Polk County

Polk County is located in Northwestern Minnesota along the North Dakota border and was established on July 20, 1858 by the State Legislature. The county was created from the now defunct Pembina County. Polk County is named for President James K. Polk (1845-1849) who signed the Organic Act organizing the Minnesota Territory on March 3, 1849. Crookston is the county seat. Sources: Polk County website. Minnesota Geographic Names, by Warren Upham (Minnesota Historical Society, 1969).

Notable candidates from Polk County include:

  • Russell Anderson (resident): Supreme Court Associate Justice (1998-2006) and Chief Justice (2006-2008)
  • Joseph H. Ball (born): Republican U.S. Senator (1940-1942, 1943-1949)
  • Richard Thompson Buckler (resident): State Senator (1915-1919, 1923-1927, 1931-1935) and Farmer-Labor U.S. Representative (1935-1943)
  • Charles E. Elmquist (born): Republican Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner (1909-1917)
  • Harold C. Hagen (born, resident): Farmer-Labor/Republican U.S. Representative (1943-1955)
  • Fallon Kelly (born): Supreme Court Associate Justice (1970-1980)
  • Charles Loring (resident): Supreme Court Associate Justice (1930-1944) and Chief Justice (1944-1953)
  • Leroy Matson (born): Supreme Court Associate Justice (1945-1960)
  • Conrad G. Selvig (resident): Republican U.S. Representative (1927-1933)
  • Halvor Steenerson (resident): Republican State Senator and U.S. Representative (1903-1923)
  • Gustaf Youngquist (resident): Republican Attorney General (1928-1929)


Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Legislative Districts

Congressional Districts
Starting Ending Districts
1858 1863 At-Large
1863 1873 CD 02
1873 1883 CD 03
1883 1893 CD 05
1893 1903 CD 07
1903 1933 CD 09
1933 1935 At-Large
1935 1963 CD 09
1963 2033 CD 07
Senate Districts
Starting Ending Districts
1861 1872 SD 03
1872 1882 SD 41
1882 1891 SD 45
1891 1899 SD 51
1899 1915 SD 62
1915 1973 SD 66
1973 1983 SD 01, 02
1983 1993 SD 02
1993 2013 SD 01, 02
2013 2033 SD 01
House Districts
Starting Ending Districts
1861 1872 HD 03
1872 1882 HD 41
1882 1891 HD 45
1891 1899 HD 51
1899 1915 HD 62
1915 1967 HD 66
1967 1973 HD 66A, 66B
1973 1983 HD 01B, 02A, 02B
1983 1993 HD 02A, 02B
1993 2013 HD 01B, 02A, 02B
2013 2033 HD 01B

Candidates

Candidate Birth county Residence county Elections
Aakhus, Jeffrey J. Polk Beltrami 1996, State House, District 04A, General (Republican, Lost)
1996, State House, District 04A, Primary (Republican, Won)
1994, State House, District 04A, General (Independent-Republican, Lost)
1994, State House, District 04A, Primary (Independent-Republican, Won)
Affeldt, Leland A. Out of state Polk 1966, State House, District 66A, Primary (Nonpartisan, Lost)
1964, State House, District 66, Primary (Nonpartisan, Lost)
1960, State House, District 66, General (Nonpartisan, Lost)
1958, State House, District 66, General (Nonpartisan, Lost)
1956, State House, District 66, General (Nonpartisan, Won)
1954, State House, District 66, General (Nonpartisan, Won)
1952, State House, District 66, General (Nonpartisan, Lost)
Aker, Knute S. Out of state Polk 1914, State House, District 66, General (Nonpartisan, Lost)
1910, State House, District 62, General (Republican, Won)
Anderson, Juls J. Out of state Ramsey Saint Louis Watonwan Polk 1942, Lieutenant Governor, General (Farmer-Labor, Lost)
1942, Lieutenant Governor, Primary (Farmer-Labor, Won)
1924, Lieutenant Governor, Primary (Farmer-Labor, Lost)
1922, State Senate, District 09, Primary (Nonpartisan, Lost)
1918, State House, District 58, Primary (Nonpartisan, Lost)
1916, U.S. House, District 08, General (Socialist, Lost)
Anderson, Russell Beltrami Polk 2000, Supreme Court Associate Justice, General (Nonpartisan, Won)
Ansbacher, Cindy Hennepin Polk 2022, State House, District 01B, General (Democratic-Farmer-Labor, Lost)
2020, State House, District 01B, General (Democratic-Farmer-Labor, Lost)
Aspen, Ole J. Out of state Polk 1938, State House, District 66, General (Nonpartisan, Lost)
1936, State House, District 66, General (Nonpartisan, Lost)
Bakken, O.P. Polk Mower 1942, State House, District 05, General (Nonpartisan, Lost)
Ball, Joseph H. Polk Ramsey 1948, U.S. Senate, General (Republican, Lost)
1948, U.S. Senate, Primary (Republican, Won)
1942, U.S. Senate, General (Republican, Won)
1942, U.S. Senate, Primary (Republican, Won)
Beiswenger, Ed Polk Polk 1974, State House, District 02A, General (Independent Conservative, Lost)