1901 Election Cycle

In January, the state legislature held a special election caused by the death of Republican U.S. Senator Cushman Davis. Former Republican Attorney General defeated appointed Democratic U.S. Senator Charles Towne to flip the seat. The legislature also reelected Republican U.S. Senator Knute Nelson to a second term.

Elections

Date

Office

Stage

Winners

Details

01/22/1901

U.S. Senate

Special

Moses E. Clapp (Republican) won with 137 votes (78.29%) and a winning margin of +56.57

Candidate	Gender	Party	Votes	Percent
Moses E. Clapp	Man	Republican	137	78.29
Charles A. Towne Incumbent	Man	Democrat	38	21.71

Election by the state legislature with each chamber voting separately. Special election caused by the death of Senator Cushman Davis on November 27, 1900. Clapp won 43 of 60 votes in the state Senate with Senator Towne receiving 17. Clapp won 94 of 115 votes in the state House with Towne receiving 21. The legislature declared Clapp the duly elected U.S. Senator in a joint convention on January 23, 1901.

Towne became the second U.S. Senator from Minnesota to lose reelection following Democrat James Shields in 1859.

Clapp was an attorney from Fergus Falls and former Attorney General (1887-1893).

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01/22/1901

U.S. Senate

General

Knute Nelson (Republican) won with 136 votes (77.27%) and a winning margin of +54.55

Candidate	Gender	Party	Votes	Percent
Knute Nelson Incumbent	Man	Republican	136	77.27
Rensselaer (R.R.) Nelson	Man	Democrat	40	22.73

Election by the state legislature with each chamber voting separately. Senator Nelson won 42 of 60 votes in the state Senate with Judge Rensselaer (R.R.) Nelson winning 18. Senator Nelson won 94 of 116 votes in the state House with Judge Nelson receiving 22. The legislature declared Knute Nelson the duly elected U.S. Senator in a joint convention on January 23, 1901.

Senator Nelson was reelected to a second term.

Rensselaer R. Nelson was a resident of St. Paul and former district court judge.

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