1871 United States Senate election in Massachusetts explained

Election Name:1871 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1865 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
Previous Year:1865
Next Election:1873 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts
Next Year:1873 (special)
Election Date:January 17, 1871
Votes For Election:Majority vote of each house needed to win
1Blank:Senate
2Blank:Percentage
3Blank:House
4Blank:Percentage
Image1:File:Henry Wilson, VP of the United States.jpg
Nominee1:Henry Wilson
Party1:Republican Party (US)
1Data1:35
2Data1:87.5%
3Data1:188
4Data1:84.3%
Nominee2:John Quincy Adams II
Party2:Democratic Party (US)
1Data2:4
2Data2:10.0%
3Data2:32
4Data2:14.35%
Senator
Before Election:Henry Wilson
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:Henry Wilson
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

The 1871 United States Senate election in Massachusetts was held on January 17, 1871. Incumbent Republican Senator Henry Wilson was re-elected easily to a third term as a member of the Republican Party. Wilson would not finish the term, since he was elected Vice President of the United States in 1872.

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 the Republican Party, whose members held nearly every seat.

Republican caucus

On January 16, the Republican Party convened in a caucus to renominated Wilson for his third term.

A caucus opposed to Wilson voted against a motion to nominate Wendell Phillips by 6 votes to 3.

Election in the House

On January 17, the House voted for Wilson's re-election and sent the vote to the Senate for ratification.

Election in the Senate

On January 20, the State Senate convened and ratified Wilson's re-election by an overwhelming margin.