1908–09 United States Senate elections explained

Election Name:1908–09 United States Senate elections
Country:United States
Flag Year:1896
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1906–07 United States Senate elections
Next Election:1910–11 United States Senate elections
Seats For Election:31 of the 92 seats in the U.S. Senate
Majority Seats:47
Election Date:January 14, 1908 –
May 26, 1909
1Blank:Seats up
Party1:Republican Party (US)
Image1:Eugene Hale.jpg
Leader1:Eugene Hale
(retired)
Leader Since1:March 4, 1907
Leaders Seat1:Maine
Seats1:16
Seats Before1:61
Seats After1:60
Seat Change1: 1
1Data1:18
Party2:Democratic Party (US)
Leader2:Charles Culberson
(retired)
Leader Since2:March 4, 1903
Leaders Seat2:Texas
Seats2:13
Seats Before2:31
Seats After2:32
Seat Change2: 1
1Data2:13
Majority conference chairman
Before Election:William B. Allison
Before Party:Republican Party (US)
After Election:Eugene Hale
After Party:Republican Party (US)
Map Size:320px

The 1908–09 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states. As these U.S. Senate elections were prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were primarily chosen by state legislatures. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1906 and 1907, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock.[1] However, some states had already begun direct elections during this time. Oregon pioneered direct election and experimented with different measures over several years until it succeeded in 1907. Soon after, Nebraska followed suit and laid the foundation for other states to adopt measures reflecting the people's will. By 1912, as many as 29 states elected senators either as nominees of their party's primary or in conjunction with a general election.

The 31 Class 3 seats were up for election, as well as various special elections to fill vacancies or confirm appointments. The Republicans lost two seats overall.

In Illinois and Florida, the legislature failed to elect until after the beginning of the 61st Congress on March 4.

Results summary

Senate party division, 61st Congress (1909–1911)

Change in composition

Before the elections

After the January 21, 1908, special election in Rhode Island.

DDDDDD
width=50px Dwidth=50px Dwidth=50px Dwidth=50px Dwidth=50px Dwidth=50px Dwidth=50px Dwidth=50px Dwidth=50px Dwidth=50px D
DDD
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
R
R
R
R
R
D
D
D
D
D
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
Majority →
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R
R
RRRRRRRRRR
RRRRRRRRRR
RRRRRRRRRR
RRRRRR

Result of the general elections

DDDDDD
width=50px Dwidth=50px Dwidth=50px Dwidth=50px Dwidth=50px Dwidth=50px Dwidth=50px Dwidth=50px Dwidth=50px Dwidth=50px D
DDD
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
R
R
R
V
V
D
D
D
D
D
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
Majority due to vacancies→R
RRRRRRRR
R
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Key:
align=center width=35px DDemocratic
align=center width=35px RRepublican
align=center width=35px VVacant

Race summaries

Special elections during the 60th Congress

In this election, the winner was seated in 1908 before March 4; ordered by state.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Maryland
(Class 3)
William P. WhyteDemocratic1906 Interim appointee elected January 14, 1908.nowrap
Rhode Island
(Class 2)
VacantLegislature had failed to elect.
New senator elected January 21, 1908.
Republican gain.
nowrap
South Carolina
(Class 3)
Asbury LatimerDemocratic1903Incumbent died February 20, 1908.
New senator elected March 6, 1908.
Democratic hold.
Winner did not run for the next term, see below.
nowrap
Maryland
(Class 3)
William P. WhyteDemocratic1906
1908
Incumbent died March 17, 1908.
New senator elected March 24, 1908, having already been elected to the next term, see below.
Democratic hold.
nowrap
Vermont
(Class 1)
John W. StewartRepublican 1908 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected October 20, 1908.
Republican hold.
nowrap
Iowa
(Class 3)
William B. AllisonRepublican1872
1878
1884
1890
1896
1902
Incumbent renominated for the next term but died August 4, 1908.
New senator elected November 24, 1908.
Republican hold.
Winner was later elected to the next term, see below.
nowrap

In this election, the winner was elected three years early, to be seated in the 62nd Congress starting March 4, 1911.

Races leading to the 61st Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1909; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 3 seats.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral
history
AlabamaEdmund PettusDemocratic1903Incumbent re-elected early January 22, 1907.
Winner died July 27, 1907, and new senator elected early August 6, 1907.
nowrap January 22, 1907:
August 6, 1907:
ArkansasJames P. ClarkeDemocratic1903Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.[2] [3] nowrap
CaliforniaGeorge PerkinsRepublican1895
1897
1903
Incumbent re-elected January 12, 1909.[4] nowrap
ColoradoHenry M. TellerDemocratic1885
1891
1897
1903
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 19, 1909.
Democratic hold.
nowrap
ConnecticutFrank B. BrandegeeRepublican1905 Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.nowrap
FloridaWilliam MiltonDemocratic1908 Interim appointee retired.
Legislature failed to elect.
Democratic loss.
New senator appointed to start the term, and subsequently elected, see below.
None
GeorgiaAlexander S. ClayDemocratic1896
1902
Incumbent re-elected July 6, 1909.nowrap
IdahoWeldon HeyburnRepublican1903Incumbent re-elected January 12, 1909.nowrap
IllinoisAlbert J. HopkinsRepublican1903Incumbent renominated but couldn't secure the full support of his party.
Legislature failed to elect.
Republican loss.
Seat remained vacant until May 26, 1909, see below.[5]
nowrap
IndianaJames A. HemenwayRepublican1905 Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected January 20, 1909.
Democratic gain.
nowrap
IowaAlbert B. CumminsRepublican1908Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.nowrap
KansasChester I. LongRepublican1903Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected January 26, 1909.
Republican hold.
nowrap
KentuckyJames B. McCrearyDemocratic1902Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected February 28, 1908.
Republican gain.
nowrap
LouisianaSamuel D. McEneryDemocratic1896
1900
Incumbent re-elected May 19, 1908.[6] nowrap
MarylandWilliam P. WhyteDemocratic1906 Interim appointee either retired or lost election to the next term.
New senator elected January 15, 1908.
Democratic hold.
nowrap
MissouriWilliam J. StoneDemocratic1903Incumbent re-elected January 20, 1909.nowrap
NevadaFrancis G. NewlandsDemocratic1903Incumbent re-elected January 26, 1909, ratifying the popular selection made in 1908 state elections.nowrap
New HampshireJacob GallingerRepublican1891
1897
1903
Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.nowrap
New YorkThomas C. PlattRepublican1881
1881
1897
1903
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 19, 1909.[7]
Republican hold.
nowrap
North CarolinaLee S. OvermanDemocratic1903Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.nowrap
North DakotaHenry C. HansbroughRepublican1891
1897
1903
Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected January 19, 1909.
Republican hold.
nowrap
OhioJoseph B. ForakerRepublican1896
1902
Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 12, 1909.[8]
Republican hold.
nowrap
OklahomaThomas GoreDemocratic1907Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.nowrap
OregonCharles W. FultonRepublican1903Incumbent lost re-election.
New senator elected January 19, 1909, ratifying the popular selection made in 1908 state elections.
Democratic gain.
nowrap
PennsylvaniaBoies PenroseRepublican1897
1903
Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.nowrap
South CarolinaFrank B. GaryDemocratic1908 Incumbent retired.
New senator elected January 26, 1909.
Democratic hold.
nowrap
South DakotaAlfred B. KittredgeRepublican1901
1903
1903
Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected January 19, 1909.
Republican hold.
nowrap
UtahReed SmootRepublican1903Incumbent re-elected January 19, 1909.nowrap
VermontWilliam P. DillinghamRepublican Incumbent re-elected October 20, 1908.nowrap
WashingtonLevi AnkenyRepublican Incumbent lost renomination.
New senator elected January 19, 1909.
Republican hold.
nowrap
WisconsinIsaac StephensonRepublican Incumbent re-elected January 27, 1909.
Legislature failed to declare the result and ordered a new election.
Incumbent was finally re-elected March 4, 1909, after many ballots.
nowrap

Elections during the 61st Congress

In these elections, the winners were elected in 1909 after March 4; ordered by date.

StateIncumbentResultsCandidates
SenatorPartyElectoral history
Pennsylvania
(Class 1)
Philander C. KnoxRepublican1904
1905
1905
Incumbent resigned March 4, 1909, to become U.S. Secretary of State.
New senator elected March 16, 1909.
Republican hold.
nowrap
Florida
(Class 3)
Duncan U. FletcherDemocratic1909 Interim appointee elected April 20, 1909.nowrap
Illinois
(Class 3)
VacantLegislature had failed to elect, see above.
New senator elected May 26, 1909.
Republican gain.
nowrap

Maryland

Maryland (special)

Election Name:1908 United States Senate special election in Maryland
Popular Vote1:-
Colour1:B0CEFF
Percentage1:-%
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Candidate1:William Pinkney Whyte
Image1:William Pinkney Whyte 1865-1880 Maryland politician.jpg
Next Year:1908
Next Election:1908 United States Senate election in Maryland
Previous Year:1902
Previous Election:1902 United States Senate election in Maryland
Votes For Election:80 members of the Maryland General Assembly
Vote Type:Legislative
Election Date:June 8, 1908
Type:presidential

William Pinkney Whyte was elected by an unknown margin, for the Class 3 seat.[9]

Maryland (regular)

Election Name:1908 United States Senate election in Maryland
Popular Vote1:-
Colour1:B0CEFF
Percentage1:-%
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Candidate1:John Walter Smith
Image1:John Walter Smith, photo portrait head and shoulders.jpg
Next Year:1914
Next Election:1914 United States Senate election in Maryland
Previous Year:1908
Previous Election:1908 United States Senate election in Maryland
Votes For Election:80 members of the Maryland General Assembly
Vote Type:Legislative
Election Date:November 3, 1908
Type:presidential

William Pinkney Whyte died, and John Walter Smith was elected by an unknown margin, for the Class 3 seat.[10]

New York

See main article: 1909 United States Senate election in New York.

See also: List of United States senators from New York.

The election was held on January 19, 1909, by the New York State Legislature. Republican Thomas C. Platt had been re-elected to this seat in 1903, and his term would expire on March 3, 1909. At the State election in November 1908, 35 Republicans and 16 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1909–1910) in the state senate; and 99 Republicans and 51 Democrats were elected for the session of 1909 to the Assembly. The 132nd New York State Legislature met from January 5 to April 30, 1909, at Albany, New York.

The Republican caucus met on January 18. State Senator J. Mayhew Wainwright presided. The caucus nominated U.S. Secretary of State Elihu Root unanimously. Root was the choice of President Theodore Roosevelt. President pro tempore of the State Senate John Raines lauded warmly Root's nomination, eulogized the retiring U.S. Senator Platt, and declared war on Governor Charles Evans Hughes's reforms.[11] The Democratic caucus met also on January 18. They nominated Ex-Lieutenant Governor Lewis S. Chanler unanimously. Chanler had been elected lieutenant governor in 1906 on the Democratic/Independence League ticket, and had served under Republican governor Hughes. Chanler had just been defeated when running against Hughes for governor in November 1908.[11]

Elihu Root was the choice of both the Assembly and the state senate, and was declared elected.[12]

HouseRepublicanDemocratic
State Senate
(50 members)
Elihu Root35Lewis S. Chanler15
State Assembly
(150 members)
Elihu Root90Lewis S. Chanler30

Note: The votes were cast on January 19, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 20 to compare nominations, and declare the result.

Pennsylvania

See also: List of United States senators from Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania (regular)

See main article: 1909 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania.

The regularly-scheduled general election in Pennsylvania was held January 19, 1909. Boies Penrose was re-elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. This was the last Class III U.S. Senate election to be decided by the Pennsylvania General Assembly before the ratification of the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which mandated direct election of U.S. Senators.[13]

The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 19, 1909, to elect a senator to fill the term beginning on March 4, 1909. Incumbent Republican Boies Penrose, who was elected in 1897 and re-elected in 1903, was a successful candidate for re-election to another term. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:

|- bgcolor="#EEEEEE"| colspan=3 align="right" | Totals| align="right" | 257| align="right" | 100.00%

Pennsylvania (special)

See main article: 1909 United States Senate special election in Pennsylvania.

A special election was held March 16, 1909. George T. Oliver was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[14]

Republican Philander C. Knox was appointed to the Senate in June 1904 after the death of Matthew Quay. Knox was subsequently elected to a full term in the Senate by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, in January 1905. Knox served in the U.S. Senate until his resignation on March 4, 1909, to become United States Secretary of State in the William Howard Taft administration, leaving the seat vacant until a successor was elected.[15]

Following Knox's resignation, the Pennsylvania General Assembly convened on March 16, 1909, to elect a new senator to fill the vacancy. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:

|- bgcolor="#EEEEEE"| colspan=3 align="right" | Totals| align="right" | 257| align="right" | 100.00%

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913). National Archives and Records Administration. February 8, 2022.
  2. News: January 20, 1909 . ELECTIONS IN OTHER STATES . 3 . .
  3. News: January 20, 1909 . NAME CHAMBERLAIN AS OREGON SENATOR . 3 . .
  4. News: January 13, 1903 . Perkins of California Re-elected. . 5 . .
  5. News: January 20, 1909 . HOPKINS FAILS IN ILLINOIS. . 3 . .
  6. News: May 20, 1900 . Senator McEnery Succeeds Himself. . 2 . .
  7. News: January 20, 1909 . ROOT IS CHOSEN SENATOR. . 3 . .
  8. Book: Walters, Everett . Joseph Benson Foraker: An Uncompromising Republican . The Ohio History Press . 1948 . . 283–284.
  9. Web site: Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Jun 08, 1906. 2022-11-05. www.ourcampaigns.com.
  10. Web site: Our Campaigns - MD US Senate Race - Nov 03, 1908. 2022-11-05. www.ourcampaigns.com.
  11. News: January 19, 1909 . ROOT IS CHOSEN FOR U.S. SENATOR; ...Democrats Choose Chanler . .
  12. News: January 20, 1909 . ROOT IS CHOSEN SENATOR . .
  13. Web site: U.S. Senate Election - 19 January 1909 . December 22, 2013 . Wilkes University.
  14. Web site: U.S. Senate Election - 17 March 1909 . December 24, 2012 . Wilkes University.
  15. Web site: KNOX, Philander Chase, (1853 - 1921) . December 24, 2012 . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.