Governor, 1938 Election

General

Date: November 8, 1938
Cycle: 1938
Office: Governor
State: Minnesota
District: Statewide
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent Margin
Harold E. Stassen Man Republican 678,839 59.92 +25.74
Elmer A. Benson Incumbent Man Farmer-Labor 387,263 34.18
Thomas F. Gallagher Man Democrat 65,875 5.81
John William Castle Man Industrial 899 0.08

Governor Benson was the first incumbent to lose a reelection bid since Republican Adolph Eberthart in 1914 and first incumbent to lose a general election since Democrat-People’s Governor John Lind in 1900.

Stassen was District Attorney of Dakota County (1931-1938). Gallagher was a Minneapolis attorney and Democratic nominee for Attorney General in 1936 who was later elected to the Minnesota Supreme Court where he served four terms (1943-1967).

Castle was a resident of Winona, painter and decorator, and Industrial gubernatorial nominee in 1940. Castle was nominated by petition.

Sources

  • The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota, 1939 (Abstract of Votes Polled for State Officers By Counties).