1948 Election Cycle

President Harry Truman easily carried Minnesota at the top of the ticket for the DFL which helped the party flip two other offices in statewide elections. Minneapolis Mayor Hubert Humphrey unseated U.S. Senator Joseph Ball and Minneapolis funeral director Clifford Peterson defeated appointed Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner Rollin Johnson. The remaining elections for constitutional offices were competitive but held by the Republican incumbents: Governor Luther Youngdahl, Lieutenant Governor C. Elmer Anderson, Secretary of State Mike Holm, Attorney General J.A.A. Burnquist, and Treasurer Julius Schmahl.

The DFL also unseated three U.S. Representatives and won four of the nine districts overall: Roy Wier defeated freshman George MacKinnon in the 3rd CD, Eugene McCarthy beat freshman Edward Devitt in the 4th CD, and Fred Marshall was victorious over long-serving lawmaker Harold Knutson in the 6th CD. This marked the first time Democrats had held four seats in the state delegation in Minnesota history.

Both incumbent Associate Justices of the Supreme Court were reelection – Thomas Gallagher and appointed Justice Oscar Knutson.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/02/1948 State Senate, District 47 Special Clifford Lofvegren (Nonpartisan) won with 8,365 votes (62.15%) and a winning margin of +24.29
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Clifford Lofvegren Man Nonpartisan 8,365 62.15
Henry M. Nodland Man Nonpartisan 5,095 37.85

Special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Claude L. Cole on December 11, 1947.

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11/02/1948 State House, District 11 General Jesse (J.F.) Searles (Nonpartisan) won with 2,049 votes (50.20%) and a winning margin of +0.39
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Jesse (J.F.) Searles Man Nonpartisan 2,049 50.20
Roy H. Cummings Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 2,033 49.80
11/02/1948 State House, District 11 General Serenus (S.) Halverson (Nonpartisan) won with 6,823 votes (100.00%) and a winning margin of +100.00
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Serenus (S.) Halverson Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 6,823 100.00
11/02/1948 State House, District 10 General Henry (H.A.) Frederickson (Nonpartisan) won with 3,977 votes (59.32%) and a winning margin of +18.65
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Henry (H.A.) Frederickson Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 3,977 59.32
Bart Smith Man Nonpartisan 2,727 40.68
11/02/1948 State House, District 19 General Clarence G. Langley (Nonpartisan) won with 4,535 votes (55.90%) and a winning margin of +11.81
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Clarence G. Langley Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 4,535 55.90
Gilbert W. Terwilliger Man Nonpartisan 3,577 44.10

Second District. Terwilliger was an attorney from Red Wing and former state Representative (HD 19, 1931-1943, 1945-1947).

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