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1820–21 United States Senate elections
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| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| election_name | 1820–21 United States Senate elections |
| country | United States |
| flag_year | 1820 |
| type | legislative |
| ongoing | no |
| previous_election | 1818–19 United States Senate elections |
| previous_year | 1818 & 1819 |
| next_election | 1822–23 United States Senate elections |
| next_year | 1822 & 1823 |
| seat_class | Class 1 |
| previous_seat_election | 1814–15 United States Senate elections |
| previous_seat_year | 1814 & 1815 |
| next_seat_election | 1826–27 United States Senate elections |
| next_seat_year | 1826 & 1827 |
| seats_for_election | 15 of the 46 seats in the United States Senate (plus special elections) |
| majority_seats | 24 |
| election_date | Dates vary by state |
| image_size | 100px |
| 1blank | Seats up |
| party1 | Democratic-Republican Party |
| last_election1 | **30 seats** |
| seats_before1 | **37** |
| seats1 | **11** |
| seats_after1 | **38** |
| seat_change1 | 1 |
| 1data1 | 10 |
| party2 | Federalist Party |
| last_election2 | 9 seats |
| seats_before2 | 9 |
| seats2 | 1 |
| seats_after2 | 5 |
| seat_change2 | 4 |
| 1data2 | 5 |
| title | Majority party |
| before_party | Democratic-Republican Party |
| after_party | Democratic-Republican Party |
| map_image | File:1820senatemap.svg |
| map_caption | **Results:** |
The 1820–21 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states, corresponding with James Monroe's landslide 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 1820 and 1821, 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 1.
The Democratic-Republican Party gain one-to-five seats (in the general and special elections), assuming almost complete control of the Senate.
Results summary
Senate party division, 17th Congress (1821–1823)
- Majority party: Democratic-Republican (39–43)
- Minority party: Federalist (4)
- Vacant: (3–1)
- Total seats: 46–48
Change in composition
Before the elections
Composition after the June 13 and 14, 1820 elections in Maine.
| F | F | F |
|---|
Result of the general elections
| F | F | F |
|---|
Result of the special elections in the next Congress
| F | F | F | F |
|---|
| V | Vacant |
|---|
|}
Race summaries
Bold states link to specific election articles.
Special elections during the preceding Congress
In these special elections, the winner was elected during 1820 or before March 4, 1821; ordered by election date.
| State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | Senator | Party | Electoral | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| history | New York | ||||||||||||||
| (Class 3) | Massachusetts | ||||||||||||||
| (Class 1) | Maine | ||||||||||||||
| (Class 1) | Maine | ||||||||||||||
| (Class 2) | Mississippi | ||||||||||||||
| (Class 1) | Kentucky | ||||||||||||||
| (Class 3) | Rhode Island | ||||||||||||||
| (Class 2) | |||||||||||||||
| *Vacant* | Legislature had failed to elect in 1818/1819. | ||||||||||||||
| Previous incumbent was [elected](1819-1820-united-states-senate-election-in-new-york) January 8, 1820. | |||||||||||||||
| **Federalist gain.** | nowrap | {{Plainlist | |||||||||||||
| Prentiss Mellen | Federalist | [1820 (special)](1820-united-states-senate-special-election-in-massachusetts) | Incumbent resigned to become Chief Justice of Maine. | ||||||||||||
| New senator elected June 12, 1820. | |||||||||||||||
| Winner was also elected to the next term. | |||||||||||||||
| Federalist hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist | |||||||||||||
| None (new state) | New senator elected June 13, 1820 on the second ballot. | ||||||||||||||
| Winner was also elected to the next term. | |||||||||||||||
| **Democratic-Republican gain.** | nowrap | **First ballot:** | |||||||||||||
| {{Plainlist | |||||||||||||||
| New senator elected June 14, 1820. | |||||||||||||||
| **Democratic-Republican gain.** | nowrap | {{Plainlist | |||||||||||||
| Walter Leake | Democratic- | ||||||||||||||
| Republican | [1817](1817-united-states-senate-elections-in-mississippi) | Incumbent resigned May 15, 1820. | |||||||||||||
| New senator elected August 30, 1820. | |||||||||||||||
| Winner was also elected to the next term. | |||||||||||||||
| Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist | |||||||||||||
| William Logan | Democratic- | ||||||||||||||
| Republican | [1818](1818-united-states-senate-election-in-kentucky) | Incumbent resigned May 28, 1820 to [run for Governor of Kentucky](1820-kentucky-gubernatorial-election). | |||||||||||||
| New senator elected October 19, 1820. | |||||||||||||||
| Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist | |||||||||||||
| James Burrill Jr. | Federalist | [1816](1816-united-states-senate-election-in-rhode-island) | Incumbent died December 25, 1820. | ||||||||||||
| New senator elected January 9, 1821. | |||||||||||||||
| **Democratic-Republican gain.** | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
Races leading to the next Congress
In these general elections, the winner was seated on March 4, 1821; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.
| State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | Senator | Party | Electoral | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| history | Connecticut | Delaware | Indiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Mississippi | New Jersey | New York | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | Tennessee | Vermont | Virginia | |||||||||
| Samuel Dana | Federalist | [1810 (special)](1810-united-states-senate-special-election-in-connecticut) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| [1814](1814-united-states-senate-election-in-connecticut) | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| New senator elected March 4, 1821. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Democratic-Republican gain.** | nowrap | {{Plainlist | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outerbridge Horsey | Federalist | [1810 (special)](1810-united-states-senate-special-election-in-delaware) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| [1815](1815-united-states-senate-election-in-delaware) | Incumbent retired. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Legislature failed to elect. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Federalist loss. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A Democratic-Republican was later elected in 1822. | nowrap | {{Plainlist | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| James Noble | Democratic- | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Republican | [1816](1816-united-states-senate-elections-in-indiana) | Incumbent re-elected in 1821. | nowrap | {{Plainlist | ||||||||||||||||||||
| John Holmes | Democratic- | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Republican | [1820](1820-united-states-senate-elections-in-maine) | Incumbent re-elected January 31, 1821. | nowrap | {{Plainlist | ||||||||||||||||||||
| William Pinkney | Democratic- | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Republican | [1819 (special)](1819-united-states-senate-special-election-in-maryland) | Incumbent re-elected in 1820 or 1821. | nowrap | {{Plainlist | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Elijah H. Mills | Federalist | [1820 (special)](1820-united-states-senate-special-election-in-massachusetts) | Incumbent re-elected in 1820. | nowrap | {{Plainlist | |||||||||||||||||||
| David Holmes | Democratic- | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Republican | [1820 (special)](1820-united-states-senate-special-election-in-mississippi) | Incumbent re-elected in 1820 or 1821. | nowrap | {{Plainlist | ||||||||||||||||||||
| James J. Wilson | Democratic- | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Republican | [1815](1815-united-states-senate-election-in-new-jersey) | Incumbent lost re-election. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| New senator elected November 11, 1820. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic-Republican hold. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Incumbent then resigned January 8, 1821, and winner was appointed to finish the term. | nowrap | {{Plainlist | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nathan Sanford | Democratic- | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Republican | [1809](1809-united-states-senate-election-in-new-york) | Incumbent lost re-election. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| New senator elected February 6, 1821. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Benjamin Ruggles | Democratic- | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Republican | [1815](1815-united-states-senate-election-in-ohio) | Incumbent re-elected in 1820 or 1821. | nowrap | {{Plainlist | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jonathan Roberts | Democratic- | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Republican | [1814 (special)](1814-united-states-senate-special-election-in-pennsylvania) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| [1814](1814-united-states-senate-election-in-pennsylvania) | Legislature failed to elect. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic-Republican loss. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New senator would later be elected in 1821. | nowrap | {{Plainlist | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| William Hunter | Federalist | [1811 (special)](1811-united-states-senate-special-election-in-rhode-island) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| [1814](1814-united-states-senate-election-in-rhode-island) | Incumbent retired or lost re-election. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| New senator elected in 1820 or 1821. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Democratic-Republican gain.** | nowrap | {{Plainlist | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| John H. Eaton | Democratic- | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Republican | 1818 (appointed) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| [1819 (special)](1819-united-states-senate-special-election-in-tennessee) | Legislature failed to elect. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Democratic-Republican loss. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New senator would later be elected September 27, 1821; see below. | nowrap | {{Plainlist | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Isaac Tichenor | Federalist | [1796 (special)](1796-united-states-senate-special-election-in-vermont) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| [1796](1796-united-states-senate-election-in-vermont) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1797 (resigned) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [1814](1814-united-states-senate-election-in-vermont) | Incumbent retired. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| New senator elected in 1821. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Democratic-Republican gain.** | nowrap | {{Plainlist | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| James Barbour | Democratic- | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Republican | [1814 (special)](1814-united-states-senate-special-election-in-virginia) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| [1814](1814-united-states-senate-election-in-virginia) | Incumbent re-elected in 1821. | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
Special elections during the next Congress
In this special election, the winner was elected in 1821 after March 4; ordered by election date.
| State | Incumbent | Results | Candidates | Senator | Party | Electoral | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| history | Missouri | ||||||||||||
| (Class 1) | Missouri | ||||||||||||
| (Class 3) | Tennessee | ||||||||||||
| (Class 1) | Georgia | ||||||||||||
| (Class 2) | Pennsylvania | ||||||||||||
| (Class 1) | |||||||||||||
| None (new state) | New senator elected August 10, 1821. | ||||||||||||
| **Democratic-Republican gain.** | nowrap | {{Plainlist | |||||||||||
| New senator elected August 10, 1821. | |||||||||||||
| **Democratic-Republican gain.** | nowrap | {{Plainlist | |||||||||||
| *Vacant* | Legislature had failed to elect. | ||||||||||||
| New senator re-elected late September 27, 1821. | |||||||||||||
| **Democratic-Republican gain.** | nowrap | {{Plainlist | |||||||||||
| Freeman Walker | Democratic- | ||||||||||||
| Republican | [1819 (special)](1819-united-states-senate-special-election-in-georgia) | Incumbent resigned August 6, 1821. | |||||||||||
| New senator elected November 10, 1821. | |||||||||||||
| Democratic-Republican hold. | nowrap | {{Plainlist | |||||||||||
| *Vacant* | Legislature had failed to elect. | ||||||||||||
| New senator [elected](1820-1821-united-states-senate-election-in-pennsylvania) December 10, 1821. | |||||||||||||
| **Democratic-Republican gain.** | nowrap | {{Plainlist |
Connecticut
Delaware
Georgia (special)
Indiana
Kentucky (special)
Maine
John Holmes (Democratic-Republican) was elected as one of the new state's first pair of senators, whose terms began with June 13, 1820 statehood. He was elected to the class 1 seat's short term, which ended March 3, 1821, and was re-elected on January 31, 1821, to the term starting March 4, 1821.
John Chandler (Democratic-Republican) was elected to the class 2 seat's long term, and his term would end on March 3, 1823.
Maryland
William Pinkney won election by an unknown number of votes, for the Class 1 seat.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts (regular)
Massachusetts (special)
Mississippi
Mississippi (regular)
Mississippi (special)
Missouri
New Jersey
New York
New York (regular)
Main article: 1821 United States Senate election in New York
New York (special)
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Main article: 1820–1821 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Rhode Island (regular)
Rhode Island (special)
Tennessee
Tennessee (regular)
Tennessee (special)
Vermont
Virginia
Notes
References
- Party Division in the Senate, 1789-Present, via Senate.gov
References
- (February 8, 2022). "17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913)".
- (November 11, 1820). "Massachusetts 1820 U.S. Senate". [[Tufts University]] Digital Collections and Archives.
- (November 11, 1820). "New Jersey 1820 U.S. Senate". [[Tufts University]] Digital Collections and Archives.
- "EATON, John Henry, (1790 - 1856)". [[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]].
- "Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Dec 07, 1821".
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