The election for this seat was for a six-year term. This contest ended the Republican Party's winning streak at 25 consecutive seats to the office of Railroad or Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner. This was also the most narrowly decided race for Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner in Minnesota history besting Republican Commissioner Ivan Bowen's 3.04-point victory over Farmer-Laborite William (W.W.) Royster in 1922.
Wefald was a resident of Moorhead, former Republican state Representative (HD 60, 1913-1915; HD 49, 1915-1917), former Farmer-Labor U.S. Representative (CD 09, 1923-1927), and Farmer-Labor candidate for U.S. Senate in 1930. Wefald died in office on October 25, 1936. On November 13, 1936, Governor Hjalmar Petersen appointed Harold Atwood to fill the vacancy. Atwood was a resident of Winona, former machinist, former state Representative (HD 02, 1925-1935), and supervisor of employment of the Works Progress Administration for 13 Minnesota counties.
Swenson was a farmer from Nicollett, sitting state Representative (HD 20, 1913-1915; HD 15, 1915-1933), and eventual state Senator (SD 15, 1936-1951).
Kraus was a resident of Robbinsdale.
Nygard was an unemployed former mine worker from Crosby and candidate for President of the Crosby Village Council in 1930 and 1931. Nygard was nominated by petition. Nygard was subsequently elected President of the Crosby Village Council (the equivalent of mayor) in December 1932, becoming the first communist mayor in the United States.