Wakefield was an attorney from Blue Earth, former state Representative (HD 14, 1857-1859; HD 20, 1863-1864, 1866-1867) and House Speaker (1866), former state Senator (SD 20, 1867-1870), and future U.S. Representative (CD 02, 1883-1887).
Durant was a lumberman from Stillwater, state Representative (HD 22, 1873-1874; 1875-1876; HD 24, 1885-1887), and future state Senator (SD 24, 1887-1891; SD 31, 1903-1907).
Tuttle was a Baptist clergyman from Anoka. He was the Temperance nominee and was later nominated by the Anti-Monopolists.