1918 Minnesota gubernatorial election

1918 Minnesota gubernatorial election
November 5, 1918
 
Nominee J. A. A. Burnquist David H. Evans Fred Wheaton
Party Republican Farmer–Labor Democratic
Popular vote 166,515 111,948 76,793
Percentage 42.73% 28.73% 19.71%
County results
Burnquist:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Evans:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Wheaton:      30–40%
Governor before election

J. A. A. Burnquist
Republican

Elected Governor

J. A. A. Burnquist
Republican

The 1918 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1918. The incumbent Republican Party of Minnesota governor J. A. A. Burnquist defeated Farmer–Labor Party challenger David H. Evans. This is the first gubernatorial election in Minnesota with a Farmer–Labor candidate. The Democratic ticket nominated conservative Fred Wheaton, who ended third. Charles August Lindbergh unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination.

Republican Primary

Burnquist was challenged by Lindbergh in the primary, which was held on June 16, 1918.

Burnquist's campaign described the primary as "the American Stars and Stripes, or the black banner of sedition and the red rag of socialism?" Burnquist's campaign described Lindbergh as a socialist and an anarchist, and framed Burnquist as a patriotic and loyalist candidate in comparison. Lindbergh was an opponent of the First world war.

Lindbergh was endorsed by the Nonpartisan League.

The primary election was compared to the similarly heated and contested Republican primary of 1904, between Robert C. Dunn and Loren W. Collins.[1]

Burnquist received an endorsement from former governor and then-senator Knute Nelson.[2]

Candidates

Results

Minnesota Republican gubernatorial primary results[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joseph A.A. Burnquist 199,325 56.96%
Republican Charles August Lindbergh 150,626 43.04%


Democratic Primary

The Democratic Party nominated Fred Wheaton on June 17, 1918, supported by conservative party leader Daniel W. Lawler.[4]

Supported by the Nonpartisan league was candidate Willard L. Comstock, who at first was in the lead but lost the nomination.[5]

Candidates

  • Fred Wheaton, Owner of the Pythian Advocate
  • Willard L. Comstock, Judge

Results

Minnesota Democratic gubernatorial primary results[6][7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Fred E. Wheaton 16,639 50.96%
Democratic Willard L. Comstock 16,010 49.04

State Labor Convention

The State Labor Convention was held on August 25, 1918, by a coalition of Labor Unions, Socialists, Independents, members of the Nonpartisan League, and some Democrats dissatisfied with the conservative wing of the party.[8] The Convention was led by progressive Democrat and former governor John Lind.[9]

Before the convention began, Howard Everett, Thomas J. Meighen, and George W. Lawson were considered as candidates for governor.[10]

David H. Evans was nominated as an independent candidate for governor. Evans was formerly a Democrat. Initially, Laurence C. Hodgson was suggested, and Evans was not nominated until delegates received words he would not run for governor.[8] Evans would then be nominated under the Nonpartisan League ticket.[9]

Campaigns

Following the nomination of Evans, attempts were made to convince Wheaton to withdraw his candidacy. Wheaton refused.[9] Wheaton considered withdrawing a "betrayal of his party".[11]

By October, the Evans campaign has organized into the 'Nonpartisan League and Labor' Ticket.[12] By November, the Evans campaign had finalized the foundation of the Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota. Evans was expected to finish third.[13]

Before the election, the Northwest Manager of the Continental Casualty Company, David H. (D.H.) Evans, needed to put out a statement that he was a different person from the David H. Evans nominated for governor, and not to vote for him. During David H. Evans' previous campaign, voters who know D.H. Evans believed he was running, and voted for him.[14]

Results

1918 Gubernatorial Election, Minnesota
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican J. A. A. Burnquist (incumbent) 166,515 42.73% −20.21%
Farmer–Labor David H. Evans 111,948 28.73% n/a
Democratic Fred Wheaton 76,793 19.71% −4.13%
Socialist L. P. Berot 7,794 2.00% −4.73%
National Olaf O. Stageberg 6,648 1.71% n/a
Majority 54,567 14.00%
Turnout 389,698
Republican hold Swing

See also

References

  1. ^ "BURNQUIST LEADERS CLAIM VICTORY BY 15,000 TO 60,000". June 16, 1918.
  2. ^ "NELSON URGES ALL TO VOTE FOR BURNQUIST". June 9, 1918.
  3. ^ Shmahl, Julius (1919). Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1919 (PDF).
  4. ^ "NOMINATES WHEATON". March 28, 1918.
  5. ^ "COMSTOCK AHEAD OF WHEATON". June 18, 1918.
  6. ^ "Fred E. Wheaton".
  7. ^ "Willard F. Comstock".
  8. ^ a b "DAVID EVANS, DEMOCRAT, OF TRACY, INDORSED BY LABOR MEN FOR GOVERNOR". St. Paul Pioneer Press. August 26, 1918.
  9. ^ a b c "CHOOSING OF EVANS SPLITS DEMOCRATS". St. Paul Pioneer Press. August 27, 1918.
  10. ^ "HARD FIGHT FOR WHEATON". August 25, 1918.
  11. ^ "WHEATON REFUSES TO "BETRAY" PARTY". August 30, 1918.
  12. ^ "EVANS CITES POLICY". St. Paul Pioneer Press. October 6, 1918.
  13. ^ "THINK WHEATON SECOND". November 6, 1918.
  14. ^ "D. H. EVANS NOT IN RACE". November 4, 1918.


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