After the 1888 cycle, partisan elections began for the office of the Supreme Court - lasting through 1910.
Chief Justice Gilfillan was reelected.
Smith was a Minneapolis City Attorney, former Connecticut state Senator, former Dakota County Judge of Probate (1861-1866), former Minnesota state Senator (SD 07, 1868-1870), former Dakota County Atorney, eventual Fourth Judicial District judge (1889-1898), and candidate for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1894. Smith was endorsed by the Democratic Party.
Claffey was endorsed by the Prohibition Party.