The1879 Minnesota gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1879, to elect thegovernor of Minnesota. Incumbent John S. Pillsbury was reelected to a third term.
Ara Barton was the initial Greenback nominee, but he declined the nomination and was replaced by William Meigher.
The Republican State Convention was held on September 2, 1879. Pillsbury was re-nominated on the first, technically informal, ballot. He became the first Governor of Minnesota nominated for a third term. Other primary candidates wereJames Wakefield,Lucius Frederick Hubbard,Gordon E. Cole, andWilliam W. Billson.[1] Before the convention, it was generally believes that Wakefield would be nominated.[2]
On September 25, 1879, the Democratic State Convention was held. On the first ballot, Edmund Rice was nominated, with 212 votes to runner-upWilliam W. McNair's 202. Other votes were cast forRichard W. Johnson,Eugene M. Wilson, and Henry R. Wells. All opposition dropped out following Rice's first place position, making his nomination, if only on a technicality, unanimous.[3]
