1857 Minnesota gubernatorial election

1857 Minnesota gubernatorial election

October 13, 1857

Nominee Henry Hastings Sibley Alexander Ramsey Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 17,790 17,550 Percentage 50.34% 49.66%

County results Sibley:      50–60%      60–70%      70-80%      80-90%      >90% Ramsey:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      >90% Unknown/No Vote:

Governor before election Samuel Medary as Territorial Governor Democratic Elected Governor Henry Hastings Sibley Democratic

The 1857 Minnesota gubernatorial election was held on October 13, 1857, to elect the inaugural governor of Minnesota. Democrat Henry Hastings Sibley was elected governor by only 240 votes, the closest gubernatorial election in Minnesota until 1962. A Democrat would not be elected governor of Minnesota again until 1898.

Candidates

• Alexander Ramsey, former Territorial Governor (Republican)
• Henry Hastings Sibley, member of the Minnesota Territorial Legislature (Democrat)

Campaigns

Ramsey had previously served as Territorial Governor. In 1853, upon his term's completion, he stated he would not run for any public office again. He made an exception to this rule to briefly serve as mayor of St. Paul, before returning to private life. However, upon the Republican State Convention nominating him unanimously on September 10, 1857, he was convinced to leave retirement and accepted the nomination.^[1]

On September 15, 1857, Sibley was named the Democratic nominee at the Democratic State Convention.

Results

Minnesota gubernatorial election, 1857^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Henry Hastings Sibley	17,790	50.34
	Republican	Alexander Ramsey	17,550	49.66
Total votes			35,340	100

References

1. "HIDDEN RAMSEY DIARY TELLS OF DEFEAT BY SIBLEY". May 12, 1929.
2. Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. Jefferson: McFarland & Company. pp. 125–126. ISBN 9780786414390.