The 1902–03 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 1902 and 1903, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock.[1] In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 3.
The Democratic Party gained four seats, but the Republicans kept their strong majority. This election marked the end of the two third parties, the Populists and Silver Republicans. Republicans took both Populist seats (Idaho and Kansas) along with one Silver Republican seat in Washington. Democrats took the other Silver Republican seat in Colorado as incumbent Senator Henry Teller was re-elected as a Democrat and flipped four Republican seats in Maryland, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Nevada. Republicans flipped only one Democratic seat (Utah), but also gained both vacant Delaware seats, which had been empty due to legislative deadlock in 1898 and 1900, respectively.
Besides the double-barrel special elections in Delaware, a special election was held in Michigan.
In Florida, the legislature failed to elect until shortly after the beginning of the 58th Congress on March 4.
The Florida legislature failed to elect a senator by the March 4, 1903, beginning of the term. One-term incumbent Democrat Stephen Mallory II was therefore appointed to begin the term, pending the late election.
Democratic incumbent Stephen Mallory II was elected late April 22, 1903, to finish the term.
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First-term Republican John H. Gear had died July 14, 1900, and Republican Jonathan P. Dolliver had been appointed August 22, 1900, to finish the term ending in 1901 and to the term beginning thereafter, pending a special election.
Dolliver was elected January 22, 1902, to finish the term that would end in 1907.
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Republican Thomas C. Platt had previously been re-elected to this seat in 1897, and his term would expire on March 3, 1903.
At the State election in November 1902, 28 Republicans and 22 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1903–1904) in the State Senate; and 89 Republicans and 61 Democrats were elected for the session of 1903 to the Assembly. State Senator Patrick F. Trainor who had been re-elected, died on December 25, 1902, and his successor Peter J. Dooling was elected only after the senatorial election, on January 27.[28] The 126th New York State Legislature met from January 6 to April 23, 1903, at Albany, New York.
The Republican caucus met on January 19. 25 State senators and 84 assemblymen attended, and State Senator William W. Armstrong presided. The caucus re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator Thomas C. Platt almost unanimously. A single vote was cast for U.S. Secretary of War Elihu Root by Assemblyman William A. Denison, of Jefferson County. Besides Denison voting against Platt, a small number of anti-Platt men did not attend the caucus. Boss Platt had forced the nomination of Attorney General John C. Davies to the New York Supreme Court in the 5th District, against the local Republican organization's wishes who accused Davies of incompetence. Davies was defeated in a landslide by Democrat Watson M. Rogers although the 5th District was heavily Republican. Thus boss Platt's power began to wane.
1903 Republican caucus for United States Senator result
The Democratic caucus met also on January 19. All 62 State legislators attended, and Assemblyman Charles W. Hinson, of Erie County, presided. They nominated John B. Stanchfield unanimously. Stanchfield had been Mayor of Elmira, and was defeated when running for Governor of New York in 1900 by Republican Benjamin B. Odell Jr.
Thomas C. Platt was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected. Three Republican anti-Platt men, State senators Edgar T. Brackett (28th D.), Elon R. Brown and Nathaniel A. Elsberg (15th D.), voted for Elihu Root.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 20, 1903. Incumbent RepublicanBoies Penrose, who was elected in 1897, was a successful candidate for re-election to another term. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:
Two-term Republican James H. Kyle died July 1, 1901, and Republican Alfred Kittredge was appointed July 11, 1901, to continue the term, pending a special election.
South Dakota (special)
Republican Alfred Kittredge was elected January 20, 1903, to finish the term.
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South Dakota (regular)
Republican Alfred Kittredge was elected January 21, 1903, to the next the term.
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