1859 United States Senate election in Massachusetts explained

Election Name:1859 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1855 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts
Previous Year:1855 (special)
Next Election:1865 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
Next Year:1865
Election Date:January 11 and 12, 1859
Votes For Election:40 members of the Massachusetts Senate
396 members of the Massachusetts House
Majority vote of each house needed to win
1Blank:Senate
2Blank:Percentage
3Blank:House
4Blank:Percentage
Image1:File:Colonel Henry Wilson (Massachusetts Senator, U.S. Vice President).jpg
Nominee1:Henry Wilson
Party1:Republican Party (US)
1Data1:35
2Data1:87.5%
3Data1:199
4Data1:84.69%
Senator
Before Election:Henry Wilson
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Henry Wilson
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

The 1859 United States Senate election in Massachusetts was held during January 1859. Incumbent Senator Henry Wilson, who had been elected in 1855 to fill the unexpired term of Edward Everett, was re-elected easily to a full term as a member of the Republican Party.

At the time, Massachusetts elected United States senators by a majority vote of each separate house of the Massachusetts General Court, the House and the Senate.

Background

At the time, the Massachusetts legislature was dominated by a coalition of Republican Party and American Party supporters, united in opposition to slavery.

Election in the Senate

On January 11, the State Senate convened and re-elected Wilson overwhelmingly, with 35 votes.

Election in the House

On January 12, the House ratified the Senate result, electing Wilson to a full term in the U.S. Senate.