1982 Minnesota gubernatorial election
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The 1982 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Governor Al Quie did not seek a second term. Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party candidate Rudy Perpich defeated Independent-Republican Party challenger Wheelock Whitney, Jr. Warren Spannaus unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination, while Lou Wangberg and Harold Stassen unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination. Perpich became the first candidate to receive over a million votes in a gubernatorial election in Minnesota.
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November 2, 1982
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 County results Perpich: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Whitney: 40–50% 50–60% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Independent-Republican primary
Candidates
- Harold Stassen, former Governor of Minnesota (1939–43), president of the University of Pennsylvania, and perennial candidate
- Running mate: Rollin Crawford, former mayor of West St. Paul
- Lou Wangberg, incumbent Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota since 1979
- Running mate: James Lindau, mayor of Bloomington
- Wheelock Whitney Jr., investment banker, nominee for U.S. Senate in 1964, and former mayor of Wayzata
- Running mate: Lauris Krenik, Madison Lake farmer and Regent of the University of Minnesota
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ind.-Republican | Wheelock Whitney Jr. | 185,801 | 60.07% | |
| Ind.-Republican | Lou Wangberg | 105,696 | 34.17% | |
| Ind.-Republican | Harold Stassen | 17,795 | 5.75% | |
| Total votes | 309,292 | 100.00% | ||
DFL primary
Candidates
- Rudy Perpich, former Governor of Minnesota (1976–79)
- Running mate: Marlene Johnson, St. Paul advertising and public relations executive
- Ellsworth W. Peterson, Tonka Bay aircraft mechanic
- Running mate: Christine Peterson, Bloomington waitress and daughter of Ellsworth Peterson
- Warren Spannaus, former Attorney General of Minnesota
- Running mate: Carl M. Johnson, state representative from St. Peter
Endorsements
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Rudy Perpich | 275,920 | 51.23% | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Warren Spannaus | 248,218 | 46.09% | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Ellsworth W. Peterson | 14,465 | 2.69% | |
| Total votes | 538,603 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Franklin Haws, St. Anthony physician and candidate for U.S. House in 1976 (Libertarian)
- Running mate: Charles W. Bates, systems analyst for General Mills from Plymouth
- Tom McDonald, perennial candidate from Minneapolis (Honest Government 87)
- Running mate: Earl Dettman, Minneapolis truck driver and perennial candidate
- Rudy Perpich, former Governor of Minnesota (1976–79) (DFL)
- Running mate: Marlene Johnson, St. Paul advertising and public relations executive
- Kathy Wheeler, unemployed iron miner (Socialist Workers)
- Running mate: Carole Lesnick, member of the United Paper Workers union from Minneapolis
- Wheelock Whitney Jr., investment banker, nominee for U.S. Senate in 1964, and former mayor of Wayzata (Independent-Republican)
- Running mate: Lauris Krenik, Madison Lake farmer and Regent of the University of Minnesota
The Wheeler-Lesnick ticket was the first all-woman gubernatorial ticket in Minnesota history.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Rudy Perpich | 1,049,104 | 58.76% | +13.46% | |
| Ind.-Republican | Wheelock Whitney, Jr. | 711,796 | 39.86% | −12.48% | |
| Socialist Workers | Kathy Wheeler | 10,332 | 0.58% | +0.18% | |
| Honest Government 87 | Tom McDonald | 7,984 | 0.45% | +0.18% | |
| Libertarian | Franklin Haws | 6,323 | 0.35% | +0.12% | |
| Majority | 337,308 | 18.89% | |||
| Turnout | 1,785,539 | ||||
| Democratic (DFL) gain from Ind.-Republican | Swing | ||||
