1916 Minnesota gubernatorial election

1916 Minnesota gubernatorial election
November 7, 1916
 
Nominee J. A. A. Burnquist Thomas P. Dwyer
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 245,841 93,112
Percentage 62.94% 23.84%
 
Nominee J. O. Bentall Thomas J. Anderson
Party Socialist Prohibition
Popular vote 26,306 19,884
Percentage 6.73% 5.09%
County results
Burnquist:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Governor before election

J. A. A. Burnquist
Republican

Elected Governor

J. A. A. Burnquist
Republican

The 1916 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1916. Republican Party of Minnesota candidate J. A. A. Burnquist defeated Democratic Party of Minnesota challenger Thomas P. Dwyer.

Background

In 1914, Democratic candidate Winfield Scott Hammond was victorious. In December of 1915, Hammond would die in office. Lieutenant Governor Joseph A.A. Burnquist, a Republican, became governor. As of the 1916 election, he had been in office for less than a year. The Democrats lacked a strong candidate following Hammond's death.

Republican primary

Iverson, who had served as State Auditor for twelve years, challenged incumbent Burnquist, believing him to lack the appropriate experience to be an effective governor.[1]

The primary election was held on June 19, 1916.[2]

Candidates

Nominated

Eliminated in primary

Results

Republican Party of Minnesota primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joseph A. A. Burnquist (incumbent) 136,122 76.01%
Republican Samuel G. Iverson 42,955 23.99%
Total votes 179,077 100%

[3]

Democratic primary

On June 29, 1916, the official beginning of the primary was postponed until July 13, 1916. Despite this, frontrunner Thomas P. Dwyer decided to begin his campaign early, before being formally nominated.[4] Dwyer would win the nomination.

Candidates

Nominated

  • Thomas P. Dwyer, boilermaker[5]

Eliminated in primary

  • Cyrus M. King, chairman of Itasca County Board of Commissioners[5]
  • Sam D. Works, state insurance commissioner[5]

Results

Minnesota Democratic gubernatorial primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Thomas P. Dwyer 15,290 39.73%
Democratic Cyrus M. King 11,994 31.17%
Democratic S. D. Works 11,994 29.10%
Total votes 38,480 100%

Candidates

  • J.O. Bentall, former state Secretary of the Illinois Socialist Party (Socialist)
  • John P. Johnson, Chiropractor (Industrial Labor)
  • Joseph. A. A. Burnquist, Incumbent (Republican)
  • Thomas J. Anderson, Grocery Store owner (Prohibition)
  • Thomas P. Dwyer, Boilermaker (Democrat)

Campaigns

Following his nomination, opposition to his from within the party grew, with runner-up Cyrus M. King even attempting to organize a 'Independent Democracy' ticket. Party leaders decided to allow Dwyer to continue his run simply because they did not have a budget capable of fielding another candidate. Dwyer continued to sow division by campaigning against prohibition, while the candidate for lieutenant governor, Julius Thorson, campaigned as a prohibitionist.[6] Dwyer's nomination would be called "a good joke" by the St. Paul Pioneer Press.[7]

Dwyer's campaign suffered due to both factions of his party becoming dissatisfied with him, and most effort being put towards Woodrow Wilson's re-election campaign.[8]

Burnquist did not even launch his re-election campaign until October 21, 1916.[9]

Dwyer campaigned on raising the minimum wage to $0.25 an hour, and would free imprisoned iron worker strikers held in the Stillwater prison.[10]

Results

1916 gubernatorial election, Minnesota
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican J. A. A. Burnquist (incumbent) 245,841 62.94% +21.06%
Democratic Thomas P. Dwyer 93,112 23.84% −21.70%
Socialist J. O. Bentall 26,306 6.73% +1.72%
Prohibition Thomas J. Anderson 19,884 5.09% −0.32%
Industrial Labor John P. Johnson 5,476 1.40% +0.28%
Majority 152,729 39.10%
Turnout 390,619
Republican hold Swing

See also

References

  1. ^ "A Man's Record—Samuel G Iverson". June 16, 1916.
  2. ^ "STATE TICKET VOTE". June 20, 1916.
  3. ^ Schmahl, Julius A. (1917). Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1917 (PDF).
  4. ^ "T. P. Dwyer to Begin His Campaign at Once". June 30, 1916.
  5. ^ a b c Vasaly, Peter J. (May 26, 1916). "Candidates for Nomination on the Democratic State Ticket". Little Falls Herald. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  6. ^ "DWYER IS IN RACE TO STAY, CHIEFS SAY". August 27, 1916.
  7. ^ "Joke on the Factionalists". June 25, 1916.
  8. ^ "Dwyer in Hard Luck". October 8, 1916.
  9. ^ "GOVERNOR INDORSES HUGHES AND KELLOGG IN KEYNOTE SPEECH". October 22, 1916.
  10. ^ "T. P. DWYER URGES 25 CENTS AN HOUR AS MINIMUM WAGE". October 22, 1916.


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