1844–45 United States Senate elections
elections for the U.S. Senate
The 1844–45 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states, coinciding with James K. Polk's election. 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 1844 and 1845, 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 1. The Democratic Party re-captured control of the Senate, gaining a net total of eleven seats from the Whigs.
Results summary
Senate party division, 29th Congress (1845–1847)
Majority party: Democratic (26–31)
Minority party: Whig (24)
Other parties: (0–1)
Vacant: (4–2)
Total seats: 54–58
Change in Senate composition
Before the elections
Result of the elections
Beginning of the next Congress
Beginning of the first session of the next Congress (December 1, 1845)
Race summaries
Special elections during the 28th Congress
In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1844 or in 1845 before March 4; ordered by election date.
Races leading to the 29th Congress
In these regular elections, the winners were elected for the term beginning March 4, 1845; ordered by state.
All of the elections involved the Class 1 seats.
Special elections during the 29th Congress
In these special elections, the winners were elected in 1845 after March 4; ordered by election date.
Alabama (special)
Arkansas (special)
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Florida (regular)
Florida (special)
Georgia (special)
Indiana
Illinois (special)
Louisiana (special)
Maine
Maryland
Reverdy Johnson won election by an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 1 seat.
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