1891 United States Senate election in Kansas explained

Election Name:1891 United States Senate election in Kansas
Country:Kansas
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1884 United States Senate election in Kansas
Previous Year:1884
Next Election:1896 United States Senate election in Kansas
Next Year:1896
Election Date:January 28, 1891
Image1:William A. Peffer.png
Nominee1:William A. Peffer
Party1:Farmers' Alliance
Alliance1:People's Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:101
Percentage1:61.21%
Nominee2:John James Ingalls
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:58
Percentage2:35.15%
U.S. Senator
Before Election:John James Ingalls
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:William A. Peffer
After Party:Farmers' Alliance

The 1891 United States Senate election in Kansas was held on January 28, 1891, to elect Kansas' Class III senator in its delegation.

Farmers' Alliance/People's nomination

The Farmers' Alliance and People's Party were split into two factions that either supported Peter Percival Elder, who was expected to become the Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives, or William A. Peffer for the senatorial nomination. It was speculated that Jerry Simpson would be chosen as a compromise candidate between the two factions.[1]

On January 27, 1891, the Farmers' Alliance caucus in the state legislature convened to select the party's nominee for the senate election. The balloting started with seventeen candidates and after seventeen ballots Peffer won, with fifty-six votes, against J. T. Willitts, with thirty-eight votes.[2]

Candidates

Results

On January 27, 1891, both chambers of the Kansas Legislature informally voted separately on the senatorial candidates. In the House of Representatives, 96 members voted for Peffer, 23 members voted for Ingalls, and 5 members voted for Democratic nominee C. W. Blair. In the Senate, 35 members voted for Ingalls, 1 member voted for Peffer, and 2 voted for other candidates.[3]

On January 28, both chambers of the legislature convened to formally elect the senator. In the join ballot of the House of Representatives and Senate, 101 members voted for Peffer, 58 members voted for Ingalls, 3 members voted for Blair, and 3 members voted for other candidates.[4]

Notes and References

  1. News: January 15, 1891 . Ready For Business . 4 . The Logan County Banner . live . https://archive.today/20200609113813/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53086706/the-logan-county-banner/ . June 9, 2020 . . June 9, 2020 .
  2. News: January 27, 1891 . Peffer Chosen . 1 . Emporia Daily Republican . live . https://archive.today/20200609120314/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53087253/emporia-daily-republican/ . June 9, 2020 . . June 9, 2020 .
  3. News: January 27, 1891 . Peffer Chosen . 1 . The Kansas City Gazette . live . https://archive.today/20200609121425/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53087599/the-kansas-city-gazette/ . June 9, 2020 . . June 9, 2020 .
  4. News: January 28, 1891 . The Kansas Senatorship . 3 . Columbus Courier . live . https://archive.today/20200609121417/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53087508/columbus-courier/ . June 9, 2020 . . June 9, 2020 .