Governor, 1948 Election
General
| Candidate | Gender | Party | Votes | Percent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luther Youngdahl Incumbent | Man | Republican | 643,572 | 53.15 | +8.08 |
| Charles L. (C.L.) Halsted | Man | Democratic-Farmer-Labor | 545,766 | 45.07 | |
| Orville Olson | Man | Progressive | 14,950 | 1.23 | |
| Rudolph Gustafson | Man | Industrial Government | 6,598 | 0.54 | |
| Stafford King | Man | Write-In | 8 | 0.00 |
Governor Youngdahl was reelected to a second term.
Halsted was a grocer from Brainerd and former state Representative (HD 53, 1937-1947; 1953-1967).
Olson, a resident of Minneapolis, was director of personnel for the state highway department under Governor Elmer Benson (1937-1939), organized and headed the Independent Voters of Minnesota (1945-1948), and was the state chair of Henry Wallace's 1948 presidential campaign. He was nominated by petition.
Gustafson was a resident of Duluth and Industrial Government nominee for Governor in 1946, 1956, and 1960. He was nominated by petition.
Sources
- The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota, 1949 (Abstract of Votes Polled for State Officers By Counties).