Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1842 and 1843, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock.

James Pearce won election by an unknown margin of votes, for the Class 3 seat.

Silas Wright Jr. had been elected in 1833 to this seat after the resignation of William L. Marcy, and had been re-elected in 1837.

Senator Silas Wright Jr. was re-nominated unanimously by a Democratic caucus on the eve of the election.

Wright continued in the U.S. Senate, and remained in office until November 1844 when he resigned after his election as Governor of New York.

Foster was appointed to fill the vacancy temporarily, but the State Legislature elected John A. Dix for the remainder of Wright's term.

Known as the "Immortal Thirteen" by Tennessee Democrats, they refused to allow a quorum on the issue.