Senator Shipstead became the fifth incumbent U.S. Senator to lose reelection joining Democrat James Shields in 1859, Democrat Charles Towne in 1901, Republican Moses Clapp in 1916, and Republican Frank Kellogg in 1922.
Thye was a farmer from Northfield, former Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture (1939-1942), Lieutenant Governor (1943), and sitting Governor (1943-1947).
Peterson was a painter from Minneapolis, a Republican candidate for Governor in 1944, 1952, and 1970, a Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1956 and 1960, and a DFL candidate for Governor in 1966.
Schilling was a retired farm leader from Northfield and Republican nominee for SD 28 in 1910.
Krause was a resident of Lakeville.