After the 1888 cycle, partisan elections began for the office of the Supreme Court - lasting through 1910.
Collins was appointed to the Court by Governor Andrew McGill on November 16, 1887 after the death of Associate Justice John Berry on November 8, 1887. Collins was a resident of St. Cloud, former Stearns County Attorney, former Mayor of St. Cloud (1876-1878, 1880), and former sitting judge of the Seventh Judicial District.
Batchelder was an attorney from Faribault, Democratic nominee for the 1st CD in 1868, former state Senator (SD 08, 1869-1871; SD 18, 1872-1874), former Mayor of Faribault (1880-1881). He was endorsed by the Democratic Party.