The 1882–83 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states. 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 1882 and 1883, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock. In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 2.

The Republicans retained a narrow majority — 39 (and later 40) out of 76 seats — with the Readjusters in their caucus.

Results summary

Colored shading indicates party with largest share of that row. Parties Total Democratic Independent Readjuster Republican Before these elections 37 1 1 37 76 Not up 23 0 1 26 50 9 0 1 15 25 14 0 0 11 25 Up 15 1 0 13 29 14 1 0 11 26 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 Regular election Incumbent retired 3 1 0 3 7 2 0 — 2 4 1 Independent replaced by 1 Republican1 Republican replaced by 1 Democrat1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican 3 3 0 0 4 7 Incumbent ran 11 0 0 8 19 10 0 0 4 14 1 Democrat replaced by 1 Readjuster 1 1 Republican lost and legislature failed to elect 1 0 0 0 3 3 10 0 1 7 18 Total elected 13 0 1 11 25 Net change 1 1 1 3 Result 36 0 2 37 75

Change in Senate composition

Before the elections After the November 15, 1882 special election in Georgia.

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D I Plurality, with Readjuster in caucus and VP tie-breaking vote ↓ RA R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

After the elections

D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D V RA Majority, with Readjusters in caucus ↓ RA R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R Key: D Democratic I Independent RA Readjuster R Republican V Vacant

Race summaries

Special elections during the 47th Congress In these elections, the winners were seated during 1882 or in 1883 before March 4; ordered by election date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history Iowa(Class 2) James W. McDill Republican 1881 Interim appointee elected January 25, 1882.Winner did not run for re-election; see below. Georgia(Class 2) Benjamin H. Hill Democratic 1877 Incumbent died August 16, 1882.New senator elected November 15, 1882.Democratic hold.Winner did not run for re-election; see below. Colorado(Class 2) George M. Chilcott Republican 1882 Interim appointee retired.New senator elected January 27, 1883.Republican hold.Winner did not run for re-election; see below.

Races leading to the 48th Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1883; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoralhistory Alabama John T. Morgan Democratic 1876 Incumbent re-elected in 1882. Arkansas Augustus Garland Democratic 1876 Incumbent re-elected in 1883. Colorado Horace Tabor Republican 1883 Incumbent retired.Republican hold. Delaware Eli Saulsbury Democratic 18701876 Incumbent re-elected in 1883. Georgia Middleton P. Barrow Democratic 1882 Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1883.Democratic hold. Illinois David Davis Independent 1876–77 Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1882.Republican gain. Iowa James W. McDill Republican 1881 1882 Incumbent retired.New senator elected January 25, 1882.Republican hold. Kansas Preston B. Plumb Republican 1877 Incumbent re-elected January 24, 1883. Kentucky James B. Beck Democratic 1876 Incumbent re-elected December 6, 1881. Louisiana Joseph R. West Republican 1876 Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1882.Democratic gain. Maine William P. Frye Republican 1881 Incumbent re-elected in 1883. Massachusetts George Frisbie Hoar Republican 1877 Incumbent re-elected in 1883. Michigan Thomas W. Ferry Republican 18711877 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1882 or 1883.Republican hold. Minnesota William Windom Republican 1870 187118771881 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1883.Republican hold. Mississippi Lucius Q. C. Lamar Democratic 1876 Incumbent re-elected in 1883. Nebraska Alvin Saunders Republican 1877 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected in 1883.Republican hold. New Hampshire Edward H. Rollins Republican 1876 Incumbent lost re-election.Legislature failed to elect.Republican loss. None. New Jersey John R. McPherson Democratic 1877 Incumbent re-elected in 1883. North Carolina Matt W. Ransom Democratic 1872 1876 Incumbent re-elected in 1883. Oregon La Fayette Grover Democratic 1882–83 Incumbent retired.New senator elected in 1882.Republican gain. Rhode Island Henry B. Anthony Republican 1858186418701876 Incumbent re-elected in 1882. South Carolina Matthew Butler Democratic 1876 Incumbent re-elected in 1882. Tennessee Isham G. Harris Democratic 1877 Incumbent re-elected in 1883. Texas Richard Coke Democratic 1876 Incumbent re-elected January 23, 1883. Virginia John W. Johnston Democratic 18711877 Incumbent lost re-election.New senator elected early December 21, 1881.Readjuster gain.Winner caucused with the Republicans. West Virginia Henry G. Davis Democratic 18711877 Incumbent retired.Democratic hold.

Elections during the 48th Congress In this election, the winner was elected in 1883 after March 4.

State Incumbent Results Candidates Senator Party Electoral history New Hampshire Vacant Legislature had failed to elect.New senator elected August 2, 1883.Republican gain.

Iowa

On January 25, 1882, the Iowa General Assembly elected James W. McDill (Republican) to finish the term over Moses M. Ham and Daniel Campbell. James F. Wilson (Republican) was elected to the full six-year term on January 25, 1882, over La Vega G. Kinne and Daniel P. Stubbs.

West Virginia On January 23, 1883, each House of the West Virginia Legislature chose a senator to replace retiring incumbent, Henry G. Davis. In both chambers, the ballot was a three-way race between John E. Kenna, a Democratic congressman, George Loomis, a state judge and former state senator, and Berkeley County resident John Tabb Janney. In the House, the final count was 37 votes for Kenna, 22 votes for Loomis, and 3 votes for Janney. In the Senate, the final count was 17 votes for Kenna, 7 votes for Loomis, and 2 votes for Janney. Kenna, having received the majority of votes in both chambers, was declared duly elected as senator.

See also 1882 United States elections 1882 United States House of Representatives elections 47th United States Congress 48th United States Congress

Notes

References

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