Supreme Court Chief Justice, 1857 Election
General
| Date: | October 13, 1857 |
| Cycle: | 1857 |
| Office: | Supreme Court Chief Justice |
| State: | Minnesota |
| District: | Statewide |
| Candidate | Gender | Party | Votes | Percent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette Emmett | Man | Nonpartisan | 18,169 | 51.41 | +2.82 |
| Horace Bigelow | Man | Nonpartisan | 17,173 | 48.59 |
This initial election remains the most narrowly decided contest for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in Minnesota history. Only five such elections have been decided by less than 10 points (1857, 1869, 1912, 1924, 1950).
Emmett was a former prosecuting attorney in Knox County, Ohio and Minnesota Territorial Attorney General (1853-1858) from St. Paul.
Bigelow was an attorney from St. Paul.
Sources
- The Chatfield Democrat, December 30, 1857 (p. 2).