April 1800 United States Senate special election in New York explained

Election Name:April 1800 United States Senate special election in New York
Type:Presidential
Ongoing:No
Country:New York
Previous Election:August 1798 United States Senate special election in New York
Previous Year:1798
Next Election:1803 United States Senate election in New York
Next Year:1803
Image1:Gouverneur Morris nocolor crop.jpg
Image1 Size:x150px
Nominee1:Gouverneur Morris
Party1:Federalist Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:25 (Senate)
54 (Assembly)
Nominee2:Peter Gansevoort
Image2 Size:x150px
Party2:Democratic-Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:11 (Senate)
48 (Assembly)
Percentage1:57.24%
Percentage2:42.76%
Before Election:James Watson
After Election:Gouverneur Morris
Before Party:Federalist
Senator
After Party:Federalist
Vote Type:Leg.

The first 1800 United States Senate special election in New York was held on April 3, 1800, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator (Class 1) to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.

Background

Federalist John Sloss Hobart had been elected in January 1798 for the remainder of Philip Schuyler's term (1797–1803) but had resigned on April 16 after his appointment to the United States District Court for the District of New York. Federalist William North was appointed by Governor John Jay to fill the vacancy temporarily, and took his seat on May 21, Congress being in session until July 16, 1798. At the next meeting of the State Legislature, James Watson was elected instead of North, took his seat on December 11, 1798, but resigned on March 19, 1800, after his appointment as Naval Officer of the Port of New York.

At the State election in April 1799, Federalist majorities were elected to both houses of the 23rd New York State Legislature which met from January 28 to April 8, 1800, at Albany, New York.

Candidates

Ex-U.S. Minister to France (in office 1792–1794) Gouverneur Morris was the candidate of the Federalist Party.

Gen. Peter Gansevoort was the candidate of the Democratic-Republican Party.

Result

Morris was the choice of both the State Senate and the State Assembly, and was declared elected.

April 1800 United States Senator special election result
OfficeHouseFederalistDemocratic-Republican
U.S. SenatorState Senate (43 members)Gouverneur Morris25Peter Gansevoort11
State Assembly (107 members)Gouverneur Morris54Peter Gansevoort48

Aftermath

Morris took his seat on May 3, 1800, being the fifth holder of this seat in a single term (1797–1803), a record which still stands after more than 200 years.

Sources