Lieutenant Governor, 1944 Election

Primary Republican

Date: July 10, 1944
Cycle: 1944
Office: Lieutenant Governor
State: Minnesota
District: Statewide
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent Margin
C. Elmer Anderson Man Republican 87,359 40.61 +23.76
A. Herbert Nelson Man Republican 36,238 16.84
J. Russell (J.R.) Sweitzer Man Republican 22,051 10.25
Harry E. Burns Man Republican 17,475 8.12
Raynold Johnson Man Republican 13,311 6.19
Robert L. Anderson Man Republican 10,458 4.86
John Meyer Man Republican 8,782 4.08
Frank J. Schmidt Man Republican 8,220 3.82
Louis E. Berg Man Republican 6,611 3.07
Fred S. Herring Man Republican 4,636 2.15

The 10 candidates on the Republican Lieutenant Governor primary ballot is the most in state history for the party.

Anderson was a resident of Brainerd, owner and president of a newspaper and magazine wholesaling business, and former Lieutenant Governor (1939-1943). At 26, Anderson was the youngest person to serve as Lieutenant Governor in Minnesota history.

Nelson was an insurance executive from Minneapolis and GOP candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1954.

Sweitzer was a contractor from St. Paul, former state Representative (HD 42, 1921-1937), and candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1936 and 1938.

Burns was an attorney from St. Cloud and former Benton and Stearns County Attorney.

Johnson was a merchant from Cloquet.

Anderson was a resident of St. Paul who worked in advertising and sales promotion.

John Meyer was a foundry manager from Minneapolis and a former member of the executive committe of the Minnesota Council of Agriculture.

Schmidt was a contracting company maintenance superintendent from St. Paul.

Berg was a resident of South St. Paul who worked in real estate and insurance businesses. He was a former state Representative (HD 20, 1927-1933) and state Senator (SD 20, 1935-1943).

Herring was an electical worker from St. Paul and GOP candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1946.

Sources

  • The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota, 1943 (p. 173).