1920 Minnesota gubernatorial election
November 2, 1920
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County results Preus: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Shipstead: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Tie: Preus/Shipstead 30–40% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Minnesota |
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The 1920 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1920. Republican Party of Minnesota candidate J. A. O. Preus defeated Independent challenger's Henrik Shipstead and the Mayor of St. Paul, Laurence C. Hodgson. Shipstead narrowly lost to Preus in the Republican primary of that year[1] and challenged him in the general, beating the Democratic nominee but coming far short of winning the general.
Shipstead would soon join the Farmer–Labor Party, which did not officially participate in this election, and would become the first party member to win statewide under that banner as Senator in 1922. The Farmer–Laborites would also become the main opposition party, replacing the Democrats, displacing them until the two parties' political union into the DFL in the 1944.
Democratic primary
The Democratic Primary election was held on June 21, 1920.[2]
Candidates
Nominated
Eliminated in primary
- Charles M. Andrist, businessman, former Chief of Staff to Governor Hammond, former University of Minnesota professor, Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1914[3]
- Robert W. Hargadine, former State Fire Marshal, former Campaign Manager for Governor John A. Johnson[4]
- Edward Indrehus, former State Representative, Democratic nominee for Secretary of State in 1918[5]
- Alfred Jaques, U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota[6]
- Oliver J. Quane, editor of the St. Peter Herald, Army Lieutenant Colonel in World War I, veteran of the Spanish-American War[7]
- Julius Thorson, Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1918, former State Representative[8]
Declined
- C. W. Stanton, district judge[9]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Laurence C. Hodgson | 11,114 | 40.17% | |
| Democratic | Robert W. Hargadine | 3,679 | 13.30% | |
| Democratic | Oliver J. Quane | 3,443 | 12.44% | |
| Democratic | Julius Thorson | 3,232 | 11.68% | |
| Democratic | Alfred Jaques | 2,179 | 7.88% | |
| Democratic | Charles M. Andrist | 2,038 | 7.37% | |
| Democratic | Edward Indrehus | 1,982 | 7.16% | |
| Total votes | 38,480 | 100% | ||
Republican primary
The Republican Primary election was held on June 21, 1920.[2]
Shipstead was endorsed by the Nonpartisan League and Arthur C. Townley. Preus's campaign in the primary was focused on emphasizing that firstly, Preus and Shipstead were the only ones with a chance in the general election, and secondly that Shipstead was a socialist in disguise as a Republican, and that he was the only candidate to stop the rise of what he called 'Townleyism'.[11] Preus's campaign slogan would become 'Down Socialism'. In a speech in Mankato, he described the primary as "Americanism versus Socialism."[12]
Candidates
Nominated
- J. A. O. Preus, State Auditor, former State Commissioner of Insurance[13]
Eliminated in primary
- Franklin F. Ellsworth, U.S. Representative, former County Attorney of Watonwan County[14]
- Thomas Frankson, Lieutenant Governor, former State Representative[15]
- Samuel G. Iverson, former State Auditor, former State Representative
- Thomas Keefe, businessman, attorney[16]
- Henrik Shipstead, former State Representative, former Mayor of Glenwood[17]
Withdrawn
- Michael J. Dowling, former Speaker of the Minnesota House, former Mayor of Olivia[18][19] (endorsed Preus[20])
- Dr. L. A. Fritsche, Mayor of New Ulm[21][22]
- Fred E. Hadley, editor of the Winnebago Enterprise, member of the Republican State Committee[23] (endorsed Preus[20])
- Dr. Frank Nelson, president of Minnesota College, former Kansas Superintendent[24][19] (endorsed Preus[20])
- W. F. Schilling, farmer[25]
- Julius A. Schmahl, Secretary of State[19]
Declined
- Ernest Lundeen, former U.S. Representative, former State Representative[21]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | J. A. O. Preus | 133,832 | 43.55% | |
| Republican | Henrik Shipstead | 125,861 | 40.96% | |
| Republican | Thomas Frankson | 27,421 | 8.92% | |
| Republican | Franklin F. Ellsworth | 7,754 | 2.52% | |
| Republican | Samuel G. Iverson | 7,383 | 2.40% | |
| Republican | Thomas Keefe | 5,060 | 1.65% | |
| Total votes | 195,202 | 100% | ||
Campaign
Following his defeat in the Republican primary, Shipstead would begin his campaign running as an independent on September 20, 1920.[26]
Preus would be successful among independents, who were the deciding demographic in the election. This was the first time a gubernatorial in Minnesota would be decided by independents.[27] On October 21, 1920, William J. Mayo, a Democrat, endorsed Preus.[28]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | J. A. O. Preus | 415,805 | 53.06% | +10.33% | |
| Independent | Henrik Shipstead | 281,402 | 35.91% | n/a | |
| Democratic | Laurence C. Hodgson | 81,293 | 10.37% | −9.33% | |
| Socialist | Peter J. Sampson | 5,124 | 0.65% | −1.35% | |
| Majority | 134,403 | 17.15% | |||
| Turnout | 783,624 | ||||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
See also
References
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MN Governor - R Primary Race - Jun 21, 1920". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
- ^ a b "PREUS IS LEADING SHIPSTEAD IN REPUBLICAN RACE; HODGSON AHEAD OF HARGADINE IN DEMOCRATIC TILT". St. Paul Pioneer Press. June 22, 1920.
- ^ "Andrist Files as Candidate for Governor". The Daily People's Press. April 9, 1920. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Hargadine to Make Run for Governor". The Daily People's Press. January 31, 1920. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ Akerson, George E. (March 23, 1920). "Dowling Files in State Race for Governor". The Minneapolis Morning Tribune. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Jacques and Patterson File for Governor". The Daily People's Press. May 13, 1920. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Quane Enters Race for Governorship". The Redwood Gazette. May 5, 1920. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Benson Democrat has filed for Governorship". The Duluth Herald. April 8, 1920. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Stanton Not a Candidate". International Falls Press and Border Budget. May 13, 1920. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ Holm, Mike (1921). Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1921 (PDF).
- ^ "PREUS WARNS OF SOCIALISTS MASKING AS REPUBLICANS". St. Paul Pioneer Press. June 20, 1920.
- ^ "DOWN SOCIALISM, IS PREUS SLOGAN". June 4, 1920.
- ^ "J. A. O. Preus Will Accept Endorsement". International Falls Press and Border Budget. April 29, 1920. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Judge Clague Leaves Ninth District Bench". The Minneapolis Morning Tribune. January 6, 1920. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Frankson, Thomas "Thos." - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.leg.mn.gov. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Keefe Files as Candidate for Governor". The Daily People's Press. January 4, 1920. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Shipstead, Henrik "Henrick" - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.leg.mn.gov. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ Miller, D. R. (April 15, 1920). "M. J. Dowling, Republican Candidate for Governor". Hector Mirror. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Schmahl's Withdrawal Stuns Redwood County". The Redwood Gazette. May 12, 1920. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ a b c "State G. O. P. General Committee Announced". The Minneapolis Morning Tribune. May 23, 1920. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ a b "Fritsche Seeks a Vindication in an Election". The Daily People's Press. April 16, 1920. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Fritsche Not to Run in Primaries". New Ulm Review. May 12, 1920. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "State Politics". Preston Times. May 6, 1920. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "The Political Graveyard: College and University President Politicians in Minnesota". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Another Gubernatorial Candidate". Levang's Weekly. April 8, 1920. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "SHIPSTEAD AGAIN SEEKS ELECTION". September 21, 1920.
- ^ "PREUS IS TAKING NONPARTY VOTES". October 23, 1920.
- ^ "DR. W.J. MAYO IN FAVOR OF PREUS". October 22, 1920.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - MN Governor Race - Nov 02, 1920". www.ourcampaigns.com.