United States Senate election in New York, 1891
Encyclopedia
The 1891 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 20 and 21, 1891, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator (Class 3) to represent the State of New York
in the United States Senate
.
had been elected to this seat in 1885
, and his term would expire on March 3, 1891.
At the State election in November 1889
, 19 Republicans and 13 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1890-1891) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1890
, 68 Democrats and 60 Republicans were elected for the session of 1891 to the Assembly. The 114th State Legislature met from January 6, 1891, on at Albany, New York
.
presided. Governor David B. Hill
was nominated by acclamation.
The Republican caucus met immediately after the Democratic caucus ended, Assemblyman James W. Husted
presided. They re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator William M. Evarts
unanimously.
remained in office as Governor of New York until December 31, 1891, and took his seat only on January 7, 1892, missing actually only one month of session. There were no special sessions during the 52nd United States Congress
and the regular session began only on December 7, 1891. Hill served a single term, and remained in the U.S. Senate until March 3, 1897. In January 1897, Hill was defeated for re-election by Republican Thomas C. Platt
who had been a U.S. Senator briefly in 1881.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
Background
Republican William M. EvartsWilliam M. Evarts
William Maxwell Evarts was an American lawyer and statesman who served as U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator from New York...
had been elected to this seat in 1885
United States Senate election in New York, 1885
The 1885 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 20, 1885, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.-Background:...
, and his term would expire on March 3, 1891.
At the State election in November 1889
New York state election, 1889
The 1889 New York state election was held on November 5, 1889, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer and a judge of the New York Court of Appeals, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly and the New York...
, 19 Republicans and 13 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1890-1891) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1890
New York state election, 1890
The 1890 New York state election was held on November 4, 1890, to elect a judge of the New York Court of Appeals, as well as all members of the New York State Assembly.-History:...
, 68 Democrats and 60 Republicans were elected for the session of 1891 to the Assembly. The 114th State Legislature met from January 6, 1891, on at Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
.
Candidates
The Democratic caucus met on January 19, 74 State legislators attended, and State Senator John C. JacobsJohn C. Jacobs
John C. Jacobs was an American politician from New York.-Life:...
presided. Governor David B. Hill
David B. Hill
David Bennett Hill was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891.-Life:...
was nominated by acclamation.
The Republican caucus met immediately after the Democratic caucus ended, Assemblyman James W. Husted
James W. Husted (speaker)
James William Husted was an American lawyer and politician, elected six times as Speaker of the New York State Assembly during his 22 years of service there. During his political career, he became known as the "Bald Eagle of Westchester".-Biography:He was educated at Bedford Academy, and graduated...
presided. They re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator William M. Evarts
William M. Evarts
William Maxwell Evarts was an American lawyer and statesman who served as U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator from New York...
unanimously.
Result
On January 20, both Houses of the State legislature took ballots separately. The incumbent U.S. Senator Evarts was the choice of the State Senate, Gov. Hill the choice of the Assembly. On January 21, both Houses met in joint session, and comparing nominations, found that they disagreed and proceeded to a joint ballot. Gov. Hill was elected by a majority of 2, every member of the Legislature being present.| Office | House | Democrat | Republican | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Senator (Class 3) | State Senate New York State Senate The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve... (32 members) |
David B. Hill David B. Hill David Bennett Hill was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891.-Life:... |
13 | William M. Evarts William M. Evarts William Maxwell Evarts was an American lawyer and statesman who served as U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator from New York... |
19 |
| State Assembly New York State Assembly The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652... (128 members) |
David B. Hill David B. Hill David Bennett Hill was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891.-Life:... |
65 | William M. Evarts William M. Evarts William Maxwell Evarts was an American lawyer and statesman who served as U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator from New York... |
58 | |
| Joint ballot (160 members) |
David B. Hill David B. Hill David Bennett Hill was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891.-Life:... |
81 | William M. Evarts William M. Evarts William Maxwell Evarts was an American lawyer and statesman who served as U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator from New York... |
79 | |
Aftermath
The seat became vacant on March 4, 1891. David B. HillDavid B. Hill
David Bennett Hill was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891.-Life:...
remained in office as Governor of New York until December 31, 1891, and took his seat only on January 7, 1892, missing actually only one month of session. There were no special sessions during the 52nd United States Congress
52nd United States Congress
The Fifty-second United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
and the regular session began only on December 7, 1891. Hill served a single term, and remained in the U.S. Senate until March 3, 1897. In January 1897, Hill was defeated for re-election by Republican Thomas C. Platt
Thomas C. Platt
Thomas Collier Platt was a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a three-term U.S. Senator from New York in the years 1881 and 1897-1909 — is best known as the "political boss" of the Republican Party in New York State in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century...
who had been a U.S. Senator briefly in 1881.
Sources
- Members of the 52nd United States Congress
- EXIT DAVID BENNETT HILL in NYT on January 20, 1891 [The headline expresses the erroneous belief that Hill, after his election, would resign the governorship and go to Washington, D.C.]
- HILL'S FRIENDS NERVOUS in NYT on January 21, 1891
- HILL'S MAJORITY OF TWO in NYT on January 22, 1891