Governor, 1908 Election
General
| Candidate | Gender | Party | Votes | Percent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Albert Johnson Incumbent | Man | Democrat | 175,136 | 51.93 | +8.05 |
| Jacob F. (J.F.) Jacobson | Man | Republican | 147,997 | 43.88 | |
| George D. Haggard | Man | Prohibition | 7,024 | 2.08 | |
| Beecher Moore | Man | Public Ownership | 6,516 | 1.93 | |
| William W. (W.W.) Allen | Man | Independence League | 593 | 0.18 |
Governor Johnson was reelected to a third term, one of two Democrats (or DFLers) to do so in Minnesota history (Orville Freeman). Johnson died in office on September 21, 1909 and was succeeded by Republican Lieutenant Governor Adolph Eberhart.
"King Jake" Jacobson was a Norwegian-born agricultural implements dealer from Madison and former state Representative (HD 37, 1889-1891; HD 43, 1893-1899; HD 18, 1899-1903). Jacobson was an unsuccessful candidate for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 1906.
Haggard was a physician and university instructor from Minneapolis and the Prohibition nominee to the 5th CD in 1902.
Moore was a resident of Minneapolis who ran for Alderman (7th Ward) in 1906 and later was a leader in the Nonpartisan League.
Allen was an attorney from St. Paul. The Independence League Party was backed and founded by William Randolph Hearst. The party fielded nominees for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and treasurer in 1908.
Sources
- The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota, 1909 (p. 528).