1962 Election Cycle

The 1962 cycle was the first cycle in which select constitutional offices (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, Attorney General) moved from two-year to four-year terms (elections for Auditor were already on four-year cycles).

The gubernatorial election was the closest in state history, with Governor Andersen initially certified the winner by 142 votes on November 29th. A prolonged election contest resulted in a three-judge Ramsey County district court determining on March 21, 1963 that Rolvaag had won by 91 votes. [Andersen served a few months into this abbreviated second term while legal proceedings unfolded].

DFL State Senator Sandy Keith won Rolvaag’s old position as Lieutenant Governor and his 0.38-point win over state Representative C. Donald Peterson was also the most narrowly decided election for the office in Minnesota history. DFL incumbents were reelected for Secretary of State (Joseph Donovan), Attorney General (Walter Mondale), and Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner (Paul Rasmussen). Republican Auditor Stafford King was elected to a record ninth term and fellow party member Val Bjornson won a sixth nonconsecutive term for Treasurer.

After reapportionment, Minnesota lost a seat in the U.S. House for the first time in 30 years, dropping to eight seats. After losing a notable swath of his constituency after redistricting, 12-term Republican H. Carl Andersen lost his party’s nomination to Robert Odegard in the 6th CD – the first congressman to lose a primary since Republican Oscar Youngdahl in the 5th CD in 1942. In November, 10-term Republican Walter Judd was unseated by Don Fraser in the 5th CD as the two parties split the eight seats in the delegation.

Associate Supreme Court Justices William P. Murphy and James C. Otis were each elected to another term.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/06/1962 State House, District 12 General Henry J. Morlock (Nonpartisan) won with 4,353 votes (50.06%) and a winning margin of +0.11
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Henry J. Morlock Man Nonpartisan 4,353 50.06
John M. Fitzgerald Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 4,343 49.94

The election was subject to a recount which resulted in a loss of 14 votes for Morlock and a loss of 10 votes for Fitzgerald. The Scott County Canvassing Board certified totals are reflected above.

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11/06/1962 State House, District 12 General George B. Krenik (Nonpartisan) won with 4,668 votes (57.40%) and a winning margin of +14.79
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
George B. Krenik Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 4,668 57.40
Richard P. Monahan Man Nonpartisan 3,465 42.60
11/06/1962 State House, District 11 General Carl (C.A., Gus) Johnson (Nonpartisan) won with 3,598 votes (50.00%)
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Carl (C.A., Gus) Johnson Man Nonpartisan 3,598 50.00
Donald E. Swenson Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 3,598 50.00

The Minnesota Supreme Court declared Johnson the victor in this election. No final certified numbers were released.

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11/06/1962 State House, District 11 General Roy Schulz (Nonpartisan) won with 4,178 votes (67.00%) and a winning margin of +34.00
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Roy Schulz Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 4,178 67.00
Elmer H. Peterson Man Nonpartisan 2,058 33.00
11/06/1962 State House, District 13 General Edward H. Rasmussen (Nonpartisan) won with 6,776 votes (53.68%) and a winning margin of +7.37
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Edward H. Rasmussen Man Nonpartisan 6,776 53.68
Glen V. Holmquist Man Nonpartisan 5,846 46.32