1804–05 United States Senate elections
Dates vary by state
11 of the 34 seats in the United States Senate (plus special elections)
18 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic-Republican Federalist
Last election 22 seats 9 seats
Seats before 25 9
Seats won 9 2
Seats after 27 7
Seat change Increase 2 Decrease 2
Seats up 7 4
Results:
     Dem-Republican hold      Dem-Republican gain
     Federalist hold
Majority Party before election


Democratic-Republican

 Elected Majority Party


Democratic-Republican

The 1804–05 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 1804 and 1805, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock.[1] In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 2.

These elections expanded the Democratic-Republican Party's overwhelming control over the Senate. The Federalists went into the elections with such a small share of Senate seats (9 out of 34, or 27%) that even if they had won every election, they would have still remained a minority caucus.

Results summary

Senate party division, 9th Congress (1805–1807)

  • Majority party: Democratic-Republican (27)
  • Minority party: Federalist (7)
  • Other parties: 0
  • Total seats: 34

Change in composition

Only reflects results of regular elections.

Before the regular elections

DR7 DR6 DR5 DR4 DR3 DR2 DR1
DR8 DR9 DR10 DR11 DR12 DR13 DR14 DR15 DR16 DR17
Majority → DR18
F8
N.J.
Ran		 F9
N.H.
Unknown		 DR25
Tenn.
Retired		 DR24
Va.
Ran		 DR23
S.C.
Ran		 DR22
R.I.
Ran		 DR21
N.C.
Ran		 DR20
Ky.
Ran		 DR19
Ga.
Ran
F7
Mass.
Ran		 F6
Del.
Ran		 F5 F4 F3 F2 F1

Result of the regular elections

DR7 DR6 DR5 DR4 DR3 DR2 DR1
DR8 DR9 DR10 DR11 DR12 DR13 DR14 DR15 DR16 DR17
Majority → DR18
DR27
N.J.
Gain		 DR26
N.H.
Gain		 DR25
Tenn.
Hold		 DR24
R.I.
Hold		 DR23
N.C.
Hold		 DR22
Ky.
Hold		 DR21
Va.
Re-elected		 DR20
S.C.
Re-elected		 DR19
Ga.
Re-elected
F7
Mass.
Re-elected		 F6
Del.
Re-elected		 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 8th Congress

In these special elections, the winner was seated during 1804 or before March 4, 1805; ordered by election date.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
New York
(Class 3)		 John Armstrong Jr. Democratic-Republican 1800 (special)
1801
1802 (Resigned)
1803 (Appointed)		 Interim appointee resigned December 3, 1804, to become U.S. Senator from Class 1 seat.
New senator elected February 3, 1804.
Democratic-Republican hold.
New York
(Class 1)		 Theodorus Bailey Democratic-Republican 1803 Resigned January 16, 1804, to become Postmaster of New York City.
New senator elected February 3, 1804.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Rhode Island
(Class 1)		 Samuel J. Potter Democratic-Republican 1802 Died October 14, 1804.
New senator elected October 29, 1804.
Democratic-Republican hold.
New York
(Class 1)		 John Armstrong Jr. Democratic-Republican 1804 (special) Resigned to become U.S. Minister to France.
New senator elected November 9, 1804.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Delaware
(Class 2)		 William H. Wells Federalist 1799 (special)
1799		 Resigned November 6, 1804.
New senator elected November 13, 1804.
Winner also elected to the next term, see below.
Federalist hold.
Virginia
(Class 1)		 Andrew Moore Democratic-Republican 1804 (Appointed) Interim appointee resigned December 3, 1804, to become U.S. Senator from Class 1 seat.
New senator elected December 4, 1804.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Virginia
(Class 2)		 William B. Giles Democratic-Republican 1804 (Appointed) Interim appointee resigned December 3, 1804, to become U.S. Senator from Class 2 seat.
New senator elected December 4, 1804.
Winner also elected to the next term, see below.
Democratic-Republican hold.
South Carolina
(Class 3)		 Pierce Butler Democratic-Republican 1802 (special) Resigned November 21, 1804.
New senator elected December 6, 1804.
Democratic-Republican hold.

Races leading to the 9th Congress

In these regular elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1805; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral
history
Delaware James A. Bayard Federalist 1804 (special) Incumbent re-elected January 24, 1805.
Georgia Abraham Baldwin Democratic-
Republican		 1799 Incumbent re-elected November 14, 1804.
Kentucky John Brown Democratic-
Republican		 1792 (New seat)
1792
1798		 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1804 on the seventh ballot.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Massachusetts Timothy Pickering Federalist 1803 (special) Incumbent re-elected February 6, 1805, on the third ballot.
New Hampshire Simeon Olcott Federalist 1801 (special) Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election.
New senator elected November 28, 1804.
Democratic-Republican gain.
New Jersey Jonathan Dayton Federalist 1798 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1804.
Democratic-Republican gain.
North Carolina Jesse Franklin Democratic-
Republican		 1798 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1804 on the fifth ballot.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Winner would later reject his election and never take the seat.
A new election was held the next year, see below.
Rhode Island Christopher Ellery Democratic-
Republican		 1801 (special) Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected in 1804.
Democratic-Republican hold.
South Carolina Thomas Sumter Democratic-
Republican		 1801 Incumbent elected December 6, 1804.
Tennessee William Cocke Democratic-
Republican		 1799 (special) Incumbent retired.
New senator elected early September 23, 1803.
Democratic-Republican hold.
Virginia William B. Giles Democratic-
Republican		 1804 (Appointed)
1804 (Resigned)
1804 (special)		 Incumbent re-elected December 7, 1804.

Special elections during the 9th Congress

In this special election, the winner was seated in 1805 after March 4.

State Incumbent Results Candidates
Senator Party Electoral history
Kentucky
(Class 3)		 John Breckinridge Democratic-Republican 1800 Resigned August 7, 1805, to become U.S. Attorney General.
New senator elected November 8, 1805.
Democratic-Republican hold.
North Carolina
(Class 2)		 Vacant Montfort Stokes (DR) had been elected in 1804, see above, but rejected the position.
New senator elected November 22, 1805.
Democratic-Republican gain.

Delaware

Senator James A. Bayard

There were two elections this cycle to the same seat, because Federalist William H. Wells, who had first been elected in 1799, resigned November 6, 1804.

Delaware (regular)

Federalist James A. Bayard was elected November 13, 1804, to finish the term ending the following March.

Delaware (special)

Federalist James A. Bayard also elected in 1805, to the next term.

Georgia

Kentucky

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York (special)

In February 1804 two senators were elected to finish vacant terms. The winner of the class 1 seat later resigned, leading to a November special election.

Theodorus Bailey had been elected to the Class 1 seat (term 1803–1809) but resigned on January 16, 1804, after his appointment as Postmaster of New York City.

John Armstrong had been re-elected to the class 3 seat to the term that would end March 3, 1807. He resigned February 5, 1802, and DeWitt Clinton was elected February 9, 1802 to finish the term.

Clinton then resigned on November 4, 1803, after his appointment as Mayor of New York City, and Governor George Clinton appointed Armstrong to his old seat to continue the term temporarily until another special election.

Armstrong was then elected to the class 1 seat and so resigned from the class 3 seat.

New York (February: special, classes 1 and 3)

The first special election was held February 3, 1804, by the New York State Legislature to elect both senators. The class 1 term ended March 3, 1809, and the class 3 term ended March 3, 1813.

U.S. Senator (Class 1) Incumbent: Theodorus Bailey

House Democratic-Republican Federalist Federalist
State Senate
(32 members)		 Green tick John Armstrong
State Assembly
(99 members)		 Green tick John Armstrong 83 Jacob Radcliff 4 Egbert Benson 3

U.S. Senator (Class 3) Incumbent: John Armstrong

House Democratic-Republican Federalist Federalist
State Senate
(32 members)		 Green tick John Smith
State Assembly
(99 members)		 Green tick John Smith Smith was nominated unanimously by the Assembly, but the exact number of votes given is unclear.

John Smith was seated February 23, 1804. John Armstrong was seated February 25, 1804.

New York (November: special, class 1)

Once again, John Armstrong resigned from the Senate on June 30, 1804 (a third time in three years) when appointed U.S. Minister to France. To fill the vacancy, the legislature held a special election November 9, 1804, and elected Samuel L. Mitchill.

House Democratic-Republican Federalist Democratic-Republican
State Senate
(30 members)		 Green tick Samuel L. Mitchill    
State Assembly
(100 members)		 Green tick Samuel L. Mitchill 75 Rufus King 14 David Thomas 1

Mitchill was seated November 23, 1804.

North Carolina

Rhode Island

Rhode Island (regular)

Senator James Fenner

Democratic-Republican James Fenner beat incumbent Democratic-Republican Christopher Ellery in 1804.

Rhode Island (special)

Democratic-Republican Samuel J. Potter died October 14, 1804, Democratic-Republican Benjamin Howland was elected October 29, 1804, to finish the term.

South Carolina

South Carolina (regular)

Senator Thomas Sumter

Democratic-Republican Thomas Sumter was re-elected December 6, 1804.

South Carolina (special)

Senator John Gaillard

Democratic-Republican Pierce Butler resigned November 21, 1804, and Democratic-Republican John Gaillard was elected December 6, 1804.

Tennessee

Virginia

The incumbent senators effectively switched seats due to appointments and special elections.

Class 2

Virginia's class 2 senators
Wilson C. Nicholas
Wilson C. Nicholas,
until May 22, 1804
Andrew Moore
Andrew Moore,
August 11, 1804 – December 3, 1804
William B. Giles
William B. Giles,
from December 4, 1804

Virginia (special, class 2)

Democratic-Republican Wilson C. Nicholas resigned May 22, 1804, and Democratic-Republican Andrew Moore was appointed August 11, 1804, to continue the term. Moore was elected to the other seat, so he resigned and Democratic-Republican William B. Giles, who had already been elected to this seat's next term, was elected December 4, 1804, to finish the term.

Virginia (regular, class 2)

Democratic-Republican William B. Giles was elected December 4, 1804, to the next term.

Virginia (special, class 1)

Virginia's class 1 senators
Abraham B. Venable
Abraham B. Venable,
until June 7, 1804
William B. Giles
William B. Giles,
August 11, 1804 – December 3, 1804
Andrew Moore
Andrew Moore,
from December 4, 1804

Democratic-Republican Abraham B. Venable resigned June 7, 1804, and Democratic-Republican William B. Giles was appointed August 11, 1804, to continue the term. Giles was elected to the other seat, so he resigned and Democratic-Republican Andrew Moore was elected December 4, 1804, to finish the term.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)". National Archives and Records Administration. February 8, 2022.
  2. ↑ "New York 1804 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing Journal of the New York Assembly, 1804. 35. Journal of the New York State Senate, 1804. 10.
  3. ↑ "NY US Senate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  4. ↑ "New York 1804 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing The Albany Register (Albany, NY). February 7, 1804.
  5. ↑ "NY US Senate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Rhode Island 1804 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 10, 2018., citing The True American and Commercial Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). November 19, 1804.
  7. ↑ "NY US Senate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Delaware 1804 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing Journal of the Delaware House of Representatives, 1804. 9.
  9. ↑ "Delaware 1805 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing Journal of the Delaware State Senate, 1805. 41.
  10. ↑ "Georgia 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing The Enquirer (Richmond, VA). December 6, 1804.
  11. ↑ "Kentucky 1804 U.S. Senate, Ballot 7". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing Kentucky Gazette and General Advertiser (Lexington, KY). November 27, 1804.
  12. ↑ "Massachusetts 1805 U.S. Senate, Ballot 3". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 29, 2018., citing The Providence Phoenix (Providence, RI). February 9, 1805.
  13. ↑ "New Hampshire 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing Oracle Post (Portsmouth, NH). December 11, 1804.
  14. ↑ "New Jersey 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing The Centinel of Freedom (Newark, NJ). November 13, 1804.
  15. ↑ "North Carolina 1804 U.S. Senate, Ballot 5". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 9, 2018., citing Raleigh Register, and North-Carolina State Gazette (Raleigh, NC). December 3, 1804.
  16. ↑ "Rhode Island 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 10, 2018., citing The True American and Commercial Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). November 19, 1804.
  17. ↑ "South Carolina 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 10, 2018., citing Original Election Returns. South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.
  18. ↑ "Tennessee 1803 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved January 30, 2018., citing Journal of the Tennessee House of Representatives, 1803. 27. Gazette of the United States (Philadelphia, PA). October 18, 1803. White, Robert Hiram. Messages of the Governors of Tennessee, 1796-1821. Vol. 1. Nashville: The Tennessee Historical Commission, 1952.
  19. ↑ "Virginia 1804 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 10, 2018., citing The Enquirer (Richmond, VA). December 15, 1804.
  20. ↑ "Kentucky 1805 U.S. Senate, Special". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 8, 2018., citing The Enquirer (Richmond, VA). December 6, 1805.
  21. ↑ "North Carolina 1805 U.S. Senate". Tufts Digital Collations and Archives. A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787–1825. Tufts University. Retrieved February 9, 2018., citing Legislative Papers. State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh.

References

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