The 1844âÂÂ45 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.
Senate party division, 29th Congress (1845âÂÂ1847)
In these special elections, the winners were seated during 1844 or in 1845 before March 4; ordered by election date.
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.
In these special elections, the winners were elected in 1845 after March 4; ordered by election date.
Reverdy Johnson won election by an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 1 seat.
There were three elections: Two special elections were held on January 18, 1845, and one regular election was held on February 4, 1845.
The 68th New York State Legislature met from January 7 to May 14, 1845.
Nathaniel P. Tallmadge had been re-elected in 1840 to the Class 1 seat (term 1839âÂÂ1845), but resigned June 17, 1844, to become Governor of Wisconsin Territory. On November 30, Governor of New York William C. Bouck appointed his Democratic Lieutenant Governor Daniel S. Dickinson to fill the vacancy temporarily, and Dickinson was seated December 9, 1844.
Silas Wright Jr. had been re-elected in 1843 to the Class 3 seat (term 1843âÂÂ1849), but resigned November 26, 1844, when elected Governor of New York. On November 30, Governor Bouck appointed Democratic State Senator Henry A. Foster to fill the vacancy temporarily, and Foster took his seat on December 9, 1844.
Dix took his seat on January 27, 1845, and remained in office until March 3, 1849, when his term expired.
Dickinson re-took his seat under the new credentials on January 27, 1845, and re-elected, remained in office until March 3, 1851, when his term expired.
The regular election was held January 14, 1845. Incumbent Daniel Sturgeon was re-elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate. The Pennsylvania General Assembly, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, convened on January 14, 1845, to elect a Senator to serve the term beginning on March 4, 1845. The results of the vote of both houses combined are as follows:
|- |-bgcolor="#EEEEEE" | colspan="3" align="right" | Totals | align="right" | 133 | align="right" | 100.00%
A special election was held March 13, 1845. Simon Cameron was elected by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to the United States Senate. Democratic future-U.S. president James Buchanan was elected in an 1834 special election and was re-elected in 1836 and 1843.
Senator Buchanan resigned on March 5, 1845, after being appointed U.S. Secretary of State by President James K. Polk.
Following the resignation of senator Buchanan, the Pennsylvania General Assembly convened on March 13, 1845, to elect a new senator to fill the vacancy and serve the remainder of the term set to expire on March 4, 1849. Five ballots were recorded. The results of the fifth and final ballot of both houses combined are as follows:
|- |-bgcolor="#EEEEEE" | colspan="3" align="right" | Totals | align="right" | 133 | align="right" | 100.00%