Abraham Lincoln's 1855 Senate Campaign

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"I have really got it into my head to try to be United States Senator." These words mark the beginning of Abraham Lincoln's first Senate campaign at age 45, during a period of political inactivity. His ambitions were reignited by the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act, which threatened to expand slavery into free territories. At this time, Lincoln was a well-known political figure in Illinois, having served eight years in the Legislature and two in Congress, and he was emerging as a leading member of the Whig Party. Following the anti-Nebraska Act movement's success in the 1854 elections, Lincoln entered the Senate race, aiming to persuade each member of the state General Assembly to support him. The political landscape was chaotic, with the Whig Party collapsing and new factions like the Republicans forming, complicating the quest for a majority vote. Despite setbacks, including resigning from his own legislative seat only to see a Democrat succeed him, Lincoln remained determined. The election took place on February 8, 1855, in Springfield's Capitol Building, where 100 members of the Legislature participated in a contentious, multi-ballot contest among various factions, including anti-slavery Whigs, Republicans, Abolitionists, Free Soilers, and Know Nothings. This is the story of that pivotal moment.