Secretary of State Holm was reelected to his 16th and final term. Holm did not complete his term as he passed away on July 6, 1952. His service in the office of 31 years, 6 months, 3 days is a state record. Governor C. Elmer Anderson initially appointed Assistant Secretary of State H.H. Chesterman to the position on July 7, 1952. However, Holm's wife of six years - Virginia Holm - had wanted the appointment and then ran and won two primaries on September 9, 1952 (for the unexpired and expiring terms) filing under the name "Mrs. Mike Holm." Less than a week later, Governor Anderson then un-appointed Chesterman and appointed the widow to her late-husband's seat where she served until January 1955.
McGuire was a resident of St. Paul and executive secretary of the Minnesota United Nations Committee.