1862–63 United States Senate elections

1862–63 United States Senate elections

← 1860 & 1861 January 4, 1862– November 13, 1863 1864 & 1865 →
24[a] of the 70[b] seats in the United States Senate 36[c] seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Dem Leader John P. Hale[d] (retired as leader) Party Republican-Union Democratic Leader's seat New Hampshire Seats before 31 14 Seats won 31[e] 10[f] Seat change 4 Seats up 12 9 Races won 12 5   Third party Fourth party   Party Union Radical Union Seats before 4 0 Seats won 6[g][e] 2[e] Seat change 3 2 Seats up 2 — Races won 5 2   Fifth party   Party Constitutional Union Seats before 0 Seats won 1[e] Seat change 1 Seats up 0 Races won 1
Summary results Elections held in 1862 Elections held in 1863 Results      Republican gain      Union gain      Republican hold      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Border state Union gain      Border state Union hold      Radical Union gain      Constitutional Union gain      Confederate state

The 1862–63 United States Senate elections were held from January 4, 1862, to November 13, 1863. Regularly scheduled elections were held for 20 out of the 70 seats in the United States Senate, and special elections were held in Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, and Rhode Island. The Republican-Union coalition kept the majority they had held since 1861 despite an unfavorable national environment.

U.S. senators are divided into three classes whose six-year terms are staggered, such that one-third of the Senate is elected every two years. Senators in Class 1 were elected in 1862 and 1863. Prior to ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment, senators were elected by the U.S. state legislatures. There was no fixed calendar, and states held elections on various dates preceding the first session of Congress. In states with split partisan control of the legislature, multiple rounds of voting could be required to elect a senator, leading to extended vacancies.^[3]

The elections took place against the backdrop of civil war and emancipation in what was the first real test of Democratic opposition to the Lincoln administration.^[4] The war disrupted established party systems in the free states and the loyal border states, resulting in a partial political realignment. In the Lower North, Republicans and War Democrats contested these elections as the Union Party, while Republicans maintained a separate organization in New England and the Upper Midwest.^[5] In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, conservative opponents of the Republicans formed new political parties composed of most Democrats and Constitutional Unionists.^[6] In the border states, Unionists were ascendant but internally divided over issues relating to slavery and Reconstruction, resulting in protracted legislative battles in Missouri and West Virginia.^[7]

Emancipation and the status of freedpeople were major issues during the campaign and a significant factor in party alignments. Lincoln's initial plan of gradual, compensated emancipation paired with the colonization of freedpeople outside the United States was jointly rejected by abolitionists who favored immediate, unqualified emancipation, and by Democrats and conservatives who opposed emancipation altogether.^[8] Radical Republican opposition to any compromise with slavery was the catalyst for the formation of the People's Party in Massachusetts, who campaigned in support of Lincoln's proposal.^[9] The manner and timing of emancipation split the Missouri unionist movement, leading radical Immediate Emancipationists to organize the Radical Union Party in September 1863.^[10] The appearance of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in September 1862 interrupted the campaign and undercut the momentum of pro-Lincoln conservatives.^[11] Democrats attempted to capitalize on racist backlash to the proclamation, warning that emancipation would precipitate slave rebellions and large-scale Black migration to the free states, and charging the administration of prolonging the war in service of religious fanaticism.^[12] While Radical Republicans celebrated the proclamation, Moderates and Conservatives feared the president's policy spelled electoral defeat.^[13] In Ohio, Republican-Unionists avoided mention of slavery in their state platform, and the Indiana Union Party called for the restoration of the Union with the rights of the states fully intact.^[14]

While Democrats made significant gains in the concurrent elections for the House of Representatives and won important state races in Illinois, Indiana, and New York, the party failed to improve its standing in the Senate and instead suffered a net loss of seats.^[15] Republican-Unionists flipped Democratic-held seats in California, Oregon, and Minnesota, while Democrats flipped Republican-held seats in Illinois and Pennsylvania. In Indiana and New Jersey, Democrats defeated Republican-Union incumbents appointed to fill vacancies caused by the expulsion or death of a Democratic senator less than a year before the election.^[16] Radical Unionists gained both Missouri seats held by Democrats prior to 1862, and Constitutional Unionists flipped a Republican-held seat in Rhode Island.^[17] No election was held in Tennessee following the resignation of Democrat Andrew Johnson, increasing the number of vacancies to 20.^[18]

The death of James A. Pearce of Maryland reduced the Democratic caucus to nine seats before the start of the 38th Congress.^[19] The Missouri Radical Unionists, both Union senators from West Virginia, and Constitutional Unionist William Sprague of Rhode Island subsequently caucused with the Republican-Union majority, increasing their caucus to 36 seats.^[1]

Parties								Total
		Democratic	Republican-Union	Union[h]	Radical Union	Others	Vacant
Last elections (1860–61)		31	31	—	—	1	5	68
Before these elections		9	33	6	—	—	20	68
Not up		5	19	2	—	—	16	42
	Class 2 (1858–59→1864–65)	2	8	1	—	—	9	20
	Class 3 (1860–61→1866–67)	3	11	1	—	—	7	22
Up		4	14	4	—	—	6	28
	Class 1 (1856–57→1862–63)	3	12	3	—	—	4	24
	Special: Class 2 & 3	1	2	1	—	—	—	3
	Special: Class 1	—	3	1	—	—	—	5
	New states	—	—	—	—	—	2[i]	2
General election
1862		—	3	1	—	—	—	4
	Held by same party	—	2	1	—	—	—	3
	Replaced by other party	1 Republican replaced by 1 Constitutional Unionist						1
	Result	—	2	1	—	1	—	4
1863		3	9	2	—	—	6	20
	Held by same party	1	6	1	—	—	4	12
	Replaced by other party	3 Republican-Unionists replaced by 3 Democrats 2 Democrats replaced by 2 Republican-Unionists 2 vacancies replaced by 2 Unionists 1 Unionist replaced by 1 Radical Unionist						8
	Result	5	8	3	1	1	4	22
Special election
1862		1	2	—	—	—	—	3
	Held by same party	—	1	—	—	—	—	1
	Replaced by other party	1 Democrat replaced by 1 Republican-Unionist 1 Republican-Unionist replaced by 1 Constitutional Unionist						2
	Result	—	2	—	—	1	—	3
1863		—	3	2	—	—	—	5
	Held by same party	—	—	1	—	—	—	1
	Replaced by other party	3 Republican-Unionists replaced by 3 Democrats 1 Unionist replaced by 1 Radical Unionist						4
	Result	3	2	1	1	—	—	8
Result		10	31	6	2	1	20	70
Other changes[f][g]		1		1				70
Changes after December 7, 1863			5	2	2	1		70

Each block represents one of the 68 seats in the U.S. Senate. (The admission of West Virginia on June 20, 1863, increased the number of seats in the Senate to 70.) "CU_#" is a Constitutional Union senator, "D_#" is a Democratic senator, "Rad_#" is a Radical Union senator, "R_#" is a Republican senator, "RU_#" is a Republican-Union senator, "U_#" is a Union senator, and "V_#" is a vacant seat. They are arranged so that the parties are separated, and a majority is clear by crossing the middle.

V4	V3	V2	V1
V5	V6	V7	V8	V9	V10	D1	D2	D3	D4
D14 Ore. (sp) Retired	D13 Minn. Retired	D12 Calif. Retired	D11 Del. Ran	D10 Tenn. No election[j]	D9 Mo. (sp) Expelled[k]	D8 Mo. (reg) Expelled[l]	D7 Ind. Expelled[m]	D6 N.J. Died[n]	D5
U1	U2	U3 Va. Ran	U4 Md. Retired	R31 Ill. (sp) Retired	R30 Wis. Ran	R29 Vt. Ran	R28 R.I. Ran[o]	R27 Pa. Ran	R26 Ohio Ran
Majority →									R25 N.Y. Ran
R16	R17	R18	R19	R20 Mich. (sp) Died	R21 Conn. Ran	R22 Maine Ran	R23 Mass. Ran	R24 Mich. (reg) Ran
R15	R14	R13	R12	R11	R10	R9	R8	R7	R6
V15	V16	V17 Fla. No election	V18 Miss. No election	V19 Texas No election	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5
V14	V13	V12	V11

Unionist Thomas H. Hicks was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the death of James A. Pearce of Maryland, flipping the seat from Democratic to Union.^[2]

V5	V4	V3	V2	V1
V6	V7	V8	V9	V10	D1	D2	D3	D4	D5 Del. Re-elected
U6 W.V. Gain	U5 Md. (ap) Gain	U4 Va. Hold	U3 Md. Gain	U2	U1	D9 Pa. Gain	D8 N.J. Gain[n]	D7 Ind. Gain[m]	D6 Ill. (sp) Gain
U7 W.V. Gain	Rad1 Mo. (reg) Gain[l]	Rad2 Mo. (sp) Gain[k]	CU1 R.I. Gain[o]	RU31 Ore. (sp) Gain	RU30 Minn. Gain	RU29 Calif. Gain	RU28 N.Y. Hold	RU27 Mich. (sp) Hold	RU26 Wis. Re-elected
Majority →									RU25 Vt. Re-elected
RU16	RU17	RU18	RU19	RU20 Conn. Re-elected	RU21 Maine Re-elected	RU22 Mass. Re-elected	RU23 Mich. (reg) Re-elected	RU24 Ohio Re-elected
RU15	RU14	RU13	RU12	RU11	RU10	RU9	RU8	RU7	RU6
V16	V17 Fla. Hold	V18 Miss. Hold	V19 Texas Hold	V20 Tenn. D Loss[j]	RU1	RU2	RU3	RU4	RU5
V15	V14	V13	V12	V11

Five senators elected as border state Unionists (Peter G. Van Winkle and Waitman T. Willey of West Virginia), Radical Unionists (B. Gratz Brown and John B. Henderson of Missouri), or Constitutional Unionists (William Sprague of Rhode Island) caucused with the Republican-Union majority after the start of the 38th Congress, increasing their caucus to 36 seats.^[1]

V5	V4	V3	V2	V1
V6	V7	V8	V9	V10	D1	D2	D3	D4	D5
RU36 W.V. Changed	U5	U4	U3	U2	U1	D9	D8	D7	D6
RU35 W.V. Changed	RU34 Mo. Changed	RU33 Mo. Changed	RU32 R.I. Changed	RU31	RU30	RU29	RU28	RU27	RU26
Majority →									RU25
RU16	RU17	RU18	RU19	RU20	RU21	RU22	RU23	RU24
RU15	RU14	RU13	RU12	RU11	RU10	RU9	RU8	RU7	RU6
V16	V17	V18	V19	V20	RU1	RU2	RU3	RU4	RU5
V15	V14	V13	V12	V11

Key:	CU# Constitutional Union D# Democratic Rad# Radical Union R# Republican RU# Republican-Union U# Union V# Vacant

Special elections were held to fill six vacancies in the 37th United States Congress.

State	Incumbent			This race
	Senator	Party	Electoral history	Results	Candidates
Michigan (Class 2)	Kinsley S. Bingham	Republican	1858	Incumbent died October 5, 1861. New member elected January 4, 1862. Republican hold.	First ballot (January 4, 1862) ▌Y Jacob M. Howard (Republican) 75 HTooltip Michigan House of Representatives; 28 STooltip Michigan Senate ▌ Alpheus Felch (Democratic) 10 HTooltip Michigan House of Representatives; 2 STooltip Michigan Senate
Oregon (Class 2)	Benjamin Stark	Democratic	1862 (ap.)	Interim appointee retired. New senator elected September 12, 1862. Union gain.	Thirtieth ballot (September 12, 1862) ▌Y Benjamin F. Harding (Union) 28 ▌ Henry W. Corbett (Union) 11 ▌ George H. Williams (Union) 5 ▌ John Whiteaker (Democratic) 3 Blank 1
Rhode Island (Class 1)	James F. Simmons	Republican	1841 1847 (l.r.) 1857 1862 (l.r.)	Incumbent resigned August 15, 1862. New senator elected September 5, 1862. Constitutional Union gain.	First ballot (September 5, 1862) ▌Y Samuel G. Arnold (Constitutional Union) 71 ▌ Nathan F. Dixon (Republican) 7 Scattering 3
Missouri (Class 1)	John B. Henderson	Union	1862 (ap.)	Interim appointee elected with a new party January 6, 1863. Emancipation gain.	First ballot (January 6, 1863) ▌Y John B. Henderson (Emancipation) 104 ▌ Robert Wilson (Union) 47 ▌ William A. Hall (Democratic) 1
Illinois (Class 2)	Orville H. Browning	Republican	1861 (ap.)	Interim appointee retired. New member elected January 12, 1863. Democratic gain.	First ballot (January 12, 1863) ▌Y William Richardson (Democratic) 65 ▌Richard Yates (Union) 38
Indiana (Class 1)	Joseph A. Wright	Union	1862 (ap.)	Interim appointee retired. New member elected January 14, 1863. Democratic gain.	First ballot (January 14, 1863) ▌Y David Turpie (Democratic) 85 ▌ Daniel D. Pratt (Union) 62
New Jersey (Class 1)	Richard S. Field	Union	1862 (ap.)	Interim appointee lost re-election January 14, 1863. Democratic gain.	First ballot (January 14, 1863) ▌Y James W. Wall (Democratic) 53 ▌ Richard S. Field (Union) 23 ▌ William A. Newell (Union) 2 ▌ William Cook (Democratic) 1

Eighteen senators were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1863.

State	Incumbent			This race
	Senator	Party	Electoral history	Results	Candidates
California	Milton Latham	Democratic	1860 (sp.)	Incumbent retired. Union gain.	First ballot (February 10, 1863) ▌Y John Conness (Union) 98 ▌ Benjamin Shurtleff (Democratic) 15 ▌ Joseph P. Hoge (Democratic) 1
Connecticut	James Dixon	Republican	1856	Incumbent re-elected with a new party. Union gain.	First ballot (May 22, 1862) ▌Y James Dixon (Union) 162 HTooltip Connecticut House of Representatives; 19 STooltip Connecticut Senate ▌ Charles Chapman (Democratic) 57 HTooltip Connecticut House of Representatives; 0 STooltip Connecticut Senate ▌ William A. Buckingham (Union) 2 HTooltip Connecticut House of Representatives; 0 STooltip Connecticut Senate ▌ Orris S. Ferry (Union) 2 HTooltip Connecticut House of Representatives; 0 STooltip Connecticut Senate Blank 1 HTooltip Connecticut House of Representatives; 1 STooltip Connecticut Senate
Delaware	James A. Bayard	Democratic	1851 1857	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot (January 8, 1863) ▌Y James A. Bayard Jr. (Democratic) 19 ▌ Edward G. Bradford (Union) 10
Florida	Vacant			Seat vacant since March 14, 1861. No election.	None.
Indiana	Joseph A. Wright	Union	1862 (ap.)	Interim appointee lost re-election. Democratic gain.	First ballot (January 14, 1863) ▌Y Thomas A. Hendricks (Democratic) 85 ▌ Joseph A. Wright (Union) 61 ▌ Schuyler Colfax (Union) 1
Maine	Lot M. Morrill	Republican	1861 (sp.)	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot (January 13, 1863) ▌Y Lot M. Morrill (Republican) 95 HTooltip Maine House of Representatives; 25 STooltip Maine Senate ▌ William P. Haines (Democratic) 42 HTooltip Maine House of Representatives; 1 STooltip Maine Senate
Maryland	Anthony Kennedy	Union	1856–57	Incumbent retired. Union hold.	First ballot (March 5, 1862) ▌Y Reverdy Johnson (Union) 56 Blank 28
Massachusetts	Charles Sumner	Republican	1851 1857	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot (January 15, 1863) ▌Y Charles Sumner (Republican) 194 HTooltip Massachusetts House of Representatives; 33 STooltip Massachusetts Senate ▌ Josiah G. Abbott (People's) 38 HTooltip Massachusetts House of Representatives; 5 STooltip Massachusetts Senate ▌ Caleb Cushing (Democratic) 2 HTooltip Massachusetts House of Representatives; 0 STooltip Massachusetts Senate ▌ Charles F. Adams (Republican) 1 HTooltip Massachusetts House of Representatives; 1 STooltip Massachusetts Senate
Michigan	Zachariah Chandler	Republican	1857	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot (January 8, 1863) ▌Y Zachariah Chandler (Republican) 60 HTooltip Michigan House of Representatives; 18 STooltip Michigan Senate ▌ James F. Joy (Democratic) 34 HTooltip Michigan House of Representatives; 11 STooltip Michigan Senate ▌ Alpheus Felch (Democratic) 0 HTooltip Michigan House of Representatives; 2 STooltip Michigan Senate Scattering 1 HTooltip Michigan House of Representatives; 1 STooltip Michigan Senate
Minnesota	Henry Mower Rice	Democratic	1858	Incumbent retired. Republican gain.	First ballot (January 14, 1863) ▌Y Alexander Ramsey (Republican) 45 ▌ Andrew G. Chatfield (Democratic) 17
Mississippi	Vacant			Seat vacant since March 14, 1861. No election.	None.
Missouri	John B. Henderson	Emancipation	1863 (sp.)	Incumbent re-elected with a new party. Radical Union gain.	First ballot (November 13, 1863) ▌Y John B. Henderson (Radical Union) 84 ▌ John S. Phelps (Conservative) 42 ▌ Benjamin F. Loan (Radical Union) 7 ▌ William A. Hall (Democratic) 3 Scattering 2
New Jersey	James W. Wall	Democratic	1863 (sp.)	Incumbent lost re-nomination. Democratic hold.	First ballot (February 26, 1863) ▌Y William Wright (Democratic) 54 ▌ William A. Newell (Union) 25
New York	Preston King	Republican	1857	Incumbent lost renomination. Union gain.	First ballot (February 3, 1863) ▌Y Edwin D. Morgan (Union) 86 ▌ Erastus Corning (Democratic) 70 Scattering 2
Ohio	Benjamin Wade	Republican	1851 1856	Incumbent re-elected with a new party. Union gain.	First ballot (January 22, 1863) ▌Y Benjamin Wade (Union) 75 ▌ Hugh J. Jewett (Democratic) 35 ▌ Thomas Ewing (Union) 15 ▌ Robert C. Schenck (Union) 1
Pennsylvania	David Wilmot	Republican	1861 (sp.)	Incumbent lost renomination. Democratic gain.	First ballot (January 13, 1863) ▌Y Charles R. Buckalew (Democratic) 67 ▌ Simon Cameron (Union) 65 ▌ William D. Kelley (Union) 1
Rhode Island	James F. Simmons	Republican	1841 1847 (l.r.) 1857	Incumbent lost re-election. Constitutional Union gain. Incumbent resigned August 15, 1862, leading to a special election; see above.	First ballot (May 28, 1862) ▌Y William Sprague (Constitutional Union) 92 ▌ James F. Simmons (Republican) 5 ▌ Nathan F. Dixon (Republican) 5 ▌ Thomas G. Turner (Republican) 1
Tennessee	Vacant			Seat vacant from March 4, 1862. No election.	None.
Texas	Vacant			Seat vacant from July 11, 1861. No election.	None.
Vermont	Solomon Foot	Republican	1850 1856	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot (October 14, 1862) ▌Y Solomon Foot (Republican) 206 HTooltip Vermont House of Representatives; 30 STooltip Vermont Senate ▌ Daniel Kellogg (Democratic) 3 HTooltip Vermont House of Representatives; 0 STooltip Vermont Senate ▌ Paul Dillingham (Democratic) 2 HTooltip Vermont House of Representatives; 0 STooltip Vermont Senate Scattering 2 HTooltip Vermont House of Representatives; 0 STooltip Vermont Senate
Virginia	Waitman T. Willey	Union	1861 (sp.)	Incumbent lost re-election. Union hold.	Second ballot (January 23, 1863) ▌Y Lemuel J. Bowden (Union) 29 ▌ Waitman T. Willey (Union) 19 ▌ Daniel Lamb (Union) 1
West Virginia 2 seats	None (new state)			Seat created June 20, 1863. Union gain.	First ballot (August 4, 1863) ▌Y Waitman T. Willey (Union) 50 ▌ Archibald W. Campbell (Union) 27 ▌ Benjamin H. Smith (Union) 24 ▌ Peter G. Van Winkle (Union) 22 ▌ Daniel Lamb (Union) 5 ▌ George W. Summers (Union) 3 Scattering 2 Sixth ballot (August 4, 1863) ▌Y Peter G. Van Winkle (Union) 46 ▌ Archibald W. Campbell (Union) 12 ▌ George W. Summers (Union) 6 ▌ Benjamin H. Smith (Union) 2 ▌ Thomas K. McCann (Union) 1
				Seat created June 20, 1863. Union gain.
Wisconsin	James R. Doolittle	Republican	1857	Incumbent re-elected.	First ballot January 22, 1863) ▌Y James R. Doolittle (Republican) 73 ▌ Edward George Ryan (Democratic) 57 Scattering 2

In these elections, the winners were elected in 1863 after March 4; ordered by election date.

State	Incumbent			This race
	Senator	Party	Electoral history	Results	Candidates
Missouri (Class 3)	Robert Wilson	Union	1862 (ap.)	Interim appointee retired. New member elected November 13, 1863. Radical Union gain.	Thirty-second ballot (November 13, 1863) ▌Y B. Gratz Brown (Radical Union) 74 ▌ James Broadhead (Conservative) 65 ▌ H. M. Vorhies (Unknown) 2

California election

← 1860 (special) February 10, 1863 1867 →
Members of the California State Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee John Conness Benjamin Shurtleff Party Union Democratic 1st ballot 98 (86.0%) 15 (13.2%)
Senator before election Milton Latham Lecompton Democratic Elected Senator John Conness Union

Incumbent Democrat Milton Latham was elected in 1860 to fill the vacancy created by the death of David C. Broderick.^[20] He was not a candidate for re-election.^[21]

The Union members of the legislature held a caucus from January 13 to February 9, 1863.^[22] Timothy G. Phelps, John Conness, Aaron A. Sargent, and Trenor W. Park were the major candidates. Phelps led on the first ballot, but without a majority. During the balloting, an internal inquiry found that Phelps's supporters had offered bribes to several members in exchange for their votes. Although Phelps denied the allegations, the stigma of corruption in effect ended his candidacy.^[23] Conness was nominated on the final ballot with 60 votes to 29 for Sargent, three for Phelps, and eight for other candidates.^[24]

The California State Legislature met in joint session on February 10, 1863, to hold an election for the next term.^[25] Conness defeated the Democratic candidate Benjamin Shurtleff on the first ballot.^[26]

Connecticut election

← 1856 May 22, 1862 1868 →
Members of the Connecticut General Assembly Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee James Dixon Charles Chapman Party Union Democratic House 162 (72.3%) 57 (25.4%) Senate 19 (95.0%) —
Senator before election James Dixon Republican Elected Senator James Dixon Union

One-term Republican James Dixon was elected in 1856.^[20]

The Union members of the legislature held a caucus on May 15, 1862. Dixon, William A. Buckingham, Roger S. Baldwin, and Orris S. Ferry were the leading candidates. Dixon defeated the other candidates on the first ballot.^[27]

The Senate and the House of Representatives met separately on May 22, 1862, to hold an election for the next term.^[27] Dixon defeated the Democratic candidate Charles Chapman on the first ballot.^[28]

Delaware election

← 1857 January 8, 1863 1864 (special) →
Members of the Delaware General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee James A. Bayard Edward G. Bradford Party Democratic Union 1st ballot 19 (65.5%) 10 (34.5%)
Senator before election James A. Bayard Democratic Elected Senator James A. Bayard Democratic

Two-term Democrat James A. Bayard was re-elected in 1857.^[29]

The Delaware General Assembly met in joint session on January 8, 1863, to hold an election for the next term. Bayard defeated the Union candidate Edward G. Bradford on the first ballot.^[30][31]

Florida election

← 1857 No election 1868 (special) →

Senator before election None (vacant from March 14, 1861) Elected Senator None

Two-term Democrat Stephen Mallory withdrew from the Senate on March 14, 1861, following the secession of Florida. The Florida Legislature did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1868.^[32]

Illinois special election

← 1859 January 12, 1863 1865 →
Members of the Illinois General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee William A. Richardson Richard Yates Party Democratic Union 1st ballot 65 (63.1%) 38 (36.9%)
Senator before election Orville H. Browning Republican Elected Senator William A. Richardson Democratic

Incumbent Republican Orville H. Browning was appointed in 1861 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Stephen A. Douglas.^[33] He was not a candidate for re-election.

The Union Party was initially confident in its ability to retain control of the Illinois General Assembly, a feat which would allow it to elect a successor to complete Douglas's unexpired term. The campaign was interrupted by the appearance of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in September 1862, which placed the national Lincoln administration on ground long occupied by Radical Republicans. The proclamation inflamed factional conflict between Radicals and Moderates in the Union Party and emboldened the Democratic opposition, who accused the administration of seeking to "Africanize" Illinois. Illinois Democrats were victorious in state elections held in the fall of 1862, electing nine of the state's fourteen U.S. representatives and a 27-seat majority in the legislature.^[34]

The General Assembly met on January 12, 1863, to hold a special election for the unexpired term. The Democratic candidate William A. Richardson defeated the Union candidate Richard Yates on the first ballot.^[35]

Incumbent Unionist Joseph A. Wright was appointed in 1862 to fill the vacancy created by the expulsion of Jesse D. Bright. With Bright's expulsion coming little more than a year before the end of his term on March 4, 1863, the Indiana General Assembly would hold concurrent elections in January 1863: a special election for the remainder of the unexpired term, and the regularly scheduled election for the next term.^[36]

Wright and Bright had waged a bitter struggle for control of the Indiana Democratic Party during the preceding decade; by appointing Wright to Bright's former seat in the Senate, Indiana governor Oliver P. Morton helped to bring Wright's War Democratic supporters into Indiana's nascent Union Party. From the outset of the campaign, Democrats accused the national administration of using the war as a pretext for emancipation. These fears were seemingly vindicated by the appearance of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in September 1862. Democrats launched an unprecedented racist campaign against the proclamation that confounded the attempts of moderate Unionists to defend emancipation as a military necessity. In the fall legislative elections, Democrats won majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly, paving the way for the election of a Democratic senator in January.^[37]

The Democratic members of the legislature held a caucus on January 9, 1863. David Turpie was nominated for the unexpired term and Thomas A. Hendricks was nominated for the next term.^[38]

The General Assembly met in joint session on January 14, 1863, to hold concurrent elections for both terms. Turpie and Hendricks were respectively elected.^[39]

Indiana special election

← 1857 January 14, 1863 1863 →
Members of the Indiana General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee David Turpie Daniel D. Pratt Party Democratic Union 1st ballot 85 (57.8%) 62 (42.2%)
Senator before election Joseph A. Wright Union Elected Senator David Turpie Democratic

Wright was not a candidate in the special election. Turpie defeated the Union candidate Daniel D. Pratt on the first ballot.^[40]

Indiana election

← 1863 (special) January 14, 1863 1869 →
Members of the Indiana General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Thomas A. Hendricks Joseph A. Wright Party Democratic Union 1st ballot 85 (57.8%) 61 (41.5%)
Senator before election Joseph A. Wright Union Elected Senator Thomas A. Hendricks Democratic

Turpie was not a candidate for the next term. Hendricks defeated Wright on the first ballot.^[41]

Maine election

← 1861 (special) January 13, 1863 1869 →
Members of the Maine Legislature Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Lot M. Morrill William P. Haines Party Republican Democratic House 95 (68.3%) 42 (30.2%) Senate 25 (96.2%) 1 (3.8%)
Senator before election Lot M. Morrill Republican Elected Senator Lot M. Morrill Republican

Incumbent Republican Lot M. Morrill was elected in 1861 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Hannibal Hamlin.^[42]

The Senate and the House of Representatives met separately on January 13, 1863, to hold an election for the next term. Morrill defeated the Democratic candidate William P. Haines on the first ballot.^[43]

Maryland election

← 1856–57 March 5, 1862 1868–69 →
Members of the Maryland General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Reverdy Johnson Blank Party Union 1st ballot 56 (66.7%) 28 (33.3%)
Senator before election Anthony Kennedy Union Elected Senator Reverdy Johnson Union

One-term Unionist Anthony Kennedy was elected in 1856 or 1857.^[44] He was not a candidate for re-election.

The Maryland General Assembly met on March 5, 1862, to hold an election for the next term. Voting proceeded separately in the Senate and the House of Delegates, after which the tellers withdrew and to count the ballots in the Senate chamber. The Union candidate Reverdy Johnson was elected on the first ballot.^[45]

Massachusetts election

← 1857 January 15, 1863 1869 →
Members of the Massachusetts General Court Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Charles Sumner Josiah G. Abbott Party Republican People's House 194 (82.6%) 38 (16.2%) Senate 33 (84.6%) 5 (12.8%)
Senator before election Charles Sumner Republican Elected Senator Charles Sumner Republican

Two-term Republican Charles Sumner was re-elected in 1857.^[46]

The Republican state convention met at Worcester, Massachusetts, on September 9, 1862. Sumner had earned the disapproval of Conservative Republicans when he opposed Lincoln's plan for gradual emancipation in March 1862, calling instead for Congress to use its authority under the War Powers Clause to abolish slavery immediately. Seeking to preempt a movement to replace Sumner at the next senatorial election, Sumner's allies took the unusual step of having the state convention endorse his bid for re-election. A resolution endorsing Sumner and approving his course in the Senate passed over the protests of Conservative delegates, in effect making Sumner's re-election the central issue of the fall campaign.^[47]

Conservative opponents of Sumner held a convention at Boston on October 7, 1862.^[48] Many of the organizers of the convention were former Whigs who had supported the Constitutional Union Party in 1860.^[49] In a nod to antipartisan wartime rhetoric, the movement called itself the People's Party; its express purpose was to defeat Sumner's bid for reelection. The convention adopted a pro-war, anti-abolitionist platform and selected candidates for the upcoming state elections; Charles F. Adams was nominated for U.S. senator, but declined. The preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, issued September 22, had brought the Lincoln administration into line with Sumner's position, while the endorsement of the People's ticket by the Massachusetts Democratic Party undermined the movement's claim to constitute the true pro-administration party in Massachusetts. Following these events, most Conservative Republicans returned to the fold, and the Republican ticket was elected by a large majority.^[50]

The Senate and the House of Representatives met separately on January 15, 1863, to hold an election for the next term. Sumner defeated the People's candidate Josiah G. Abbott on the first ballot.^[51]

There were two elections in Michigan, due to the death of Kinsley S. Bingham.

Michigan special election

← 1858 January 4, 1862 1865 →
Members of the Michigan Legislature Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Jacob M. Howard Alpheus Felch Party Republican Democratic House 75 (88.2%) 10 (11.8%) Senate 28 (93.3%) 2 (6.7%)
Senator before election None (vacant from October 5, 1861) Elected Senator Jacob M. Howard Republican

One-term Republican Kinsley S. Bingham was elected in 1858. Bingham died on October 5, 1861, causing a special election.^[52]

The Republican members of the legislature held a caucus on January 3, 1862. Jacob M. Howard, Austin Blair, Hezekiah G. Wells, and Henry Waldron were the leading candidates. Howard was nominated on the sixth ballot.^[53]

The Senate and the House of Representatives met separately on January 4, 1862, to hold a special election for the unexpired term. Howard defeated the Democratic candidate Alpheus Felch on the first ballot.^[54]

Michigan election

← 1857 January 8, 1863 1869 →
Members of the Michigan Legislature Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Zachariah Chandler James F. Joy Alpheus Felch Party Republican Democratic Democratic House 60 (63.2%) 34 (35.8%) — Senate 18 (56.2%) 11 (34.4%) 2 (6.2%)
Senator before election Zachariah Chandler Republican Elected Senator Zachariah Chandler Republican

One-term Republican Zachariah Chandler was elected in 1857.^[52]

The Republican members of the legislature held a caucus on January 8, 1863. Chandler was renominated unanimously. The Democratic members met the same day and nominated James F. Joy over Alpheus Felch.^[55]

The Senate and the House of Representatives met separately on January 8, 1863, to hold an election for the next term.^[56] Chandler defeated Joy on the first ballot.^[55]

Minnesota election

← 1858 January 14, 1863 1869 →
Members of the Minnesota Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Alexander Ramsey Andrew G. Chatfield Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 45 (72.6%) 17 (27.4%)
Senator before election Henry M. Rice Democratic Elected Senator Alexander Ramsey Republican

One-term Democrat Henry M. Rice was elected in 1858.^[52] He was not a candidate for re-election.

The Republican members of the legislature held a caucus from January 12–13, 1863. Alexander Ramsey, Cyrus Aldrich, David Cooper, William R. Marshall, and James Smith, Jr. were the major candidates.^[57] Ramsey defeated Smith on the 25th ballot.^[58]

The Minnesota Legislature met in joint session on January 14, 1863.^[59] Ramsey defeated the Democratic candidate Andrew G. Chatfield on the first ballot.^[60]

Mississippi election

← 1856–57 No election 1870 (special) →

Senator before election None (vacant from March 14, 1861) Elected Senator None

One-term Democrat Jefferson Davis withdrew from the Senate on March 14, 1861, following the secession of Mississippi. The Mississippi Legislature did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1870.^[61]

Three elections were held in Missouri, due to the expulsions of Trusten Polk and Waldo P. Johnson. With Polk's expulsion coming little more than a year before the end of his term on March 4, 1863, the Missouri General Assembly would hold special elections for both seats, followed by the regularly-scheduled election for the Class 1 seat.

Missouri Unionists were divided in their responses to emancipation and the related issue of Reconstruction. Three main ideological camps emerged: radical Charcoals, who supported immediate emancipation; conservative Claybanks, who favored Lincoln's initial plan of gradual emancipation; and ultra-conservative Snowflakes, who opposed emancipation altogether.^[62] In St. Louis, the ideological divide resulted in a formal split between the Immediatist and Gradualist wings of the Emancipation Party.^[63] Elections held in the fall of 1862 resulted in a clear majority for the Emancipationists in the General Assembly, while five Conservatives and four Radicals were elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.^[64][p]

The Emancipation members of the legislature held a caucus on January 3, 1863.^[66] The Conservatives boycotted the proceedings.^[67] John B. Henderson was nominated for the Class 1 seat and B. Gratz Brown was nominated for the Class 3 seat.^[66]

The General Assembly met in joint session on January 6, 1863, to hold concurrent special elections for both seats.^[68] Henderson was elected to the Class 1 seat for the term ending March 4. The special election for the Class 3 seat remained deadlocked after multiple rounds of voting, and the joint session adjourned without making a choice.^[69]

The joint session reconvened in November 1863. In the interim, the Radicals held a convention at Jefferson City that organized the Radical Union Party. The meeting nominated Brown for the Class 3 seat and Benjamin F. Loan for the Class 1 seat. The two conservative factions were aligned in support of the administration of Hamilton R. Gamble, but lacked a formal party organization.^[70] Closely-fought judicial elections in the fall of 1863 helped to clarify party lines.^[69] In the legislature, the Radical Unionists had 65 votes on the joint ballot, just short of an overall majority. The Radical Union members and Henderson-aligned Conservatives held a caucus after the first round of voting on November 12 and agreed to form a coalition.^[71] Brown was subsequently elected to the Class 3 seat and Henderson was re-elected to the Class 1 seat for the next term as a Radical Unionist.^[72]

Missouri (Class 1) special election

← 1857 January 6, 1863 1863 →
Members of the Missouri General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee John B. Henderson Robert Wilson Party Emancipation Union Faction Conservative Conservative 1st ballot 104 (68.4%) 47 (30.9%)
Senator before election John B. Henderson Emancipation Elected Senator John B. Henderson Emancipation

Incumbent Emancipationist John B. Henderson was appointed in 1862 to fill the vacancy created by the expulsion of Trusten Polk.^[61]

The General Assembly met on January 6, 1863, to hold a special election for the unexpired term. Henderson defeated the Conservative candidate Robert Wilson on the first ballot.^[73]

Missouri (Class 3) special election

← 1861 1867 →
First session
January 6–11, 1863; February 2–11, 1863
Members of the Missouri General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee John S. Phelps Robert F. Wingate B. Gratz Brown Party Democratic Emancipation Emancipation Faction Conservative Radical Radical 1st ballot 51 (33.1%) — 51 (33.1%) 30th ballot 47 (33.3%) 31 (22.0%) 29 (20.6%)   Nominee Samuel M. Breckinridge Samuel T. Glover Party Emancipation Emancipation Faction Conservative Conservative 1st ballot 11 (7.1%) 34 (22.1%) 30th ballot 28 (19.8%) —
Adjourned session
November 12–13, 1863
Members of the Missouri General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee B. Gratz Brown James Broadhead John S. Phelps Party Radical Union Conservative Conservative 31st ballot 62 (50.0%) 39 (29.5%) 30 (22.7%) 32nd ballot 74 (52.5%) 65 (46.1%) —
Senator before election Robert Wilson Conservative Elected Senator B. Gratz Brown Radical Union

Incumbent Conservative Robert Wilson was appointed in 1862 to fill the vacancy created by the expulsion of Waldo P. Johnson.^[74] He was not a candidate for re-election to the Class 3 seat.

The General Assembly met from January 6–11, 1863, to hold a special election for the unexpired term.^[68] Democrat John S. Phelps and Emancipationists B. Gratz Brown, Samuel T. Glover, Samuel M. Breckinridge, John W. Noell, and James Broadhead were candidates on the first ballot.^[75] No candidate had a majority after the sixth ballot, and the joint session adjourned.^[76]

The joint session met again from February 2–11, 1863. Phelps, Brown, Glover, Breckinridge, and Broadhead were candidates.^[77] Noell's name was withdrawn, after which Phelps led on the seventh ballot, but without a majority.^[78] No candidate had a majority after the thirtieth ballot, and the joint session adjourned.^[79]

The joint session met a third time from November 12–13, 1863.^[80] Brown was nominated by the Radical Unionists, while Broadhead received the votes of most of the Conservative members.^[69] Brown defeated Broadhead on the 32nd ballot.^[81]

Missouri election

← 1863 (special) November 13, 1863 1868 →
Members of the Missouri General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee John B. Henderson John S. Phelps Benjamin F. Loan Party Radical Union Conservative Radical Union 1st ballot 84 (60.9%) 42 (30.4%) 7 (5.1%)
Senator before election John B. Henderson Emancipation Elected Senator John B. Henderson Radical Union

Incumbent Emancipationist John B. Henderson was elected in 1863 to fill the vacancy created by the expulsion of Trusten Polk.^[61]

The General Assembly met on November 13, 1863, to hold an election for the next term. Henderson defeated Phelps on the first ballot.^[82]

Incumbent Unionist Richard S. Field was appointed in 1862 to fill the vacancy created by the death of John R. Thomson. With Thomson's death coming less than a year before the end of his term on March 4, 1863, the New Jersey Legislature would hold consecutive elections in 1863: a special election for the unexpired term, and the regularly scheduled election for the next term.^[83]

New Jersey special election

← 1857 January 14, 1863 1863 →
Members of the New Jersey Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee James W. Wall Richard S. Field Party Democratic Union 1st ballot 53 (67.1%) 23 (29.1%)
Senator before election Richard S. Field Union Elected Senator James W. Wall Democratic

The Democratic members of the legislature held a caucus on January 14, 1863. William Cook, Charles Skelton, Charles Sitgreaves, and James W. Wall were candidates. Cook led on the first two ballots, but without a majority. Skelton and Sitgreaves then withdrew, and Wall defeated Cook on the third ballot.^[84]

The Legislature met in joint session on January 14, 1863, to hold a special election for the unexpired term.^[85] Wall defeated Field on the first ballot.^[84]

New Jersey election

← 1863 (special) February 26, 1863 1867 (special) →
Members of the New Jersey Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee William Wright William A. Newell Party Democratic Union 1st ballot 54 (68.4%) 25 (31.6%)
Senator before election James W. Wall Democratic Elected Senator William Wright Democratic

The Democratic members of the legislature held a caucus on February 25, 1863.^[86] Wall and William Wright were candidates.^[87] Wright was nominated on the 23rd ballot.^[86]

The Legislature met in joint session on February 26, 1863, to hold an election for the next term.^[88] Wright defeated the Union candidate William A. Newell on the first ballot.^[89]

New York election

← 1857 February 3, 1863 1869 →
Members of the New York State Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Edwin D. Morgan Erastus Corning John A. Dix Party Union Democratic Union Assembly (2nd) — 63 (49.2%) 65 (50.8%) Senate (1st) 23 (76.7%) 7 (23.3%) — Joint ballot 86 (54.4%) 70 (44.3%) 1 (0.6%)
Senator before election Preston King Republican Elected Senator Edwin D. Morgan Union

One-term Republican Preston King was elected in 1857.^[90]

The Union members of the legislature held a caucus on February 2, 1863. Edwin D. Morgan, King, Daniel S. Dickinson, Charles B. Sedgwick, David D. Field, Henry J. Raymond, Ward Hunt, and Henry R. Selden were candidates. Morgan was nominated on the second ballot.^[91]

The Democratic members of the legislature held a caucus on February 2, 1863. The meeting found it inexpedient to nominate a candidate and advised members to vote their conscience in the senatorial election.^[91] The caucus met again on February 3 and voted to reconsider the previous day's motion. Erastus Corning defeated Fernando Wood on the first ballot.^[92]

The Senate and the Assembly met separately on February 3, 1863, to hold an election for the next term. Morgan and John A. Dix were selected by the Senate and the Assembly, on the first and second ballots, respectively. The two chambers being in disagreement, the New York State Legislature met in joint session to resolve the dispute. Morgan defeated Corning on the joint ballot.^[93]

Ohio election

← 1856 January 22, 1863 1869 →
Members of the Ohio General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Benjamin Wade Hugh J. Jewett Thomas Ewing Party Union Democratic Union 1st ballot 126 (59.5%) 35 (27.8%) 15 (11.9%)
Senator before election Benjamin Wade Republican Elected Senator Benjamin Wade Union

Two-term Republican Benjamin Wade was re-elected in 1856.

The Union members of the legislature held a caucus from January 15–16, 1863.^[94] Wade, Salmon P. Chase, David Tod, William S. Groesbeck, and Thomas Ewing were mentioned as candidates ahead of the caucus. Wade, a Radical Republican, had earned the enmity of Conservatives and personal rivals in the Union Party.^[95] At the first meeting of the caucus, a group of War Democrats expressed their opposition to Wade and requested his name be withdrawn from consideration. The meeting adjourned until the following day, when Wade's supporters refused to honor the War Democrats' request. Wade defeated Robert C. Schenck on the first ballot with 56 votes to Schenck's six.^[96]

The Ohio General Assembly met in joint session on January 22, 1863, to hold an election for the next term. Wade defeated the Democratic candidate Hugh J. Jewett and Ewing on the first ballot.^[97]

Oregon special election

← 1860 (special) September 11–12, 1863 1864 →
Members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Benjamin F. Harding Henry W. Corbett George H. Williams Party Union Union Union Faction War Democrat Republican War Democrat 1st ballot 7 (14.6%) — 7 (14.6%) 30th ballot 28 (58.3%) 11 (22.9%) 5 (10.4%)   Nominee John Whiteaker Thomas H. Pearne Elisha L. Applegate Party Democratic Union Union Faction Peace Democrat Republican Republican 1st ballot 3 (6.25%) 9 (18.8%) 8 (16.7%) 30th ballot 3 (6.25%) — —   Nominee Orange Jacobs Reuben F. Maury Party Union Union Faction Republican 1st ballot 5 (10.4%) 4 (8.3%) 30th ballot — —
Senator before election Benjamin Stark Democratic Elected Senator Benjamin F. Harding Union

Incumbent Democrat Benjamin Stark was appointed in 1862 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Edward D. Baker.^[98] He was not a candidate for re-election.

The Oregon Legislative Assembly met in joint session from September 11–12, 1862, to hold a special election for the unexpired term.^[99] With the Union Party in almost complete control of the legislature, the contest centered between the Republican and War Democrat wings of the coalition.^[100] Benjamin F. Harding defeated Henry W. Corbett, George H. Williams, and John Whiteaker on the 30th ballot.^[101]

Pennsylvania election

← 1861 (special) January 13, 1863 1869 →
Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Charles R. Buckalew Simon Cameron Party Democratic Union 1st ballot 67 (50.4%) 65 (48.9%)
Senator before election David Wilmot Republican Elected Senator Charles R. Buckalew Democratic

Incumbent Republican David Wilmot was elected in 1861 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Simon Cameron.^[98]

The Democratic members of the legislature held a caucus on January 12, 1863. Charles R. Buckalew, James Campbell, Francis W. Hughes, and Henry D. Foster were the leading candidates. Buckalew defeated Campbell on the sixth ballot.^[102]

The Union members of the legislature held a caucus from January 12–13, 1863.^[103] Cameron and Wilmot were candidates for the nomination. A secret committee formed to assess the relative electability of the candidates in the closely-divided legislature found that the Democratic members were inflexibly opposed to Wilmot, while Cameron claimed several Democrats were prepared to vote for him if nominated. The caucus selected Cameron on the basis of these assurances in the final hours before the election.^[104]

The Pennsylvania General Assembly met in joint session on January 13, 1863, to hold an election for the next term. Buckalew defeated Cameron on the first ballot.^[105]

There were two elections in Rhode Island, due to the resignation of James F. Simmons.

Rhode Island election

← 1857 May 28, 1862 1862 (special)→ 1868 →
Members of the Rhode Island General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee William Sprague James F. Simmons Nathan F. Dixon Party Constitutional Union Republican Republican Alliance Democratic — — 1st ballot 90 (89.3%) 5 (4.8%) 5 (4.8%)
Senator before election James F. Simmons Republican Elected Senator William Sprague Constitutional Union

Two-term Republican James F. Simmons was re-elected non-consecutively in 1857.^[106]

The Rhode Island General Assembly met in joint session on May 28, 1862, to hold an election for the next term.^[107] The Democratic and Constitutional Union candidate William Sprague defeated Simmons and Nathan F. Dixon on the first ballot.^[108] Sprague subsequently caucused with the Republican-Union majority in the Senate and served the remainder of his term as a Republican.^[109]

Rhode Island special election

← 1857 ← 1862 September 5, 1862 1868 →
Members of the Rhode Island General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Samuel G. Arnold Nathan F. Dixon Party Constitutional Union Republican Alliance Democratic — 1st ballot 71 (87.6%) 7 (8.6%)
Senator before election James F. Simmons Republican Elected Senator Samuel G. Arnold Constitutional Union

Simmons resigned from the Senate on August 15, 1862, less than a year before the end of his term.^[106]

The General Assembly met in joint session on September 5, 1862, to hold a special election for the unexpired term. The Democratic and Constitutional Union candidate Samuel G. Arnold defeated Nathan F. Dixon on the first ballot.^[110]

Tennessee election

← 1857 No election 1866 (special) →

Senator before election None (vacant from March 4, 1862) Elected Senator None

Incumbent Democrat Andrew Johnson resigned on March 4, 1862, following his appointment as military governor of Tennessee. The Tennessee General Assembly did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1866.^[111]

Texas election

← 1859 (special) No election 1870 (special) →

Senator before election None (vacant from July 11, 1861) Elected Senator None

Incumbent Democrat Louis T. Wigfall was expelled from the Senate on July 11, 1861. The Texas Legislature did not hold an election for the next term, and the seat remained vacant until 1870.^[112]

Vermont election

← 1856 October 14, 1862 1866 (special) →
Members of the Vermont General Assembly Majority in both houses needed to win
Nominee Solomon Foot Daniel Kellogg Party Republican Democratic House 206 (96.7%) 3 (1.4%) Senate 30 (100.0%) —
Senator before election Solomon Foot Republican Elected Senator Solomon Foot Republican

Two-term Republican Solomon Foot was re-elected in 1856.

The Senate and the House of Representatives met separately on October 14, 1862, to hold an election for the next term. Foot defeated Daniel Kellogg on the first ballot.^[113]

Virginia election

← 1861 (special) January 23, 1863 1864 (special) →
Members of the Restored Virginia General Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Lemuel J. Bowden Waitman T. Willey Daniel Lamb Party Union Union Union 1st ballot 20 (40.8%) 16 (32.6%) 10 (20.4%) 2nd ballot 29 (59.2%) 19 (38.8%) 1 (2.0%)
Senator before election Waitman T. Willey Union Elected Senator Lemuel J. Bowden Union

Incumbent Unionist Waitman T. Willey was elected in 1861 to fill the vacancy created by the expulsion of James M. Mason.^[114]

The Restored Virginia General Assembly met on January 23, 1863, to hold an election for the next term. Voting proceeded separately in the Senate and the House of Delegates, after which the votes were tallied jointly. Lemuel J. Bowden defeated Willey on the second ballot.^[115]

West Virginia election

August 4, 1863 1865→ 1868–69 →
Members of the West Virginia Legislature Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee Waitman T. Willey Peter G. Van Winkle Archibald W. Campbell Party Union Union Union 1st ballot 50 (73.5%) 22 (32.4%) 27 (39.7%) 6th ballot Y 46 (68.6%) 12 (17.9%)   Nominee Benjamin H. Smith Daniel Lamb George W. Summers Party Union Union Union 1st ballot 24 (35.3%) 5 (7.35%) 3 (4.4%) 6th ballot 2 (3.0%) — 6 (8.9%)
Senators before election None Elected Senators Peter G. Van Winkle (Class 1) Waitman T. Willey (Class 2) Union

West Virginia elected two senators following its admission on June 20, 1863.^[116]

The West Virginia Legislature met on August 4, 1863, to hold elections for both seats. Members voted for two candidates on the first ballot; voting proceeded separately in the Senate and the House of Delegates, after which the votes were tallied jointly.^[117]

Waitman T. Willey was elected on the first ballot; Archibald W. Cambpell finished second, but without a majority. On subsequent ballots, each member cast one vote. Peter G. Van Winkle defeated Campbell on the sixth ballot.^[117][118]

Wisconsin election

← 1857 January 22, 1863 1869 →
Members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Majority of voting members needed to win
Nominee James R. Doolittle Edward G. Ryan Party Republican Democratic 1st ballot 73 (55.3%) 57 (43.2%)
Senator before election James R. Doolittle Republican Elected Senator James R. Doolittle Republican

One-term Republican James R. Doolittle was elected in 1857.^[119]

Doolittle was a prominent supporter of colonizing free people of color outside the United States, considering such essential to any plan of emancipation.^[120] His endorsement of Lincoln's gradual emancipation scheme proved divisive with Wisconsin Republicans during the 1862 state elections. Radical Republicans mocked Doolittle's "wild notions of colonization" and called on Lincoln to adopt immediate emancipation and Black enlistment as the basis of a national policy. The preliminary Emancipation Proclamation accepted the premise of the Radical position, helping to heal Republican divisions and sow discord among the opposition in the final weeks before the election.^[121]

The Wisconsin State Assembly met in joint session on January 22, 1863, to hold an election for the next term.^[122] Doolittle defeated the Democratic candidate Edward G. Ryan on the first ballot.^[123]

• 1862 United States elections
  • 1862–63 United States House of Representatives elections
• 37th United States Congress
• 38th United States Congress

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