Senator Ball was a journalist from St. Paul. He did not run in the special election for the remaining two months of the unexpired term. Benson was a resident of Appleton, former state Commissioner of Securities (1933), Commissioner of Banks (1933-1935), appointed U.S. Senator (1935-1936), Governor (1937-1939), and U.S. Senate nominee in 1940.
Nelson was an attorney from Austin, GOP nominee for Governor in 1934 and 1936 and candidate in 1938 and 1942, GOP candidate for U.S. Senate in 1940, and Minnesota Supreme Court Justice (1953-1972). Nelson was nominated by petition.
Murphy was a resident of St. Paul and was the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1940.