Matson was a resident of St. Paul, St. Paul City Councilor, and former president of the Minnesota Police Association. Matson was appointed by Governor J.A.O. Preus to the seat following resignations by two of his predecessors: Commissioner Fred Putnam on May 1, 1923 (to become a member of the Minneapolis law firm Shaw, Safford & Shaw) and Commissioner Charles Sterling (to become the campaign manager for Judge Oscar Hallam in the special U.S. Senate election).
Hughes was a resident of Duluth.
Blomquist was a resident of Brooklyn Center and Democratic nominee for Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner in 1930.
Bendixen was a farmer from Morgan and sitting state Representative (HD 19, 1907-1911, 1913-1915; HD 14, 1915-1925).