1896 Election Cycle

In 1896, Republicans nominees in Minnesota thrived at the top and bottom of the ticket, but barely continued their winning ways in one prominent race in the middle. William McKinley carried Minnesota by 15.7 points – his second best showing in the 12-state Midwest region behind only Wisconsin (22.9 points).

However, Governor David Clough, who succeeded Knute Nelson mid-term, held off a strong campaign by Democratic nominee John Lind – a former three-term Republican U.S. Representative – and escaped with a one-point victory. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Albert Berg, Attorney General Henry Childs and Treasurer August Koerner all won by double-digits for the GOP as did John Gibbs, the party’s nominee for Lieutenant Governor. The 1896 cycle would be the last Republican sweep of Constitutional offices in Minnesota during the 19th Century.

Republicans won all seven congressional districts for the second consecutive cycle with incumbent Charles Towne failing to hold his seat as the nominee of the Democrats and People’s Party.

Republicans maintained their overwhelming majority in the state Senate (44 Republicans, five Populists, three Democrats, two Silver Republicans) and state House (90 Republicans, 13 Populists, 11 Democrats).