Fred Dubois Silver Republican Henry Heitfeld Populist The 1897 United States Senate election in Idaho was held over the course of 23 ballots from January 12 to January 28, 1897, by the Idaho Legislature to elect a U.S.

Silver Republican Fred Dubois had been elected to this seat in 1890 and his term was set expire on March 3, 1897.

Following the state election in November 1896, a coalition of 23 Populists and 22 Democrats won control of the legislature over 25 Republicans.

The election required extensive balloting due to the failure of the Populist and Democratic caucuses to unite behind a candidate, despite Democrats generally voting for candidates who were members of the Populist Party.

On the 23rd ballot, a large enough faction of Democrats united with the Populists to elect Heitfeld as senator.