1863 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

The 1863 United States Senate election in Massachusetts was held on January 9, 1863. Incumbent Charles Sumner was re-elected to a third term in office.

1863 United States Senate election in Massachusetts
← 1857 January 15, 1863 1869 →

40 Members of the Massachusetts Senate
235 Members of the Massachusetts House
Majority vote of each house needed to win
 
Nominee Charles Sumner Josiah Abbott
Party Republican Democratic
Senate 33 5
Percentage 82.5% 12.5%
House 194 38
Percentage 82.55% 16.17%

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

edit

In the 1862 state legislative elections, supporters of the Lincoln administration who nonetheless opposed the emancipation of Southern slaves and Senator Sumner's re-election organized a "People's Convention," hoping to consolidate opposition and gain enough seats in the legislature to deny Sumner election. However, the legislature remained largely Republican, ensuring Sumner's victory in the January election.[1]

House

edit
1863 Senate election in the House[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles Sumner (incumbent) 194 82.55%
Democratic Josiah G. Abbott 38 16.17%
Democratic Caleb Cushing 2 0.85%
Republican Charles Francis Adams 1 0.43%
Total votes 235 100.00%

Senate

edit
1863 Senate election in the Senate[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles Sumner (incumbent) 33 82.5%
Democratic Josiah G. Abbott 5 12.5%
Republican Charles Francis Adams 1 2.5%
None No vote 1 2.5%
Total votes 40 100.00%

The lone vote for Adams was cast by Senator Whitney of Hampden. Senator Crane of Worcester County did not vote.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ "THE ELECTIONS". Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post. November 15, 1862.
  2. ^ a b c "CHARLES SUMNER". The Independent. 15 (738): 4. January 22, 1863.