1896 Minnesota gubernatorial election
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The 1896 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1896. Republican Party of Minnesota incumbent David Marston Clough narrowly defeated Democratic Party of Minnesota challenger John Lind. Lind later won the 1898 gubernatorial election and became the first Democrat elected to the office of Governor of Minnesota since Henry Hastings Sibley left office in 1860. 1896 was the first of three successive elections in which Lind ran for governor at the head of a coalition consisting of the Democratic Party and the majority faction of the People's Party.
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November 3, 1896
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 County results Clough: 40â50% 50â60% 60â70% 70â80% Lind: 40â50% 50â60% 60â70% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Candidates
- A.A. Ames, former mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota (Independent)
- David Marston Clough, Incumbent (Republican)
- John Lind, Former representative from Minnesota's 2nd congressional district (Democratic, People's)
- William B. Hammond, Secretary of the State Federation of Labor (Socialist Labor)
- William J. Dean, Civil War veteran (Prohibition)
Campaigns
In the Republican primary, Incumbent Clough would prevail with 40 delegates. In second place, with 33, was John L. Gibbs. Moses Clapp, Samuel Rinnah Van Sant, and William E. Lee would each have respectively fewer votes.[1] William Henry Eustis would also gain four delegates at end of voting.[2]
On August 1, 1896, the Democratic State Convention was held. Populist John Lind was nominated without opposition. Previous conservative candidate Daniel W. Lawler was denounced by the convention as the party now hoped for success running with, instead of against, the Populists.[3]
Lind, joking nicknamed 'Honest John' by Republicans, was accused by republicans of in 1881 collaborating with the County Commissioners of Brown County to alter tax laws that would result in Lind being secretly personally enriched. No actual evidence to support this claim was ever brought forward.[4]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | David Marston Clough (incumbent) | 165,806 | 49.17% | â0.77% | |
| Democratic-People's | John Lind | 162,254 | 48.11% | +30.02% | |
| Prohibition | William J. Dean | 5,154 | 1.53% | â0.77% | |
| Independent | A. A. Ames | 2,890 | 0.86% | n/a | |
| Socialist Labor | William B. Hammond | 1,125 | 0.33% | n/a | |
| Majority | 3,552 | 1.06% | |||
| Turnout | 337,229 | ||||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||