The 1864–65 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states. They occurred during the American Civil War and Abraham Lincoln's re-election. As these U.S. Senate elections were prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were chosen by

state legislatures A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Stat ...

. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1864 and 1865, 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 Class 2 may refer to: * BR Standard Class 2 2-6-0, British steam locomotive * BR Standard Class 2 2-6-2T, British steam locomotive * Class 2 Touring Cars, FIA classification for cars in auto racing * Classes of U.S. Senators * L&YR Class 2, Bri ...

. The

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

gained two seats. Most of the Southern states were absent because of the Civil War.

Results summary

Senate party division,

39th Congress The 39th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1865, ...

(1865–1867) * Majority party: Republican (37) * Minority party: Democratic (9) * Other parties: Unconditional Unionist (1); Unionist (1) * Vacant: (24) * Total seats: 72

Change in Senate composition

Before the elections

As a result of the elections

Beginning of the next Congress

Race summaries

Elections during the 38th Congress

In these elections — some special and some initial — the winners were seated during 1864 or in 1865 before March 4; ordered by election date.

Elections leading to the 39th Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1865; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

Elections during the 39th Congress

In this election, the winner was elected in 1865 after March 4.

Maryland

Maryland (1864 special)

James Pearce died, and Thomas Holliday Hicks was appointed to his seat. He then won election to finish the rest of the term by an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 3 seat.

Maryland (1865 special)

Thomas Holliday Hicks died, and

John Creswell John Andrew Jackson Creswell (November 18, 1828December 23, 1891) was an American politician and abolitionist from Maryland, who served as United States Representative, United States Senator, and as Postmaster General of the United States app ...

was appointed to his seat. He then won election to finish the rest of the term by an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 3 seat.

West Virginia

Incumbent Waitman T. Willey was re-elected by the legislature to his first full term as United States Senator, with Willey being elected as a Republican. Willey would serve his term until 1871.

Notes

References

Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present
via Senate.gov * {{DEFAULTSORT:1864-65 United States Senate elections