Governor, 1948 Election

General

Date: November 2, 1948
Cycle: 1948
Office: Governor
State: Minnesota
District: Statewide
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent Margin
Luther Youngdahl Incumbent Man Republican 643,572 53.15 +8.08
Charles L. (C.L.) Halsted Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 545,766 45.07
Orville Olson Man Progressive 14,950 1.23
Rudolph Gustafson Man Industrial Government 6,598 0.54
Stafford King Man Write-In 8 0.00

Governor Youngdahl was reelected to a second term.

Halsted was a grocer from Brainerd and former state Representative (HD 53, 1937-1947; 1953-1967).

Olson, a resident of Minneapolis, was director of personnel for the state highway department under Governor Elmer Benson (1937-1939), organized and headed the Independent Voters of Minnesota (1945-1948), and was the state chair of Henry Wallace's 1948 presidential campaign. He was nominated by petition.

Gustafson was a resident of Duluth and Industrial Government nominee for Governor in 1946, 1956, and 1960. He was nominated by petition.

Sources

  • The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota, 1949 (Abstract of Votes Polled for State Officers By Counties).