Senator Shipstead was renominated for a third term.
Shoemaker was a resident of Red Wing, former newspaper editor and publisher, and sitting U.S. Representative (At-large, 1933-1935). Shoemaker was also a Farmer-Labor nominee for the 3rd CD in 1930, the 7th CD in 1942, an independent candidate for the 8th CD in 1934, a Farmer-Labor candidate for the 8th CD in 1936, a Farmer-Labor candidate for the 7th CD in 1938 and 1940, a Republican candidate for the 7th CD in 1946, and a DFL candidate for the 7th CD in 1950. Shoemaker was also a DFL candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1952.