Election by the state legislature by joint convention. Prior to the joint convention vote, Washburn won 24 of 27 votes in the state Senate with two for Eugene M. Wilson and one for Knute Nelson. Washburn won 80 of 100 votes in the state Senate with nine for E.W. Durant, eight for Charles M. Start, two for Eugene M. Wilson, and one for Moses E. Clapp.
Washburn was a resident of Minneapolis, former state Representative (HD 05, 1871-1872), and former U.S. Representative (CD 03, 1879-1883; CD 04, 1883-1885).
Start was an attorney from Rochester, former Olmsted County Attorney, Attorney General (1880-1881), and eventual Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1895-1913).
Wilson was an attorney from Minneapolis, former U.S. Representative (CD 02, 1869-1871), Mayor of Minneapolis (1872, 1874), and state Senator (SD 27, 1879-1881).
Bowen was an editor from Sleepy Eye and sitting state Senator (SD 09, 1887-1891).
Clapp was an attorney from Fergus Falls and sitting Attorney General (1887-1893).
Rea was a former attorney and newspaper editor from Minneapolis, district court judge, and Commander-In-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (1887-1888).