1881 United States Senate election in New York caucus of the Democratic State legislators met on January 17, State Senator Charles A. Fowler (14th D.) presided. They re-nominated the incumbent U.S. Senator Francis Kernan by acclamation. Thomas C. Platt was the choice of both the State Senate and the Assembly, and was declared elected. Notes: Platt remained in office for only ten weeks, until May 16, 1881, when he resigned together with his boss Roscoe Conkling in protest against the distribution of federal patronage in New York by President James A. Garfield, a Half-Breed, without being consulted, what Conkling said was a breach of a pledge given by
1881 United States Senate special elections in New York and Lapham was elected to succeed Conkling. Lapham and Miller took their seats on October 11, 1881, and served single terms. Lapham remained in office until March 3, 1885; Miller until March 3, 1887. Conkling's political career effectively ended after this episode, the second longest deadlock in New York State legislative history. Platt returned to the U.S. Senate in 1897, and served two terms until 1909. 1881 United States Senate special elections in New York The 1881 United States Senate special election in New York was held from May 31 to July 22, 1881, by the New York State Legislature