1870 United States elections

1870 United States elections

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Election day	November 8
Incumbent president	Ulysses S. Grant (Republican)
Next Congress	42nd
Senate elections
Overall control	Republican hold
Seats contested	25 of 70 seats
Net seat change	Democratic +3
Results:      Democratic gain      Democratic hold      Republican hold      Legislature failed to elect
House elections
Overall control	Republican hold
Seats contested	All 243 voting seats
Net seat change	Democratic +33
Results:      Democratic hold      Democratic gain      Republican hold      Republican gain      Conservative gain

Elections occurred in the middle of Republican President Ulysses S. Grant's first term, during the Third Party System. Members of the 42nd United States Congress were chosen in this election. The election took place during the Reconstruction Era, and many Southerners were barred from voting. It was also the first election after the passage of the 15th Amendment, which prohibits state and federal governments from denying the right to vote on the basis of race, color, or previous condition of servitude, although disenfranchisement would persist. The Republican Party maintained a majority in both houses of Congress, although Democrats picked up several seats in both chambers.

In the House, Democrats won major gains, but Republicans retained a solid majority.

In the Senate, Democrats won moderate gains, but Republicans retained a commanding majority.

See also

• 1870–71 United States House of Representatives elections
• 1870–71 United States Senate elections