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. 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.
The Republican Party gained two seats. Most of the Southern states were absent because of the Civil War.
Results summary
Senate party division, 39th Congress (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 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.
Willey was the only candidate to be formally nominated, though attempted nominations were made of Archibald Campbell and House Speaker Lee Roy Kramer. Campbell's nomination was promptly withdrawn, and Kramer declined his.
See also
- 1864 United States elections
- 1864 United States presidential election
- 1864–65 United States House of Representatives elections
- 38th United States Congress
- 39th United States Congress
Notes
References
- Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov
- Byrd, Robert C.; Wolff, Wendy (October 1, 1993). The Senate, 1789-1989: Historical Statistics, 1789-1992 (volume 4 Bicentennial ed.). U.S. Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780160632563.
