[More...]

Haywood was elected on the ninth ballot.

After the Democrats regained control of the legislature in the 1842 midterm elections, they appeared headed for an easy gain of the U.S. Senate seat. It was not to be easy, however. The Democrats were deeply divided between the presidential contenders Martin Van Buren and John C. Calhoun, and their caucus was unable to heal the breach.

As the balloting proceeded, Sen. Graham's total was reduced as more and more Whigs weighed in on which Democrat they considered more acceptable in the long run. Leading Democrats grumbled that the Whigs seemed to be supporting Saunders, who had the support of a minority of the Democratic faithful. Rather than allow the Whigs to decide who would be the next Democratic U.S. Senator, they found a compromise candidate in Haywood who managed to bring about the long-anticipated party line vote. Haywood had been widely criticized for walking out of the Democratic State convention when he tired of pointless resolutions and posturing - the very problem Democratic legislators still faced.

U.S. Senate Balloting in the NC Legislature, 1842
Candidate: Ballot	1st	2d	3d	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
Date	12/3	12/3	12/5	12/6	12/8	12/8	12/15	12/19

U.S. Senate Balloting in the NC Legislature, 1842
Candidate: Ballot	1st	2d	3d	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
Date	12/3	12/3	12/5	12/6	12/8	12/8	12/15	12/19	12/20
William H. Haywood Jr. (D)	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	95
Romulus M. Saunders (D)	36	38	37	37	42	45	56	78	2
William A. Graham (W*)	70	67	68	64	57	55	39	6	69
Bedford Brown (D)	55	56	56	60	63	63	61	61	--
Scattering	--	--	--	--	--	--	5	10	--