On election day, Republican nominee Albinus Nance won re-election by a margin of 27,070 votes against his foremost opponent, Democratic nominee Thomas Tipton, thereby holding Republican control over the office of Governor. Nance was sworn in for his second term on 4 January 1881.[3][4]
Oliver T. B. Williams, Greenback candidate, former mayor of Columbus, Nebraska, from 1866 to 1867[7] and former member of the Nebraska Senate also from 1866 to 1867[8]