1869 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

The 1869 United States Senate election in Massachusetts was held on January 19, 1869. Incumbent Charles Sumner was re-elected to a fourth term in office.

1869 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
← 1863 January 19, 1869 1874 (special) →

40 Members of the Massachusetts Senate
231 Members of the Massachusetts House
Majority vote of each house needed to win
 
Nominee Charles Sumner Josiah Abbott
Party Republican Democratic
Senate 37 2
Percentage 92.5% 5%
House 216 14
Percentage 93.51% 6.06%

Senator before election

Charles Sumner
Republican

Elected Senator

Charles Sumner
Republican

At the time, Massachusetts elected United States senators by a majority vote of each separate house of the Massachusetts General Court: the House and the Senate.

Background

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In the 1868 state legislative elections, Republicans maintained an overwhelming majority in both houses. Only 20 Democratic Representatives and two Democratic Senators were elected. This ensured Sumner's re-election in the January session, though there was some speculation that Sumner would vacate his seat to accept a Cabinet appointment in the newly elected Grant administration.[1]

Election

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Election in the House

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1869 Senate election in the House[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles Sumner (incumbent) 216 93.51%
Democratic Josiah G. Abbott 14 6.06%
Republican Nathaniel P. Banks 1 0.43%
Total votes 231 100.00%

Election in the Senate

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1869 Senate election in the Senate[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles Sumner (incumbent) 37 92.5%
Democratic Josiah G. Abbott 2 5%
None No vote 1 2.5%
Total votes 40 100.00%

References

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  1. ^ "THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS AND "THE NATION" OF NEW-YORK". New York Tribune. November 13, 1868. p. 2.
  2. ^ a b "U. S. SENATORS ELECTED. MASSACHUSETTS--CHARLES SUMNER". New York Tribune. January 20, 1869.