United States Senate elections, 1860
The United States Senate election of 1860 was an election corresponding with Abraham Lincoln's election to the presidency, with the Republican Party gaining control of the United States Senate. As many Southern States seceded following the election, and members left the Senate to join the Confederacy, or were expelled for supporting the rebellion, seats were declared vacant. To establish a quorum with fewer members, a lower total seat number was taken into account.
As this election was prior to ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment, Senators were chosen by State legislatures.
Results
37th Congress (1861–1863)
- Majority Party: Republican (29), later rose to 30
- Minority Party: Democratic (23), later dropped to 13
- Other Parties: Unionist (1), later rose to 7
- Vacant: (15), later rose to 20
- Total Seats: 68, later rose to 70
Change in Senate composition
End of previous Congress |
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Beginning of the next Congress |
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End of the next Congress |
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See also
References