1892 Election Cycle

Benjamin Harrison carried Minnesota by 8.2 points – the most narrowly decided presidential race to this point in Minnesota history. Harrison’s winning margin in Minnesota was his second strongest in the 12-state Midwest region behind only South Dakota (11.8 points).

The GOP successfully put forth new nominees and held the offices of Governor (Knute Nelson), Lieutenant Governor (David Clough), and Attorney General (Henry Childs) by single digits. Incumbents for Secretary of State (Fred Brown) and Treasurer (Joseph Bobleter) won by similar margins.

The 1892 cycle was also the first with partisan elections for Associate and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Two incumbents were defeated running as the Republican-Prohibition nominees (Daniel Dickinson and Charles Vanderburgh). They were replaced by Democrat-People’s nominees Daniel Buck and Thomas Canty. Incumbent William Mitchell, who had the backing of the GOP, Democrats, and Prohibitionists, was reelected.

Congressional apportionment delivered two more seats to the Minnesota delegation for a total of seven with Republicans winning four seats, Democrats winning two, and the People’s Party (Populists) claiming one.

Republicans maintained a 25-16 advantage over the Democrats in the Senate with 13 seats held by the Populists. The GOP increased their advantage by a few dozen seats in the House – 71 to 36 over the Democrats with five fusionists (Democrat-People’s) and two Populists.