1790 BY-ELECTIONS
FINAL RESULTS:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY:
Democratic Republican: 15
Hamiltonian: 15
Patriot: 11 (one unable to enter Pennsylvania)
Whig: 9
Western: 9 (+1)
Independent: 4
Radical: 2
Tory: 2
Government Majority: -1 (33 out of 67 seats)
SENATE:
Hamiltonian: 10
Democratic Republican: 7
Whig: 4
Patriot: 4 (+1)
Radical: 1
Western: 1 (+1)
Independent: 1
GOVERNORS:
Hamiltonian: 5
Democratic Republican: 3
Whig: 2
Radical: 2
Patriot: 1
Western: 1 (+1)
OVERVIEW:
Featuring a battle to either cement the large numbers of the divided Opposition in Philadelphia or expand the Government's numbers, and against the dramatic backdrop of the Pennsylvania Rebellion - which sent shockwaves across the nation and is still formally unresolved -, the contested seats in Kentucky and New York faced significant competition. Across the state of Kentucky the Patriots and Westerns fought a hard battle for supremacy (the Hamiltonians on a distant third, aided more by the renewed popularity of General Hamilton in the area than by their policies), featuring strong campaigns and efforts by Generals Jackson and Wilkinson among others.
And while the Patriots hit hard against the Westerns on slavery, both the strong Western campaign and the gaffee by General Jackson by stating his lack of regrets over killing Governor Mifflin of Pennsylvania (which is seen as an act of murder by many) allowed Wilkinson and his fellow Western to capture both seats. The elections for the State Government featured a slim victory for the Westerns at the Governorship but a legislature divided between Patriots and Westerners - Hamiltonians holding the balance of power -, which eventually sent a Patriot and a Westerner to the Senate. As a final act in its constitution as a state, Kentucky decided by an overwhelming margin to be a slave state.
The New York campaign, on the other hand, saw Gouverneur Morris take up the Hamiltonian banner against a Tory effort and the united pro-government efforts of the Whigs, which by standing united made a credible challenger. With the Tory left far behind despite a competent campaign - as many Tories joined Morris in supporting the Hamiltonians-, the vicious campaign featured a series of harsh attacks in which the Whigs showed more skill despite the strong misgivings of New Yorkers over the events in Pennsylvania and the government's response, whose unpopularity appears to be growing in some quarters.
While it was commonly agreed the Whigs had run the better campaign and in normal times would have at least made it a nailbiter, Hamilton's popularity had shot up on account of his success in Pennsylvania, and by virtue of waving the flag Morris saw his efforts rewarded when the Hamiltonians retained the seat.
Entering into 1791 the rise of the Westerners has left First Secretary Madison shy of a single seat for a majority.
