The Delaware legislature re-elected Bayard to the Senate for a third term in 1881 without serious opposition . The Senate in the 47th Congress was evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats , with the new vice president , Arthur , holding the tie-breaking vote . After spending the special session of March 1881 in an intra-Republican Party fight over the confirmation of Garfield 's cabinet nominees , the Senate went into recess until October . By that time , Garfield had been assassinated and Arthur was president . When the Senate reconvened , the Democrats held the majority briefly , and Bayard was elected president pro tempore on October 10 ; Republicans regained the majority three days later as Republican latecomers arrived and were sworn in , and David Davis took over the office
Garfield had been assassinated
Assassination of James A. Garfield
Thomas F. Bayard