1850–51 United States Senate elections
Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1850 and 1851, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock.One-term Whig Joseph R. Underwood retired and the Know Nothing Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky John Burton Thompson was elected early, December 15, 1851, far in advance of the 1853 term, as was common practice at the time.Democratic Secretary of State of Kentucky David Meriwether was appointed July 6, 1852 pending the effective date of the special election.However, the legislature deadlocked on this Senate race, as Democrats refused to vote for Charles Sumner (the Free Soilers' choice).Ex-Governor of New York Hamilton Fish was the candidate of the Whig Party, but was also a close friend of Henry Clay who was one of the leaders of the Fillmore faction in Washington, D.C.Fish had earlier stated his opposition against the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 but was believed to support most of the remainder of the Compromise.Nevertheless, Silver Gray State Senator James W. Beekman declared that he would not vote for Fish for personal reasons, a dislike stemming from the time when they were fellow students at Columbia University.After a second ballot with the same result, Beekman moved to adjourn, which was carried by the casting vote of the lieutenant governor, and no nomination was made.
1848 & 18491852 & 1853United States SenateDemocraticFree SoilU.S. SenateSeventeenth Amendmentstate legislatureslegislative deadlockClass 1Democratic Party32nd CongressDavid StewartelectedThomas PrattRobert C. WinthropRobert Rantoul Jr.Roger Sherman Baldwin1848 (special)until 1852John C. FrémontJohn Wales1849 (special)James A. Bayard Jr.David Levy YuleeStephen MalloryJesse D. Brightre-electedHannibal Hamlin1850 (special)1851 (special)Charles SumnerLewis CassJefferson DavisThomas H. BentonHenry S. GeyerWilliam L. DaytonRobert F. StocktonDaniel S. DickinsonThomas EwingDaniel SturgeonRichard BrodheadAlbert C. GreeneCharles T. JamesHopkins L. TurneyJames C. JonesThomas J. RuskSamuel S. PhelpsSolomon FootJames M. Mason1847 (special)Henry DodgeBenjamin WadeHamilton FishHenry Clay1806 (special)1831 (special)Archibald DixonJames GuthrieGarrett DavisCharles S. MoreheadJoseph R. UnderwoodJohn L. HelmJohn Burton ThompsonList of United States senators from Kentucky1853 United States House of Representatives elections in KentuckyLieutenant Governor of KentuckyUnited States Secretary of StateSecretary of State of KentuckyDavid MeriwetherList of United States senators from MarylandMaryland General AssemblyReverdy JohnsonUnited States Attorney General1851 United States Senate election in Massachusetts1851 United States Senate election in New YorkWhig PartySewardCompromise of 1850Millard FillmoreFrancis Granger"Barnburners" and the "Hunkers"State election in November 1850Horatio SeymourState election in November 184974th New York State LegislatureAlbany, New YorkGovernor of New YorkWashington, D.C.Fugitive Slave Law of 1850James W. BeekmanColumbia UniversityGeorge B. GuinnipJohn Adams DixGeorge R. BabcockMarius SchoonmakerNew York CityWilliam A. DartJames T. BradyAaron WardArphaxed LoomisAmasa J. ParkerAugustus C. HandJohn HunterJohn FineLevi S. ChatfieldJohn TracyAbraham BockeeGeorge RathbunTimothy JenkinsWilliam L. MarcyWashington IrvingErastus CorningJames S. WadsworthWilliam C. Bouck1851 United States Senate election in OhioThomas CorwinU.S. Secretary of the Treasury1851 United States Senate election in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania General AssemblyAndrew W. LoomisSamuel PurvianceSamuel CalvinThomas M. T. McKennanJohn SergeantGeorge Chambers