Federalist John Laurance was elected in November 1796 to fill the vacancy, took his seat on December 8, 1796, but resigned in August 1800.
Ex-Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1783–1788) John Armstrong, a brother-in-law of Chancellor Robert R. Livingston, was the candidate of the Democratic-Republican Party.
Armstrong had been a Federalist until about 1798, and appeared here as a compromise candidate, the two houses of the legislature having different majorities.
: Armstrong was elected unanimously in the Senate, but the exact number of votes given is unclear.
Armstrong took his seat on January 8, 1801, and was re-elected to a full term (1801–07) three weeks later.