McDonough was an attorney from St. Paul, former state Representative (HD 38, 1925-1935), Democratic U.S. House nominee for the 4th CD in 1934, DFL candidate for Governor in 1946, and sitting Mayor of St. Paul (1940-1948).
Sullivan was a resident of Appleton and candidate for CD 07 in 1950 and 1952.
Anderson was a resident of New York Mills.
Frederickson was a resident of Shevlin. He was endorsed by the Progressive (Henry Wallace) wing of the DFL. He ran as a Progressive in the 1952 gubernatorial election.
Falk was a resident of Wheaton who ran for the U.S. House five times: under the Pensions for Everybody party in the 7th CD in 1938, as a Farmer-Laborite in 1942 in the 9th CD, as a DFLer in the 8th CD in 1944 and 1946, and as a Republican in the 7th CD in 1970. Falk also ran for HD 48 in 1936, 1940, and as a write-in candidate in 1948 following his loss in this primary.
Tinge was former Farmer-Labor Party state chairman, a resident of St. Paul, and DFL-endorsed candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1944.
Hoppenstadt was a resident of St. Paul and non-partisan candidate for HD 41 in 1944.