Secretary of State, 1970 Election
General
| Date: | November 3, 1970 |
| Cycle: | 1970 |
| Office: | Secretary of State |
| State: | Minnesota |
| District: | Statewide |
| Candidate | Gender | Party | Votes | Percent | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlen I. Erdahl | Man | Republican | 667,294 | 50.38 | +0.77 |
| Daniel D. Donovan | Man | Democratic-Farmer-Labor | 657,153 | 49.62 |
This election was the second closest race for Secretary of State in Minnesota history, behind only Republican incumbent Samuel Jennison's 0.73-point victory over Democrat-Anti-Monopoly nominee John Stevens in 1847.
Erdahl was a farmer from Blue Earth and a state Representative (HD 10, 1963-1967; HD 10A, 1967-1971).
Donovan was a St. Paul brewery worker, nominee for HD 37 in 1954, 1956, and 1958, nominee for HD 49 in 1962, and candidate for HD 44A in 1968.
Sources
- State of Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1971-1972 (p. 479).