The 1849 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held in the 2nd Wisconsin Legislature on January 17, 1849. Incumbent Democratic U.S. senator Isaac P. Walker was re-elected to a full six-year term.
In the 1849 legislative session, Democrats held a majority in both chambers, but their majority was more tenuous due to the recent schism with the Free Soil Party. The schism, however, removed much controversy from the Democratic nominating process. At the election, the Democrats largely held together and managed to re-elect their nominee.
Major candidates
Democratic
- Isaac P. Walker, the incumbent U.S. senator.
Free Soil
- Byron Kilbourn, one of the founders of Milwaukee and the incumbent mayor of Milwaukee at the time of the election.
Whig
- Alexander Botkin, an important pioneer of Wisconsin and an incumbent state senator from Dane County at the time of the election.
Results
The 2nd Wisconsin Legislature met in joint session on January 17, 1849, to elect a U.S. senator. All 85 members of the legislature were present and voting for this election. Voting was mostly along party lines, with six of 50 Democrats defecting from their nominee. Walker won the election with just two votes to spare.
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