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Resignation from the United States Senate

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A member of the United States Senate can resign by writing a letter of resignation to the governor of the state that the senator represents.[1] Under Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution of the United States, and under the Seventeenth Amendment, in case of a vacancy in the Senate resulting from resignation, the executive authority of the state (today known in every state as the governor) can make a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy if so authorized by the state legislature. A special election may follow depending on timing and state law. Whenever a senator needs to be appointed or elected, the Secretary of the Senate mails one of three forms to the state's governor to inform that person of the proper wording to certify the appointment of a new Senator.[2]

The first resignation from the Senate was that of William Paterson of New Jersey on November 13, 1790, who resigned in order to accept the office of Governor of New Jersey.[citation needed] His resignation was only the third time a person ceased to hold a seat in the Senate, which had first convened during the preceding year, 1789. The earlier ones resulted from the death of Senator William Grayson of Virginia, and the expiration of the term of the temporary senator John Walker of Virginia, who was appointed by the Governor of Virginia to hold that office until a successor could be elected in November.[citation needed]

Before 1796, eight senators resigned. Nine senators resigned during that year—a record-high number that stands to this day.[citation needed] Most resignations have been motivated either by declining health or a decision to accept another office.[citation needed] Sixteen persons have resigned from the Senate twice and two have resigned three times.[citation needed]

1789 to 1799

[edit]
Name State Date of resignation Notes
William Paterson New Jersey November 13, 1790 Resigned to become Governor of New Jersey
Samuel Johnson Connecticut March 3, 1791
Richard Lee Virginia October 8, 1792
Charles Carroll Maryland November 30, 1792
George Read Delaware September 18, 1793
James Monroe Virginia March 27, 1794
John Taylor of Caroline Virginia May 11, 1794
James Jackson Georgia November 16, 1795
Oliver Ellsworth Connecticut March 8, 1796
Rufus King New York May 23, 1796
Caleb Strong Massachusetts June 1, 1796
George Cabot Massachusetts June 9, 1796
Jonathan Trumbull Jr. Connecticut June 10, 1796
Moses Robinson Vermont October 15, 1796
Richard Potts Maryland October 24, 1796
Pierce Butler South Carolina October 25, 1796
Frederick Frelinghuysen New Jersey November 12, 1796
William Cocke Tennessee September 26, 1797
William Bradford Rhode Island October ??, 1797
Isaac Tichenor Vermont October 17, 1797 Resigned to become Governor of Vermont[3]
John Henry Maryland December 10, 1797
Philip Schuyler New York January 3, 1798
John Vining Delaware January 19, 1798
Andrew Jackson Tennessee April 1, 1798
John Sloss Hobart New York April 16, 1798
John Hunter South Carolina November 26, 1798
John Rutherfurd New Jersey December 5, 1798
Joseph Anderson Tennessee March 3, 1799

1800 to 1849

[edit]
Name State Date of resignation Notes
Samuel Dexter Massachusetts May 30, 1800 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of War[4]
John Laurance New York August 1, 1800
Benjamin Goodhue Massachusetts November 8, 1800
James Lloyd Maryland December 1, 1800
James Schureman New Jersey February 16, 1801
Henry Latimer Delaware February 28, 1801
Ray Greene Rhode Island March 5, 1801
Charles Pinckney South Carolina June 6, 1801
Samuel Livermore New Hampshire June 12, 1801
Elijah Paine Vermont September 1, 1801
John Armstrong Jr. New York February 5, 1802
James Sheafe New Hampshire June 14, 1802
Dwight Foster Massachusetts March 2, 1803
DeWitt Clinton New York November 4, 1803
Theodorus Bailey New York January 16, 1804
John Armstrong Jr. New York February 23, 1804
Abraham B. Venable Virginia June 7, 1804
John Armstrong Jr. New York June 30, 1804
William H. Wells Delaware November 6, 1804
William Giles Virginia December 3, 1804
Andrew Moore Virginia December 3, 1804 Resigned his Class 2 senatorship when elected to fill a vacant Class 1 senatorship
John Breckinridge Kentucky August 7, 1805
Robert Wright Maryland November 12, 1806
John Adair Kentucky November 18, 1806
David Stone North Carolina February 17, 1807
James Fenner Rhode Island September ??, 1807
Israel Smith Vermont October 1, 1807
John Smith Ohio April 25, 1808 Resigned after being indicted but not expelled in a 19–10 vote[5]
John Quincy Adams Massachusetts June 8, 1808
Samuel Maclay Pennsylvania January 4, 1809
Aaron Kitchell New Jersey March 3, 1809
Daniel Smith Tennessee March 31, 1809
John Milledge Georgia November 14, 1809
Buckner Thruston Kentucky December 18, 1809
Nahum Parker New Hampshire June 1, 1810
James Hillhouse Connecticut June 10, 1810
Return J. Meigs Jr. Ohio December 8, 1810
Thomas Sumter South Carolina December 16, 1810
Jenkin Whiteside Tennessee October 8, 1811
Christopher Champlin Rhode Island October 12, 1811
Jean Noel Destréhan Louisiana October 1, 1812
James Bayard Delaware March 3, 1813
Dudley Chase Vermont March 3, 1813
William Crawford Georgia March 23, 1813
James Lloyd Massachusetts May 1, 1813
Chauncey Goodrich Connecticut May 13, 1813
George W. Campbell Tennessee February 11, 1814
Michael Leib Pennsylvania February 14, 1814
George Bibb Kentucky August 23, 1814
Thomas Worthington Ohio December 1, 1814
Jesse Bledsoe Kentucky December 24, 1814
David Stone North Carolina December 24, 1814
William Giles Virginia March 3, 1815
Francis Locke Jr. North Carolina December 5, 1815
William T. Barry Kentucky May 1, 1816
Christopher Gore Massachusetts May 30, 1816
John Taylor South Carolina November ??, 1816
Wyatt Bibb Georgia November 9, 1816
James Turner North Carolina November 21, 1816
Goodloe Harper Maryland December 6, 1816
Jeremiah Mason New Hampshire June 16, 1817
James Fisk Vermont January 8, 1818
George W. Campbell Tennessee April 20, 1818
Eli Ashmun Massachusetts May 10, 1818
George Troup Georgia September 23, 1818
John Forsyth Georgia February 17, 1819
John J. Crittenden Kentucky March 3, 1819
John Wayles Eppes Virginia December 4, 1819
Prentiss Mellen Massachusetts May 15, 1820
Walter Leake Mississippi May 15, 1820
William Logan Kentucky May 28, 1820
James Wilson New Jersey January 8, 1821
Freeman Walker Georgia August 6, 1821
Harrison Gray Otis Massachusetts May 30, 1822
John Williams Walker Alabama December 12, 1822
James Pleasants Virginia December 15, 1822
Caesar Augustus Rodney Delaware January 29, 1823
Samuel Southard New Jersey March 3, 1823
James Brown Louisiana December 10, 1823
Ninian Edwards Illinois March 3, 1824
Henry Johnson Louisiana May 27, 1824
James Barbour Virginia March 7, 1825
David Holmes Mississippi September 25, 1825
Andrew Jackson Tennessee October 14, 1825
James DeWolf Rhode Island October 31, 1825
Edward Lloyd Maryland January 14, 1826
James Lloyd Massachusetts May 23, 1826
Henry Harrison Ohio May 20, 1828
Albion Parris Maine August 26, 1828
Thomas Cobb Georgia November 7, 1828
Nathaniel Macon North Carolina December 14, 1828
Ephraim Bateman New Jersey January 12, 1829
Mahlon Dickerson New Jersey January 30, 1829
John Berrien Georgia March 9, 1829
John Branch North Carolina March 9, 1829
John Eaton Tennessee March 9, 1829
Louis McLane Delaware April 16, 1829
Edward Livingston Louisiana May 24, 1831
Issac Barnard Pennsylvania December 6, 1831
Powhatan Ellis Mississippi July 16, 1832
Littleton Tazewell Virginia July 16, 1832
Robert Hayne South Carolina December 13, 1832
William Marcy New York January 1, 1833
George Troup Georgia November 8, 1833
William Rives Virginia February 22, 1834
John Forsyth Georgia June 27, 1834
Ezekiel Chambers Maryland December 20, 1834
Peleg Sprague Maine January 1, 1835
Charles Gayarré Louisiana January ??, 1836
John Tyler Virginia February 29, 1836
Ether Shepley Maine March 3, 1836
Willie Mangum North Carolina March 19, 1836
Isaac Hill New Hampshire May 30, 1836
Arnold Naudain Delaware June 16, 1836
Benjamin Leigh Virginia July 4, 1836
John Clayton Delaware December 29, 1836
Alexander Porter Louisiana January 5, 1837
Richard Parker Virginia March 13, 1837
John McKinley Alabama April 22, 1837
Pendleton King Georgia November 1, 1837
John Black Mississippi January 22, 1838
Felix Grundy Tennessee July 4, 1838
James F. Trotter Mississippi July 10, 1838
Ephraim Foster Tennessee March 3, 1839
Richard Bayard Delaware September 19, 1839
Lawson White Tennessee January 13, 1840
Robert Strange North Carolina November 16, 1840
Bedford Brown North Carolina November 16, 1840
John Davis Massachusetts January 5, 1841
Daniel Webster Massachusetts February 22, 1841 Resigned to become United States Secretary of State[6]
Comer Clay Alabama November 15, 1841
Franklin Pierce New Hampshire February 28, 1842
Alexander Mouton Louisiana March 1, 1842
Henry Clay Kentucky March 31, 1842
Samuel Prentiss Vermont April 11, 1842
Samuel Southard New Jersey June 26, 1842
Reuel Williams Maine February 15, 1843
John Calhoun South Carolina March 3, 1843
William Sprague Rhode Island January 17, 1844
William King Alabama April 15, 1844
Nathaniel Tallmadge New York June 17, 1844
Silas Wright Jr. New York November 26, 1844
John Berrien Georgia March 1, 1845
Elliot Huger South Carolina March 3, 1845
Levi Woodbury New Hampshire September 20, 1845
William Haywood Jr. North Carolina July 25, 1846
Walter Colquitt Georgia February 4, 1848
Ambrose Sevier Arkansas March 15, 1848
Lewis Cass Michigan May 29, 1848
John Crittenden Kentucky June 12, 1848
Arthur Bagby Alabama June 16, 1848
John Clayton Delaware February 2, 1849
Reverdy Johnson Maryland March 7, 1849

1850 to 1899

[edit]
Name State Party Date of resignation Notes
Daniel Webster Massachusetts Whig July 22, 1850 Resigned again to again take office as United States Secretary of State[7]
Jefferson Davis Mississippi Democratic September 23, 1851 Resigned to run for Governor of Mississippi
Robert Rhett South Carolina Democratic May 7, 1852
John Berrien Georgia Whig May 28, 1852
William R. King Alabama Democratic December 20, 1852 Resigned to take office as Vice President of the United States
Robert Stockton New Jersey Democratic January 10, 1853 Resigned to serve as president of the Delaware and Raritan Canal Company
Solon Borland Arkansas Democratic April 11, 1853 Resigned on being appointed as United States Minister to Nicaragua
Pierre Soulé Louisiana Democratic April 11, 1853 Resigned on being appointed as United States Minister to Spain
Edward Everett Massachusetts Whig June 1, 1854 Resigned due to ill health
Augustus C. Dodge Iowa Democratic February 22, 1855 Resigned on being appointed as United States Minister to Spain
Hannibal Hamlin Maine Republican January 7, 1857 Resigned to take office as Governor of Maine
Asa Biggs North Carolina Democratic May 5, 1858 Resigned to take office as a judge of the United States District Court for the District of North Carolina
Thomas Lanier Clingman North Carolina Democratic May 7, 1858
Hannibal Hamlin Maine Republican January 17, 1861 Resigned to take office as Vice President of the United States
Jefferson Davis Mississippi Democratic January 21, 1861 Resigned because State seceded from the Union. Subsequently elected Major General of the Mississippi Militia and President of the Confederate States of America.
John Slidell Louisiana Democratic February 4, 1861 Resigned because State seceded from the Union.
Thomas Bragg North Carolina Democratic March 6, 1861 Resigned because State seceded from the Union.
Salmon P. Chase Ohio Republican March 6, 1861 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of the Treasury
Andrew Johnson Tennessee Democratic March 4, 1862 Resigned to take office as Military Governor of Tennessee
James F. Simmons Rhode Island Republican August 15, 1862 Resigned after a case for expulsion for corruption was declined[8]
Waitman T. Willey Virginia Unionist March 3, 1863 Resigned to become Senator of newly created West Virginia.
James A. Bayard Jr. Delaware Democratic January 29, 1864 Resigned in protest of new Senate Loyalty Oath[9]
William P. Fessenden Maine Republican July 1, 1864 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of the Treasury
James Harlan Iowa Republican May 15, 1865 Resigned to take office as the United States Secretary of the Interior
Daniel Clark New Hampshire Republican July 27, 1866 Resigned to take office as a judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire
James Gurthrie Kentucky Democratic February 7, 1868 Resigned due to ill health[10]
Reverdy Johnson Maryland Democratic July 10, 1868
James W. Grimes Iowa Republican December 6, 1869 Resigned due to ill health[11]
Charles D. Drake Missouri Republican December 19, 1870 Resigned to take office as Chief Justice of the United States Court of Claims
William Pitt Kellogg Louisiana Republican November 1, 1872 Resigned to take office as Governor of Louisiana
Henry Wilson Massachusetts Republican March 3, 1873 Resigned to take office as Vice President of the United States
Alexander Caldwell Kansas Republican March 24, 1873 Resigned before a vote could be taken on his expulsion for corruption[12]
Eugene Casserly California Democratic November 29, 1873
Adelbert Ames Mississippi Republican January 4, 1874 Resigned to take office as Governor of Mississippi
Lot M. Morrill Maine Republican July 7, 1876 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of the Treasury
John Sherman Ohio Republican March 8, 1877 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of the Treasury[4]
Isaac P. Christiancy Michigan Republican February 10, 1879 Resigned due to ill health[13]
John Brown Gordon Georgia Democratic May 26, 1880
James G. Blaine Maine Republican March 5, 1881 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of State
Samuel J. Kirkwood Iowa Republican March 7, 1881 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of the Interior
William Windom Minnesota Republican March 7, 1881 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of the Treasury
Roscoe Conkling New York Republican May 16, 1881 Resigned in protest of the appointment of a New York City customs collector by President James A. Garfield[14]
Thomas Platt New York Republican May 16, 1881 Resigned in support of fellow Senator Conkling's protest[14]
Henry M. Teller Colorado Republican April 17, 1882 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of the Interior
Augustus Hill Garland Arkansas Democratic March 6, 1885 Resigned to take office as United States Attorney General
Thomas F. Bayard Delaware Democratic March 6, 1885 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of State
Howell Edmunds Jackson Tennessee Democratic April 14, 1886 Resigned to take office as a judge of the United States Circuit Courts for the Sixth Circuit
Jonathan Chace Rhode Island Republican April 9, 1889
John Henninger Reagan Texas Democratic June 10, 1891 Resigned to take office as the chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas[15]
John Carlisle Kentucky Democratic February 4, 1893 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of the Treasury
Edward Douglass White Louisiana Democratic March 12, 1894 Resigned to take office as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
John Sherman Ohio Republican March 4, 1897 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of State

1900 to 1949

[edit]
Name State Party Date of resignation Notes
William A. Clark Montana Democratic May 15, 1900 Resigned before a Senate vote on declaring his election void due to bribery[16]
Charles W. Fairbanks Indiana Republican March 3, 1905 Resigned to take office as Vice President of the United States
Joseph Burton Kansas Republican June 4, 1906 Resigned following corruption charges (Burton v. United States)[17]
John Coit Spooner Wisconsin Republican April 30, 1907
Philander C. Knox Pennsylvania Republican March 4, 1909 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of State
Fountain L. Thompson North Dakota Democratic January 31, 1910
Joseph M. Terrell Georgia Democratic July 14, 1911 Resigned for health reasons
Joseph Weldon Bailey Texas Democratic January 3, 1913
Warren G. Harding Ohio Republican January 13, 1921 First President of the United States to be elected during his term as a Senator
John F. Nugent Idaho Democratic January 14, 1921 Resigned to take office as a member of the Federal Trade Commission
Albert B. Fall New Mexico Republican March 4, 1921 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of the Interior
Josiah O. Wolcott Delaware Democratic July 2, 1921 Resigned to take office as Chancellor of Delaware
William Kenyon Iowa Republican February 24, 1922 Resigned to take office as a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
Truman Newberry Michigan Republican November 18, 1922[17] Resigned after being condemned for violating campaign financing rules[18]
Frank L. Smith Illinois Republican February 9, 1928 Resigned after the Senate voted to refuse to seat him due to fraud and corruption[19]
T. Coleman du Pont Delaware Republican December 8, 1928 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor
Charles Curtis Kansas Republican March 3, 1929 Resigned to take office as Vice President of the United States
Evans Edge New Jersey Republican November 21, 1929 Resigned to take office as United States Ambassador to France
Frederic M. Sackett Kentucky Republican January 9, 1930 Resigned to take office as United States Ambassador to Germany
Cordell Hull Tennessee Democratic March 3, 1933 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of State
Claude A. Swanson Virginia Democratic March 3, 1933 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of the Navy
Sam G. Bratton New Mexico Democratic June 24, 1933 Resigned to take office as a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit
Hugo Black Alabama Democratic August 19, 1937 Resigned to take office as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court
Dixie Bibb Graves Alabama Democratic January 10, 1938
Harry Moore New Jersey Democratic January 17, 1938 Resigned to take office as Governor of New Jersey
Frederick Steiwer Oregon Republican January 31, 1938
William Gibbs McAdoo California Democratic November 8, 1938
Matthew M. Neely West Virginia Democratic January 12, 1941 Resigned to take office as Governor of West Virginia
John E. Miller Arkansas Democratic March 31, 1941 Resigned to take office as a federal judge on the District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
James Byrnes South Carolina Democratic July 8, 1941 Resigned to take office as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. Massachusetts Republican February 3, 1944 Resigned to return to active duty in the United States Army during the Second World War
Homer Bone Washington Democratic November 13, 1944 Resigned to take office as Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Sinclair Weeks Massachusetts Republican December 19, 1944
Monrad Wallgren Washington Democratic January 9, 1945 Resigned to take office as Governor of Washington.
Harry S. Truman Missouri Democratic January 17, 1945 Resigned to take office as Vice President of the United States
Harold H. Burton Ohio Republican September 30, 1945 Resigned to take office as an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court
Happy Chandler Kentucky Democratic November 1, 1945 Resigned to become Commissioner of Baseball.
Warren Austin Vermont Republican August 2, 1946 Resigned to take office as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
Hugh Mitchell Washington Democratic December 25, 1946 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
Vera C. Bushfield South Dakota Republican December 26, 1948 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
Alben W. Barkley Kentucky Democratic January 19, 1949 Resigned to take office as Vice President of the United States.
Robert F. Wagner New York Democratic June 28, 1949 Resigned for health reasons.
J. Howard McGrath Rhode Island Democratic August 23, 1949 Resigned to take office as United States Attorney General.
Raymond E. Baldwin Connecticut Republican December 16, 1949 Resigned to take office as an associate justice on the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors.

1950 to 1999

[edit]
Name State Party Date of resignation Notes
Sheridan Downey California Democratic November 30, 1950 Resigned for health reasons
Ralph Brewster Maine Republican December 31, 1952 Lost Primary Election to Frederick G. Payne
Richard Nixon California Republican January 1, 1953 Resigned to take office as Vice President of the United States
Charles Daniel South Carolina Democratic December 23, 1954 Resigned because Strom Thurmond won the seat
Hazel Abel Nebraska Republican December 31, 1954 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor
Strom Thurmond South Carolina Democratic April 4, 1956[20] Resigned to fulfill a pledge to contest a full election after first being chosen as a write-in candidate
Price Daniel Texas Democratic January 14, 1957[21] Resigned to take office as Governor of Texas
John F. Kennedy Massachusetts Democratic December 22, 1960 Resigned to take office as President of the United States[22]
Lyndon Johnson Texas Democratic January 3, 1961[23] Resigned to take office as Vice President of the United States[22]
Hubert Humphrey Minnesota Democratic December 29, 1964 Resigned to take office as Vice President of the United States
Pierre Salinger California Democratic December 31, 1964 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor
Harry F. Byrd Virginia Democratic November 10, 1965 Resigned for health reasons.[24]
John J. Williams Delaware Republican December 31, 1970 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
George Murphy California Republican January 2, 1971 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
William Saxbe Ohio Republican January 3, 1974 Resigned to take office as United States Attorney General.[25]
Alan Bible Nevada Democratic December 17, 1974 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
Wallace F. Bennett Utah Republican December 20, 1974 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.[26]
Howard Metzenbaum Ohio Democratic December 23, 1974 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
Marlow Cook Kentucky Republican December 27, 1974 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
J. William Fulbright Arkansas Democratic December 31, 1974 Resigned when he lost the Primary to Gov. Dale Bumpers.
Edward Gurney Florida Republican December 31, 1974 Resigned after declining to seek re-election while under indictment in an influence peddling scandal.[27]
Sam Ervin North Carolina Democratic December 31, 1974 Resigned after multiple disputes with the Senate Democratic leadership and the Democratic National Committee.
Roman Hruska Nebraska Republican December 27, 1976 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
Stuart Symington Missouri Democratic December 27, 1976 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
John Pastore Rhode Island Democratic December 28, 1976 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
Walter Mondale Minnesota Democratic December 30, 1976[28] Resigned to take office as Vice President of the United States.
Paul Hatfield Montana Democratic December 12, 1978 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
James B. Pearson Kansas Republican December 23, 1978 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
James Eastland Mississippi Democratic December 27, 1978 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
Wendell R. Anderson Minnesota Democratic December 29, 1978 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
Clifford Hansen Wyoming Republican December 31, 1978 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
Edmund Muskie Maine Democratic May 7, 1980 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of State.[4]
John Durkin New Hampshire Democratic December 29, 1980 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
Richard Stone Florida Democratic December 31, 1980 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
Harrison A. Williams New Jersey Democratic March 11, 1982[17] Resigned after conviction of bribery in the Abscam scandal ahead of a vote on his expulsion
Nicholas F. Brady New Jersey Republican December 27, 1982 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
Paul Tsongas Massachusetts Democratic January 2, 1985 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor and for health reasons.
Dan Quayle Indiana Republican January 3, 1989 Resigned to take office as Vice President of the United States.
Gordon J. Humphrey New Hampshire Republican December 4, 1990 Resigned to take seat in New Hampshire Senate and to fulfill a campaign promise to only serve two terms.
Pete Wilson California Republican January 7, 1991 Resigned to take office as Governor of California.
Kent Conrad North Dakota Democratic December 14, 1992 Resigned after winning a special election to fill North Dakota's other Senate seat.
Al Gore Tennessee Democratic January 2, 1993 Resigned to take office as Vice President of the United States.
Lloyd Bentsen Texas Democratic January 20, 1993 Resigned to take office as United States Secretary of the Treasury.[4]
David Boren Oklahoma Democratic December 15, 1994 Resigned to become President of the University of Oklahoma.[29]
Bob Packwood Oregon Republican October 1, 1995 Resigned after the Senate Ethics Committee recommended his expulsion for ethical misconduct.
Bob Dole Kansas Republican June 11, 1996 Resigned to run for President of the United States.[30]

2000 to present

[edit]
Name State Party Date of resignation Notes
Phil Gramm Texas Republican November 30, 2002 Resigned to allow early appointment of successor.
Frank Murkowski Alaska Republican December 2, 2002 Resigned to become Governor of Alaska.
Jon Corzine New Jersey Democratic January 17, 2006 Resigned to become Governor of New Jersey.
Trent Lott Mississippi Republican December 18, 2007 Resigned to pursue a private-sector career.[31]
Barack Obama Illinois Democratic November 16, 2008 Resigned to take office as President of the United States.[32]
Joe Biden Delaware Democratic January 15, 2009 Resigned to take office as Vice President of the United States.
Ken Salazar Colorado Democratic January 20, 2009 Resigned to become United States Secretary of the Interior.
Hillary Clinton New York Democratic January 21, 2009 Resigned to become United States Secretary of State.[33]
Mel Martínez Florida Republican September 9, 2009 Resigned early after declining to seek re-election.[34]
John Ensign Nevada Republican May 3, 2011 Resigned during a Senate Ethics Committee investigation into events surrounding an extramarital affair.[35]
Jim DeMint South Carolina Republican January 1, 2013 Resigned to become President of The Heritage Foundation.
John Kerry Massachusetts Democratic February 1, 2013 Resigned to become United States Secretary of State.
Max Baucus Montana Democratic February 6, 2014 Resigned to become Ambassador to China.
Tom Coburn Oklahoma Republican January 3, 2015 Announced on January 16, 2014 and resigned at the end of 113th Congress,[36] so a special election to choose his successor could be held in conjunction with the regular election.
Jeff Sessions Alabama Republican February 8, 2017 Resigned to become United States Attorney General.
Al Franken Minnesota Democratic January 2, 2018 Resigned after allegations of sexual harassment. He said he expected that an investigation would clear him but he could not do his job and undergo investigation at the same time.[37][38]
Thad Cochran Mississippi Republican April 1, 2018 Resigned because of health issues.[39]
Jon Kyl Arizona Republican December 31, 2018 Resigned so that a "new appointee can begin the new term with all other Senators."[40] Kyl was previously appointed to fill the seat left vacant by the death of John McCain.
Johnny Isakson Georgia Republican December 31, 2019 Resigned because of health issues.[41]
Kamala Harris California Democratic January 18, 2021 Resigned to take office as Vice President of the United States.
Jim Inhofe Oklahoma Republican January 3, 2023 Announced on February 24, 2022 and resigned at the end of the 117th Congress,[42] so a special election to choose his successor could be held in conjunction with the regular election.
Ben Sasse Nebraska Republican January 8, 2023 Announced on October 6, 2022 and resigned to become President of the University of Florida.[43]
Bob Menendez New Jersey Democratic August 20, 2024 Resigned after being convicted of acting as a foreign agent for, and taking bribes from, the governments of Egypt and Qatar.[44] [45]
JD Vance (expected) Ohio Republican On or before January 20, 2025 Will resign to take office as Vice President of the United States.
Marco Rubio (expected) Florida Republican On or before January 20, 2025 Will resign to become United States Secretary of State.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lalor, John Joseph (1893). Cyclopaedia of Political Science, Political Economy, and of the Political History of the United States. Vol. 3. C.E. Merrill & Company. p. 614. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  2. ^ "The Term of A Senator – When Does It Begin and End? – Senate 98-29" (PDF). United States Senate. United States Printing Office. pp. 14–15. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  3. ^ "TICHENOR, Isaac – Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d "1787: From the Senate to the Cabinet, May 13, 1800". United States Senate. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  5. ^ "1801: John Smith Resigns Under Fire – April 25, 1808". United States Senate. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  6. ^ "1801: Daniel Webster Quits the Senate – July 22, 1850". United States Senate. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  7. ^ "U.S. Senate: 1801: Speech Costs Senator his Seat – March 7, 1850". United States Senate. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  8. ^ "U.S. Senate: James Simmons expulsion case". United States Senate. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
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  11. ^ "GRIMES, James Wilson, (1816 - 1872)". Biographical Directory United States Congress. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
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  13. ^ "CHRISTIANCY, Isaac Peckham, (1812 - 1890)". Biographical Directory United States Congress. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  14. ^ a b "1878: Both New York Senators Resign – May 16, 1881". United States Senate. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  15. ^ Senate, United States Congress (1903). Compilation of Senate Election Cases from 1789 to 1885. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 48.
  16. ^ "The Election Case of William A. Clark of Montana (1900)". United States Senate. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
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  18. ^ "1921: Senator Condemned for Excessive Campaign Expenditures – January 12, 1922". United States Senate. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  19. ^ "The Election Case of Frank L. Smith of Illinois (1928)". United States Senate. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
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  21. ^ "The Term of A Senator – When Does It Begin and End? – Senate 98–29" (PDF). United States Senate. United States Printing Office. p. 9. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  22. ^ a b "1941: Two Senators to the White House". United States Senate. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
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  24. ^ Ayers, B. Drummond (October 20, 1976). "Virginia, a State With Many Changes, is Still Expected to Return Byrd to the Senate". The New York Times.
  25. ^ "Attorney General: William Bart Saxbe". United States Department of Justice. 23 October 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  26. ^ "Wallace Bennett, Ex-Senator, 95; Utah Republican Served 24 Years". The New York Times. December 20, 1993.
  27. ^ Leithauser, Tom (May 22, 1996). "Ex-senator Ed Gurney Dies". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
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  29. ^ Boren, David (May 13, 1994). "Why I Am Leaving the Senate". The New York Times. Retrieved June 16, 2008.
  30. ^ "Senator Dole Resignation – Video – C-SPAN.org". C-SPAN. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  31. ^ Kane, Paul (November 27, 2007). "Lott Will Quit Senate Next Month". The Washington Post.
  32. ^ Obama, Barack (November 8, 2008). Barack Obama's letter of resignation from the Senate  – via Wikisource.
  33. ^ Tumulty, Brian (January 21, 2009). "Clinton sworn in at State Dept. and then resigns Senate". The Journal News. Archived from the original on February 1, 2009. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  34. ^ Kraushaar, Josh (August 7, 2009). "Martinez: Time to 'move on'". Politico.
  35. ^ "Sen. Ensign says he will resign on May 3". CNN International. April 21, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  36. ^ Everett, Burgess; Burns, Alexander (January 16, 2014). "Coburn won't serve out Senate term". Politico.
  37. ^ Rao, Maya (January 3, 2018). "Al Franken submits resignation letter to Senate; Tina Smith ready to step in". Star Tribune. Washington, D.C. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  38. ^ Jennifer Brooks [@stribrooks] (January 2, 2018). "Sen. Al Franken's letter of resignation to Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton. Franken resigned at noon today, Minnesota time" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  39. ^ Pender, Geoff; Berry, Deborah Barfield (March 5, 2018). "Mississippi Republican Sen. Thad Cochran announces he will retire April 1, citing health issues". USA Today. Washington, D.C. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  40. ^ Arkin, James (December 14, 2018). "Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl to resign, prompting new appointment to McCain seat". Politico. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  41. ^ Everett, Burgess (August 28, 2019). "Sen. Johnny Isakson to resign at end of the year". Politico. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  42. ^ Beavers, Olivia; Everett, Burgess (24 February 2022). "Inhofe to retire from Senate, teeing up special election in Oklahoma". Politico. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  43. ^ Thorp V, Frank; Wong, Scott (October 6, 2022). "Republican Sen. Ben Sasse Expected to Resign from Congress". NBC News. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  44. ^ Fandos, Nicholas; Tully, Tracey (2024-07-23). "Menendez Will Resign From Senate, Avoiding an Ugly, Intraparty Battle". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  45. ^ "New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez resigns after bribery convictions". BBC. 2024-08-21. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
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