The official canvass did not include the results of Watonwan County due to the county auditor mislabeling the envelope when submitting county and state election results to the Secretary of State. The results above include the tally from Watonwan.
Commissioner Marshall was reelected to a fourth term.
Colville was an attorney from Red Wing, former Republican state Representative (HD 09, 1865-1866), former Republican Attorney General (1866-1868), and sitting Democrat state Representative (HD 16, 1878-1879).
Ayres was a farmer from Cottage Grove, former state Representative (HD 02, 1867-1868; HD 22, 1872-1873), Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1873, Greenback nominee for Railroad Commissioner in 1877, and Greenback nominee for the 3rd CD in 1880.
Griswold was a reverend from Anoka.