalist gain. Successor also elected the same day to the next term, see below.	Y Isaac Tichenor (Federalist) [data missing]
New York (Class 3)	Rufus King	Federalist	1789 1795	Incumbent resigned May 23, 1796 to become U.S. Minister to Great Britain. New senator elected November 9, 1796. Federalist hold.	Y John Laurance (Federalist) 99 Zephaniah Platt 1^[3]
New Jersey (Class 2)	Frederick Frelinghuysen	Federalist	1792 or 1793	Incumbent resigned November 12, 1796. New senator elected November 12, 1796. Federalist hold.	Y Richard Stockton (Federalist) Unanimous^[4]
Maryland (Class 1)	Richard Potts	Federalist	1793 (Special)	Incumbent resigned October 24, 1796. New senator elected November 28, 1796. Federalist hold. Successor also later elected to the next term, see below.	Y John Eager Howard (Federalist) W. Spriggs (Federalist) 15^[5]
South Carolina (Class 2)	Pierce Butler	Democratic-Republican	1789 1793	Incumbent resigned October 25, 1796. New senator elected December 8, 1796. Democratic-Republican hold.	Y John Hunter (Democratic-Republican) 72 John Chestnut 66^[6]

Races leading to the 5th Congress

In these regular elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1797; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
State	Senator	Party	Electoral history	Results	Candidates
Connecticut	James Hillhouse	Federalist	1796 (Special)	Incumbent re-elected in 1797.	Y James Hillhouse (Federalist) [data missing]
Delaware	Henry Latimer	Federalist	1795 (Special)	Incumbent re-elected January 6, 1797.	Y Henry Latimer (Federalist) 16 David Hall (Democratic-Republican) 6^[7]
Maryland	John Eager Howard	Federalist	1796 (Special)	Incumbent re-elected December 9, 1796.	Y John Eager Howard (Federalist) [data missing]
Massachusetts	George Cabot	Federalist	1790	Incumbent resigned June 9, 1796. New senator elected June 11, 1796 on the third ballot. Federalist hold. Winner also elected to finish the current term, see above.	Y Benjamin Goodhue (Federalist) 73 Edward H. Robbins^[8]
New Jersey	John Rutherfurd	Federalist	1790	Incumbent re-elected in 1796.	Y John Rutherfurd (Federalist) [data missing]
New York	Aaron Burr	Democratic-Republican	1791	Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected January 24, 1797. Federalist gain.	Y Philip Schuyler (Federalist) 85 James Kent (Federalist) 1^[9]
Pennsylvania	James Ross	Federalist	1794 (Special)	Incumbent re-elected February 16, 1797.	Y James Ross (Federalist) 56 William Irvine (Democratic-Republican) 38^[10]
Rhode Island	Theodore Foster	Federalist	1790 1791	Incumbent re-elected in 1797.	Y Theodore Foster (Federalist) [data missing]
Tennessee	William Cocke	Democratic-Republican	1796	Legislature failed to elect. Democratic-Republican loss. Incumbent later appointed to continue term.^[11]	None
Vermont	Moses Robinson	Democratic-Republican	1791 (New state)	Incumbent resigned October 15, 1796. New senator elected October 18, 1796. Federalist gain. Winner also elected to finish the current term, see above.	Y Isaac Tichenor (Federalist) [data missing]
Virginia	Stevens Mason	Democratic-Republican	1794 (Special)	Incumbent re-elected November 29, 1796.	Y Stevens Mason (Democratic-Republican) 114 James Breckinridge (Federalist) 60^[12]

Special elections during the 5th Congress

In these special elections, the winners were seated after March 4, 1797, the beginning of the next Congress.

State	Incumbent			Results	Candidates
State	Senator	Party	Electoral history	Results	Candidates
Tennessee (Class 1)	William Cocke	Democratic-Republican	1796 1797 (Appointed)	Interim appointee lost re-election. New senator elected September 26, 1797. Democratic-Republican hold.	Y Andrew Jackson (Democratic-Republican) 20 William Cocke (Democratic-Republican) 13^[13]
Tennessee (Class 2)	William Blount	Democratic-Republican	1796	Incumbent expelled July 8, 1797.^[14] New senator elected September 26, 1797. Democratic-Republican hold.	Y Joseph Anderson (Democratic-Republican) 33 Unopposed^[13]
Vermont (Class 1)	Isaac Tichenor	Federalist	1796 (Special)	Incumbent resigned October 17, 1797 to become Governor of Vermont. New senator elected October 17, 1797. Federalist hold.	Y Nathaniel Chipman (Federalist) [data missing]
Rhode Island (Class 2)	William Bradford	Federalist	1793	Incumbent resigned in October 1797. New senator elected November 13, 1797. Federalist hold.	Y Ray Greene (Federalist) [data missing]
Maryland (Class 3)	John Henry	Federalist	1788 1795	Incumbent resigned July 10, 1797 to become Governor of Maryland. New senator elected December 8, 1797. Federalist hold.	Y James Lloyd (Federalist) Majority of one vote only^[15]

References

Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov

^ "Massachusetts 1796 U.S. Senate, Special, Ballot 2". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing The Hampshire and Berkshire Chronicle (Springfield, MA). June 21, 1796.
^ "Massachusetts 1796 U.S. Senate, Special, Ballot 2". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Political Gazette (Newburyport, MA). June 16, 1796.
^ "New York 1796 U.S. Senate, Special". 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, 1796. 18. Journal of the New York State Senate, 1796. 12.
^ "New Jersey 1796 U.S. Senate". 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.
^ "Maryland 1796 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Charles Carroll to James McHenry. Nov. 28, 1796. Reel 2, Item 990. Charles Carroll Papers. Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore.
^ "South Carolina 1796 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Aurora. General Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). December 30, 1796.
^ "Delaware 1797 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 Delaware State Senate, 1797. 18.
^ "Massachusetts 1796 U.S. Senate, Ballot 3". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Hampshire and Berkshire Chronicle (Springfield, MA). June 21, 1796.
^ "New York 1797 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, 1797. 68. Journal of the New York State Senate, 1797. 43-44.
^ "Pennsylvania 1797 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing The New World (Philadelphia, PA). February 17, 1797.
^ United States Congress. "William Cocke (id: C000572)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
^ "Virginia 1796 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing The Virginia Argus (Richmond, VA). December 2, 1796.
^ ^a ^b "Tennessee 1797 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 30, 2018., citing Commercial Advertiser (New York, NY). November 11, 1797.
^ United States Congress. "William Blount (id: B000570)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
^ "Maryland 1797 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Aurora. General Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). December 13, 1797.

[1] "Massachusetts 1796 U.S. Senate, Special, Ballot 2". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing The Hampshire and Berkshire Chronicle (Springfield, MA). June 21, 1796.

[2] "Massachusetts 1796 U.S. Senate, Special, Ballot 2". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Political Gazette (Newburyport, MA). June 16, 1796.

[3] "New York 1796 U.S. Senate, Special". 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, 1796. 18. Journal of the New York State Senate, 1796. 12.

[4] "New Jersey 1796 U.S. Senate". 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.

[5] "Maryland 1796 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Charles Carroll to James McHenry. Nov. 28, 1796. Reel 2, Item 990. Charles Carroll Papers. Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore.

[6] "South Carolina 1796 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Aurora. General Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). December 30, 1796.

[7] "Delaware 1797 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 Delaware State Senate, 1797. 18.

[8] "Massachusetts 1796 U.S. Senate, Ballot 3". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Hampshire and Berkshire Chronicle (Springfield, MA). June 21, 1796.

[9] "New York 1797 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, 1797. 68. Journal of the New York State Senate, 1797. 43-44.

[10] "Pennsylvania 1797 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing The New World (Philadelphia, PA). February 17, 1797.

[11] United States Congress. "William Cocke (id: C000572)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 4, 2013.

[12] "Virginia 1796 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing The Virginia Argus (Richmond, VA). December 2, 1796.

[TNspecial-13] "Tennessee 1797 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 30, 2018., citing Commercial Advertiser (New York, NY). November 11, 1797.

[14] United States Congress. "William Blount (id: B000570)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 4, 2013.

[15] "Maryland 1797 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 4, 2018., citing Aurora. General Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). December 13, 1797.

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