1865 Election Cycle

In January 1865, the state legislature elected Winona state Senator Daniel Norton to the U.S. Senate.

In November, Minnesotans elected their third different Governor in three cycles (Republican William Marshall) and the GOP also won each of the remaining constitutional offices on the ballot: Lieutenant Governor (Thomas Armstrong), Secretary of State (Henry Rogers), Attorney General (William Colville), and Treasurer (Charles Scheffer). Democratic nominees were more competitive this cycle, losing by between 11 and 14 points compared to 21+ points for these five offices two years prior.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/07/1865 Governor General William R. Marshall (Republican) won with 17,318 votes (55.58%) and a winning margin of +11.16
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
William R. Marshall Man Republican 17,318 55.58
Henry M. Rice Man Democrat 13,842 44.42

Marshall was a former member of the Wisconsin legislature (1848), Minnesota Territorial House (HD 05, 1849-1850), and a resident of St. Anthony. He would later serve as Minnesota Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner (1874-1882).

Rice was a former Minnesota U.S. House Delegate (1853-1857) and U.S. Senator (1858-1863) from St. Paul.

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11/07/1865 Lieutenant Governor General Thomas H. Armstrong (Republican) won with 17,502 votes (56.13%) and a winning margin of +12.27
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Thomas H. Armstrong Man Republican 17,502 56.13
Charles W. Nash Man Democrat 13,677 43.87

Armstrong was an attorney from High Forest, former Democrat, state Representative (HD 12, 1864-1866), and future state Senator (SD 05, 1875-1879).

Nash was an attorney from Hastings and former state Senator (SD 07, 1862-1864).

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11/07/1865 Secretary of State General Henry Rogers (Republican) won with 17,669 votes (57.32%) and a winning margin of +14.64
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Henry Rogers Man Republican 17,669 57.32
John R. Jones Man Democrat 13,157 42.68

Rogers was farmer from Mower City and a former state Senator (SD 13, 1859-1861) and state Representative (HD 15, 1862-1863).

Jones was an attorney from Chatfield, former state Senator (SD 09, 1857-1859), and nominee for Attorney General in 1877.

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11/07/1865 Attorney General General William Colville (Union) won with 17,460 votes (56.51%) and a winning margin of +13.02
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
William Colville Man Union 17,460 56.51
William Lochren Man Democrat 13,436 43.49

Colville was an attorney from Red Wing, Republican state Representative (HD 09, 1865-1866), and Democratic state Representative (HD 16, 1878-1879).

Lochren was an attorney from Saint Anthony who later served in the state Senate (SD 04, 1869-1871), was Minneapolis City Attorney (1877-1878), a judge in Minnesota’s 4th Judicial District (1881-1893), and a U.S. District Court judge (1896-1908).

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11/07/1865 State House, District 09 General Warren Bristol (Union Republican) won with 763 votes (32.47%) and a winning margin of +14.89
Sylvester Dickey (Union Republican) won with 761 votes (32.38%) and a winning margin of +14.81
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Warren Bristol Man Union Republican 763 32.47
Sylvester Dickey Man Union Republican 761 32.38
A.P. Wilson Man Democrat 413 17.57
Truman Parker Man Democrat 413 17.57