1866 Election Cycle

Republican Auditor Charles McIlrath was reelected to a third term and GOPer Sherwood Hough won his first of three terms as Clerk of the Supreme Court. Both nominees won by more than two-dozen points. Republicans William Windom and Ignatius Donnelly were reelected to their fifth and third terms to the U.S. House respectively.

The Apportionment of 1866 increased the number of state Senate districts from 21 to 22 and House districts from 42 to 47.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/06/1866 State Senate, District 03 General Louis A. (L.A.) Evans (Democrat) won with 1,107 votes (53.38%) and a winning margin of +6.75
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Louis A. (L.A.) Evans Man Democrat 1,107 53.38
S.M. Bruce Man Republican 967 46.62
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11/06/1866 Clerk of the Supreme Court General Sherwood Hough (Republican) won with 27,232 votes (63.43%) and a winning margin of +27.03
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Sherwood Hough Man Republican 27,232 63.43
Dennis Cavanaugh Man Democrat 15,627 36.40

Clerk of the Supreme Court George Potter failed to receive his party's nomination.

Hough was a resident of St. Paul and worked as deputy clerk in the Ramsey County District Court.

Cavanaugh was a resident of Rice County.

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11/06/1866 Auditor General Charles McIlrath (Republican) won with 26,362 votes (62.18%) and a winning margin of +24.49
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Charles McIlrath Incumbent Man Republican 26,362 62.18
Nelson E. Nelson Man Democrat 15,979 37.69

Auditor McIlrath was reelected to a third term.

Nelson was a resident of Henderson where he served as Deputy county Auditor of Sibley County as well as judge of probate and register of deeds. He later served in the Dakota Territorial Legislature.

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11/06/1866 U.S. House, District 02 General Ignatius Donnelly (Republican) won with 12,022 votes (60.77%) and a winning margin of +21.58
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Ignatius Donnelly Incumbent Man Republican 12,022 60.77
William Colville Man Democrat 7,754 39.20

Colville was a colonel who commanded the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Battle of Gettysburg.

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11/06/1866 U.S. House, District 01 General William Windom (Republican) won with 14,828 votes (64.25%) and a winning margin of +28.58
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
William Windom Incumbent Man Republican 14,828 64.25
Richard A. (R.A.) Jones Man Democrat 8,231 35.66

Note: The vote in Freeborn County (Windom = 867, Jones = 210) is included although it was received too late for the official canvass.

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