1950 Minnesota gubernatorial election
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1950 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1950. Republican incumbent Luther Youngdahl defeated Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party challenger Harry H. Peterson. Youngdahl secured a third term in office.
.jpg)
 | |||||||||||||||||
November 7, 1950
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
 County results Youngdahl: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Peterson: 40–50% 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Republican Primary
Youngdahl was renominated.
Candidates
Nominated
- Luther Youngdahl, Incumbent
Eliminated in Primary
- Arthur B. Gilbert, President of the Recovery League of Minnesota
- August Scramstad, Railroad tower worker
- John Haluska, Hotel clerk
- Walter G. Olson, Golf course manager
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Luther Youngdahl | 309,022 | 89.79% | |
| Republican | Walter G. Olson | 13,456 | 3.91% | |
| Republican | Arthur B. Gilbert | 10,156 | 2.95% | |
| Republican | August Scramstad | 6,230 | 1.81% | |
| Republican | John Haluska | 5,307 | 1.54% | |
| Total votes | 344,171 | 100% | ||
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Primary
Peterson was nominating, defeating 1948 nominee Charles Halsted. Halsted, a member of the party's right-wing, accused Peterson of being a communist. Peterson's campaign was able to dispell the accusations by referencing that former governor Floyd Olson was also accused of communism; and that the actual Communist Party had denounced Peterson as 'Capitalistic'.[2] Following his defeat in the primary, Halsted endorsed Peterson.[3]
Candidates
Nominated
- Harry H. Peterson, Former Minnesota Attorney General and judge on the Minnesota Supreme Court
Eliminated in Primary
- August Peterson, Ironworker
- Charles Halsted, Former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
- Hjalmar Petersen, Former governor
- James Dougherty, Switchman
- Joseph A. Ryan
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Harry H. Peterson | 107,357 | 47.48% | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Charles Halsted | 59,279 | 26.22% | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Hjalmar Petersen | 24,569 | 10.87% | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Joseph A. Ryan | 14,643 | 6.48% | |
| Democratic (DFL) | James Dougherty | 10,423 | 4.61% | |
| Democratic (DFL) | August Peterson | 9,853 | 4.36% | |
| Total votes | 344,171 | 100% | ||
Candidates
- Harry H. Peterson, Former Minnesota Attorney General and judge on the Minnesota Supreme Court (DFL)
- Luther Youngdahl, Incumbent (Republican)
- Vernon Campbell, Beauty shop proprietor (Industrial Government)
Campaigns
Youngdahl received support from the presidents of Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Olaf College, Carleton College, Hamline University, Augsburg College, and Macalester College.[5]
Youngdahl expanded his ongoing campaign against gambling in the state. Youngdahl's administration had already enacted strict regulations on gambling. Youngdahl believed that continuing his campaign against gambling would succeed in curbing the organized crime he claimed relied on it for income.[6]
Peterson attempted to appeal to the labor vote, including to small business owners, and members of cooperatives. Peterson claimed that Republicans were fiscally irresponsible, and that taxes were unfairly placed on the individual while lifted on businesses.[7]
Peterson intended to expand the tourism industry in Minnesota. Peterson felt that Minnesota was falling behind Wisconsin an Michigan and not properly capitalizing on potential tourists from the Great Plains.[8]
On October 17, 1950, the St. Paul League of Women Voters organized a shared event attended by Peterson and Youngdahl. Each candidate had the opportunity to give a 15 minute speech, and to take questions from the audience.[9]
Polling
This election was the third gubernatorial election in Minnesota in which a straw poll was conducted. The previous one was conducted in 1934. The poll predicted a nearly tied election, with 11,003 straw votes for Peterson and 11,005 straw votes for Youngdahl.
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Harry Peterson (DFL) |
Luther Youngdahl (R) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Lyon's Annual Straw Ballot[10] | August 30 – September 1, 1950 | 22,008 | – | 49.995% | 50.005% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Luther Youngdahl (incumbent) | 635,800 | 60.75% | +7.59% | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Harry H. Peterson | 400,637 | 38.28% | −6.79% | |
| Industrial Government | Vernon Campbell | 10,195 | 0.97% | +0.43% | |
| Majority | 235,163 | 22.47% | |||
| Turnout | 1,046,632 | ||||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||