1865 Minnesota Attorney General election

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 1865 Minnesota Attorney General election

| country = Minnesota

| type = Presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 1863 Minnesota Attorney General election

| previous_year = 1863

| next_election = 1867 Minnesota Attorney General election

| next_year = 1867

| election_date = 7 November 1865

| image1 = 125px

| nominee1 = William J. Colvill

| party1 = National Union Party (United States)

| popular_vote1 = 17,460

| percentage1 = 56.51%

| image2 = 125px

| nominee2 = William Lochren

| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)

| popular_vote2 = 13,436

| percentage2 = 43.49%

| map_image =

| map_size =

| map_caption =

| title = Attorney General

| before_election = Gordon E. Cole

| before_party = Republican Party (United States)

| after_election = William J. Colvill

| after_party = National Union Party (United States)

}}

The 1865 Minnesota Attorney General election was held on 7 November 1865 in order to elect the attorney general of Minnesota. National Union nominee and incumbent member of the Minnesota House of Representatives William J. Colvill defeated Democratic nominee William Lochren.{{cite web |url=https://mn.electionarchives.lib.umn.edu/election/2318651099923600/ |title=Attorney General, 1865 Election |publisher=electionarchives.lib.umn.edu |date= |access-date=5 October 2024}}

General election

On election day, 7 November 1865, National Union nominee William J. Colvill won the election by a margin of 4,024 votes against his opponent Democratic nominee William Lochren, thereby gaining National Union control over the office of attorney general. Colvill was sworn in as the 3rd attorney general of Minnesota on 8 January 1866.{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=1058059 |title=MN Attorney General |publisher=ourcampaigns.com |date=19 March 2024 |access-date=5 October 2024}}