He was renominated unanimously after former Governor Frank S. Black dropped his challenge, and easily won the election given the Republican Party's large majorities in both houses.

Republican Chauncey M. Depew had been elected to this seat in 1899, and his term would expire on March 3, 1905.

Black was supported by Governor Benjamin B. Odell Jr., but after intense fighting behind the scenes, Odell finally dropped Black and accepted Depew's re-election which had been supported by his fellow Senator Thomas C. Platt and Speaker S. Frederick Nixon.

Chauncey M. Depew was the choice of both the Assembly and the State Senate, and was declared elected.

In 1911, Depew was defeated for re-election by Democrat James A. O'Gorman after a deadlock of two months and a half.