1879 Election Cycle

In January, the state legislature reelected Republican U.S. Senator William Windom to the chamber.

In November, Republicans continued to dominate Minnesota politics sweeping all six statewide offices led by Governor John Pillsbury at the top of the ticket winning a record third term. Railroad Commissioner William Marshall also won a third term. Despite turnover in the offices of Lieutenant Governor (C.A. Gilman), Secretary of State (Fred Von Baumbach), Attorney General (Charles Start) and Treasurer (Charles Kittelson) all six GOP nominees were victorious by at least 14 points.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/04/1879 Lieutenant Governor General Charles A. (C.A.) Gilman (Republican) won with 59,763 votes (56.23%) and a winning margin of +19.78
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Charles A. (C.A.) Gilman Man Republican 59,763 56.23
Edward (E.P.) Barnum Man Democrat 38,736 36.44
Isaac (I.M.) Westfall Man Greenback-Labor 4,148 3.90
A.B. Williams Man Prohibition 3,642 3.43

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.

This marked the 10th consecutive GOP victory for the office.

Gilman was an attorney from St. Cloud, former state Senator (SD 03, 1868-1870), and state Representative (HD 31, 1875-1880; HD 45, 1915-1917).

Barnum, a resident of Sauk Centre, was Chairman of the Board of Stearns County Commissioners.

Westfall was a physician from Rochester and former State Senator (SD 10, 1874-1876).

Williams was a minister.

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11/04/1879 Attorney General General Charles M. (C.M.) Start (Republican) won with 60,816 votes (57.28%) and a winning margin of +20.92
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Charles M. (C.M.) Start Man Republican 60,816 57.28
P.M. Babcock Man Democrat 38,604 36.36
Oscar Stephenson Man Greenback-Labor 4,064 3.83
Alfred W. Bangs Man Prohibition 2,697 2.54

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.

Start was an attorney from Rochester and Olmsted County Attorney who resigned on March 12, 1881 after being appointed to the Third Judicial District Court. Governor John Pillsbury appointed Republican attorney William Hahn to fill the vacated seat. In 1894, Start was elected Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Babcock was a Hennepin County attorney.

Stephenson was an attorney from Ramsey County, former Ramsey County probate judge, and former Democratic state Representative (HD 02, 1859-1861).

Bangs was later elected to the South Dakota Senate as a Democrat (1889-1890).

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11/04/1879 Railroad Commissioner General William R. Marshall (Republican) won with 60,651 votes (56.95%) and a winning margin of +20.12
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
William R. Marshall Incumbent Man Republican 60,651 56.95
William Colville Man Democrat 39,229 36.84
Ebenezer Ayres Man Greenback-Labor 4,043 3.80
Charles Griswold Man Prohibition 2,568 2.41

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.

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11/04/1879 Treasurer General Charles Kittelson (Republican) won with 60,599 votes (56.93%) and a winning margin of +20.00
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Charles Kittelson Man Republican 60,599 56.93
Lyman E. Cowdery Man Democrat 39,312 36.93
Joseph Goar Man Greenback-Labor 3,964 3.72
John M. Dunham Man Prohibition 2,573 2.42

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.

Kittelson was a resident of Albert Lea and Freeborn County Treasurer.

Cowdery was the former register of deeds for Olmsted county and sitting Mayor of Rochester.

Goar was a farmer from Morristown and Greenback nominee for Railroad Comissioner in 1881.

Dunham was a resident of Hennepin County.

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11/04/1879 Secretary of State General Fred Von Baumbach (Republican) won with 60,430 votes (56.71%) and a winning margin of +19.68
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Fred Von Baumbach Man Republican 60,430 56.71
Felix A. (F.A.) Borer Man Democrat 39,464 37.03
Alexander (A.P.) Lane Man Greenback-Labor 4,139 3.88
Isaac C. (I.C.) Stearns Man Prohibition 2,528 2.37

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.

Baumbach was Auditor of Douglas County.

Borer was an attorney from Le Sueur County.

Lane was a resident of Champlin and the Republican nominee for state Auditor in 1857.

Stearns was a farmer from Zumbrota and a former state Reprsentative (HD 06, 1859-1861).

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