1892 Election Cycle

Benjamin Harrison carried Minnesota by 8.2 points – the most narrowly decided presidential race to this point in Minnesota history. Harrison’s winning margin in Minnesota was his second strongest in the 12-state Midwest region behind only South Dakota (11.8 points).

The GOP successfully put forth new nominees and held the offices of Governor (Knute Nelson), Lieutenant Governor (David Clough), and Attorney General (Henry Childs) by single digits. Incumbents for Secretary of State (Fred Brown) and Treasurer (Joseph Bobleter) won by similar margins.

The 1892 cycle was also the first with partisan elections for Associate and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Two incumbents were defeated running as the Republican-Prohibition nominees (Daniel Dickinson and Charles Vanderburgh). They were replaced by Democrat-People’s nominees Daniel Buck and Thomas Canty. Incumbent William Mitchell, who had the backing of the GOP, Democrats, and Prohibitionists, was reelected.

Congressional apportionment delivered two more seats to the Minnesota delegation for a total of seven with Republicans winning four seats, Democrats winning two, and the People’s Party (Populists) claiming one.

Republicans maintained a 25-16 advantage over the Democrats in the Senate with 13 seats held by the Populists. The GOP increased their advantage by a few dozen seats in the House – 71 to 36 over the Democrats with five fusionists (Democrat-People’s) and two Populists.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/08/1892 U.S. House, District 01 General James A. Tawney (Republican) won with 18,146 votes (48.99%) and a winning margin of +8.51
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
James A. Tawney Man Republican 18,146 48.99
William H. Harries Incumbent Man Democrat 14,995 40.49
James I. (J.I.) Vermilya Man People's 2,342 6.32
Philip (P.H.) Harsh Man Prohibition 1,554 4.20
11/08/1892 State House, District 54 General Joseph B. Cotton (Republican) won with 5,228 votes (18.97%) and a winning margin of +2.92
Leonidas J. Merritt (Republican) won with 5,153 votes (18.70%) and a winning margin of +2.64
James A. Boggs (Republican) won with 4,858 votes (17.63%) and a winning margin of +1.57
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Joseph B. Cotton Man Republican 5,228 18.97
Leonidas J. Merritt Man Republican 5,153 18.70
James A. Boggs Man Republican 4,858 17.63
John Jenswold Man Democrat-People's 4,424 16.05
J. Adam Bede Man Democrat-People's 4,038 14.65
Charles Canning Man Democrat-People's 3,862 14.01
11/08/1892 State House, District 53 General Joseph M. (J.M.) Markham (Republican) won with 2,788 votes (55.01%) and a winning margin of +25.93
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Joseph M. (J.M.) Markham Man Republican 2,788 55.01
F.E. Krech Man Democrat 1,474 29.08
A. Anderson Man People's 806 15.90
11/08/1892 State House, District 52 General Frank (F.W.) Wagoner (Democrat-People's) won with 2,066 votes (66.07%) and a winning margin of +32.14
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Frank (F.W.) Wagoner Incumbent Man Democrat-People's 2,066 66.07
James Westerson Man Republican 1,061 33.93
11/08/1892 State Senate, District 13 Special John T. Little (Republican) won with 1,306 votes (56.41%) and a winning margin of +18.75
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
John T. Little Man Republican 1,306 56.41
Berry T. (B.T.) Chase Man People's 872 37.67
Avery (A.R.) Cohoon Man Prohibition 137 5.92

Special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Jeremiah Grinnell in February 1892.

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