1802 United States Senate special election in New York

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The 1802 United States Senate special election in New York was held on February 9, 1802, by the

At the State election in April 1801, the Democratic-Republican Party won a large majority in the Assembly, and half of the 12 State Senate seats up for renewal. The 25th New York State Legislature met from January 26 to April 5, 1802, at Albany, New York.

Candidates

State Senator DeWitt Clinton ran as the candidate of the Democratic-Republican Party.

Ex-State Senator (1794–1795) Matthew Clarkson was the Federalist candidate.

Result

Clarkson was nominated by the Senate, Clinton by the Assembly. The Legislature then proceeded to a joint ballot, and Clinton was elected. This was the first time that a joint ballot was necessary to choose between the nominees of different majorities in the houses of the Legislature.

Aftermath

Clinton took his seat on February 23, 1802, but resigned on November 4, 1803, and Armstrong was appointed by Governor Clinton to re-take his former seat. In February 1804, a special election was held by the State Legislature to fill both seats in the U.S. Senate and, either due to a mistake or to give Armstrong two more years to serve, Armstrong was then elected to the Class 1 seat (term 1803–1809), and

Sources

• The New York Civil List compiled in 1858 (see: pg. 63 for U.S. Senators; pg. 118 for State Senators 1801–02; page 175 for Members of Assembly 1801–02)
• Members of the 7th United States Congress
• Members of the 8th United States Congress
• History of Political Parties in the State of New-York by Jabez Delano Hammond (pages 183f)
• Election result at Tufts University Library project "A New Nation Votes"