1854–55 United States Senate elections

The 1854–55 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states. As these U.S. Senate elections were prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were chosen by state legislatures. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1854 and 1855, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock. In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 3.

1854–55 United States Senate elections
Various dates
21 of the 62 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections)
32 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Party Democratic Whig Republican
Last election 34 seats 20 seats New party
Seats before 36 18
Seats won 8 3 3
Seats after 33 14 3
Seat change 3 4 3
Seats up 11 7
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Party Free Soil Know Nothing
Last election 2 seats 1 seat
Seats before 4 1
Seats won 1 0
Seats after 2 1
Seat change 2
Seats up 3 0
Results:
     Democratic gain      Democratic hold
     Whig hold
     Free Soil Gain      Know Nothing Gain
     Republican Gain      Legislature failed to elect
Majority party before election


Democratic

 Elected Majority party


Democratic

These elections saw the final decline of the Whig Party and the maintained majority of the Democrats. Those Whigs in the South who were opposed to secession ran on the "Opposition Party" ticket, and were elected to a minority. Along with the Whigs, the Senate roster also included Free Soilers, Know Nothings, and a new party: the Republicans. Only five of the twenty-one senators up for election were re-elected.

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