Elected by the state legislature in a joint convention.
McMillan was a former Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court (1864-1874) and sitting Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court (1874-1875).
Lochren was an attorney from Saint Anthony, former state Senator (SD 04, 1869-1871), and candidate for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1874.
Cole was an attorney from Faribault, former state Attorney General (1860-1866), and former state Senator (SD 08, 1866-1867) who later served in the state House (HD 20, 1883-1885).
Coggswell was a former Republican state Representative (HD 15, 1859-1861) and Democratic nominee for Secretary of State in 1865 and 1867.