Lieutenant Governor, 1954 Election
General
| Date: | November 2, 1954 |
| Cycle: | 1954 |
| Office: | Lieutenant Governor |
| State: | Minnesota |
| District: | Statewide |
| Candidate | Gender | Party | Votes | Percent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karl Rolvaag | Man | Democratic-Farmer-Labor | 586,445 | 52.41 | +4.83 |
| P. Kenneth (P.K.) Peterson | Man | Republican | 532,444 | 47.59 |
This marked the first victory by a Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor since William Holcombe in 1857. Rolvaag was a life insurance agent from Rochester, former state DFL chairman, and three-time DFL U.S. House nominee for the 1st (1946, 1948) and 5th (1952) CDs.
Peterson was a resident of Minneapolis, former Chair of the Minnesota Republican Party (1950-1953), and sitting state Representative (HD 34, 1947-1955).
Sources
- The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota, 1955 (p. 534).