1870 and 1871 United States Senate elections


In the United States Senate elections of 1870 and 1871, the Republican Party lost five seats in the United States Senate, though it still retained an overwhelming majority. In advance of these elections, the last four seceded states were readmitted to the Senate.
As these elections were prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment, Senators were chosen by state legislatures.

Reconstruction

That election marked the first time that, with Mississippian Hiram Rhodes Revels, an African American was elected as a US senator and became a member of Congress.
In Georgia, Foster Blodgett was elected and presented his credentials as Senator-elect, but the Senate declared him not elected.
In Virginia, Republican John F. Lewis and Democrat John W. Johnston were elected on January 26, 1870 to fill seats that had been vacant since 1864 and 1865.

Results summary

Senate party division, 42nd Congress

By March 30, 1870

After the readmission of Virginia, Texas, and Mississippi, and the special elections in Iowa and Maine.

Before the elections

Including the February 1871 readmission of Georgia.

Result of the elections

Beginning of the next Congress

Key:

Race summaries

Special elections during the 41st Congress

In these elections, the winners were seated during 1870 or in 1871 before March 4; ordered by election date.

Races leading to the 42nd Congress

In these general elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1871; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 2 seats.

Elections during the 42nd Congress

In this election, the winner was elected in 1871 after March 4.
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