Special election on November 3, 1936 for the unexpired term ending January 3, 1937 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Republican Thomas D. Schall on December 22, 1935. This election is one of four in Minnesota history without a Democratic candidate (1918, 1928, 1936).
Howard was a a resident of Minneapolis, former deputy registrar of motor vehicles for Hennepin County (1912-1934), candidate for the 10th CD in 1924, and candidate for Clerk of the Supreme Court in 1938.
Holmberg was a farmer from Renville, former state Representative (HD 22, 1907-1915), state Senator (SD 23, 1915-1919), Commissioner of Agriculture (1919-1931), Republican candidate for Governor in 1930, GOP nominee for an at-large U.S. House seat in 1932, and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 1934. Holmberg would later win election to the Minnesota Railroad and Warehouse Commission (1940-1951). Holmberg was nominated by petition.
Devold was an attorney from Minneapolis, former state Representative (HD 32, 1915-1919) and sitting state Senator (SD 32, 1919-1927, 1931-1940). Devold was endorsed by the Farmer-Laborites and was nominated by petition.
Alexander was a resident of Minneapolis involved in real estate and the insurance business, member of the Minnesota National Guard (1927-1937), Farmer-Labor candidate for an at-large U.S. House seat in 1932, and nominee for HD 30 in 1934. Alexander would serve as a U.S. Representative (CD 03, 1939-1941), run as an independent for the 3rd CD in 1940, as a Republican for Governor in 1942, and was an unsucessful Republican candidate for the 3rd CD in 1940, 1946, 1948, 1952, and 1956. Alexander was nominated by petition.