Changes

==Political career==

==Political career==

===U.S. Senate, pre-Civil War years===

===U.S. Senate, 1848–57===

Hamlin ran for U.S. Senate in 1941 as a Jacksonian Democrat, though lost massively.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=413239 ME US Senate Race - Jan 28, 1841]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 20, 2021.</ref> Although a member of the [[Democratic Party]] during this period, he was largely a nominal figure, as he consistently opposed [[slavery]]. He was appointed to the Senate in 1848, and won re-election in 1850<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=413208 ME US Senate Race - Nov 03, 1950]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 20, 2021.</ref> and 1856.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=413209 ME US Senate Race - Jan 16, 1957]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 20, 2021.</ref> In the latter election cycle, Hamlin switched party allegiance to join the newly-formed [[Republican Party]] represented [[abolitionists]] like himself.<ref name=ngaprofile/>

Hamlin ran for U.S. Senate in 1941 as a Jacksonian Democrat, though lost massively.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=413239 ME US Senate Race - Jan 28, 1841]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 20, 2021.</ref> Although a member of the [[Democratic Party]] during this period, he was largely a nominal figure, as he consistently opposed [[slavery]]. He was appointed to the Senate in 1848, and won re-election in 1850<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=413208 ME US Senate Race - Nov 03, 1950]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 20, 2021.</ref> and 1856.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=413209 ME US Senate Race - Jan 16, 1957]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved August 20, 2021.</ref> In the latter election cycle, Hamlin switched party allegiance to join the newly-formed [[Republican Party]] represented [[abolitionists]] like himself.<ref name=ngaprofile/>