1940 Election Cycle

Franklin Roosevelt carried Minnesota in a close race against Wendell Willkie marking just the third time a presidential election had been decided by less than five points out of 21 elections held at that point in state history.

Republicans swept the remaining statewide offices led by Governor Harold Stassen, Lieutenant Governor C. Elmer Anderson, Secretary of State Mike Holm (winning his 11th term), Attorney General J.A.A. Burnquist, Treasurer Julius Schmahl, and N.J. Holmberg who unseated Farmer-Laborite Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner Charles Munn.

U.S. Senator Henrik Shipstead ran as a Republican this cycle after three terms as a Farmer-Laborite and cruised to a large double-digit victory. In elections to the U.S. House, freshman John Alexander lost the 3rd CD Republican primary to Dick Gale. In November, three-term Democrat Elmer Ryan was defeated in the 2nd CD by Republican Joseph O’Hara as the GOP claimed eight districts with one going to the Farmer-Labor Party.

Associate Justices Clifford Hilton and Julius Olson were reelected to their fourth and third terms respectively.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/05/1940 State House, District 67 General Curtiss T. Olson (Nonpartisan) won with 3,058 votes (51.35%) and a winning margin of +2.70
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Curtiss T. Olson Man Nonpartisan 3,058 51.35
Louis Enstrom Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 2,897 48.65
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11/05/1940 State Senate, District 32 Special Henry G. Young (Nonpartisan) won with 16,781 votes (50.94%) and a winning margin of +1.88
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Henry G. Young Man Nonpartisan 16,781 50.94
Sylvanus A. (S.A.) Stockwell Man Nonpartisan 16,162 49.06

Special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Andrew O. Devold on December 12, 1939.

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11/05/1940 State Senate, District 33 Special Harold Harrison (Nonpartisan) won with 35,027 votes (66.33%) and a winning margin of +32.65
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Harold Harrison Man Nonpartisan 35,027 66.33
S.W. Thacker Man Nonpartisan 17,784 33.67

Special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator William B. Anderson on September 26, 1940.

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11/05/1940 State Senate, District 53 Special Gordon Rosenmeier (Nonpartisan) won with 14,031 votes (65.99%) and a winning margin of +31.98
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Gordon Rosenmeier Man Nonpartisan 14,031 65.99
Vic E. Quanstrom Man Nonpartisan 7,231 34.01

Special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Frederick J. Miller on August 26, 1940. Rosenmeier was a resident of Little Falls. Quanstrom was a resident of Brainerd.

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11/05/1940 State House, District 67 General Emil Morberg (Nonpartisan) won with 3,284 votes (51.23%) and a winning margin of +2.46
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Emil Morberg Man Nonpartisan 3,284 51.23
H.S. Beckwith Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 3,126 48.77

Morberg was a farmer from Oslo and former state Representative (HD 67, 1937-1939).

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