Senate
United States elections · 1854 · held
State Senate races in this midterm cycle, with separate candidate results and election-era ideology attribution.
State races and results map
Each race has its own denominator. Missing counts are blank. The interactive map uses modern state outlines as navigation references.
Alabama — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|
Incumbent retired or lost re-election. Legislature failed to elect. Democratic loss. Seat would remain vacant until November 26, 1855; see below. Source candidate / selection detail: [data missing]
Sources & further reading
Alabama — Senate (Class 3) — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Fitzpatrick | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
Benjamin Fitzpatrick's (D) term expired March 3, 1855. Legislature had failed to elect. Incumbent was then elected late November 26, 1855. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Benjamin Fitzpatrick (Democratic)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
Arkansas — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert W. Johnson | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
Incumbent re-elected in 1855. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Robert W. Johnson (Democratic)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
Arkansas — Senate (Class 3) — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert W. Johnson | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
Interim appointee elected November 10, 1854. Winner was later elected to the next term; see below. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Robert W. Johnson (Democratic)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
California — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William M. Gwin | Democratic | — | — | — |
Legislature failed to elect. Democratic loss. Seat would remain vacant until 1857. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌William M. Gwin (Democratic)
Sources & further reading
Connecticut — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette S. Foster | Republican | — | — | Elected |
Incumbent retired. Successor elected in 1854. Republican gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Lafayette S. Foster (Republican)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
Connecticut — Senate (Class 3) — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francis Gillette | Free Soil | — | — | Elected |
Incumbent resigned May 24, 1854. New senator elected May 24, 1854. Free Soil gain. Successor did not run for the next term, see below. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Francis Gillette (Free Soil)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
Florida — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Levy Yulee | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1854. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y David Levy Yulee (Democratic)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
Georgia — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfred Iverson Sr. | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
Incumbent retired or lost re-election. New senator elected in 1854 or 1855. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Alfred Iverson Sr. (Democratic)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
Illinois — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyman Trumbull | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
| Joel A. Matteson | Democratic | — | — | — |
| Archibald Williams | Whig | — | — | — |
Incumbent lost re-election. New senator elected February 8, 1855. Democratic hold. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Lyman Trumbull (Democratic) 51
▌Joel A. Matteson (Democratic) 47
▌Archibald Williams (Whig) 1
Sources & further reading
Indiana — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Pettit | Democratic | — | — | — |
Incumbent lost re-election. Legislature failed to elect. Democratic loss. Seat would remain vacant util 1857. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌John Pettit (Democratic) [data missing]
Sources & further reading
Iowa — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Harlan | Free Soil | — | — | Elected |
| Augustus C. Dodge | Democratic | — | — | — |
Incumbent lost re-election. Incumbent then resigned February 22, 1855 to become U.S. Minister to Spain. Successor elected in 1855. Free Soil gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y James Harlan (Free Soil)
▌Augustus C. Dodge (Democratic)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
Kentucky — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John J. Crittenden | Whig | — | — | Elected |
| Lazarus W. Powell | Democratic | — | — | — |
Incumbent retired. Successor elected January 10, 1854. Whig hold. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y John J. Crittenden (Whig) 78
▌Lazarus W. Powell (Democratic) 59
Sources & further reading
Louisiana — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Slidell | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
Incumbent re-elected in 1854 or 1855. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y John Slidell (Democratic)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
Maryland — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Pearce | Whig | — | — | Elected |
Incumbent re-elected in 1855. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y James Pearce (Whig)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
Massachusetts — Senate (Class 2) — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Wilson | American | — | — | Elected |
| Nahum F. Bryant | American | — | — | — |
| Ephraim M. Wright | Whig | — | — | — |
| Julius Rockwell | Whig | — | — | — |
Interim appointee lost election. Successor elected January 31, 1855. American gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Henry Wilson (American)
▌Nahum F. Bryant (American)
▌Ephraim M. Wright (Whig)
▌Julius Rockwell (Whig)
Sources & further reading
Mississippi — Senate (Class 2) — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert G. Brown | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
Legislature had failed to elect in 1853. New senator elected January 7, 1854. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Albert G. Brown (Democratic)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
Missouri — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Rice Atchison | Democratic | — | — | — |
| Thomas Hart Benton | Democratic | — | — | — |
| [?] | Whig | — | — | — |
Incumbent lost re-election. Legislature failed to elect. Democratic loss. Seat would remain vacant until 1857. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌David Rice Atchison (Democratic)
▌Thomas Hart Benton (Democratic)
▌ [?] (Whig)
Sources & further reading
New Hampshire — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|
Incumbent retired or lost re-election. Legislature failed to elect. Democratic loss. Seat would remain vacant until July 30, 1855, see below. Source candidate / selection detail: [data missing]
Sources & further reading
New Hampshire — Senate (Class 2) — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John P. Hale | Republican | — | — | Elected |
Charles G. Atherton (D) died November 15, 1853. Jared W. Williams (D) was appointed to continue Atherton's term. Williams's appointment expired July 15, 1854 when the legislature then failed to elect a successor. New senator elected July 30, 1855. Republican gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y John P. Hale (Republican)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
New Hampshire — Senate (Class 3) — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Bell | Republican | — | — | Elected |
John S. Wells's (D) term expired March 3, 1855. Legislature had failed to elect. New senator elected late July 30, 1855. Republican gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y James Bell (Republican)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
New York — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William H. Seward | Whig | — | — | Elected |
| Daniel S. Dickinson | Dem./Hard | — | — | — |
| Horatio Seymour | Dem./Soft | — | — | — |
| Washington Hunt | Whig | — | — | — |
| John Adams Dix | Dem./Soft | — | — | — |
| Millard Fillmore | Whig | — | — | — |
| William F. Allen | Democratic | — | — | — |
Incumbent re-elected February 6, 1855. Winner became a Republican shortly thereafter. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y William H. Seward (Whig)
▌Daniel S. Dickinson (Dem./Hard)
▌Horatio Seymour (Dem./Soft)
▌Washington Hunt (Whig)
▌John Adams Dix (Dem./Soft)
▌Millard Fillmore (Whig)
▌William F. Allen (Democratic)
Others, see below
Sources & further reading
North Carolina — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asa Biggs | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected on November 25, 1854. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Asa Biggs (Democratic)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
North Carolina — Senate (Class 2) — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Settle Reid | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
Legislature had failed to elect in 1853. New senator elected November 24, 1854. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y David Settle Reid (Democratic)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
Ohio — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George E. Pugh | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
| Ephraim R. Eckley | Whig | — | — | — |
| Salmon P. Chase | Whig | — | — | — |
| Robert C. Schenck | Whig | — | — | — |
Incumbent retired. Successor elected March 4, 1854. Democratic gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y George E. Pugh (Democratic) 80 votes
▌Ephraim R. Eckley (Whig) 15 votes
▌Salmon P. Chase (Whig) 10 votes
▌Robert C. Schenck (Whig) 1 vote
Sources & further reading
Pennsylvania — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simon Cameron | American | — | — | — |
| Charles R. Buckalew | Democratic | — | — | — |
Unknown if incumbent retired or lost re-election. Legislature failed to elect. Whig loss. Seat would remain vacant until 1856. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Simon Cameron (American)
▌Charles R. Buckalew (Democratic)
Sources & further reading
South Carolina — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Butler | Democratic | — | — | Elected |
Incumbent re-elected in 1854. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Andrew Butler (Democratic)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
Vermont — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Collamer | Republican | — | — | Elected |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected in 1855. Republican gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Jacob Collamer (Republican)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
Vermont — Senate (Class 3) — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Brainerd | Free Soil | — | — | Elected |
Incumbent lost entitlement to sit on March 16, 1854. New senator elected October 14, 1854. Free Soil gain. Successor did not run for the next term, see below. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Lawrence Brainerd (Free Soil)
[data missing]
Sources & further reading
Wisconsin — Senate — General
Legislative / indirect selection. Legislative selection; popular-vote totals are not inferred
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Durkee | Republican | — | — | Elected |
| Byron Kilbourn | Democratic | — | — | — |
| Charles Dunn | Democratic | — | — | — |
| James Duane Doty | Republican | — | — | — |
| Harrison Carroll Hobart | Democratic | — | — | — |
| David Agry | Democratic | — | — | — |
| James McMillan Shafter | Republican | — | — | — |
Incumbent retired. New senator elected February 1, 1855. Republican gain. Source candidate / selection detail: ▌Y Charles Durkee (Republican) 50.47%
▌ Byron Kilbourn (Democratic) 36.45%
▌ Charles Dunn (Democratic) 4.67%
▌ James Duane Doty (Republican) 3.74%
▌ Harrison Carroll Hobart (Democratic) 1.87%
▌ David Agry (Democratic) 1.87%
▌ James McMillan Shafter (Republican) 0.93%
Sources & further reading
Results: final · partial coverage · Elected candidates in regular races; continuing senators are not included
| Party / candidate | Votes | Vote share | Seats | Electoral votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert W. Johnson · Arkansas | — | — | 1 | — |
| Lafayette S. Foster · Connecticut | — | — | 1 | — |
| David Levy Yulee · Florida | — | — | 1 | — |
| Alfred Iverson Sr. · Georgia | — | — | 1 | — |
| Lyman Trumbull · Illinois | — | — | 1 | — |
| James Harlan · Iowa | — | — | 1 | — |
| John J. Crittenden · Kentucky | — | — | 1 | — |
| John Slidell · Louisiana | — | — | 1 | — |
| James Pearce · Maryland | — | — | 1 | — |
| William H. Seward · New York | — | — | 1 | — |
| Asa Biggs · North Carolina | — | — | 1 | — |
| George E. Pugh · Ohio | — | — | 1 | — |
| Andrew Butler · South Carolina | — | — | 1 | — |
| Jacob Collamer · Vermont | — | — | 1 | — |
| Charles Durkee · Wisconsin | — | — | 1 | — |
The seat diagram shows only regular seats contested in this cycle, not the full Senate. Special races remain available in the state selector. Early cycles span two years and use legislative selection; missing or non-comparable vote totals are left blank. Candidate ideology is used where sourced; otherwise the broad election-era party tradition is used. Unassessed candidates are not assigned an ideology.
Sources & further reading
U.S. Senate historical party divisions