Auditor, 1881 Election

General

Date: November 8, 1881
Cycle: 1881
Office: Auditor
State: Minnesota
District: Statewide
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent Margin
William W. (W.W.) Braden Man Republican 65,964 62.31 +27.83
Rudolph Lehmicke Man Democrat 36,501 34.48
Ebenezer Ayres Man Greenback 2,547 2.41
G.A. Armstrong Man Prohibition 769 0.73

In 1883, a constitutional amendment was passed increasing the term for Auditor from three to four years to conform to the system of biennial elections. The result was Braden's first term lasted five years and was next up for reelection in 1886.

Braden was a resident of Preston, three-term Fillmore County Treasurer, and former state Representative (HD 14, 1867-1869).

Lehmicke was a resident of Stillwater, former Republican, and member of the state board of equaliization. He was an attorney, former Washington County Auditor, judge of probate, and city superintendent of schools (1871-1872).

Ayers was a farmer from Cottage Grove, former state Representative (HD 02, 1867-1868; HD 22, 1872-1873), Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1873, and Greenback nominee for Railroad Commissioner in 1877 and 1879).

Sources

  • The Saint Paul Daily Globe, January 4, 1882 (p. 2).