1863 Election Cycle

In January, the state legislature elected former Pennsylvania U.S. Representative, Minnesota Territorial Governor, St. Paul Mayor, and sitting Republican Governor Alexander Ramsey to the U.S. Senate.

In November, Republicans swept all seven statewide offices for Governor (Stephen Miller), Lieutenant Governor (Charles Sherwood), Secretary of State (David Blakely), Auditor (Charles McIlrath), Treasurer (Charles Scheffer), Attorney General (Gordon Cole), and Clerk of the Supreme Court (George Potter) – each by more than 20 points. Scheffer and Cole won their third terms while McIlrath was elected to his second.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/03/1863 Lieutenant Governor General Charles D. (C.D.) Sherwood (Republican) won with 19,601 votes (60.69%) and a winning margin of +21.39
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Charles D. (C.D.) Sherwood Man Republican 19,601 60.69
James S. Norris Man Democrat 12,694 39.31

Sherwood was a farmer from Elkhorn, state Representative (HD 09, 1859-161; HD 14, 1861-1862, 1863-1864), and House Speaker (1863-1864).

Norris was a farmer from Cottage Grove, member of the Territorial Council (District 1, 1849-1852), Territorial House (HD 01, 1855-1857), and later state House (HD 02, 1870-1871).

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11/03/1863 Clerk of the Supreme Court General George F. (G.F.) Potter (Republican) won with 19,337 votes (61.05%) and a winning margin of +22.10
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
George F. (G.F.) Potter Man Republican 19,337 61.05
Jacob Mainzer Man Democrat 12,336 38.95

Potter was an attorney from Houston County.

Mainzer was an attorney from St. Paul.

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11/03/1863 Treasurer General Charles Scheffer (Republican) won with 19,667 votes (61.13%) and a winning margin of +22.27
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Charles Scheffer Incumbent Man Republican 19,667 61.13
Joseph Edelbrock Man Democrat 12,504 38.87

Treasurer Scheffer was reelected to a third term.

Edelbrock was the Mayor of St. Cloud.

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11/03/1863 Auditor General Charles McIlrath (Republican) won with 19,261 votes (61.24%) and a winning margin of +22.48
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Charles McIlrath Incumbent Man Republican 19,261 61.24
John (J.H.) McKinney Man Democrat 12,190 38.76

Auditor McIlrath was reelected to a second term.

McKinney was the former Receiver at the U.S. Land Office in Chatfield and Brownsville.

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11/03/1863 Attorney General General Gordon E. Cole (Republican) won with 19,575 votes (61.35%) and a winning margin of +22.70
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Gordon E. Cole Incumbent Man Republican 19,575 61.35
William H. Grant Man Democrat 12,332 38.65

Attorney General Cole was reelected to a third term.

Grant was an attorney from St. Paul.

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