1888–89 United States Senate elections
# 1888–89 United States Senate elections

The 1888–89 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states, coinciding with Benjamin Harrison's victory over incumbent President Grover Cleveland. As these U.S. Senate elections were prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were chosen by state legislatures. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1888 and 1889, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock. In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 2.

Both parties were unchanged in the regular elections, but later special elections would give Republicans an eight-seat majority, mostly from newly admitted states.

## Results summary

Senate party division, 51st Congress (1889–1891)

* Majority party: Republican (39 to 51)
* Minority party: Democratic (37 to 35)
* Other parties: (0)
* Total seats: 76 to 88

## Change in Senate composition

### Before the elections

| $D_8$ | $D_7$ | $D_6$ | $D_5$ | $D_4$ | $D_3$ | $D_2$ | $D_1$ | | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| $D_9$ | $D_{10}$ | $D_{11}$ | $D_{12}$ | $D_{13}$ | $D_{14}$ | $D_{15}$ | $D_{16}$ | $D_{17}$ | $D_{18}$ |
| $D_{28}$ Ran | $D_{27}$ Ran | $D_{26}$ Ran | $D_{25}$ Ran | $D_{24}$ | $D_{23}$ | $D_{22}$ | $D_{21}$ | $D_{20}$ | $D_{19}$ |
| $D_{29}$ Ran | $D_{30}$ Ran | $D_{31}$ Ran | $D_{32}$ Ran | $D_{33}$ Ran | $D_{34}$ Ran | $D_{35}$ Ran | $D_{36}$ Ran | $D_{37}$ Ran | $RA_1$ Retired |
| Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | Majority with Readjuster in caucus → | $R_{38}$ Retired |
| $R_{29}$ Ran | $R_{30}$ Ran | $R_{31}$ Ran | $R_{32}$ Ran | $R_{33}$ Ran | $R_{34}$ Ran | $R_{35}$ Ran | $R_{36}$ Unknown | $R_{37}$ Unknown | $R_{38}$ Retired |
| $R_{28}$ Ran | $R_{27}$ Ran | $R_{26}$ | $R_{25}$ | $R_{24}$ | $R_{23}$ | $R_{22}$ | $R_{21}$ | $R_{20}$ | $R_{19}$ |
| $R_9$ | $R_{10}$ | $R_{11}$ | $R_{12}$ | $R_{13}$ | $R_{14}$ | $R_{15}$ | $R_{16}$ | $R_{17}$ | $R_{18}$ |
| $R_8$ | $R_7$ | $R_6$ | $R_5$ | $R_4$ | $R_3$ | $R_2$ | $R_1$ | | |

### After the elections

| $D_8$ | $D_7$ | $D_6$ | $D_5$ | $D_4$ | $D_3$ | $D_2$ | $D_1$ | | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| $D_9$ | $D_{10}$ | $D_{11}$ | $D_{12}$ | $D_{13}$ | $D_{14}$ | $D_{15}$ | $D_{16}$ | $D_{17}$ | $D_{18}$ |
| $D_{28}$ Re-elected | $D_{27}$ Re-elected | $D_{26}$ Re-elected | $D_{25}$ Re-elected | $D_{24}$ | $D_{23}$ | $D_{22}$ | $D_{21}$ | $D_{20}$ | $D_{19}$ |
| $D_{29}$ Re-elected | $D_{30}$ Re-elected | $D_{31}$ Re-elected | $D_{32}$ Re-elected | $D_{33}$ Re-elected | $D_{34}$ Re-elected | $D_{35}$ Re-elected | $D_{36}$ Re-elected | $D_{37}$ Gain | $V_1$ R Loss |
| Majority due to vacancy → | Majority due to vacancy → | Majority due to vacancy → | Majority due to vacancy → | Majority due to vacancy → | Majority due to vacancy → | Majority due to vacancy → | Majority due to vacancy → | Majority due to vacancy → | $R_{38}$ Gain |
| $R_{29}$ Re-elected | $R_{30}$ Re-elected | $R_{31}$ Re-elected | $R_{32}$ Re-elected | $R_{33}$ Re-elected | $R_{39}$ Re-elected | $R_{35}$ Hold | $R_{36}$ Hold | $R_{37}$ Hold | $R_{38}$ Gain |
| $R_{28}$ Re-elected | $R_{27}$ Re-elected | $R_{26}$ | $R_{25}$ | $R_{24}$ | $R_{23}$ | $R_{22}$ | $R_{21}$ | $R_{20}$ | $R_{19}$ |
| $R_9$ | $R_{10}$ | $R_{11}$ | $R_{12}$ | $R_{13}$ | $R_{14}$ | $R_{15}$ | $R_{16}$ | $R_{17}$ | $R_{18}$ |
| $R_8$ | $R_7$ | $R_6$ | $R_5$ | $R_4$ | $R_3$ | $R_2$ | $R_1$ | | |

### Beginning of the next Congress

| $D_8$ | $D_7$ | $D_6$ | $D_5$ | $D_4$ | $D_3$ | $D_2$ | $D_1$ | | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| $D_9$ | $D_{10}$ | $D_{11}$ | $D_{12}$ | $D_{13}$ | $D_{14}$ | $D_{15}$ | $D_{16}$ | $D_{17}$ | $D_{18}$ |
| $D_{28}$ | $D_{27}$ | $D_{26}$ | $D_{25}$ | $D_{24}$ | $D_{23}$ | $D_{22}$ | $D_{21}$ | $D_{20}$ | $D_{19}$ |
| $D_{29}$ | $D_{30}$ | $D_{31}$ | $D_{32}$ | $D_{33}$ | $D_{34}$ | $D_{35}$ | $D_{36}$ | $D_{37}$ | $R_{39}$ Gain |
| $R_{39}$ Gain |||||||||
| $R_{29}$ | $R_{30}$ | $R_{31}$ | $R_{32}$ | $R_{33}$ | $R_{34}$ | $R_{35}$ | $R_{36}$ | $R_{37}$ | $R_{38}$ |
| $R_{28}$ | $R_{27}$ | $R_{26}$ | $R_{25}$ | $R_{24}$ | $R_{23}$ | $R_{22}$ | $R_{21}$ | $R_{20}$ | $R_{19}$ |
| $R_9$ | $R_{10}$ | $R_{11}$ | $R_{12}$ | $R_{13}$ | $R_{14}$ | $R_{15}$ | $R_{16}$ | $R_{17}$ | $R_{18}$ |
| $R_8$ | $R_7$ | $R_6$ | $R_5$ | $R_4$ | $R_3$ | $R_2$ | $R_1$ | | |

### End of 1889

| | | | | | | | | | $D_1$ |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| $D_{11}$ | $D_{10}$ | $D_9$ | $D_8$ | $D_7$ | $D_6$ | $D_5$ | $D_4$ | $D_3$ | $D_2$ |
| $D_{12}$ | $D_{13}$ | $D_{14}$ | $D_{15}$ | $D_{16}$ | $D_{17}$ | $D_{18}$ | $D_{19}$ | $D_{20}$ | $D_{21}$ |
| $D_{31}$ | $D_{30}$ | $D_{29}$ | $D_{28}$ | $D_{27}$ | $D_{26}$ | $D_{25}$ | $D_{24}$ | $D_{23}$ | $D_{22}$ |
| $D_{32}$ | $D_{33}$ | $D_{34}$ | $D_{35}$ | $D_{36}$ | $D_{37}$ | $R_{45}$ New state | $R_{44}$ New state | $R_{43}$ New state | $R_{42}$ New state |
| $R_{42}$ New state |||||||||
| $R_{32}$ | $R_{33}$ Hold | $R_{34}$ Hold | $R_{35}$ | $R_{36}$ | $R_{37}$ | $R_{38}$ | $R_{39}$ | $R_{40}$ New state | $R_{41}$ New state |
| $R_{31}$ | $R_{30}$ | $R_{29}$ | $R_{28}$ | $R_{27}$ | $R_{26}$ | $R_{25}$ | $R_{24}$ | $R_{23}$ | $R_{22}$ |
| $R_{12}$ | $R_{13}$ | $R_{14}$ | $R_{15}$ | $R_{16}$ | $R_{17}$ | $R_{18}$ | $R_{19}$ | $R_{20}$ | $R_{21}$ |
| $R_{11}$ | $R_{10}$ | $R_9$ | $R_8$ | $R_7$ | $R_6$ | $R_5$ | $R_4$ | $R_3$ | $R_2$ |
| | | | | | | | | | $R_1$ |
| Key: | $D_#$ Democratic $RA_#$ Readjuster $R_#$ Republican $V_#$ Vacant |

## Race summaries

### Special elections during the 50th Congress

There were no special elections during 1888 or in 1889 before March 4.

### Races leading to the 51st Congress

In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1889; ordered by state.

All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Alabama | John Tyler Morgan | Democratic | 1876 1882 | Incumbent re-elected in 1888. | ▌Y John Tyler Morgan (Democratic) [data unknown/missing] |
| Arkansas | James Berry | Democratic | 1885 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1889. | ▌Y James Berry (Democratic) [data unknown/missing] |
| Colorado | Thomas M. Bowen | Republican | 1882 or 1883 | Unknown if retired or lost re-election. Winner elected in 1889. Republican hold. | ▌Y Edward O. Wolcott (Republican) [data unknown/missing] |
| Delaware | Eli Saulsbury | Democratic | 1870 1876 1883 | Incumbent lost re-election. Winner elected in 1888 or 1889. Republican gain. | ▌Y Anthony C. Higgins (Republican) ▌Eli Saulsbury (Democratic) [data unknown/missing] |
| Georgia | Alfred H. Colquitt | Democratic | 1883 | Incumbent re-elected in 1888. | ▌Y Alfred H. Colquitt (Democratic) [data unknown/missing] |
| Illinois | Shelby M. Cullom | Republican | 1882 | Incumbent re-elected in 1888. | ▌Y Shelby M. Cullom (Republican) [data unknown/missing] |
| Iowa | James F. Wilson | Republican | 1882 | Incumbent re-elected January 25, 1888. | ▌Y James F. Wilson (Republican) ▌Thomas J. Anderson (Democratic) ▌Daniel Campbell (Unknown) ▌J. R. Reed (Unknown) ▌John A. T. Hull (Republican) ▌Henry Wallace (Republican) |
| Kansas | Preston B. Plumb | Republican | 1877 1883 | Incumbent re-elected in 1888. | ▌Y Preston B. Plumb (Republican) [data unknown/missing] |
| Kentucky | James B. Beck | Democratic | 1876 1882 | Incumbent re-elected in 1888. | ▌Y James B. Beck (Democratic) [data unknown/missing] |
| Louisiana | Randall L. Gibson | Democratic | 1882 | Incumbent re-elected in 1889. | ▌Y Randall L. Gibson (Democratic) [data unknown/missing] |
| Maine | William P. Frye | Republican | 1881 (special) 1883 | Incumbent re-elected in 1889. | ▌Y William P. Frye (Republican) [data unknown/missing] |
| Massachusetts | George Frisbie Hoar | Republican | 1877 1883 | Incumbent re-elected in 1889. | ▌Y George Frisbie Hoar (Republican) [data unknown/missing] |
| Michigan | Thomas W. Palmer | Republican | 1882 or 1883 | Incumbent retired. Winner elected in 1889. Republican hold. | ▌Y James McMillan (Republican) [data unknown/missing] |
| Minnesota | Dwight M. Sabin | Republican | 1883 | Incumbent lost renomination. Winner elected in 1888. Republican hold. | ▌Y William D. Washburn (Republican) [data unknown/missing] |
| Mississippi | Edward C. Walthall | Democratic | 1885 (Appointed) 1886 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1889. | ▌Y Edward C. Walthall (Democratic) [data unknown/missing] |
| Nebraska | Charles F. Manderson | Republican | 1883 | Incumbent re-elected in 1888. | ▌Y Charles F. Manderson (Republican) [data unknown/missing] |
| New Hampshire | William E. Chandler | Republican | 1887 (special) | Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. Legislature failed to elect. Republican loss. An interim senator was appointed to start the next term and the incumbent was later elected to finish that term, see below. | [data unknown/missing] |
| New Jersey | John R. McPherson | Democratic | 1877 1883 | Incumbent re-elected in 1889. | ▌Y John R. McPherson (Democratic) [data unknown/missing] |
| North Carolina | Matt W. Ransom | Democratic | 1872 (special) 1876 1883 | Incumbent re-elected in 1889. | ▌Y Matt W. Ransom (Democratic) [data unknown/missing] |
| Oregon | Joseph N. Dolph | Republican | 1882 | Incumbent re-elected in 1888. | ▌Y Joseph N. Dolph (Republican) [data unknown/missing] |
| Rhode Island | Jonathan Chace | Republican | 1885 (special) | Incumbent re-elected in 1888. | ▌Y Jonathan Chace (Republican) [data unknown/missing] |
| South Carolina | Matthew Butler | Democratic | 1876 1882 | Incumbent re-elected in 1888. | ▌Y Matthew Butler (Democratic) [data unknown/missing] |
| Tennessee | Isham G. Harris | Democratic | 1877 1883 | Incumbent re-elected in 1889. | ▌Y Isham G. Harris (Democratic) [data unknown/missing] |
| Texas | Richard Coke | Democratic | 1876 1882 | Incumbent re-elected in 1888. | ▌Y Richard Coke (Democratic) [data unknown/missing] |
| Virginia | Harrison H. Riddleberger | Readjuster | 1881 | Incumbent retired. Winner elected early December 20, 1887. Democratic gain. | ▌Y John S. Barbour Jr. (Democratic) [data unknown/missing] |
| West Virginia | John E. Kenna | Democratic | 1883 | Incumbent re-elected in 1889. | ▌Y John E. Kenna (Democratic) [data unknown/missing] |

### Elections during the 51st Congress

In these elections, the winners were elected in 1889 after March 4; ordered by election date.

| State | Incumbent | Incumbent | Incumbent | Results | Candidates |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| State | Senator | Party | Electoral history | Results | Candidates |
| Rhode Island (Class 2) | Jonathan Chace | Republican | 1885 (special) 1888 | Incumbent resigned April 9, 1889. Winner was elected April 10, 1889. Republican hold. | ▌Y Nathan F. Dixon III (Republican) [data unknown/missing] |
| New Hampshire (Class 2) | Gilman Marston | Republican | 1889 (Appointed) | Unknown if interim appointee retired or lost election to finish the term. Winner elected June 18, 1889. Republican hold. | ▌Y William E. Chandler (Republican) [data unknown/missing] |
| South Dakota (Class 2) | New state | New state | New state | South Dakota admitted to the Union November 2, 1889. First senators elected October 16, 1889, in advance of statehood. Republican gain. | ▌Y Richard F. Pettigrew (Republican) 108 ▌Bartlett Tripp (Democratic) 14 ▌Absent/not voting 2 |
| South Dakota (Class 3) | New state | New state | New state | South Dakota admitted to the Union November 2, 1889. First senators elected October 16, 1889, in advance of statehood. Republican gain. | ▌Y Gideon C. Moody (Republican) 107 ▌Merritt H. Day (Democratic) 14 |
| Washington (Class 1) | New state | New state | New state | Washington admitted to the Union November 11, 1889. First senator elected November 20, 1889. Republican gain. | ▌Y John B. Allen (Republican) [data unknown/missing] |
| Washington (Class 3) | New state | New state | New state | Washington admitted to the Union November 11, 1889. First senator elected November 20, 1889. Republican gain. | ▌Y Watson C. Squire (Republican) [data unknown/missing] |
| North Dakota (Class 1) | New state | New state | New state | North Dakota admitted to the Union November 2, 1889. First senators elected November 25, 1889. Republican gain. | ▌Y Lyman R. Casey (Republican) 62 ▌Martin N. Johnson (Republican) 26 ▌Daniel W. Maratta (Democratic) 4 |
| North Dakota (Class 3) | New state | New state | New state | North Dakota admitted to the Union November 2, 1889. First senators elected November 25, 1889. Republican gain. | ▌Y Gilbert A. Pierce (Republican) 56 ▌Michael L. McCormack (Democratic) 6 |
