1974 Election Cycle

The DFL held the offices of Governor (Wendell Anderson) and Lieutenant Governor (Rudy Perpich) in the first cycle during which both seats appeared on the ballot as a single ticket. Governor Anderson would resign on December 29, 1976 after U.S. Senator Walter Mondale resigned to become Vice-President. Lieutenant Governor Rudy Perpich succeeded Anderson and then appointed him to Mondale’s vacant seat.

Democrats enjoyed a post-Watergate boost which translated into flipping three constitutional offices: Minnetonka state Representative Joan Anderson Growe defeated Secretary of State Arlen Erdahl, law student Bob Mattson, Jr. unseated Auditor Rolland Hatfield, and Chanhassen state Senator Jim Lord secured the open seat for Treasurer after the retirement of Val Bjornson. Attorney General Warren Spannaus held his seat making it a clean sweep for the DFL this cycle.

The DFL also picked up the open 6th CD behind Rick Nolan to win five of the eight U.S. House seats this cycle.

In the first general election cycle with partisan elections to the state legislature, the DFL won 104 of 134 seats which remains the high water mark for the party.

All five Associate Justices of the Supreme Court on the ballot this cycle were victorious: James C. Otis, Lawrence Yetka, John Todd, Harry MacLaughlin, and George Scott. Each justice except for Otis were appointed by Governor Anderson.

Elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
12/23/1974 State House, District 12A Special Bruce Nelsen (Republican) won with 3,806 votes (59.04%) and a winning margin of +18.09
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Bruce Nelsen Man Republican 3,806 59.04
Guy Rice Doud Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 2,640 40.96

Special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of DFL Senator Melvin J. Miller on November 15, 1974 after he had just been elected to a second term on November 5, 1974.

See more details »
12/14/1974 State Senate, District 36 Special Robert J. (Bob) Schmitz (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 5,407 votes (53.17%) and a winning margin of +6.34
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Robert J. (Bob) Schmitz Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 5,407 53.17
Al Klingelhutz Man Republican 4,762 46.83

Special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of DFL Senator James Lord who resigned to become Minnesota Treasurer. Schmitz was a resident of Jordan and DFL 2nd District Chairman. Klingelhutz was a farmer from Chanhassen.

See more details »
12/09/1974 State House, District 12A Special Primary Bruce Nelsen (Republican) won with 748 votes (100.00%) and a winning margin of +100.00
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Bruce Nelsen Man Republican 748 100.00
See more details »
12/09/1974 State House, District 12A Special Primary Guy Rice Doud (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 1,265 votes (50.12%) and a winning margin of +21.83
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Guy Rice Doud Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 1,265 50.12
Allen J. Czech Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 714 28.29
Kenneth Skoog Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 394 15.61
Ron (Wendy) Wooden Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 111 4.40
Peter J. Hengel Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 40 1.58

Special primary election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of DFL Senator Melvin J. Miller on November 15, 1974 after he had just been elected to a second term on November 5, 1974.

See more details »
11/30/1974 State Senate, District 36 Special Primary Robert J. (Bob) Schmitz (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 1,130 votes (100.00%) and a winning margin of +100.00
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Robert J. (Bob) Schmitz Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 1,130 100.00

Special primary election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of DFL Senator James Lord who resigned after being elected Minnesota Treasurer. Schmitz was a resident of Jordan and DFL 2nd District Chairman.

See more details »