1863 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

The 1863 United States Senate election in Massachusetts was held on January 9, 1863. Incumbent Charles Sumner was re-elected to a third term in office.

1863 United States Senate election in Massachusetts

January 15, 1863
40 Members of the Massachusetts Senate 235 Members of the Massachusetts House Majority vote of each house needed to win
Nominee Charles Sumner Josiah Abbott Party Republican Democratic Senate 33 5 Percentage 82.5% 12.5% House 194 38 Percentage 82.55% 16.17%
Senator before election Charles Sumner Republican Elected Senator Charles Sumner Republican

At the time, Massachusetts elected United States senators by a majority vote of each separate house of the Massachusetts General Court: the House and the Senate.

Background

In the 1862 state legislative elections, supporters of the Lincoln administration who nonetheless opposed the emancipation of Southern slaves and Senator Sumner's re-election organized a "People's Convention," hoping to consolidate opposition and gain enough seats in the legislature to deny Sumner election. However, the legislature remained largely Republican, ensuring Sumner's victory in the January election.

House

1863 Senate election in the House

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles Sumner (incumbent)	194	82.55%
	Democratic	Josiah G. Abbott	38	16.17%
	Democratic	Caleb Cushing	2	0.85%
	Republican	Charles Francis Adams	1	0.43%
Total votes			235	100.00%

Senate

1863 Senate election in the Senate

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles Sumner (incumbent)	33	82.5%
	Democratic	Josiah G. Abbott	5	12.5%
	Republican	Charles Francis Adams	1	2.5%
	None	No vote	1	2.5%
Total votes			40	100.00%

The lone vote for Adams was cast by Senator Whitney of Hampden. Senator Crane of Worcester County did not vote.