1870–71 United States Senate elections

The 1870–71 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 1870 and 1871, 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 2.

1870–71 United States Senate elections
Dates vary by state
(And other dates for special elections)
25 of the 70 (4 vacant)/74 seats in the United States Senate (with special elections)
36 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Henry B. Anthony
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since March 4, 1863
Leader's seat Rhode Island
Last election 57 seats 9 seats
Seats before 63 11
Seats won 17 7
Seats after 58 14
Seat change 4 3
Seats up 21 4
Results of the elections:
     Democratic gain      Democratic hold
     Republican hold      Legislature failed to elect
Majority Party before election


Republican

 Elected Majority Party


Republican

The Republican Party lost five seats, though it still retained an overwhelming majority. In advance of these elections, the last four seceded states were readmitted to the Senate.

Mississippian Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first African American to be elected as a U.S. Senator and become 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.

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