1924 Minnesota gubernatorial election

1924 Minnesota gubernatorial election
November 4, 1924
 
Nominee Theodore Christianson Floyd B. Olson Carlos Avery
Party Republican Farmer–Labor Democratic
Popular vote 406,692 366,029 49,353
Percentage 48.71% 43.84% 5.91%
County results
Christianson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Olson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Governor before election

J. A. O. Preus
Republican

Elected Governor

Theodore Christianson
Republican

The 1924 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1924. Republican Party of Minnesota candidate Theodore Christianson defeated Farmer–Labor Party challenger Floyd B. Olson.

Republican Primary

Incumbent Republican J.A.O. Preus was not running for a third term, and had no chosen successor.

Candidates

Nominated

Eliminated in Primary


Farmer-Labor Primary

The Farmer-Labor Party was divided between the Progressive faction and the Communist faction, colloquially referred to as the 'Red' faction. The nomination's winner, Floyd B. Olson, was a member of the Progressive faction.[2]

Candidates

Nominated

Eliminated in Primary

Democratic Primary

Lambrecht withdrew from the race on May 14, 1924, to save the state the money that would be needed for a primary election. Avery became the unanimous nominee by default.[4]

Candidates

Nominated

Withdrawn

  • Michael Lambrecht, pacifist and wallpaper hanger

Candidates

Campaigns

Christianson officially opened his campaign on September 20th. Christianson received endorsements from incumbent governor J.A.O. Preus and Representative Thomas D. Schall. Christianson's campaign was focused on "No compromise with Socialism in any of its disguises." Christianson believed that the Farmer-Labor policies of state-owned railroads and utilities would bring the country into debt. Instead, Christianson proposed that the state's finances should be redirected to funding education.[5] Christianson would be the first gubernatorial candidate to campaign towards women, speaking at local women Republican gatherings.[6]

Olson and the Farmer-Labor party as a whole was branded as 'socialist and radical' by Republican journalists.[2]

Olson would attack Christianson on his tax and financial policy. Christianson campaigned on the slogan of 'More Ted, less taxes'. Olson argued that as a member of the legislature, Christianson was partially responsible for the taxes he was now campaigning against, and had proposed no actual plan to financially restructure the state other than lowering taxes. Olson focused on internal changes to be made to the state, such as advocating for the elimination of the position of Surveyor General of Logs and State Timber Agent, as the duties of both position were already supposed to be carried out by the Attorney General.[7]

Democratic nominee Carlos Avery dismissed the Farmer-Labor party as a party of "misguided fledglings." Avery positioned himself as a reformer, hoping to be a alternative for progressive voters put off by the socialist factions of the Farmer-Labor party. Avery campaigned on an extensive policy of limited government and internal reform, a strong environmentalist policy (including supporting a state constitutional amendment mandating that forests could not be cleared for farmland) a massive irrigation effort for agriculture, new funding for highways and public transportation, and the expansion of welfare.[8]

Results

1924 Gubernatorial Election, Minnesota
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Theodore Christianson 406,692 48.71% +3.49%
Farmer–Labor Floyd B. Olson 366,029 43.84% +0.71%
Democratic Carlos Avery 49,353 5.91% −5.75%
Prohibition Michael Ferch 9,052 1.08% n/a
Industrial Oscar Anderson 3,876 0.46% n/a
Majority 40,663 4.87%
Turnout 835,002
Republican hold Swing

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Christianson in the lead". June 17, 1924.
  2. ^ a b "OLSON IN DISFAVOR FOR RED LEANINGS". St. Paul Pionner Press. October 19, 1924.
  3. ^ "William Schaper Candidate". Retrieved March 2, 2026.
  4. ^ "LAMBRECHT GIVES UP RACE FOR GOVERNOR". St. Paul Pioneer Press. May 15, 1924.
  5. ^ "CHRISTIANSON PLEDGES PROGRAM OF ECONOMY". St. Paul Pioneer Press. September 20, 1924.
  6. ^ "WOMEN WILL HEAR CHRISTIANSON MONDAY". St. Paul Pioneer Press. June 4, 1924.
  7. ^ "OLSON FLIPS BRICKS AT POLITICAL FOES". St. Paul Pioneer Press. August 20, 1924.
  8. ^ "AVERY BLAMES G. O. P. FOR CAPITAL "SCANDALS"; PROMISES PROGRAM OF ECONOMY IF ELECTED". St. Paul Pioneer Press. October 1, 2014.


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