Albert S. Falk Candidate

Born: October 5, 1891
Lake Park, Minnesota
Becker County
United States
Resided: Duluth, Minnesota
Saint Louis County


Wheaton, Minnesota
Traverse County
Death: August 10, 1973
Gender: Man
Occupation: Painter
Military Service: U.S. Navy, World War I (Musician 2nd Class Petty Officer, 1917).
Political Party: Pensions For Everybody; Farmer-Labor; Democratic-Farmer-Labor; Republican
Notes: Wheaton was a former tightrope walker. By 1938, Wheaton had been arrested 51 times for vagrancy, often sleeping in parks during his 'pensions for everybody' campaign in which he traveled more than 20,000 miles. During his 1938 U.S. House campaign he advocated paying $30 a month to every man and woman over 21. In 1952, he launched a presidential campaign under the "Santa Claus" banner. He was hopsitalized for mental illness multiple times. He was paroled from the Moose Lake State Hospital on January 31, 1947. He was committed to the St. Cloud Veterans Hospital on June 25, 1964 and released on October 19, 1965 after protesting he had been committed without due process of law. He became a peace crusader during his later years traveling the country handing out fliers.
Sources: Minnesota Historical Society Death Certificate Index (1973-MN-021602). World War II Draft Registration Card (January 31, 1947). United States Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File. United States Census, 1920. The Minneapolis Star, July 13, 1936 (p. 3). The Minneapolis Star, June 30, 1938 (p. 15). The Minneapolis Journal, October 3, 1938 (p. 2). The Minneapolis Star, August 4, 1966 (p. 6). The Minneapolis Star, August 17, 1973 (p. A2).
Photo of Albert S. Falk
Photo of Albert S. Falk
The Minneapolis Star, October 20, 1965 (p. C20).

Election Details

Number of state/federal offices sought Number of campaigns Number of winning campaigns
4 10 0
Date Election Stage Party Votes Percent Result
09/15/1970 U.S. House, District 07 Primary Republican 1,566 6.10% Lost
11/02/1948 State House, District 48 General Write-In 111 4.06% Lost
09/14/1948 Lieutenant Governor Primary Democratic-Farmer-Labor 16,497 7.64% Lost
07/08/1946 U.S. House, District 08 Primary Democratic-Farmer-Labor 812 2.69% Lost
07/10/1944 U.S. House, District 08 Primary Democratic-Farmer-Labor 3,828 18.88% Lost
09/08/1942 U.S. House, District 09 Primary Farmer-Labor 1,735 18.94% Lost
11/05/1940 State House, District 48 General Nonpartisan 201 6.53% Lost
11/08/1938 U.S. House, District 07 General Pensions for Everybody 4,742 4.09% Lost
11/03/1936 State House, District 48 General Nonpartisan 38 1.20% Lost
06/21/1926 State Senate, District 48 Primary Nonpartisan 1,106 13.29% Lost