1890 Election Cycle

Democrats claimed their first statewide office since 1873 with Adolph Biermann winning the race for Auditor by double-digits. Republicans won the remaining six statewide offices – with Governor William Merriam eking out a reelection victory by less than a point over former state Supreme Court Justice, state legislator, and U.S. Representative Thomas Wilson. GOP nominees carried each of the other five offices by less than six points: Gideon (G.S.) Ives in the open seat for Lieutenant Governor, Fred Brown in the open seat for Secretary of State, Attorney General Moses Clapp, Treasurer Joseph Bobleter, and Charles Holcomb for Clerk of the Supreme Court.

Four of the five Republican U.S. Representatives were knocked out of office – two by Democrats, one by a Democrat-Farmers’ Alliance nominee (William Harries), and one by a Farmers’ Alliance-Prohibition nominee (Kittel Halvorson).

The GOP majority in the Senate turned to a plurality – 25 Republicans, 16 Democrats, and 13 from the Farmers’ Alliance. In the state House Democrats outnumbered the GOP for the first time since the 1st Legislature – 52 to 43 – with 19 from the Farmers’ Alliance.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/04/1890 State House, District 54 General John D. Boyd (Republican) won with 3,482 votes (18.59%) and a winning margin of +3.65
Howard C. Kendall (Republican) won with 3,377 votes (18.03%) and a winning margin of +3.09
Orin D. Kinney (Republican) won with 3,348 votes (17.87%) and a winning margin of +2.94
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
John D. Boyd Man Republican 3,482 18.59
Howard C. Kendall Man Republican 3,377 18.03
Orin D. Kinney Man Republican 3,348 17.87
John (J.J.C.) Davis Man Democrat-Farmers' Alliance 2,798 14.94
Theodore (T.T.) Hudson Man Democrat 2,031 10.84
John M. Martin Man Democrat 1,703 9.09
T.C. Hinebaugh Man Farmers' Alliance 1,083 5.78
A.T. Scarlett Man Farmers' Alliance 912 4.87
11/04/1890 State House, District 53 General Thomas R. Foley (Democrat) won with 2,012 votes (47.89%) and a winning margin of +13.23
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Thomas R. Foley Man Democrat 2,012 47.89
W.R. Baumbach Man Republican 1,456 34.66
Joseph (J.) Askew Man Farmers' Alliance 733 17.45
11/04/1890 State House, District 52 General Frank (F.W.) Wagoner (Farmers' Alliance) won with 2,094 votes (67.48%) and a winning margin of +34.97
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Frank (F.W.) Wagoner Man Farmers' Alliance 2,094 67.48
N.P. Peterson Man Republican 1,009 32.52
11/04/1890 State House, District 51 General Benjamin M. (B.M.) Chesley (Farmers' Alliance-Republican) won with 6,337 votes (28.04%) and a winning margin of +18.43
Andrew Thompson (Farmers' Alliance-Prohibition) won with 5,421 votes (23.99%) and a winning margin of +14.38
William Carleton (Farmers' Alliance-Prohibition) won with 5,242 votes (23.20%) and a winning margin of +13.59
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Benjamin M. (B.M.) Chesley Man Farmers' Alliance-Republican 6,337 28.04
Andrew Thompson Man Farmers' Alliance-Prohibition 5,421 23.99
William Carleton Man Farmers' Alliance-Prohibition 5,242 23.20
Samuel (S.B.) Cragin Man Democrat 2,172 9.61
Gunder Krostue Man Republican 1,584 7.01
George K. Chambers Man Democrat 976 4.32
George Johnson Man Democrat 816 3.61
Ole S. Ringdahl Man Republican 49 0.22
11/04/1890 State Senate, District 47 General Herman A. Grafe (Farmers' Alliance) won with 2,606 votes (80.71%) and a winning margin of +61.41
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Herman A. Grafe Man Farmers' Alliance 2,606 80.71
Hill H. (H.H.) Wilson Man Republican 623 19.29