As these elections were prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were chosen by state legislatures.

New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island elected their senators between July 16, 1789, and June 12, 1790, after the convening of Congress.

Under Article I, Section 3, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution, the actual division of the Senate's seats into the three classes was not performed until after the 1st Congress convened.

Members are informally grouped into factions of similar interest, based on an analysis of their voting record.

[2] New York failed to elect its senators until after the Congress began, so its seats are labelled here as "Vacant."

North Carolina and Rhode Island did not ratify the Constitution until after the Congress began, so their seats are not included here.

Charles Carroll won election over Uriah Forrest by a margin of 3.70%, or 3 votes, for one of the seats.

[29][30][31] John Henry won election over George Gale by a margin of 2.44%, or 2 votes, for the other seat.

[34] They decided to ballot separately, and then pass a joint resolution once they had concurred in the election of two candidates.

[34] On July 15, Schuyler was nominated first, and members of each chamber attempted to substitute the names of other candidates, including Ezra L'Hommedieu and Rufus King.

[34] On July 16, Schuyler and King were appointed to the U.S. Senate by a joint resolution of the State Legislature.

[34] King took his seat on July 25, and drew the lot for Class 3, his term expiring on March 3, 1795.

On April 5, Governor Clinton asked the State Assembly for a decision, but the latter refused to do so, arguing that it was a question of law, which could be pursued in the courts.