1871 Election Cycle

In January, the state legislature elected two Republicans to the U.S. Senate: former Rochester Mayor Ozora P. (O.P.) Stearns in a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Daniel Norton and appointed U.S. Senator William Windom for the full term.

In November, Republicans swept the races for Governor (Horace Austin), Lieutenant Governor (William Yale), Secretary of State (Samuel Jennison), Attorney General (Francis Cornell), and Treasurer (William Seeger). Austin, Yale, and Cornell were incumbents. Democratic nominees were not competitive this cycle losing each race by at least 16 points.

The Apportionment of 1871 increased the number of state Senate districts from 22 to 41 and the number of House districts from 47 to 106. Republicans enjoyed 29-12 and 72-34 advantages respectively for the 14th Legislature.

Associate Justices S.J.R. McMillan and J.M. Berry were reelected to the Supreme Court.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/07/1871 Governor General Horace Austin (Republican) won with 46,950 votes (60.06%) and a winning margin of +21.20
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Horace Austin Incumbent Man Republican 46,950 60.06
Winthrop Young Man Democrat 30,376 38.86
Samuel Mayall Man Temperance 846 1.08

Governor Austin was reelected to a second term.

Young was a former Mayor of St. Anthony.

Mayall was a former Democratic member of the Maine House, Maine Senate, and a U.S. Representative from Maine (1853-1855). Judge Abner Lewis of Winona had been nominated by the Temperance Party but withdrew his name from the ballot.

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11/07/1871 State House, District 31 General John M. Rosenberger (Democrat) won with 458 votes (69.50%) and a winning margin of +39.00
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
John M. Rosenberger Man Democrat 458 69.50
E.C. Carns Man Republican 201 30.50
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11/07/1871 State House, District 31 General Randolph Holding (Democrat) won with 474 votes (74.29%) and a winning margin of +48.59
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Randolph Holding Man Democrat 474 74.29
M.L. Norton Man Republican 164 25.71
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11/07/1871 State House, District 31 General Martin Greeley (Democrat) won with 237 votes (51.75%) and a winning margin of +3.49
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Martin Greeley Man Democrat 237 51.75
John Payne Man Republican 221 48.25
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11/07/1871 Secretary of State General Samuel Jennison (Republican) won with 44,789 votes (58.01%) and a winning margin of +16.19
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Samuel Jennison Man Republican 44,789 58.01
E.N. (Eric) Falk Man Democrat 32,287 41.82
J. Guilford Man Temperance 130 0.17

Jennison was private secretary to former Governors Alexander Ramsey and William Marhshall who achieved the rank of brevet brigadier general in the Civil War.

Falk was a candidate for HD 37 in 1874.

Guilford was a resident of St. Anthony.

The Journal of the House incorrectly lists "F.A. Sargent" as the third candidate in the race.

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