United States Senate election in New York, 1909
Encyclopedia
The 1909 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 19, 1909, 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 re-elected to this seat in 1903
, and his term would expire on March 3, 1909.
At the State election in November 1908, 35 Republicans and 15 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1909-1910) in the State Senate; and a large Republican majority was elected for the session of 1909 to the Assembly. The 132nd State Legislature met from January 5, 1909, on at Albany, New York
.
presided. The caucus nominated U.S. Secretary of State Elihu Root
unanimously. Root was the choice of President Theodore Roosevelt
. President pro tempore of the State Senate John Raines
lauded warmly Root's nomination, eulogized the retiring U.S. Senator Platt, and declared war on Governor Charles Evans Hughes
's reforms.
Note: 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.
for the remaining five weeks of Roosevelt's presidency. Root then served a single term and remained in the U.S. Senate until March 3, 1915, when he retired. After the 74-day deadlock to elect a successor to U.S. Senator Chauncey M. Depew in 1911
, the U.S. Constitution was amended, and at the State election in November 1914, for the first time a U.S. Senator was elected by statewide popular vote. James Wolcott Wadsworth, Jr. won the nomination in the Republican primary election, and was then elected to succeed Root.
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 Thomas C. PlattThomas 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...
had been re-elected to this seat in 1903
United States Senate election in New York, 1903
The 1903 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 20, 1903, 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:Republican Thomas C...
, and his term would expire on March 3, 1909.
At the State election in November 1908, 35 Republicans and 15 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1909-1910) in the State Senate; and a large Republican majority was elected for the session of 1909 to the Assembly. The 132nd State Legislature met from January 5, 1909, 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...
.
Republican caucus
The Republican caucus met on January 18. State Senator J. Mayhew WainwrightJ. Mayhew Wainwright
Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright was a U.S. Representative from New York.-Biography:Born in New York City, Wainwright was graduated from Columbia College and Columbia School of Political Science in 1884, and from Columbia Law School in 1886. He was admitted to the bar the same year and practiced in New...
presided. The caucus nominated U.S. Secretary of State Elihu Root
Elihu Root
Elihu Root was an American lawyer and statesman and the 1912 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He was the prototype of the 20th century "wise man", who shuttled between high-level government positions in Washington, D.C...
unanimously. Root was the choice of President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
. President pro tempore of the State Senate John Raines
John Raines
John Raines was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
lauded warmly Root's nomination, eulogized the retiring U.S. Senator Platt, and declared war on Governor Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes, Sr. was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican politician from New York. He served as the 36th Governor of New York , Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States , United States Secretary of State , a judge on the Court of International Justice , and...
's reforms.
Democratic caucus
The Democratic caucus met also on January 18. They nominated Ex-Lieutenant Governor Lewis S. Chanler unanimously. Chanler had been elected Lieutenant Governor in 1906 on the Democratic/Independence League ticket, and had served under Republican Governor Hughes. Chanler had just been defeated when running against Hughes for Governor in November 1908.Result
Elihu Root was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected.| Office | House | Republican | Democrat | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... (50 members) |
Elihu Root Elihu Root Elihu Root was an American lawyer and statesman and the 1912 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He was the prototype of the 20th century "wise man", who shuttled between high-level government positions in Washington, D.C... |
35 | Lewis S. Chanler | 15 |
| 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... (150 members) |
Elihu Root Elihu Root Elihu Root was an American lawyer and statesman and the 1912 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He was the prototype of the 20th century "wise man", who shuttled between high-level government positions in Washington, D.C... |
90 | Lewis S. Chanler | 30 | |
Note: 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.
Aftermath
Root resigned as U.S. Secretary of State on January 27, 1909, and was succeeded by his Assistant Secretary Robert BaconRobert Bacon
Robert Bacon was an American statesman and diplomat. He served as United States Secretary of State from January to March 1909.-Biography:...
for the remaining five weeks of Roosevelt's presidency. Root then served a single term and remained in the U.S. Senate until March 3, 1915, when he retired. After the 74-day deadlock to elect a successor to U.S. Senator Chauncey M. Depew in 1911
United States Senate election in New York, 1911
The 1911 United States Senate election in New York was held from January 17 to March 31, 1911, 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:Republican Chauncey M...
, the U.S. Constitution was amended, and at the State election in November 1914, for the first time a U.S. Senator was elected by statewide popular vote. James Wolcott Wadsworth, Jr. won the nomination in the Republican primary election, and was then elected to succeed Root.
Sources
- Members of the 61st United States Congress
- ROOT IS CHOSEN FOR U.S. SENATOR; ...Democrats Choose Chanler in NYT on January 19, 1909
- ROOT IS CHOSEN SENATOR in NYT on January 20, 1909