Abraham Lincoln carried Minnesota by a narrower margin than in 1860 (18.1 versus 29.2 points) but it was the president’s fourth most decisive win in the nine-state Midwest region behind Kansas (61.4 points), Missouri (39.4 points), and Iowa (28.2 points).
Down the ballot, Republicans William Windom and Ignatius Donnelly won their fourth and second terms to the U.S. House respectively.
Appointed Chief Justice Thomas Wilson, appointed Associate Justice S.J.R. McMillan, and state Senator J.M. Berry won election to the Supreme Court.
Elections
Date
Office
Stage
Winners
Details
11/08/1864
State House, District 10
General
John B. Downer (Union Republican) won with 1,288 votes (65.38%) and a winning margin of +30.76
Thomas (Thos.) Wilson (Nonpartisan) won with 25,216 votes (59.41%) and a winning margin of +18.94
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Thomas (Thos.) Wilson
Incumbent
Man
Nonpartisan
25,216
59.41
Andrew G. (A.G.) Chatfield
Man
Nonpartisan
17,175
40.46
Scattering
Write-In
55
0.13
Associate Justice Wilson was elected to a second term and first as Chief Justice. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by Governor Stephen Miller following the resignation of Isaac Atwater on July 1, 1864. Wilson was an attorney from Winona, eventual state Representative (HD 08, 1881-1883), state Senator (SD 15, 1883-1887), and U.S. Representative (CD 01, 1887-1889). Wilson resigned in July 1869 to run for the U.S. Senate. Governor William Marshall appointed St. Paul attorney James Gilfillan to fill the vacancy on July 14, 1869.
Chatfield was an attorney from Belle Plaine, former New York state legislator, Associate Justice of the Minnesota Territorial Supreme Court (1853-1858), Democratic nominee for the 1st CD in 1862, and nominee for Treasurer in 1867.
Samuel J.R. (S.J.R.) McMillan (Nonpartisan) won with 24,994 votes (29.53%) and a winning margin of +9.03
John M. (J.M.) Berry (Nonpartisan) won with 24,951 votes (29.48%) and a winning margin of +8.98
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Samuel J.R. (S.J.R.) McMillan
Incumbent
Man
Nonpartisan
24,994
29.53
John M. (J.M.) Berry
Man
Nonpartisan
24,951
29.48
Edward O. (E.O.) Hamlin
Man
Nonpartisan
17,351
20.50
Eli Wilder
Man
Nonpartisan
17,345
20.49
Associate Justice McMillian was elected to a second term. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by Governor Stephen Miller following the resignation of Charles Flandrau on July 1, 1864. McMillan was a First Judicial District Judge from St. Paul.
Berry was an attorney from Faribault, Territorial Representative (HD 08, 1857), candidate for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1857, and sitting state Senator (SD 08, 1863-1865).
Hamlin was an attorney, the first Mayor of St. Cloud, former Judge of the Fourth District Court (1858), Democratic nominee for Governor in 1861, candidate for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1871, and candidate for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1869.
Wilder was an attorney from Red Wing, former Judge of the Court of Common Please in Ohio, and Democratic nominee for the 2nd CD in 1876.
Abraham Lincoln (Union Republican) won with 25,055 votes (59.06%) and a winning margin of +18.12
Candidate
Gender
Party
Votes
Percent
Abraham Lincoln
Incumbentwith Andrew Johnson
Man
Union Republican
25,055
59.06
George McClellan
with George Pendleton
Man
Democrat
17,367
40.94
Lincoln and Johnson each received Minnesota's four Electoral College votes. Minnesota was Lincoln's fourth most decisive win in the nine-state Midwest region behind Kansas (61.4 points), Missouri (39.4 points), and Iowa (28.2 points).