The election for this seat was for the remainder of a six-year term ending in 1948.
Chase was a resident of Anoka, former Anoka municipal judge (1911-1916), deputy state Auditor (1916-1921), state Auditor (1921-1931), Republican gubernatorial nominee in 1930, U.S. Representative (At-large, 1933-1935), and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1940. Chase died in office on September 18, 1948. Former Commissioner Rollin Johnson was appointed to his seat by Governor Luther Youngdahl on October 5, 1948. Johnson was an attorney from Forest Lake, former state Representative (HD 43, 1925-1931, 1935-1943), and GOP candidate for Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner in 1942 and 1946.
Cosgrove was a resident of Minneapolis, cashier for the Great Northern Railway, Democratic nominee for Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner in 1936, 1938, 1940, and 1942, and DFL candidate for Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner in 1946.