Jump to content

1908–09 United States Senate elections

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by GoldRingChip (talk | contribs) at 14:03, 13 August 2020 (Reference edited with ProveIt). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For related races, see 1908 United States elections.
1908 and 1909 United States Senate elections
← 1906/07 January 15, 1908 –
March 4, 1909		 1910/11 →
31 of the 92 seats in the United States Senate (as well as special elections)
47 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Eugene Hale Charles Culberson
Party Republican Democratic
Leader's seat Maine Texas
Seats before 61 31
Seats won 16 13
Seats after 59 31
Seat change Decrease 2 Steady
Seats up 18 13
Majority Party before election


Republican

Elected Majority Party


Republican

The United States Senate elections of 1908 and 1909 were held to determine the winners of the 31 class 3 Senate seats up for election, as well as various special elections to fill vacancies or confirm appointments. Until the 17th Amendment, which passed in 1913, Senators were elected by state legislatures. However, some states had already begun direct elections during this time. Oregon pioneered direct election and experimented with different measures over several years until it succeeded in 1907. Soon after, Nebraska followed suit and laid the foundation for other states to adopt measures reflecting the people's will. By 1912, as many as 29 states elected senators either as nominees of their party's primary or in conjunction with a general election. The Republicans lost two seats overall.

Results summary

Senate Party Division, 61st Congress (1909–1911)

  • Majority Party: Republican (60 seats)
  • Minority Party: Democratic (32 seats)
  • Other Parties: 0
  • Total Seats: 92

Change in composition

Before the elections

After the January 21, 1908 special election in Rhode Island.

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6
D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8 D7
D17 D18 D19
Ran 		D20
Ran 		D21
Ran 		D22
Ran 		D23
Ran 		D24
Ran 		D25
Ran 		D26
Ran
R57
Ran 		R58
Ran 		R59
Ran 		R60
Retired 		R61
Retired 		D31
Retired 		D30
Retired 		D29
Retired 		D28
Unknown 		D27
Ran
R56
Ran 		R55
Ran 		R54
Ran 		R53
Ran 		R52
Ran 		R51
Ran 		R50
Ran 		R49
Ran 		R48
Ran 		R47
Ran
Majority →
R37 R38 R39 R40 R41 R42 R43 R44
Ran 		R45
Ran 		R46
Ran
R36 R35 R34 R33 R32 R31 R30 R29 R28 R27
R17 R18 R19 R20 R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26
R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11 R10 R9 R8 R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6

Result of the general elections

D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6
D16 D15 D14 D13 D12 D11 D10 D9 D8 D7
D17 D18 D19
Re-elected 		D20
Re-elected 		D21
Re-elected 		D22
Re-elected 		D23
Re-elected 		D24
Re-elected 		D25
Re-elected 		D26
Re-elected
R57
Hold 		R58
Hold 		R59
Gain 		V1
R loss 		V2
D loss 		D31
Gain 		D30
Gain 		D29
Hold 		D28
Hold 		D27
Hold
R56
Hold 		R55
Hold 		R54
Hold 		R53
Re-elected 		R52
Re-elected 		R51
Re-elected 		R50
Re-elected 		R49
Re-elected 		R48
Re-elected 		R47
Re-elected
Majority due to vacancies→ R46
Re-elected
R37 R38 R39 R40 R41 R42 R43 R44
Re-elected 		R45
Re-elected
R36 R35 R34 R33 R32 R31 R30 R29 R28 R27
R17 R18 R19 R20 R21 R22 R23 R24 R25 R26
R16 R15 R14 R13 R12 R11 R10 R9 R8 R7
R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6
Key:
D# Democratic
R# Republican
V# Vacant

Race summaries

Special elections during the 60th Congress

In this election, the winner was seated in 1908 before March 4; ordered by state.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Maryland
(Class 3) 		William P. Whyte Democratic 1906 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected January 14, 1908.[1][2]
Rhode Island
(Class 2) 		Vacant Legislature had failed to elect.
New senator elected January 21, 1908.[1]
Republican gain.
South Carolina
(Class 3) 		Asbury Latimer Democratic 1903 Incumbent died February 20, 1908.
New senator elected March 6, 1908.[1]
Democratic hold.
Winner did not run for the next term, see below.
Maryland
(Class 3) 		William P. Whyte Democratic 1906 (Appointed)
1908 		Incumbent died March 17, 1908.
New senator elected March 24, 1908,[1][2] having already been elected to the next term, see below.
Democratic hold.
Vermont
(Class 1) 		John W. Stewart Republican 1908 (Appointed) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected October 20, 1908.[1]
Republican hold.
Iowa
(Class 3) 		William B. Allison Republican 1872
1878
1884
1890
1896
1902 		Incumbent renominated for the next term but died August 4, 1908.
New senator elected November 24, 1908.
Republican hold.
Winner was later elected to the next term, see below.

In this election, the winner was elected three years early, to be seated in the 62nd Congress starting March 4, 1911.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Mississippi
(Class 1) 		Hernando Money Democratic 1897 (Appointed)
1899
1904 		Incumbent retired.
New senator elected early January 21, 1908.[1]
Democratic hold.

Races leading to the 61st Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1909; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral
history
Alabama Edmund Pettus Democratic 1903 Incumbent re-elected early January 22, 1907.[3]
Winner died July 27, 1907 and new senator elected early August 6, 1907.[3] 		January 22, 1907:
August 6, 1907:
Arkansas James P. Clarke Democratic 1903 Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[4][5][6]
California George Perkins Republican 1895 (Special)
1897
1903 		Incumbent re-elected January 12, 1909.[7]
Colorado Henry M. Teller Democratic 1885
1891
1897
1903 		Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 19, 1909.[4][5][6]
Democratic hold.
Connecticut Frank B. Brandegee Republican 1905 (Special) Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[4][5][6]
Florida William Milton Democratic 1908 (Appointed) Interim appointee retired.
Legislature failed to elect.
Democratic loss.
New senator appointed to start the term, and subsequently elected, see below. 		None
Georgia Alexander S. Clay Democratic 1896
1902 		Incumbent re-elected July 6, 1909.[4]
Idaho Weldon Heyburn Republican 1903 Incumbent re-elected January 12, 1909.[4]
Illinois Albert J. Hopkins Republican 1903 Incumbent renominated but couldn't secure the full support of his party.
Legislature failed to elect.
Republican loss.
Seat remained vacant until May 26, 1903, see below.[8] 		Albert J. Hopkins (Republican)
George E. Foss (Republican)
William E. Mason (Republican)
Lawrence B. Stringer (Democratic)
Edward D. Shurtleff (Republican)
Indiana James A. Hemenway Republican 1905 (Special) Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected January 20, 1909.[4]
Democratic gain.
Iowa Albert B. Cummins Republican 1908 Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[4]
Kansas Chester I. Long Republican 1903 Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected January 26, 1909.[4][5][6]
Republican hold.
Kentucky James B. McCreary Democratic 1902 Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected February 28, 1908.[1]
Republican gain.
Louisiana Samuel D. McEnery Democratic 1896
1900 (Early) 		Incumbent re-elected May 19, 1908.[9][1]
Maryland William P. Whyte Democratic 1906 (Appointed) Interim appointee either retired or lost election to the next term.
New senator elected January 15, 1908.[1]
Democratic hold.
Missouri William J. Stone Democratic 1903 Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1909.[4]
Nevada Francis G. Newlands Democratic 1903 Incumbent re-elected January 26, 1909.[4]
New Hampshire Jacob Gallinger Republican 1891
1897
1903 		Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[5][6][10]
New York Thomas C. Platt Republican 1881
1881 (Resigned)
1897
1903 		Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 19, 1909.[11][12]
Republican hold.
North Carolina Lee S. Overman Democratic 1903 Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[5][6][11]

[6]

North Dakota Henry C. Hansbrough Republican 1891
1897
1903 		Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected January 19, 1909.[11]
Republican hold.
Ohio Joseph B. Foraker Republican 1896
1902 		Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 12, 1909.[11][13]
Republican hold.
Oklahoma Thomas Gore Democratic 1907 Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[5][6][11]
Oregon Charles W. Fulton Republican 1903 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected January 19, 1909.[5][6][11]
Democratic gain.
Pennsylvania Boies Penrose Republican 1897
1903 		Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[5][6]
South Carolina Frank B. Gary Democratic 1908 (Special) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 26, 1909.[11]
Democratic hold.
South Dakota Alfred B. Kittredge Republican 1901 (Appointed)
1903 (Special)
1903 		Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected January 19, 1909.[11]
Utah Reed Smoot Republican 1903 Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[5][6][11]
Vermont William P. Dillingham Republican 1900 (Special)
1902 		Incumbent re-elected October 20, 1908.[1]
Washington Levi Ankeny Republican 1903 Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected January 19, 1909.[5][6][11]
Republican hold.
Wisconsin Isaac Stephenson Republican 1907 (Special) Incumbent re-elected January 27, 1909.
Legislature failed to declare the result and ordered a new election.
Incumbent was finally re-elected March 4, 1909 after many ballots.[11]

Elections during the 61st Congress

In these elections, the winners were elected in 1909 after March 4; ordered by date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Pennsylvania
(Class 1) 		Philander C. Knox Republican 1904 (Appointed)
1905 (Special)
1905 		Incumbent resigned March 4, 1909 to become U.S. Secretary of State.
New senator elected March 16, 1909.[4]
Republican hold.
Florida
(Class 3) 		Duncan U. Fletcher Democratic 1909 (Appointed) Interim appointee elected April 20, 1909.
Illinois
(Class 3) 		Vacant Legislature had failed to elect, see above.
New senator elected May 26, 1909.[4]
Republican gain.

New York

Main article: 1909 United States Senate election in New York
See also: List of United States senators from New York

The election was held on January 19, 1909, by the New York State Legislature. Republican Thomas C. Platt had been re-elected to this seat in 1903, and his term would expire on March 3, 1909. At the State election in November 1908, 35 Republicans and 16 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1909–1910) in the state senate; and 99 Republicans and 51 Democrats were elected for the session of 1909 to the Assembly. The 132nd New York State Legislature met from January 5 to April 30, 1909, at Albany, New York.

The Republican caucus met on January 18. State Senator J. Mayhew Wainwright presided. The caucus nominated U.S. Secretary of State Elihu Root unanimously. Root was the choice of President Theodore Roosevelt. President pro tempore of the State Senate John Raines lauded warmly Root's nomination, eulogized the retiring U.S. Senator Platt, and declared war on Governor Charles Evans Hughes's reforms.[14] The Democratic caucus met also on January 18. They nominated Ex-Lieutenant Governor Lewis S. Chanler unanimously. Chanler had been elected lieutenant governor in 1906 on the Democratic/Independence League ticket, and had served under Republican governor Hughes. Chanler had just been defeated when running against Hughes for governor in November 1908.[14]

Elihu Root was the choice of both the Assembly and the state senate, and was declared elected.[15]

House Republican Democratic
State Senate
(50 members) 		Green tickY Elihu Root 35 Lewis S. Chanler 15
State Assembly
(150 members) 		Green tickY Elihu Root 90 Lewis S. Chanler 30

Note: The votes were cast on January 19, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 20 to compare nominations, and declare the result.

Pennsylvania

See also: List of United States senators from Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania (Regular)

Main article: 1909 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania

The regularly-scheduled general election in Pennsylvania was held January 19, 1909. Boies Penrose was re-elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. This was the last Class III U.S. Senate election to be decided by the Pennsylvania General Assembly before the ratification of the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which mandated direct election of U.S. Senators.[16]

The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 19, 1909, to elect a senator to fill the term beginning on March 4, 1909. Incumbent Republican Boies Penrose, who was elected in 1897 and re-elected in 1903, was a successful candidate for re-election to another term. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:

State Legislature Results[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Boies Penrose (Incumbent) 198 77.04%
Democratic George M. Dimeling 42 16.34%
Republican Edwin S. Stuart 2 0.78%
Republican John O. Sheatz 1 0.39%
Democratic William Potter 1 0.39%
N/A Not voting 13 5.06%
Totals 257 100.00%

Pennsylvania (Special)

Main article: 1909 United States Senate special election in Pennsylvania

A special election was held March 16, 1909. George T. Oliver was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[17]

Republican Philander C. Knox was appointed to the Senate in June 1904 after the death of Matthew Quay. Knox was subsequently elected to a full term in the Senate by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, in January 1905. Knox served in the U.S. Senate until his resignation on March 4, 1909, to become United States Secretary of State in the William Howard Taft administration, leaving the seat vacant until a successor was elected.[18]

Following Knox's resignation, the Pennsylvania General Assembly convened on March 16, 1909, to elect a new senator to fill the vacancy. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:

State Legislature Results[17][19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George T. Oliver 201 78.21
Democratic Webster Grim 39 15.18
Republican Nathaniel Ewing 1 0.39
N/A Not voting 16 6.23
Totals 257 100.00%

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "James H. Hemenway" in source, probably "James A. Hemenway."[4]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Tribune Almanac (1909), p. 315.
  2. ^ a b Byrd, p. 121.
  3. ^ a b c d Tribune Almanac (1908), p. 258.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Tribune Almanac (1910), p. 271.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "ELECTIONS IN OTHER STATES". The New York Times. January 20, 1909. p. 3.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "NAME CHAMBERLAIN AS OREGON SENATOR". The New York Times. January 20, 1909. p. 3.
  7. ^ a b "Perkins of California Re-elected". The New York Times. January 13, 1903. p. 5.
  8. ^ "HOPKINS FAILS IN ILLINOIS". The New York Times. January 20, 1909. p. 3.
  9. ^ "Senator McEnery Succeeds Himself". The New York Times. May 20, 1900. p. 2.
  10. ^ a b Tribune Almanac (1910), pp. 271–272.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Tribune Almanac (1910), p. 272.
  12. ^ "ROOT IS CHOSEN SENATOR". The New York Times. January 20, 1909. p. 3.
  13. ^ Walters, Everett (1948). Joseph Benson Foraker: An Uncompromising Republican. Columbus, Ohio: The Ohio History Press. pp. 283–284.
  14. ^ a b "ROOT IS CHOSEN FOR U.S. SENATOR; ...Democrats Choose Chanler" (PDF). The New York Times. January 19, 1909.
  15. ^ "ROOT IS CHOSEN SENATOR" (PDF). The New York Times. January 20, 1909.
  16. ^ a b "U.S. Senate Election - 19 January 1909" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
  17. ^ a b "U.S. Senate Election - 17 March 1909" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  18. ^ "KNOX, Philander Chase, (1853 - 1921)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  19. ^ "PA US Senate - Special Election". OurCampaigns. Retrieved December 24, 2012.

References

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1908–09_United_States_Senate_elections&oldid=972719720"