1796 United States Senate special election in New York

The 1796 United States Senate special election in New York was held on November 9, 1796, 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.

1796 United States Senate special election in New York

← 1795 November 9, 1796 1800 (special) →
 
Nominee John Laurance
Party Federalist

U.S. senator before election

Rufus King
Federalist

Elected U.S. Senator

John Laurence
Federalist

Background

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Rufus King had been re-elected in 1795 to a second term in the U.S. Senate (1795–1801). On May 23, 1796, he resigned after having been appointed U.S. Minister to Great Britain, leaving the State Legislature to fill the vacancy.

At the State election in April 1796, Federalist majorities were elected to both houses of the 20th New York State Legislature which met from November 1 to 11, 1796, at New York City, and from January 3 to April 3, 1797, at Albany, New York.

Candidates

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United States District Judge for the District of New York John Laurance was the candidate of the Federalist Party.

Result

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Laurance was the choice of both the State Senate and the State Assembly, and was declared elected.

1796 United States Senator special election result
Office House Federalist candidate Democratic-Republican candidate
U.S. Senator State Senate (42 members) John Laurance
State Assembly (96 members) John Laurance

Aftermath

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Laurance took his seat on December 8, 1796, and resigned in August 1800. A special election to fill the vacancy was held in November 1800.

Sources

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