1875 Election Cycle

In February, the state legislature elected Republican Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court Samuel McMillan to the U.S. Senate.

The 1875 cycle was the first for the direct election for the office of the Railroad Commissioner (formerly a multi-member appointed position). This would be the first of five cycles before the office would revert back to appointments. Appointed Commissioner and former Governor William Marshall Republicans won the race for the GOP. Republicans held six other statewide offices for Governor (John Pillsbury), Lieutenant Governor (James Wakefield), Secretary of State (John Irgens), Attorney General (George Wilson), Auditor (O.P. Whitcomb), and Clerk of the Supreme Court (S.H. Nichols) by double-digits. Three-term Supreme Court Clerk Sherwood Hough did not receive the Republican nomination, however, and placed a distant fourth as the Anti-Monopoly nominee with just 0.8 percent. The GOP also picked up the office of state Treasurer with incumbent Edwin Dyke running as the Anti-Monopoly nominee and winning just 2.4 percent.

Republicans began the 18th Legislature in 1876 growing their lead to 24-17 in the Senate and 65-41 in the House.

Appointed Justice James Gilfillan was elected to the Supreme Court.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/02/1875 State House, District 15 General Emory (E.D.) Southard (Democrat) won with 312 votes (58.54%) and a winning margin of +17.07
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Emory (E.D.) Southard Man Democrat 312 58.54
Samuel LaMont Man Republican 221 41.46

Fourth District.

Southard and Lamont were residents of Hyde Park.

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11/02/1875 State House, District 15 General Henry D. (H.D.) Wedge (Republican) won with 327 votes (50.54%) and a winning margin of +1.08
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Henry D. (H.D.) Wedge Man Republican 327 50.54
W.S. Struble Man Democrat 320 49.46

Third District.

Wedge and Struble were residents of Plainview.

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11/02/1875 State House, District 15 General Samuel L. (S.L.) Campbell (Democrat) won with 464 votes (59.49%) and a winning margin of +18.97
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Samuel L. (S.L.) Campbell Man Democrat 464 59.49
John Gage Man Republican 316 40.51

Second District.

Campbell was a resident of Wabasha.

Gage was a resident of Watopa Township.

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11/02/1875 State House, District 15 General William R. (W.R.) Murray (Republican) won with 408 votes (52.51%) and a winning margin of +5.02
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
William R. (W.R.) Murray Man Republican 408 52.51
Henry Roff Man Democrat 369 47.49

First District.

Murray and Roff were residents of Lake City.

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11/02/1875 Governor General John S. Pillsbury (Republican) won with 47,073 votes (56.03%) and a winning margin of +14.04
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
John S. Pillsbury Man Republican 47,073 56.03
David L. (D.L.) Buell Man Democrat-Anti-Monopoly 35,275 41.99
Ransom (R.F.) Humiston Man Temperance 1,669 1.99

Pillsbury, a resident of Minneapolis, was a merchant, lumberman, and flour miller, former member of the St. Anthony City Council (1858-1864), and state Senator (SD 04, 1863-1869, 1871-1872; SD 25, 1873-1876).

Buell was a farmer from Caledonia, former state Representative (HD 13, 1863-1864) and state Senator (SD 13, 1866-1867, 1868, 1870-1872; SD 01, 1872-1873). Buell was the Democratic nominee who was later nominated by the Anti-Monopolists.

Humiston was a professor and founder of Worthington, Minnesota. His vote tally is also sporadically listed in official government sources as 1,589 or 1,699 votes.

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