1958 Election Cycle

In the midst of a national Democratic wave, the DFL was able to pick up two of four seats they did not already hold on the ballot in partisan statewide races. DFL U.S. Representative Eugene McCarthy unseated Republican U.S. Senator Edward Thye to give Democrats control of both seats for the first time since 1859. Ron Anderson also flipped the Railroad and Warehouse Commission seat held by Wally Lund.

All four DFL incumbents cruised to double-digit victories: Governor Orville Freeman, Lieutenant Governor Karl Rolvaag, Secretary of State Joseph Donovan, and Attorney General Miles Lord. [Lord resigned in May 1960 and Freeman appointed Minneapolis attorney Walter Mondale to fill the vacancy]. Auditor Stafford King and Treasurer Val Bjornson narrowly held their seats for the Republican Party.

Republican August Andresen’s death in January 1958 prompted just the fourth special U.S. House election in state history. Al Quie held the 1st CD seat with a 602-vote win for the GOP in February. That November, Republicans flipped one seat to hold a 5-4 advantage in the state delegation after Odin Langen defeated 9th CD Congresswoman Coya Knutson.

Associate Justice Frank Gallagher was elected to his third term on the Supreme Court.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/04/1958 State House, District 67 General Everett Battles (Nonpartisan) won with 3,298 votes (66.24%) and a winning margin of +32.48
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Everett Battles Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 3,298 66.24
Clarence Wallin Man Nonpartisan 1,681 33.76
11/04/1958 State House, District 67 General Richard W. Fitzsimons (Nonpartisan) won with 4,855 votes (100.00%) and a winning margin of +100.00
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Richard W. Fitzsimons Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 4,855 100.00
11/04/1958 State House, District 67 General Victor L. Johnson (Nonpartisan) won with 2,357 votes (58.82%) and a winning margin of +17.64
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Victor L. Johnson Man Nonpartisan 2,357 58.82
Vern Holmquist Man Nonpartisan 1,650 41.18
11/04/1958 State House, District 66 General Harvey A. Wilder (Nonpartisan) won with 6,118 votes (25.84%) and a winning margin of +0.77
Harveydale Maruska (Nonpartisan) won with 6,117 votes (25.84%) and a winning margin of +0.76
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Harvey A. Wilder Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 6,118 25.84
Harveydale Maruska Man Nonpartisan 6,117 25.84
Leland A. Affeldt Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 5,936 25.07
Reuben H. Tweten Man Nonpartisan 5,506 23.25

Tweten was a farmer from Fosston and former state Representative (HD 66, 1947-1957).

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11/04/1958 State House, District 38 General Anthony (Al) Podgorski (Nonpartisan) won with 2,801 votes (100.00%) and a winning margin of +100.00
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Anthony (Al) Podgorski Incumbent Man Nonpartisan 2,801 100.00

South District.

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