1869 Minnesota gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1869 Minnesota gubernatorial election presidential 1867 Minnesota gubernatorial election 1867 1871 Minnesota gubernatorial election 1871 no November 2, 1869 160x160px Horace Austin Republican Party (United States) 27,348 50.16% 160x160px George L. Otis Democratic Party (United States) 25,401 46.59% 1869 Minnesota gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 300px County results Austin: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f90 50–60% #cc2f4a 60–70% #d40818ff 70–80% #aa0000ff 80–90% #a80000 90–100% Otis: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #0d0596 90–100% Unknown/no vote: #808080 Governor William Rainey Marshall Republican Party (United States) Horace Austin Republican Party (United States) The 1869 Minnesota gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1869, to elect the governor of Minnesota. Incumbent Republican William Rainey Marshall did not seek a second term. Candidates Horace Austin, judge and Dakota War of 1862 veteran (Republican) Daniel Cobb, chaplain of Minnesota legislature (Prohibition)Daniel COBB https://cobbandcobbs.com/henry_elder/d0014/g0000085.html George L. Otis, former mayor of St. Paul (Democrat) Campaigns The main issue of the election was concerns over the potential for corruption within the government. With the Republican Party having held domination of the state government for about a decade, there were worries that the Republicans, if left unchecked, would create a self-serving political system at the detriment of the people. This was a strong campaign point for the Democrats. The Republicans nominated Judge Horace Austin, due to his distain for party politics, and impartiality. The Democrats nominated George L. Otis. Otis, a progressive who was otherwise retired from politics, was surprised at the nomination, but accepted it.Letter of Acceptance from Hon. George L. Otis. September 25, 1869 https://www.thecatholicnewsarchive.org/?a=d&d=NWC18691002-01.2.43&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- The Northwestern Chronicle January 3, 2026 The newly formed Prohibition Party held their convention on October 6, 1869. ran their first candidate, Daniel Cobb. Cobb would become the first person to run for governor of Minnesota who was not a member of the Democratic or Republican parties. In his nomination speech, Cobb admitted he was running not necessarily to win the election, but out of principle. He described his platform as 'Divine'. He believed that the Prohibition Party would have a similar history as the Republican Party had to that point, being that it was a small, fringe movement that quickly rose to become of immense historical importance.STATE TEMPERANCE CONVENTION October 7, 1869 https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=spp18691007.1.4&srpos=2&e=------186-en-20--1--img-txIN-Cobb+Prohibition----------- It was thought by some Republicans that the Prohibition Party was merely a tactic launched by the Democrats to split the Republican vote, and allow then to win. Ironically, the Prohibition Party saw more support from Democrats than Republicans in the state.What the Papers say of the Cobb Movement October 13, 1869 https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=spp18691013.1.2&srpos=13&e=------186-en-20--1--img-txIN-Cobb+Prohibition----------- Results Minnesota gubernatorial election, 1869http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=61543 Our Campaigns - MN Governor Race - Nov 02, 1869 May 7, 2016http://www.sos.state.mn.us/media/1353/chapter-10_mn-votes-2015.pdf Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State Minnesota Legislative Manual (Blue Book) - Chapter 10 Minnesota Elections 2015-04-01 2016-05-07 Republican Party (United States) Horace Austin 27,348 50.16 Democratic Party (United States) George L. Otis 25,401 46.59 Prohibition Party (United States) Daniel Cobb 1,764 3.24 Write-Ins 12 3.24 54,525 0.02 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) References External links Minnesota Historical Election Archive 1869 Minnesota gubernatorial Category:November 1869 in the United States