1836–37 United States Senate elections
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17 of the 52 seats in the United States Senate (plus special elections) 27 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The United States Senate elections of 1836 and 1837 were elections that had the Jacksonian coalition emerge as the Democratic Party, and the Adams, or Anti-Jackson, coalition emerge as the Whig Party
As this election was prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment, Senators were chosen by State legislatures.
Results summary
Senate Party Division, 25th Congress (1837–1839)
- Majority Party: Democratic (35)
- Minority Party: Whig (17–16)
- Other Parties: (0–1)
- Total Seats: 52
Change in Senate composition
Before the special elections
AJ1 | AJ2 | AJ3 | AJ4 | AJ5 | AJ6 | ||||
AJ16 | AJ15 | AJ14 | AJ13 | AJ12 | AJ11 | AJ10 | AJ9 | AJ8 | AJ7 |
AJ17 Died |
AJ18 Resigned |
AJ19 Resigned |
AJ20 Resigned |
AJ21 Resigned |
AJ22 Resigned |
AJ23 Resigned |
New | New | N2 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N1 | |||||||||
J17 | J18 | J19 | J20 | J21 | J22 Resigned |
V1 | New | New | |
J16 | J15 | J14 | J13 | J12 | J11 | J10 | J9 | J8 | J7 |
J1 | J2 | J3 | J4 | J5 | J6 |
As a result of the special elections
AJ1 | AJ2 | AJ3 | AJ4 | AJ5 | AJ6 | ||||
AJ16 | AJ15 | AJ14 | AJ13 | AJ12 | AJ11 | AJ10 | AJ9 | AJ8 | AJ7 |
AJ17 Hold |
AJ18 Hold |
AJ19 Hold |
N2 | N1 | J31 Gain |
J30 Gain |
J29 Gain |
J28 Gain |
J27 Gain |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Majority → | |||||||||
J17 | J18 | J19 | J20 | J21 | J22 Hold |
J23 Gain |
J24 Gain |
J25 Gain |
J26 Gain |
J16 | J15 | J14 | J13 | J12 | J11 | J10 | J9 | J8 | J7 |
J1 | J2 | J3 | J4 | J5 | J6 |
Before the general elections
AJ1 | AJ2 | AJ3 | AJ4 | AJ5 | AJ6 | ||||
AJ16 Ran |
AJ15 Ran |
AJ14 Ran |
AJ13 Ran |
AJ12 | AJ11 | AJ10 | AJ9 | AJ8 | AJ7 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AJ17 Ran |
AJ18 Ran |
AJ19 Unknown |
N2 Ran |
N1 | J31 Ran |
J30 Ran |
J29 Ran |
J28 Ran |
J27 Ran |
Majority → | |||||||||
J17 | J18 | J19 | J20 | J21 | J22 | J23 Ran |
J24 Ran |
J25 Ran |
J26 Ran |
J16 | J15 | J14 | J13 | J12 | J11 | J10 | J9 | J8 | J7 |
J1 | J2 | J3 | J4 | J5 | J6 |
As a result of the general elections
"Hold" means the incumbent lost and the winner was from an affiliated new party, either Anti-Jacksonian to Whig or Jacksonian to Democratic.
AJ1 | AJ2 | AJ3 | AJ4 | AJ5 | AJ6 | ||||
W16 Re-elected New party |
W15 Re-elected New party |
W14 Re-elected New party |
W13 Re-elected New party |
AJ12 | AJ11 | AJ10 | AJ9 | AJ8 | AJ7 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W17 Hold* New party |
N1 | D34 Gain |
D33 Gain |
D32 Gain |
D31 Hold* New party |
D30 Hold* New party |
D29 Re-elected New party |
D28 Re-elected New party |
D27 Re-elected New party |
Majority → | |||||||||
J17 | J18 | J19 | J20 | J21 | J22 | D23 Re-elected New party |
D24 Re-elected New party |
D25 Re-elected New party |
D26 Re-elected New party |
J16 | J15 | J14 | J13 | J12 | J11 | J10 | J9 | J8 | J7 |
J1 | J2 | J3 | J4 | J5 | J6 |
Beginning of the next Congress
W1 New party |
W2 New party |
W3 New party |
W4 New party |
W5 New party |
W6 New party | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W16 | W15 | W14 | W13 | W12 New party |
W11 New party |
W10 New party |
W9 New party |
W8 New party |
W7 New party |
W17 | D35 New party |
D34 | D33 | D32 | D31 | D30 | D29 | D28 | D27 |
Majority → | |||||||||
D17 New party |
D18 New party |
D19 New party |
D20 New party |
D21 New party |
D22 New party |
D23 | D24 | D25 | D26 |
D16 New party |
D15 New party |
D14 New party |
D13 New party |
D12 New party |
D11 New party |
D10 New party |
D9 New party |
D8 New party |
D7 New party |
D1 New party |
D2 New party |
D3 New party |
D4 New party |
D5 New party |
D6 New party |
Key: |
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Race summaries
Bold states link to specific election articles.
Special elections during the 24th Congress
In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1836 or before March 4, 1837; ordered by election date.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Louisiana (Class 2) |
Vacant | Charles Gayarré had been elected but resigned due to ill health without having taken his seat. New senator was elected January 13, 1836. Jacksonian gain. Winner would serve in the next Congress as a Democrat. |
√ Robert C. Nicholas (Jacksonian) [data missing] | ||
Virginia (Class 1) |
John Tyler | Anti-Jacksonian | 1827 1833 |
Incumbent resigned February 29, 1836. New senator was elected March 4, 1836. Jacksonian gain. Winner would serve in the next Congress as a Democrat. |
√ William C. Rives (Jacksonian) [data missing] |
New Hampshire (Class 3) |
Isaac Hill | Jacksonian | 1831 | Incumbent resigned May 30, 1836 to become Governor of New Hampshire. New senator was elected June 8, 1836. Jacksonian hold. Winner also lost re-election to the next term, see below. |
√ John Page (Jacksonian) [data missing] |
Delaware (Class 1) |
Arnold Naudain | Anti-Jacksonian | 1830 (Special) 1832 |
Incumbent resigned June 16, 1836. New senator was elected June 17, 1836. Anti-Jacksonian hold. Winner would serve in the next Congress as a Whig. |
√ Richard H. Bayard (Anti-Jacksonian) [data missing] |
Arkansas (Class 2) |
New seats | New state. New senator was elected September 18, 1836. Jacksonian gain. Winner would serve in the next Congress as a Democrat. |
√ William S. Fulton (Jacksonian) [data missing] | ||
Arkansas (Class 3) |
New state. New senator was elected September 18, 1836. Jacksonian gain. Winner was also re-elected to the next term, see below. |
√ Ambrose H. Sevier (Jacksonian) [data missing] | |||
North Carolina (Class 3) |
Willie P. Mangum | Anti-Jacksonian | 1830 | Incumbent resigned November 26, 1836. New senator was elected December 5, 1836. Jacksonian gain. Winner was also re-elected to the next term, see below. |
√ Robert Strange (Jacksonian) [data missing] |
Virginia (Class 2) |
Benjamin W. Leigh | Anti-Jacksonian | 1834 (Special) 1835 |
Incumbent resigned July 4, 1836. New senator was elected December 12, 1836. Jacksonian gain. Winner would resign at the end of this Congress, see below. |
√ Richard E. Parker (Jacksonian) [data missing] |
Maryland (Class 3) |
Robert H. Goldsborough | Anti-Jacksonian | nowrap | 1813 1819 (Retired or lost) 1835 (Special) |
Incumbent died October 5, 1836. New senator was elected December 31, 1836. Anti-Jacksonian hold. Winner was also re-elected to the next term, see below. |
√ John S. Spence (Anti-Jacksonian) [data missing] |
Michigan (Class 1) |
New seats | New state. New senator was elected January 6, 1837. Jacksonian gain. Winner would serve in the next Congress as a Democrat. |
√ Lucius Lyon (Jacksonian) [data missing] | ||
Michigan (Class 2) |
New state. New senator was elected January 6, 1837. Jacksonian gain. Winner would serve in the next Congress as a Democrat. |
√ John Norvell (Jacksonian) [data missing] | |||
Delaware (Class 2) |
John M. Clayton | Anti-Jacksonian | 1829 1835 |
Incumbent resigned December 29, 1836. New senator was elected January 9, 1837. Anti-Jacksonian hold. Winner would serve in the next Congress as a Whig. |
√ Thomas Clayton (Anti-Jacksonian) [data missing] |
Louisiana (Class 3) |
Alexander Porter | Anti-Jacksonian | 1833 (Special) | Incumbent resigned January 5, 1837 due to ill health. New senator was elected January 12, 1837. Jacksonian gain. Winner was also re-elected to the next term, see below. |
√ Alexandre Mouton (Jacksonian) [data missing] |
Races leading to the 25th Congress
In these general elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1837; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Alabama | Gabriel Moore | Anti-Jacksonian | 1831 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1837. Democratic gain. |
√ John McKinley (Democratic) Gabriel Moore (Democratic) [data missing] |
Arkansas | Ambrose Sevier | Jacksonian | 1836 (New seat) | Incumbent re-elected in 1837 to a new party. Democratic gain. |
√ Ambrose Sevier (Democratic) [data missing] |
Connecticut | Gideon Tomlinson | Anti-Jacksonian | 1831 | Unknown if incumbent ran for re-election. A different candidate elected in 1836 or 1837. Democratic gain. |
√ Perry Smith (Democratic) [data missing] |
Georgia | Alfred Cuthbert | Jacksonian | 1835 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1837 to a new party. Democratic gain. |
√ Alfred Cuthbert (Democratic) [data missing] |
Illinois | William Lee D. Ewing | Jacksonian | 1835 (Appointed) | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1837. Democratic gain. |
√ Richard M. Young (Democratic) William Lee D. Ewing (Democratic) [data missing] |
Indiana | William Hendricks | Anti-Jacksonian | 1824 1830 |
Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1836 to a new party. Whig gain. |
√ Oliver H. Smith (Whig) William Hendricks (Whig) [data missing] |
Kentucky | Henry Clay | Anti-Jacksonian | 1831 (Late) | Incumbent re-elected in 1836 to a new party. Whig gain. |
√ Henry Clay (Whig) [data missing] |
Louisiana | Alexandre Mouton | Jacksonian | 1837 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1837 to a new party. Democratic gain. |
√ Alexandre Mouton (Democratic) [data missing] |
Maryland | John S. Spence | Anti-Jacksonian | 1836 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1837 to a new party. Whig gain. |
√ John S. Spence (Whig) [data missing] |
Missouri | Lewis F. Linn | Jacksonian | 1833 (Appointed) ? (Special) |
Incumbent re-elected in 1836 to a new party. Democratic gain. |
√ Lewis F. Linn (Democratic) [data missing] |
New Hampshire | John Page | Jacksonian | 1836 (Special) | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1837. Democratic gain. |
√ Franklin Pierce (Democratic) [data missing] |
New York | Silas Wright, Jr. | Jacksonian | 1826 (Elected late) | Incumbent re-elected February 7, 1837 to a new party. Democratic gain. |
√ Silas Wright, Jr. (Democratic) 26+85 Ambrose L. Jordan (Whig) 3+27 |
North Carolina | Robert Strange | Jacksonian | 1836 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1836 to a new party. Democratic gain. |
√ Robert Strange (Democratic) [data missing] |
Ohio | Thomas Ewing | Anti-Jacksonian | 1830 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in January 1837. Democratic gain. |
√ William Allen (Whig) Thomas Ewing (Whig) [data missing] |
Pennsylvania | James Buchanan | Jacksonian | 1834 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected December 14, 1836 to a new party. Democratic gain. |
√ James Buchanan (Democratic) 85 Thomas M. T. McKennan (Whig) 24 Charles B. Penrose (Whig) 21 Thomas Cunningham (Democratic) 1 Isaac Leet (Democratic) 1 Not voting 1[1] |
South Carolina | William C. Preston | Nullifier | 1833 (Special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1837 to a new party. Whig gain. |
√ William C. Preston (Whig) [data missing] |
Vermont | Samuel Prentiss | Anti-Jacksonian | 1831 | Incumbent re-elected in 1837 to a new party. Whig gain. |
√ Samuel Prentiss (Whig) [data missing] |
Elections during the 25th Congress
In these special elections, the winners were seated in 1837 after March 4; ordered by election date.
State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Party | Electoral history | |||
Virginia (Class 2) |
Richard E. Parker | Democratic | 1836 (Special) | Incumbent resigned March 4, 1837 to become judge of the Supreme Court of Virginia. New senator was elected March 14, 1837. Democratic hold. |
√ William H. Roane (Democratic) [data missing] |
Alabama (Class 3) |
John McKinley | Democratic | 1833 (Special) | Incumbent resigned April 22, 1837 to become Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. New senator was elected June 19, 1837. Democratic hold. |
√ Clement C. Clay (Democratic) [data missing] |
Georgia (Class 2) |
John Pendleton King | Democratic | 1833 (Special) | Incumbent resigned November 1, 1837. New senator was elected November 22, 1837. Democratic hold. |
√ Wilson Lumpkin (Democratic) [data missing] |
Complete list of races
Michigan
The new state of Michigan elected its new Senators on January 26, 1837, both Jacksonians: Lucius Lyon (Class 1) and John Norvell (Class 2). In the term beginning March 4, 1837, they would sit as Democrats.
New York
Silas Wright, Jr., had been elected in 1833 to this seat after the resignation of William L. Marcy who had been elected Governor of New York. Wright's term would expire on March 3, 1837.
At the State election in November 1836, 94 Democrats and 34 Whigs were elected to the Assembly, and seven of the eight State Senators elected were Democrats. The 60th New York State Legislature met from January 3 to May 16, 1837, at Albany. The party strength in the Assembly as shown by the election for Speaker was: 80 for Democrat Edward Livingston and 27 for Whig Luther Bradish.
Wright was re-nominated in a Democratic caucus by a large majority. Silas Wright, Jr., was the choice of both the Assembly and the Senate, and was declared elected.
House | Democratic | Whig | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
State Senate (32 members) | Silas Wright, Jr. | 26 | Ambrose L. Jordan | 3 |
State Assembly (128 members) | Silas Wright, Jr. | 85 | Ambrose L. Jordan | 27 |
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania General Assembly convened on December 14, 1836, to elect a Senator to serve the term beginning on March 4, 1837. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | James Buchanan (Incumbent) | 85 | 63.91 | |
Whig | Thomas M. T. McKennan | 24 | 18.05 | |
Whig | Charles B. Penrose | 21 | 15.79 | |
Democratic | Thomas Cunningham | 1 | 0.75 | |
Democratic | Isaac Leet | 1 | 0.75 | |
N/A | Not voting | 1 | 0.75 | |
Totals | 133 | 100.00% |
See also
References
- Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov
- ^ a b "U.S. Senate Election - 14 December 1836" (PDF). Wilkes University. Retrieved December 22, 2013.