1942 Minnesota gubernatorial election

1942 Minnesota gubernatorial election
← 1940 November 3, 1942 1944 →
	County results; Stassen: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%; Peterson: 40–50% 50–60%
Governor before election; Harold Stassen; Republican	Elected Governor ; Harold Stassen; Republican

The 1942 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1942. Republican incumbent Harold Stassen defeated Farmer–Labor Party challenger Hjalmar Petersen. This was the last election in which the Democratic Party of Minnesota and the Farmer–Labor Party ran separate candidates; in 1944, both parties ran under the umbrella of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party.

Republican primary

Incumbent Harold Stassen faced primary opposition from two-time gubernatorial candidate Martin A. Nelson and Congressmember John G. Alexander.

Candidates

Nominated

Harold Stassen, incumbent

Eliminated in primary

John G. Alexander, former congressman for MN-03
Martin A. Nelson, attorney and Republican gubernatorial candidate in 1934 and 1936

Results

Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Harold Stassen	218,457	53.31%
	Republican	Martin A. Nelson	142,465	34.77%
	Republican	John G. Alexander	48,865	11.92%
Total votes			409,787	100%

^[1]

Farmer-Labor primary

The Farmer-Labor primary election was won by former governor Hjalmar Petersen, who was running a second time to re-take his former position as governor.

Candidates

Nominated

Hjalmar Petersen, former governor

Eliminated in primary

Edgar Bernard, darmer, Republican primary candidate in 1934, and Farmer-Labor primary candidate in 1936 and 1940
Paul A. Rasmussen, former state budget commissioner

Results

Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Farmer–Labor	Hjalmar Petersen	66,405	58.05%
	Farmer–Labor	Paul A. Rasmussen	39,362	34.41%
	Farmer–Labor	Edgar Bernard	8,627	7.54%
Total votes			114,394	100%

^[2]

Candidates

Harris A. Brandborg, farmer (Industrial Government)
Martin Mackie, labor organizer (Communist)
Hjalmar Petersen, former governor (Farmer-Labor)
Harold Stassen, incumbent (Republican)
John D. Sullivan, attorney (Democrat)

Campaigns

Stassen campaigned on expanding social welfare, notably old age pension, stating, "We will not make extravagant promises to our aged folks in a demagogic attempt to get votes, but we will steadily improve the old age assistance and we will administer it without favoritism for political views or race, or creeds or color."^[3]

Petersen criticized Stassen's 27.5% tax cut on mining companies, claiming that this lost the state approximately $3,000,000 in revenue.^[4] Sullivan, running on a similar platform, sent a letter to Petersen and the Farmer-Labor party office proposing that Petersen should drop out and a Fusion ticket should be created. Party Secretary Viena P. Johnson responded with a letter only acknowledging that the proposal had been received.^[5] Petersen and Sullivan broke mainly on the issue of war, with Petersen an isolationist and Sullivan a pro-war candidate.^[6]

Stassen was the "recommended candidate" chosen by the CIO. The CIO generally opposed Stassen's labor policies, but believed that due to the ongoing Second World War, Stassen's policies would best allow for Minnesota to contribute to the war effort. The CIO vice president went on to accuse Petersen of advocating for negotiating for peace with Adolf Hitler.^[7]

Petersen criticized Stassen as not caring for the farmers of the state, saying that wheat and grain priced were now about half of what they were in 1918, and citing Stassen's lack of concern for struggling farmers.^[8]

Results

1942 gubernatorial election, Minnesota
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Harold Stassen (incumbent)	409,800	51.60%	−0.47%
	Farmer–Labor	Hjalmar Petersen	299,917	37.76%	+1.21%
	Democratic	John D. Sullivan	75,151	9.46%	−1.67%
	Communist	Martin Mackie	5,082	0.64%	n/a
	Industrial Government	Harris A. Brandborg	4,278	0.53%	n/a
Majority			109,883	13.84%
Turnout			794,228
	Republican hold		Swing

References

↑ "Governor, 1942 Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive.
↑ "Governor, 1942 Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive.
↑ Parlin, L.D. (October 10, 1942). "3 MILLION STATE ORE TAX LOST, PETERSEN CHARGES". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
↑ Parlin, L.D. (September 1, 1942). "Stassen Offers Civil Service, Old Age, Labor Program". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
↑ "JOHN D. SULLIVAN". St. Paul Pioneer Press. October 7, 1942.
↑ "John D. Sullivan attacks Stassen, Ball and Hjalmar Petersen". St. Paul Pioneer Press. October 27, 1942.
↑ "CIO Workers Urged To Vote for Stassen, Petersen Criticized". St. Paul Pioneer Press. October 28, 1942.
↑ "Stassen With Wall St., Petersen Charges". St. Paul Pioneer Press. October 28, 1942.

External links

Minnesota Historical Election Archive

[1] "Governor, 1942 Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive.

[2] "Governor, 1942 Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive.

[3] Parlin, L.D. (October 10, 1942). "3 MILLION STATE ORE TAX LOST, PETERSEN CHARGES". St. Paul Pioneer Press.

[4] Parlin, L.D. (September 1, 1942). "Stassen Offers Civil Service, Old Age, Labor Program". St. Paul Pioneer Press.

[5] "JOHN D. SULLIVAN". St. Paul Pioneer Press. October 7, 1942.

[6] "John D. Sullivan attacks Stassen, Ball and Hjalmar Petersen". St. Paul Pioneer Press. October 27, 1942.

[7] "CIO Workers Urged To Vote for Stassen, Petersen Criticized". St. Paul Pioneer Press. October 28, 1942.

[8] "Stassen With Wall St., Petersen Charges". St. Paul Pioneer Press. October 28, 1942.

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Republican primary

Candidates

Nominated

Eliminated in primary

Results

Farmer-Labor primary

Candidates

Nominated

Eliminated in primary

Results

Candidates

Campaigns

Results

See also

References

External links