Note: There were no political parties in this Congress. Members are informally grouped into factions of similar interest, based on an analysis of their voting record.
Beginning of the 1st Congress">1st United States Congress">1st Congress
[|New York] failed to elect its senators until after the Congress began, so its seats are labelled here as "Vacant." [|North Carolina] and Rhode Island did not ratify the Constitution until after the Congress began, so their seats are not included here.
Key:
Race summaries
Except if/when noted, the number following candidates is the whole number vote, not a percentage.
Races leading to the 1st Congress
In these general elections, the winners were elected in advance of March 4, 1789, the date set to be the beginning of the 1st Congress. Ordered by state, then by class.
State
Result
Candidates
Connecticut
Winner elected October 16, 1788. Pro-Administration win.
Connecticut
Winner elected October 16, 1788. Pro-Administration win.
Delaware
Winner elected October 25, 1788. Anti-Administration win.
Delaware
Winner elected October 25, 1788. Pro-Administration win.
Georgia
Winner elected January 17, 1789. Anti-Administration win.
Georgia
Winner elected January 17, 1789. Anti-Administration win.
Maryland
Winner elected December 10, 1788 on the third ballot "to represent the western shore." Pro-Administration win.
Maryland
Winner elected December 10, 1788 on the second ballot "to represent the eastern shore." Pro-Administration win.
Massachusetts
Winner elected November 24, 1788 on the seventh ballot. Pro-Administration win.
Massachusetts
Winner elected November 24, 1788. Pro-Administration win.
New Hampshire
Winner elected November 12, 1788. Pro-Administration win.
New Hampshire
Josiah Bartlett was at first elected November 12, 1788, but "declined the appointment." Winner elected January 3, 1789. Anti-Administration win.
New Jersey
Winner elected November 25, 1788. Pro-Administration win.
New Jersey
Winner elected November 25, 1788. Pro-Administration win.
[|Pennsylvania]
Winner elected September 30, 1788. Anti-Administration win.
Pennsylvania
Winner elected September 30, 1788. Pro-Administration win.
South Carolina
Winner elected January 22, 1789. Pro-Administration win.
South Carolina
Winner elected January 22, 1789. Pro-Administration win.
Virginia
Winner elected November 8, 1788. Anti-Administration win.
Virginia
Winner elected November 8, 1788. Anti-Administration win.
Elections during the 1st Congress
In these general elections, the winners were elected in 1789 after March 4; ordered by election date.
State
Result
Candidates
New York
State legislature failed to pick Senator until after Congress began. Winner elected July 25, 1789. Pro-Administration win.
New York
State legislature failed to pick Senator until after Congress began. Winner elected July 27, 1789. Pro-Administration win.
North Carolina
North Carolina ratified the Constitution November 21, 1789. Winner elected November 27, 1789. Pro-Administration win.
North Carolina
North Carolina ratified the Constitution November 21, 1789. Winner elected November 27, 1789. Pro-Administration win.
Connecticut
Delaware
Georgia
Maryland
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
The election was held in July 1789. It was the first such election, and before the actual election the New York State Legislature had to establish rules for proceeding. They decided to ballot separately, and then pass a joint resolution once they had concurred in the election of two candidates. On July 15, Schuyler was nominated first, and members of each chamber attempted to substitute the names of other candidates, including Ezra L'Hommedieu and Rufus King. These motions failed, and Schuyler was elected by a vote of 37 to 19 in the Assembly, and 13 to 6 in the Senate. King's election came after individual legislators and the two chambers failed to agree on the election of James Duane, Ezra L'Hommedieu, or Lewis Morris. King was then elected unanimously by the Assembly, and by a vote of 11 to 8 in the Senate. On July 16, Schuyler and King were appointed to the U.S. Senate by a joint resolution of the State Legislature. King took his seat on July 25, and drew the lot for Class 3, his term expiring on March 3, 1795. Schuyler took his seat on July 27, and drew the lot for Class 1, his term expiring on March 3, 1791. The 1st United States Congress convened at New York City, as did the regular session of the New York State Legislature in January 1790. Schuyler retained his seat in the State Senate while serving concurrently in the U.S. Senate. Schuyler was also elected on January 15 a member of the State's Council of Appointments which consisted of the Governor of New York, and four State Senators elected annually by the State Assembly. On January 27, the New York State Legislature resolved that it was "incompatible with the U.S. Constitution for any person holding an office under the United States government at the same time to have a seat in the Legislature of this State", and that if a member of the State Legislature was elected or appointed to a federal office, the seat should be declared vacant upon acceptance. Thus U.S. Senator Schuyler, Federal Judge James Duane and Congressmen John Hathorn and John Laurance vacated their seats in the State Senate. On April 3, John Cantine, a member of the Council of Appointments, raised the question if Schuyler, after vacating his State Senate seat, was still a member of the Council. Philip Livingston, another member, held that once elected a member could not be expelled in any case. On April 5, Governor Clinton asked the State Assembly for a decision, but the latter refused to do so, arguing that it was a question of law, which could be pursued in the courts. Schuyler thus kept his seat in the Council of Appointments until the end of the term.
