Preston King Republican Edwin D. Morgan Republican Pre-consolidation: Post-consolidation: Pre-consolidation: Post-consolidation: The 1863 United States Senate election in New York was held on February 3, 1863, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S.

Republican Preston King had been elected in February 1857 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1863.

In December, in the 15th Senate District, Republican William Clark was elected for the session of 1863 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Democrat John Willard.

The Republicans, led by Chauncey M. Depew, became worried about the U.S. Senate election, due to occur on the first Tuesday in February.

[1] The Republicans, with a majority of 14 on joint ballot, were anxious to fill the seat, to have a maximum of support for President Abraham Lincoln in the U.S. Senate during the ongoing American Civil War.

Thus the Assembly was organized to begin the session of 1863, three weeks late but in time for the U.S. Senate election.

They did not nominate any candidate, instead adopting a resolution that "each Democratic member of the Legislature be requested to name for that office such person as he deems proper."

Thus Callicot kept his part of the bargain, knowing that, on joint ballot, the Republican state senate majority will outvote the Democrats, and elect their candidate.