1891 United States Senate election in Kansas
{{short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1891 United States Senate election in Kansas
| country = Kansas
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1884 United States Senate election in Kansas
| previous_year = 1884
| next_election = 1896 United States Senate election in Kansas
| next_year = 1896
| election_date = January 28, 1891
| image_size = 200x200px
| image1 = William A. Peffer.png
| nominee1 = William A. Peffer
| party1 = Farmers' Alliance
| alliance1 = People's Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 101
| percentage1 = 61.21%
| image2 = John James Ingalls.png
| nominee2 = John James Ingalls
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 58
| percentage2 = 35.15%
| map_image =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| title = U.S. Senator
| before_election = John James Ingalls
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
| after_election = William A. Peffer
| after_party = Farmers' Alliance
}}
{{ElectionsKS}}
The 1891 United States Senate election in Kansas was held on January 28, 1891, to elect Kansas' Class III senator in its delegation.
Farmers' Alliance/People's nomination
The Farmers' Alliance and People's Party were split into two factions that either supported Peter Percival Elder, who was expected to become the Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives, or William A. Peffer for the senatorial nomination. It was speculated that Jerry Simpson would be chosen as a compromise candidate between the two factions.{{Cite news |date=January 15, 1891 |title=Ready For Business |page=4 |work=The Logan County Banner |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53086706/the-logan-county-banner/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200609113813/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53086706/the-logan-county-banner/ |archive-date=June 9, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=June 9, 2020 }}
On January 27, 1891, the Farmers' Alliance caucus in the state legislature convened to select the party's nominee for the senate election. The balloting started with seventeen candidates and after seventeen ballots Peffer won, with fifty-six votes, against J. T. Willitts, with thirty-eight votes.{{Cite news |date=January 27, 1891 |title=Peffer Chosen |page=1 |work=Emporia Daily Republican |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53087253/emporia-daily-republican/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200609120314/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53087253/emporia-daily-republican/ |archive-date=June 9, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=June 9, 2020 }}
=Candidates=
- William A. Peffer, judge and member of the Kansas Senate
- Peter Percival Elder, member of the Kansas House of Representatives
- J. T. Willitts
Results
On January 27, 1891, both chambers of the Kansas Legislature informally voted separately on the senatorial candidates. In the House of Representatives, 96 members voted for Peffer, 23 members voted for Ingalls, and 5 members voted for Democratic nominee C. W. Blair. In the Senate, 35 members voted for Ingalls, 1 member voted for Peffer, and 2 voted for other candidates.{{Cite news |date=January 27, 1891 |title=Peffer Chosen |page=1 |work=The Kansas City Gazette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53087599/the-kansas-city-gazette/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200609121425/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53087599/the-kansas-city-gazette/ |archive-date=June 9, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=June 9, 2020 }}
On January 28, both chambers of the legislature convened to formally elect the senator. In the join ballot of the House of Representatives and Senate, 101 members voted for Peffer, 58 members voted for Ingalls, 3 members voted for Blair, and 3 members voted for other candidates.{{Cite news |date=January 28, 1891 |title=The Kansas Senatorship |page=3 |work=Columbus Courier |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53087508/columbus-courier/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200609121417/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53087508/columbus-courier/ |archive-date=June 9, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=June 9, 2020 }}
{{Election box begin|title = 1891 Kansas United States Senate first ballot}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Farmers' Alliance
|candidate = William A. Peffer
|votes = 98
|percentage = 59.76%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = John James Ingalls (incumbent)
|votes = 58
|percentage = 35.37%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = C. W. Blair
|votes = 6
|percentage = 3.66%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party =
|candidate = E. N. Morrill
|votes = 1
|percentage = 0.61%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party =
|candidate = H. B. Kelley
|votes = 1
|percentage = 0.61%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 164
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title = 1891 Kansas United States Senate final ballot}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Farmers' Alliance
|candidate = William A. Peffer
|votes = 101
|percentage = 61.21%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = John James Ingalls (incumbent)
|votes = 58
|percentage = 35.15%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = C. W. Blair
|votes = 3
|percentage = 1.82%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party =
|candidate = E. N. Morrill
|votes = 1
|percentage = 0.61%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party =
|candidate = H. B. Kelley
|votes = 1
|percentage = 0.61%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party =
|candidate = Baker
|votes = 1
|percentage = 0.61%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 165
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
Endorsements
{{Endorsements box
| title = Peffer Endorsements
| list =
Organizations
- Jackson County Farmers' Alliance{{Cite news |date=January 8, 1891 |title=Jackson County Farmers' Alliance |page=4 |work=The Holton Recorder |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53063013/the-holton-recorder/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200608235017/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53063013/the-holton-recorder/ |archive-date=June 8, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=June 9, 2020 }}
- Sumner County Farmers' Alliance{{Cite news |date=January 8, 1891 |title=Judge Peffer Endorsed for United States Senator |page=2 |work=The Sumner County Standard |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53062311/the-sumner-county-standard/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200608233914/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53062311/the-sumner-county-standard/ |archive-date=June 8, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=June 9, 2020 }}
Newspapers
- The People's Voice, newspaper of the Farmers' Alliance in Sumner County{{Cite news |date=December 20, 1890 |title=Peffer Endorsed By The People's Voice |page=2 |work=The Daily Mail |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53086414/the-daily-mail/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200609112117/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53086414/the-daily-mail/ |archive-date=June 9, 2020 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=June 9, 2020 }}
}}