Lieutenant Governor, 1861 Election

General

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Date: November 5, 1861
Cycle: 1861
Office: Lieutenant Governor
State: Minnesota
District: Statewide
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent Margin
Ignatius Donnelly Incumbent Man Republican 16,089 60.45 +21.00
Thomas Cowan Man Democrat 10,500 39.45
Christopher Columbus (C.C.) Andrews Man Write-In 4 0.02
N.V. Bennett Man Write-In 1 0.00

Note: Among the scattering votes are 11 for "Thomas Corwin." Lieutenant Governor Donnelly was reelected. Donnelly resigned on March 3, 1863 following his election and being seated as U.S. Representative to the 2nd CD in the 1862 cycle. Republican state Senator Henry Swift filled the seat and served from March 4, 1863 to July 10, 1863. At which point Swift succeeded Republican Governor Alexander Ramsey who resigned after being elected to the U.S. Senate. The state was then without a Lieutenant Governor until the next term began on January 11, 1864.

Cowan was an attorney from Traverse des Sioux and a former state Senator (SD 17, 1857-1861).

Sources

  • Journal of the Senate of the Fourth Session of the Legislature of the State of Minnesota, 1862 (p. 12).