THC Science

1859 United States Senate election in Minnesota
Majority vote of the Minnesota Legislature needed to win
Senator before election; James Shields; Democratic	Elected Senator ; Morton S. Wilkinson; Republican

The 1859 United States Senate election in Minnesota took place for the state's Class II seat on December 15, 1859 by the Minnesota legislature in a joint convention. Democratic incumbent James Shields drew the short-term Class II seat lot (expiring March 3, 1859) when he was elected on December 19, 1857 prior to Minnesota statehood.

Candidates[edit]

Democrat[edit]

Willis A. Gorman, former Minnesota Territorial Governor (1853-1857)^[1]
James Shields, U.S. Senator since 1858, former Governor of Oregon Territory (1848-1849), former U.S. Senator from Illinois (1849-1855)^[1]

Republican[edit]

Morton S. Wilkinson, Attorney from Stillwater, former Minnesota territorial Representative from the 2nd House District (1849-1850), former Ramsey County Register of Deeds (1851-1853)^[1]

Results[edit]


1859 Minnesota U.S. Senate Election^[1]
Republican	Morton S. Wilkinson	79	69.91
Democrat	James Shields (inc.)	33	29.20
Democrat	Willis A. Gorman	1	0.88
Total Votes		133	100.0

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d University of Minnesota Libraries, University of Minnesota. "1859 Minnesota U.S. Senate Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.

[:0-1] University of Minnesota Libraries, University of Minnesota. "1859 Minnesota U.S. Senate Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.

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