1860–61 United States Senate elections

The 1860–61 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 1860 and 1861, 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.

1860–61 United States Senate elections
Various dates
22 of the 66 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections)
34 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader John P. Hale
Party Democratic Republican
Leader since March 4, 1859
Leader's seat New Hampshire
Last election 38 seats 25 seats
Seats before 38 26
Seats won 30 29
Seat change 8 3
Seats up 14 7
  Third party
 
Party Know Nothing
Last election 2 seats
Seats before 2
Seats won 1
Seat change 1
Seats up 1
Results of the elections:
     Democratic gain      Democratic hold
     Republican gain      Republican hold
     Senator left for the Confederacy
Majority party before election


Democratic

 Elected Majority party


Democratic

These elections corresponded with Abraham Lincoln's election to the presidency. The nascent Republican Party increased their Senate seats in the regular elections, and after southern Democrats withdrew to join the Confederacy, Republicans gained control of the Senate. To establish a quorum with fewer members, a lower total seat number was taken into account.

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