The justices first selected a political independent, Justice David Davis. According to one historian, "one, perhaps not even Davis himself, knew which presidential candidate he preferred." Just as the Electoral Commission Bill was passing Congress, the legislature of Illinois elected Davis to the Senate, and Democrats in the Illinois legislature believed that they had purchased Davis' support by voting for him. However, they had miscalculated, as Davis promptly excused himself from the Commission and resigned as a Justice in order to take his Senate seat. As all the remaining available justices were Republicans, the four justices already selected chose Justice Joseph P. Bradley, who was considered the most impartial remaining member of the court. This selection proved decisive.