1849 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

The 1849 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held in the 2nd Wisconsin Legislature on January 17, 1849. Incumbent Democratic U.S. senator Isaac P. Walker was re-elected to a full six-year term.

1849 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

← 1848
January 17, 1849
1855 →
 
Nominee Isaac P. Walker Byron Kilbourn Alexander Botkin
Party Democratic Free Soil Whig
Legislative vote 45 18 18
Percentage 52.94% 21.18% 21.18%

U.S. senator before election

Isaac P. Walker
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Isaac P. Walker
Democratic

In the 1849 legislative session, Democrats held a majority in both chambers, but their majority was more tenuous due to the recent schism with the Free Soil Party. The schism, however, removed much controversy from the Democratic nominating process. At the election, the Democrats largely held together and managed to re-elect their nominee.

Major candidates

Democratic

  • Isaac P. Walker, the incumbent U.S. senator.

Free Soil

  • Byron Kilbourn, one of the founders of Milwaukee and the incumbent mayor of Milwaukee at the time of the election.

Whig

  • Alexander Botkin, an important pioneer of Wisconsin and an incumbent state senator from Dane County at the time of the election.

Results

The 2nd Wisconsin Legislature met in joint session on January 17, 1849, to elect a U.S. senator. All 85 members of the legislature were present and voting for this election. Voting was mostly along party lines, with six of 50 Democrats defecting from their nominee. Walker won the election with just two votes to spare.

1st Vote of the 2nd Wisconsin Legislature, January 17, 1849
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Isaac P. Walker (incumbent) 45 52.94%
Free Soil Byron Kilbourn 18 21.18%
Whig Alexander Botkin 18 21.18%
Democratic Morgan Lewis Martin 2 2.35%
Democratic James Duane Doty 1 1.18%
Whig William S. Hamilton 1 1.18%
Majority 43 50.59%
Total votes 85 100.0%
Democratic hold

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