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 63 General Charles Swindells (Nonpartisan) won with 2,551 votes (54.92%) and a winning margin of +9.84
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Charles Swindells Man Nonpartisan 2,551 54.92
Roy A. Anderson Man Nonpartisan 2,094 45.08

Swindells was a Baptist pastor from Laporte and former state Representative (HD 63, 1937-1939).

See more details »
11/05/1940 State House, District 64 General Arba J. (A.J.) Powers (Nonpartisan) won with 4,219 votes (51.29%) and a winning margin of +2.58
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Arba J. (A.J.) Powers Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 4,219 51.29
John Adams (ii) Man Nonpartisan 4,007 48.71
See more details »
11/05/1940 State House, District 65 General John O. (J.O.) Melby (Nonpartisan) won with 6,409 votes (27.99%) and a winning margin of +2.28
Walter E. Day (Nonpartisan) won with 5,914 votes (25.83%) and a winning margin of +0.11
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
John O. (J.O.) Melby Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 6,409 27.99
Walter E. Day Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 5,914 25.83
Carsten Mead Man Nonpartisan 5,888 25.72
Gilbert A. Brattland Man Nonpartisan 4,683 20.46
See more details »
11/05/1940 State House, District 66 General George Hagen (Nonpartisan) won with 9,756 votes (35.68%) and a winning margin of +15.36
Hector Hanson (Nonpartisan) won with 7,135 votes (26.09%) and a winning margin of +5.78
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
George Hagen Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 9,756 35.68
Hector Hanson Man Nonpartisan 7,135 26.09
Thomas Vollom Man Nonpartisan 5,555 20.32
Carl M. (C.M.) Berg Man Nonpartisan 4,897 17.91
See more details »
11/05/1940 State House, District 63 General Adren Leroy (A.L.) Boze (Nonpartisan) won with 5,392 votes (51.34%) and a winning margin of +2.69
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Adren Leroy (A.L.) Boze Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 5,392 51.34
Edgar L. Nordstrom Man Nonpartisan 5,110 48.66

Nordstrom was a farmer from Detroit Lakes and former state Representative (HD 63, 1933-1935, 1937-1939).

See more details »