The 1894–95 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states. As these
U.S. Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
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 1894 and 1895, 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
Republican Party gained plurality control of the Senate with
Populist Party and
Silver Party
The Silver Party was a political party in the United States active from 1892 until 1911 and most successful in Nevada which supported a platform of bimetallism and free silver.
In 1892, several Silver Party candidates were elected to Nevada p ...
support.
Results summary
Senate party division,
54th Congress (1895–1897)
* Plurality: Republican: 42
* Minority: Democrats: 39
* Other parties: Populist: 4, Silver: 2
* Total: 88
* Vacant: 1, due to failure to elect. Later filled by a Democrat
Change in composition
Before the elections
At the beginning of 1894, including early elections in
Mississippi
Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...
and
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
.
Result of the general elections
Result of the special elections and party change
Race summaries
Elections during the 53rd Congress
In these elections, the winners were seated during 1894 or in 1895 before March 4; ordered by election date.
Elections leading to the 54th Congress
In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1895; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.
Elections during the 54th Congress
There were no elections in 1895 after March 4.
Alabama
Arkansas
California (special)
Colorado
Delaware
Georgia
Georgia (special)
Idaho
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Interim appointee
Donelson Caffery
Donelson Caffery (September 10, 1835December 30, 1906) was an American politician from the state of Louisiana, a soldier in the American Civil War, and a sugar plantation owner.
Biography
Caffery was born in Franklin, Louisiana, the seat of S ...
(D) was elected May 14, 1894 to the next term. He was later (May 23, 1894)
elected to finish the current term.
Louisiana (special, class 2)
Randall L. Gibson (D) had been
re-elected in 1889, but died December 15, 1892.
Donelson Caffery
Donelson Caffery (September 10, 1835December 30, 1906) was an American politician from the state of Louisiana, a soldier in the American Civil War, and a sugar plantation owner.
Biography
Caffery was born in Franklin, Louisiana, the seat of S ...
(D) was appointed by the
Governor of Louisiana December 31, 1892 to continue the term, pending a special election. On May 14, 1894 Caffery was
elected to the next term, and on May 23, 1894 Caffery was elected to finish the current term.
Louisiana (special, class 3)
Edward Douglass White
Edward Douglass White Jr. (November 3, 1844 – May 19, 1921) was an American politician and jurist from Louisiana. White was a U.S. Supreme Court justice for 27 years, first as an associate justice from 1894 to 1910, then as the ninth chief ...
(D) had been
elected in 1891, but resigned March 12, 1894 when appointed to the
U.S. Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point o ...
.
Newton C. Blanchard
Newton Crain Blanchard (January 29, 1849 – June 22, 1922) was a United States representative, U.S. senator, and the 33rd governor of Louisiana.
Personal life
Born in Rapides Parish in Central Louisiana, he completed academic studies, ...
(D) was appointed by the
Governor of Louisiana March 12, 1894 to continue the term, pending a special election. On May 23, 1894 Blanchard was elected to finish the current term, which would
end March 3, 1897.
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Michigan (special)
Minnesota
Mississippi
Mississippi (special)
Montana
Montana (special)
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
North Carolina
North Carolina (special)
Oregon
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Washington (special)
John B. Allen (R) had been
elected in 1889 as one of the first senators from Washington. In 1893, however, the
Washington State Legislature failed to elect a senator for the term beginning March 4, 1893. The governor appointed Allen to serve until March 20, 1893, but the Senate rejected his credentials.
John L. Wilson (R) was elected February 1, 1895 to finish the term, that would
end March 3, 1899, taking his seat February 19, 1895.
West Virginia
Wyoming
Wyoming (special)
See also
*
1894 United States elections
The 1894 United States elections was held on November 6, and elected the members of the 54th United States Congress. These were mid-term elections during Democratic President Grover Cleveland's second term. The Republican landslide of 1894 mark ...
**
1894 United States House of Representatives elections
The 1894 United States House of Representatives elections were held from June 4, 1894 to November 6, 1894, with special elections throughout the year. Elections were held to elect representatives from all 356 congressional districts across each ...
*
53rd United States Congress
The 53rd 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, 1893 ...
*
54th United States Congress
The 54th 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, 1895, ...
Notes
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:1894-95 United States Senate elections