United States Senate election in New York, 1887

The 1887 United States Senate election in New York was held from January 18 to 20, 1887, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator (Class 1) to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.

1 Background
2 Candidates
- 2.1 Republican caucus
- 2.2 Democratic caucus
3 Result
4 Aftermath
5 Sources

Background

Republican Warner Miller had been elected to this seat in a special election in 1881 to succeed Thomas C. Platt who had resigned. Miller's term would expire on March 3, 1887.

At the State election in November 1885, 20 Republicans and 12 Democrats were elected for a two-year term (1886-1887) in the State Senate. At the State election in November 1886, 74 Republicans and 54 Democrats were elected for the session of 1887 to the Assembly. The 110th New York State Legislature met from January 4 to May 26, 1887, at Albany, New York.

Candidates

Republican caucus

The caucus of Half-Breed faction) failed to be nominated by only four votes. Levi P. Morton (Stalwart faction) was rejected by the caucus, like in 1885. A small faction voted for Congressman Frank Hiscock. After the second ballot, Erwin moved to adjourn, which was carried by 48 to 43. The caucus met again on the next day, no choice was made in another two ballots. The caucus met again on January 19 after the joint ballot of the State Legislature, and after twelve more ballots, Erwin withdrew Morton's name and urged the Morton men to vote for Hiscock. On the next ballot Hiscock received one vote more than Miller (47 to 46), but was one short of the previously established majority of 48. On the 18th and last ballot, Hiscock received 50 votes and was nominated. On the next day, Hiscock was elected on the second joint ballot of the State Legislature. Thus, by blocking Miller's re-election, the Republican boss Thomas C. Platt took his revenge for his defeat at the special election in 1881.

**1887 Republican caucus for United States Senator result**
Office	Ballot	Date	Warner Miller	Levi P. Morton	Frank Hiscock
U.S. Senator (Class 1)	1st	January 17	44	35	12
	2nd	January 17	44	36	11
	3rd	January 18
	4th	January 18
	5th	January 19	46	36	11
	6th	January 19	46	36	11
	7th	January 19	46	36	11
	8th	January 19	46	36	11
	9th	January 19	46	36	11
	10th	January 19	46	36	11
	11th	January 19	46	36	11
	12th	January 19	46	36	11
	13th	January 19	46	36	11
	14th	January 19	46	36	11
	15th	January 19	46	36	11
	16th	January 19	46	36	11
	17th	January 19	46	wd	47
	18th	January 19	43		50

Democratic caucus

The Democratic caucus nominated Smith Mead Weed (1834-1920), a lawyer and businessman of Plattsburgh, New York. Weed had been a member of the New York State Assembly from Clinton County, New York in 1865, 1866, 1867, 1871, 1873 and 1874; and a delegate to the 1876 and 1884 Democratic National Conventions.

Result

**1887 United States Senator election result**
Office	House	Democrat		Republican		Republican		Republican
U.S. Senator (Class 1)	State Senate (32 members) January 18	Smith M. Weed	11	Warner Miller	10	Levi P. Morton	9	Frank Hiscock	1
	State Assembly (128 members) January 18	Smith M. Weed	41	Warner Miller	32	Levi P. Morton	26	Frank Hiscock	10
	Joint ballot (160 members) January 19	Smith M. Weed	61	Warner Miller	43	Levi P. Morton	33	Frank Hiscock	11
	Second joint ballot (160 members) January 20	Smith M. Weed	62					Frank Hiscock	91

Aftermath

Hiscock served a single term, and remained in office until March 3, 1893. In January 1893, Hiscock was defeated for re-election by Democrat Edward Murphy, Jr..

Sources

Members of the 50th United States Congress
MILLER LEADS IN CAUCUS; BUT WANTS FOUR VOTES OF A NOMINATING MAJORITY in NYT on January 18, 1887
HISCOCK WINS THE PRIZE; MORTON WITHDRAWN FROM THE SENATORIAL FIGHT in NYT on January 20, 1887
MR. HISCOCK'S ELECTION in NYT on January 21, 1887
SMITH M. WEED DIES IN PLATTSBURG in NYT on June 8, 1920

Elections in New York

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U.S. Senate	Class 1: 1789 1791 1797 1798 S1 1798 S2 1800 S1 1803 1804 S2 1809 1815 1821 1827 1829 S 1833 1839–40 1845 1851 1857 1863 1869 1875 1881 1881 S 1887 1893 1899 1905 1911 1916 1922 1928 1934 1938 S 1940 1946 1952 1958 1964 1970 1976 1982 1988 1994 2000 2006 2010 S 2012 Class 3: 1789 1795 1796 S 1800 S2 1801 1802 S 1804 S1 1807 1813 1819–20 1825–26 1831 1833 S 1837 1843 1845 S 1849 1855 1861 1867 1873 1879 1881 S 1885 1891 1897 1903 1909 1914 1920 1926 1932 1938 1944 1949 S 1950 1956 1962 1968 1974 1980 1986 1992 1998 2004 2010 2016

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'S,' 'S1,' and 'S2' denote special election

United States Senate election in New York, 1887