1970 Election Cycle

Four major statewide offices changed partisan hands this cycle – three from Republican to DFL. Partisan control of the Governor’s office flipped for a state record fourth consecutive cycle with state Senator Wendell Anderson defeating Attorney General Douglas Head. The DFL flipped the open seat for Lieutenant Governor with Hibbing dentist Rudy Perpich winning the last standalone election for the office. Beginning in 1974, Governors would be elected with a Lieutenant Governor running mate on a single ticket. The DFL also flipped the open seat for Attorney General behind former state party chair Warren Spannaus. Republican state Representative Arlen Erdahl picked up the open seat for Secretary of State. Republican Treasurer Val Bjornson won an eighth and final nonconsecutive term and fellow party member Rolland Hatfield held the open Auditor seat. DFL Public Service Commissioner Ron Anderson was also reelected.

Former Vice-President Hubert Humphrey returned to the U.S. Senate with a decisive 16-point victory over Republican Congressman Clark MacGregor holding DFLer Eugene McCarthy’s seat.

In U.S. House elections, Bob Bergland unseated six-term Republican Congressman Odin Langen in the 7th CD to draw the DFL even with the GOP at four seats each in the state delegation.

In non-partisan races, Chief Justice Oscar Knutson and Associate Justice Walter Rogosheske were reelected to the Supreme Court.