1881 United States Senate election in New York

U.S. Senate election in New York

1881 United States Senate election in New York | <- 1875 | January 18, 1881 | 1881 (special) ->

|
|

* * *

Majority vote of each house needed to win
|  |  |

|
|

Nominee  | Thomas C. Platt | Francis Kernan |
Party  | Republican | Democratic
Senate  | 25 | 6
Percentage  | 80.65% | 19.35%
House  | 79 | 44
Percentage  | 64.23% | 35.77%

* * *

| Senator before election

Francis Kernan
Democratic

| Elected Senator

Thomas C. Platt
Republican

|

Elections in New York State

Federal government

|  Presidential elections

* 1792
* 1796
* 1800
* 1804
* 1808
* 1812
* 1816
* 1820
* 1824
* 1828
* 1832
* 1836
* 1840
* 1844
* 1848
* 1852
* 1856
* 1860
* 1864
* 1868
* 1872
* 1876
* 1880
* 1884
* 1888
* 1892
* 1896
* 1900
* 1904
* 1908
* 1912
* 1916
* 1920
* 1924
* 1928
* 1932
* 1936
* 1940
* 1944
* 1948
* 1952
* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* Dem
* 2004
* Dem
* 2008
* Dem
* GOP
* 2012
* 2016
* Dem
* GOP
* 2020
* Dem
* 2024
* Rep

U.S. Senate

* 1789
* 1791
* 1795
* 1796 sp
* 1797
* Jan 1798 sp
* Aug 1798 sp
* Apr 1800 sp
* Nov 1800 sp
* 1801
* 1802 sp
* 1803
* Feb 1804 sp
* Nov 1804 sp
* 1807
* 1809
* 1813
* 1815
* 1819–20
* 1821
* 1825–26
* 1827
* 1829 sp
* 1831
* 1833
* 1833 sp
* 1837
* 1839–40
* 1843
* 1845 sp
* 1849
* 1851
* 1855
* 1857
* 1861
* 1863
* 1867
* 1869
* 1873
* 1875
* 1879
* 1881
* 1881 sp
* 1885
* 1887
* 1891
* 1893
* 1897
* 1899
* 1903
* 1905
* 1909
* 1911
* 1914
* 1916
* 1920
* 1922
* 1926
* 1928
* 1932
* 1934
* 1938
* 1938 sp
* 1940
* 1944
* 1946
* 1949 sp
* 1950
* 1952
* 1956
* 1958
* 1962
* 1964
* 1968
* 1970
* 1974
* 1976
* 1980
* 1982
* 1986
* 1988
* 1992
* 1994
* 1998
* 2000
* 2004
* 2006
* 2010
* 2010 sp
* 2012
* 2016
* 2018
* 2022
* 2024

U.S. House

* 1789
* 1790
* 1791
* 1st sp
* 1793
* 1794
* 1796
* 1798
* 1799
* 1st sp
* 1800
* 1801
* 5th sp
* 1801
* 6th sp
* 1802
* 1803
* 6th sp
* 1803
* 7th sp
* 1804
* 1st sp
* 2nd and 3rd sp
* 1805
* 2nd and 3rd sp
* 1806
* 1808
* 12th sp
* 1810
* 2nd sp
* 1812
* 6th sp
* 1813
* 15th sp
* 1813
* 2nd sp
* 1814
* 1815
* 6th sp
* 1815
* 12th sp
* 1816
* 20th sp
* 21st sp
* 1817
* 4th sp
* 1818
* 1821
* 6th sp
* 1821
* 9th sp
* 1822
* 1823
* 28th sp
* 1824
* 1826
* 1827
* 29th sp
* 1828
* 5th sp
* 1830
* 6th sp
* 20th sp
* 1832
* 1834
* 1836
* 17th sp
* 30th sp
* 1838
* 1840
* 1841
* 26th May sp
* 26th Nov sp
* 1842
* 1844
* 1846
* 12th sp
* 1848
* 1850
* 1852
* 1854
* 12th sp
* 1856
* 1858
* 1859
* 4th sp
* 1860
* 31st sp
* 1862
* 1863
* 14th sp
* 1864
* 1866
* 1868
* 1870
* 1872
* 1874
* 1876
* 1878
* 1879
* 12th sp
* 1880
* 32nd sp
* 1881
* 9th sp
* 11th sp
* 22nd sp
* 1881
* 27th sp
* 1882
* 1884
* 1885
* 8th sp
* 1886
* 15th sp
* 1888
* 1889
* 6th sp
* 9th sp
* 27th sp
* 1890
* 1891
* 2nd sp
* 10th sp
* 1891
* 12th sp
* 22nd sp
* 1892
* 1894
* 14th sp
* 15th sp
* 1895
* 10th sp
* 1896
* 1897
* 3rd sp
* 1898
* 1899
* 34th sp
* 1900
* 1902
* 26th sp
* 1904
* 12th sp
* 1906
* 8th sp
* 1908
* 3rd sp
* 1910
* 1912
* 26th sp
* 1913
* 13th sp
* 20th sp
* 1914
* 1915
* 31st sp
* 1916
* 1917
* 15th sp
* 1918
* 7th sp
* 8th sp
* 21st sp
* 22nd sp
* 1920
* 14th sp
* 26th sp
* 1922
* 1923
* 11th sp
* 16th sp
* 19th sp
* 24th sp
* 32nd sp
* 1924
* 1926
* 1927
* 35th sp
* 1928
* 32nd sp
* 1929
* 21st sp
* 1930
* 18th sp
* 1931
* 7th sp
* 9th sp
* 1932
* 1933
* 34th sp
* 1934
* 1935
* 2nd sp
* 22nd sp
* 1936
* 1937
* 27th sp
* 17th sp
* 25th sp
* 1938
* 1939
* 34th sp
* 1940
* 14th sp
* 22nd sp
* 31st sp
* 1941
* 14th sp
* 17th sp
* 1942
* 1944
* 4th sp
* 11th sp
* 21st sp
* 1946
* 19th sp
* 1947
* 14th sp
* 1948
* 24th sp
* 1949
* 7th sp
* 10th sp
* 20th sp
* 1950
* 1952
* 5th sp
* 32nd sp
* 1954
* 1956
* 22nd sp
* 1958
* 1959
* 43rd sp
* 1960
* 23rd sp
* 1962
* 6th sp
* 1964
* 1966
* 17th sp
* 1968
* 13th sp
* 1970
* 1972
* 1974
* 1976
* 1978
* 18th sp
* 21st sp
* 1980
* 1982
* 1983
* 7th sp
* 1984
* 1986
* 6th sp
* 1988
* 1990
* 14th sp
* 18th sp
* 1992
* 17th sp
* 1994
* 1996
* 1997
* 13th sp
* 1998
* 6th sp
* 2000
* 2002
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2009
* 20th sp
* 23rd sp
* 2010
* 29th sp
* 2011
* 9th sp
* 26th sp
* 2012
* 2014
* 2015
* 11th sp
* 2016
* 2018
* 14th
* 25th sp
* 2020
* 27th sp
* 2022
* 19th sp
* 23rd sp
* 2024
* 3rd sp
* 26th sp

State government

|  New York gubernatorial elections

* 1777
* 1780
* 1783
* 1786
* 1789
* 1792
* 1795
* 1798
* 1801
* 1804
* 1807
* 1810
* 1813
* 1816
* 1817
* 1820
* 1822
* 1824
* 1826
* 1828
* 1830
* 1832
* 1834
* 1836
* 1838
* 1840
* 1842
* 1844
* 1846
* 1848
* 1850
* 1852
* 1854
* 1856
* 1858
* 1860
* 1862
* 1864
* 1866
* 1868
* 1870
* 1872
* 1874
* 1876
* 1879
* 1882
* 1885
* 1888
* 1891
* 1894
* 1896
* 1898
* 1900
* 1902
* 1904
* 1906
* 1908
* 1910
* 1912
* 1914
* 1916
* 1918
* 1920
* 1922
* 1924
* 1926
* 1928
* 1930
* 1932
* 1934
* 1936
* 1938
* 1942
* 1946
* 1950
* 1954
* 1958
* 1962
* 1966
* 1970
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022

Attorney General elections

* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022

State Comptroller elections

* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022

State Senate elections

* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022

State Assembly elections

* 99th district, 2006
* 2008
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022

State elections by year

* 1811-LtGSE
* 1844
* 1846
* 1847-JSE
* 1847
* 1848
* 1849
* 1850
* 1851
* 1852
* 1853
* 1854
* 1855
* 1856
* 1857
* 1858
* 1859
* 1860
* 1861
* 1862
* 1863
* 1864
* 1865
* 1866
* 1867
* 1868
* 1869
* 1870
* 1870–JSE
* 1871
* 1872
* 1873
* 1874
* 1875
* 1876
* 1877
* 1878
* 1879
* 1880
* 1881
* 1882
* 1883
* 1884
* 1885
* 1886
* 1887
* 1888
* 1889
* 1890
* 1891
* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1900
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1910
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1919
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1930
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1946
* 1949
* 1950
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1956
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 2002
* 2006
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2012
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022

New York City

|  Mayoral elections

Pre-consolidation:

* 1886

Post-consolidation:

* 1917
* 1921
* 1925
* 1929
* 1932
* 1933
* 1937
* 1941
* 1945
* 1950
* 1953
* 1957
* 1961
* 1965
* 1969
* 1973
* 1977
* 1981
* 1985
* 1989
* 1993
* 1997
* 2001
* 2005
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2021

City Council elections

Pre-consolidation:

* 1808

Post-consolidation:

* 1897
* 1899
* 1901
* 1903
* 1905
* 1907
* 1909
* 1911
* 1913
* 1915
* 1917
* 1919
* 1921
* 1923
* 1925
* 1927
* 1929
* 1931
* 1933
* 1935
* 1937
* 1939
* 1941
* 1943
* 1945
* 1949
* 1953
* 1957
* 1961
* 1965
* 1969
* 1973
* 1977
* 1981
* 1985
* 1989
* 1993
* 1997
* 2001
* 2005
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2021

Public Advocate elections

* 1897
* 1901
* 1905
* 1909
* 1913
* 1917
* 1921
* 1925
* 1929
* 1933
* 1937
* 1941
* 1945
* 1949
* 1953
* 1957
* 1961
* 1965
* 1969
* 1973
* 1977
* 1981
* 1985
* 1989
* 1993
* 1997
* 2001
* 2005
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2019 (special)
* 2019
* 2021

Comptroller elections

* 1897
* 1901
* 1905
* 1909
* 1913
* 1917
* 1921
* 1925
* 1929
* 1933
* 1937
* 1941
* 1945
* 1949
* 1953
* 1957
* 1961
* 1965
* 1969
* 1973
* 1977
* 1981
* 1985
* 1989
* 1993
* 1997
* 2001
* 2005
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2021

Borough president elections

* 1897
* 1901
* 1905
* 1909
* 1913
* 1917
* 1921
* 1925
* 1929
* 1933
* 1937
* 1941
* 1945
* 1949
* 1953
* 1957
* 1961
* 1965
* 1969
* 1973
* 1977
* 1981
* 1985
* 1989
* 1993
* 1997
* 2001
* 2005
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2021

* The Bronx
* Brooklyn
* Manhattan
* Queens
* Staten Island

Albany

|  Mayoral elections

* 2005
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2021

Buffalo

|  Mayoral elections

* 1881
* 1977
* 1981
* 1985
* 1989
* 1993
* 1997
* 2001
* 2005
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2021

Rochester

|  Mayoral elections

* 1997
* 2001
* 2005
* 2009
* 2011 sp
* 2013
* 2017
* 2021

Syracuse

|  Mayoral elections

* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2021

* v
* t
* e

The 1881 United States Senate election in New York was held on January 18, 1881, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator (Class 1) to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.

## Background[edit]

Democrat Francis Kernan had been elected in January 1875 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1881.

At the State election in November 1879, 25 Republicans and 7 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1880-1881) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1880, 81 Republicans and 47 Democrats were elected for the session of 1881 to the Assembly. The 104th State Legislature met from January 4, 1881, on at Albany, New York.

## Candidates[edit]

### Republican caucus[edit]

The caucus of Republican State legislators met on January 13, State Senator Dennis McCarthy presided. All but one of the legislators were present, only State Senator Edward M. Madden (13th D.) was absent. The caucus nominated Ex-Congressman Thomas C. Platt for the U.S. Senate. Platt was a friend of the other U.S. Senator from New York, Roscoe Conkling, and belonged to the Stalwart faction. The opposing Half-Breeds (in the press sometimes referred to as the "anti-machine men") at first wanted to nominate Chauncey M. Depew, but he withdrew before balloting. The majority of the Half-Breeds, led by President pro tempore of the State Senate William H. Robertson, then supported Platt, a minority voted for Sherman S. Rogers, the defeated Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1876. Congressman Richard Crowley was supported by a faction led by Speaker of the State Assembly George H. Sharpe, allied with Governor Alonzo B. Cornell. U.S. Vice President William A. Wheeler, and Congressmen Elbridge G. Lapham and Levi P. Morton also received votes.

1881 Republican caucus for United States Senator result Office  | Candidate  | First ballot

|
|

U.S. Senator | Thomas C. Platt | 54
| Richard Crowley | 26
| Sherman S. Rogers | 10
| William A. Wheeler | 10
| Elbridge G. Lapham | 4
| Levi P. Morton | 1

### Democratic caucus[edit]

The caucus of the Democratic State legislators met on January 17, State Senator Charles A. Fowler (14th D.) presided. They re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator Francis Kernan by acclamation.

## Result[edit]

Thomas C. Platt was the choice of both the State Senate and the Assembly, and was declared elected.

1881 United States Senator election result Office  | House  | Republican | Democrat

|
|
|

U.S. Senator | State Senate
(32 members)  | Thomas C. Platt | 25 | Francis Kernan | 6
| State Assembly
(128 members)  | Thomas C. Platt | 79 | Francis Kernan | 44

Notes:

* The votes were cast on January 18, but both Houses met in a joint session on January 19 to compare nominations, and declare the result.
* State Senator Stevens (Dem., 22nd D.) was absent and did not vote.

## Aftermath[edit]

Platt remained in office for only ten weeks, until May 16, 1881, when he resigned together with his boss Roscoe Conkling in protest against the distribution of federal patronage in New York by President James A. Garfield, a Half-Breed, without being consulted, what Conkling said was a breach of a pledge given by Garfield. The confrontation between the Stalwart and the Half-Breed factions of the Republican party arose when the leader of the Half-Breeds William H. Robertson was appointed Collector of the Port of New York, the highest paying federal office in New York, a position Conkling wanted to give to one of his Stalwart friends. Conkling and Platt then tried to show their power by standing for re-election, but Elbridge G. Lapham and Warner Miller were elected instead to fill the vacancies. This effectively ended Conkling's political career, and severely harmed Platt's. However, 16 years later, in 1897, Platt was re-elected to the U.S. Senate, and served two terms.

## See also[edit]

* United States Senate elections, 1880 and 1881

## Sources[edit]

* Members of the 47th United States Congress
* SENATOR THOMAS C. PLATT; SELECTED BY THE CAUCUS UPON THE FIRST BALLOT in NYT on January 14, 1881
* COMPLIMENTING MR. KERNAN.; THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS RENOMINATES HIM FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR in NYT on January 18, 1881
* Election result: BUSY STATE LEGISLATORS in NYT on January 19, 1881

* v
* t
* e

Elections in New York (state)

General|

* 1844
* 1846
* 1847
* 1848
* 1849
* 1850
* 1851
* 1852
* 1853
* 1854
* 1855
* 1856
* 1857
* 1858
* 1859
* 1860
* 1861
* 1862
* 1863
* 1864
* 1865
* 1866
* 1867
* 1868
* 1869
* 1870
* 1871
* 1872
* 1873
* 1874
* 1875
* 1876
* 1877
* 1878
* 1879
* 1880
* 1881
* 1882
* 1883
* 1884
* 1885
* 1886
* 1887
* 1888
* 1889
* 1890
* 1891
* 1892
* 1893
* 1894
* 1895
* 1896
* 1897
* 1898
* 1900
* 1902
* 1903
* 1904
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908
* 1910
* 1912
* 1913
* 1914
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918
* 1920
* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1926
* 1927
* 1928
* 1930
* 1932
* 1933
* 1934
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1946
* 1949
* 1950
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1956
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1976
* 1988
* 2002
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023

U.S. President|

* 1792
* 1796
* 1800
* 1804
* 1808
* 1812
* 1816
* 1820
* 1824
* 1828
* 1832
* 1836
* 1840
* 1844
* 1848
* 1852
* 1856
* 1860
* 1864
* 1868
* 1872
* 1876
* 1880
* 1884
* 1888
* 1892
* 1896
* 1900
* 1904
* 1908
* 1912
* 1916
* 1920
* 1924
* 1928
* 1932
* 1936
* 1940
* 1944
* 1948
* 1952
* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

U.S. Senate|

| Class 1|

* 1789
* 1791
* 1797
* Jan. 1798 (Special)
* Aug. 1798 (Special)
* Apr. 1800 (Special)
* 1803
* 1804 (Special)
* 1809
* 1815
* 1821
* 1827
* 1829 (Special)
* 1833
* 1839–40
* 1845
* 1851
* 1857
* 1863
* 1869
* 1875
* 1881
* 1881 (Special)
* 1887
* 1893
* 1899
* 1905
* 1911
* 1916
* 1922
* 1928
* 1934
* 1938 (Special)
* 1940
* 1946
* 1952
* 1958
* 1964
* 1970
* 1976
* 1982
* 1988
* 1994
* 2000
* 2006
* 2010 (Special)
* 2012
* 2018
* 2024

|

Class 3|

* 1789
* 1795
* 1796 (Special)
* Nov. 1800 (Special)
* 1801
* 1802 (Special)
* 1804 (Special)
* 1807
* 1813
* 1819–20
* 1825–26
* 1831
* 1833 (Special)
* 1837
* 1843
* 1845 (Special)
* 1849
* 1855
* 1861
* 1867
* 1873
* 1879
* 1881 (Special)
* 1885
* 1891
* 1897
* 1903
* 1909
* 1914
* 1920
* 1926
* 1932
* 1938
* 1944
* 1949 (Special)
* 1950
* 1956
* 1962
* 1968
* 1974
* 1980
* 1986
* 1992
* 1998
* 2004
* 2010
* 2016
* 2022

U.S. House|

* 1789
* 1790
* 1793
* 1794
* 1796
* 1798
* 1800
* 1802
* 1804
* 1806
* 1808
* 1810
* 1812
* 1814
* 1816
* 1818
* 1821
* 1822
* 1824
* 1826
* 1828
* 1830
* 1832
* 1834
* 1836
* 1838
* 1840
* 1842
* 1844
* 1846
* 1848
* 1850
* 1852
* 1854
* 1856
* 1858
* 1860
* 1862
* 1864
* 1866
* 1868
* 1870
* 1872
* 1874
* 1876
* 1878
* 1880
* 1882
* 1884
* 1886
* 1888
* 1890
* 1892
* 1894
* 1896
* 1898
* 1900
* 1902
* 1904
* 1906
* 1908
* 1910
* 1912
* 1914
* 1916
* 1918
* 1920
* 1922
* 1924
* 1926
* 1928
* 1930
* 1932
* 1934
* 1936
* 1938
* 1940
* 1942
* 1944
* 1946
* 1948
* 1950
* 1952
* 1954
* 1956
* 1958
* 1960
* 1962
* 1964
* 1966
* 1968
* 1970
* 1972
* 1974
* 1976
* 1978
* 1980
* 1982
* 1984
* 1986
* 1988
* 1990
* 1992
* 1994
* 1996
* 1998
* 6th sp
* 2000
* 2002
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2009
* 20th sp
* 23rd sp
* 2010
* 29th
* 2011
* 9th sp
* 26th sp
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 14th
* 25th sp
* 22nd
* 2020
* 27th sp
* 2022
* 19th sp
* 23rd sp

Governor and
Lieutenant Governor|

* 1777
* 1780
* 1783
* 1786
* 1789
* 1792
* 1795
* 1798
* 1801
* 1804
* 1807
* 1810
* 1811 sp
* 1813
* 1816
* 1817
* 1820
* 1822
* 1824
* 1826
* 1828
* 1830
* 1832
* 1834
* 1836
* 1838
* 1840
* 1842
* 1844
* 1846
* 1848
* 1850
* 1852
* 1854
* 1856
* 1858
* 1860
* 1862
* 1864
* 1866
* 1868
* 1870
* 1872
* 1874
* 1876
* 1879 sp
* 1882
* 1898
* 1918
* 1920
* 1922
* 1924
* 1926
* 1928
* 1930
* 1932
* 1934
* 1936
* 1938
* 1942
* 1946
* 1950
* 1954
* 1958
* 1962
* 1966
* 1970
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022

Attorney General|

* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022

Comptroller|

* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022

State Legislature|

| State Assembly|

* 2008
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022

|

State Senate|

* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022

Judicial|

* 1847 (Special)
* 1870 (Special)

See also Political party strength in New York
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template