The Keefe law (authored by Democratic state Representative Joseph R. Keefe) provided that state legislative candidates sign a pledge to observe the popular vote preference for the office of U.S. Senate. Not all candidates signed the pledge. However, on January 22, 1913, Nelson was unanimously elected with all 148 votes cast in both chambers (61 in the state Senate and 87 in the state House) with Democrats, Prohibitionists, and independents all voting for the winner of the November 1912 voter preference election. The legislature declared Nelson the duly elected U.S. Senator in a joint convention on January 22, 1913.
Senator Nelson was reelected to a fourth term.
Lawler was an attorney from St. Paul, former U.S. Attorney (1886-1891), and former Mayor of St. Paul (1908-1910). He was also the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator in 1893 and 1916, Democratic candidate for Governor in 1914, and Democratic nominee for the 4th CD in 1924.