1865 United States Senate election in California

1865 United States Senate election in California

December 16, 1865

Majority vote of both houses needed to win
 
Nominee Cornelius Cole William T. Coleman
Party National Union Democratic
Joint session 92 26
Percentage 77.31% 21.85%

Senator before election

James A. McDougall
Democratic

Elected Senator

Cornelius Cole
National Union

The 1865 United States Senate election in California was held on December 16, 1865, by the California State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator (Class 3) to represent the State of California in the United States Senate. In a special joint session, former Republican Congressman Cornelius Cole was elected over former Democratic State Assemblyman William Tell Coleman. Cole was the candidate of the Union Party.