The United States Senate elections of 1868 and 1869 were elections which had the Republican Party maintain their majority in the United States Senate. However, six former Confederate states were also readmitted separately from the general election, each electing two Republicans. This increased the Republicans' already overwhelming majority to the largest proportion of seats ever controlled by the party. As these elections were prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment, Senators were chosen by state legislatures.
In these elections, the winners were seated during 1868 or in 1869 before March 4; ordered by election date.
Races leading to the 41st Congress
In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1869; ordered by state. All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.
Elections during the 41st Congress
There were no elections in 1869 during this Congress after March 4.
Delaware
Interim appointed Senator James A. Bayard, Jr. was elected January 19, 1869 to finish his term.
New York
The election in New York was held on January 19, 1869 by the New York State Legislature. Republican Edwin D. Morgan had been elected in February 1863 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1869. At the State election in November 1867, 17 Republicans and 15 Democrats were elected for a two-year term in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1868, Democrat John T. Hoffman was elected Governor, and 75 Republicans and 53 Democrats were elected for the session of 1869 to the Assembly. The 92nd New York State Legislature met from January 5 to May 11, 1869, at Albany, New York. The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 16, Assemblyman John H. Selkreg presided. All 92 legislators were present. They nominated Ex-Governor Reuben E. Fenton for the U.S. Senate. The incumbent U.S. Senator Edwin D. Morgan was very keen on his re-election, but was voted down. Speaker Truman G. Younglove had held back the appointments to the standing Assembly committees until after the caucus, and subsequent election, of a U.S. Senator, and was accused by the Morgan men to have made a bargain to favor the Fenton men with appointments after the election was accomplished. After the caucus, comparing notes, the assemblymen discovered that some of the most important committee chairmanships had been promised to a dozen different members by Speaker Younglove.
Candidate
First ballot
Second ballot
Reuben E. Fenton
52
Edwin D. Morgan
40
blank
Note: On the first ballot, 93 votes were cast, one too many, and it was annulled without announcing the result. The above stated result transpired unofficially. The blank vote caused some debate if the result was really invalidated by it, but it was finally agreed to take a second ballot. The caucus of the Democratic State legislators met on January 18. State Senator Henry C. Murphy was again nominated, like in 1867. In the Assembly, Republicans DeWitt C. Hoyt and James O. Schoonmaker ; and Democrats James Irving, Lawrence D. Kiernan, Harris B. Howard, James B. Pearsall, John Tighe and Moses Y. Tilden ; did not vote. In the State Senate, Republicans Matthew Hale and Charles Stanford ; and Democrats Cauldwell, Thomas J. Creamer, Michael Norton and John J. Bradley ; did not vote. Reuben E. Fenton was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected. Notes:
The vote for Ex-Secretary of State Randall was cast by Henry C. Murphy.
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.
