Governor, 1974 Election

General

Date: November 5, 1974
Cycle: 1974
Office: Governor
State: Minnesota
District: Statewide
Candidate Gender Running mate Party Votes Percent Margin
Wendell (Wendy) Anderson Incumbent Man Rudy (R.G.) Perpich (Man) Incumbent Democratic-Farmer-Labor 786,787 62.80 +33.45
John Warren Johnson Man Dwaine Hoberg (Man) Republican 367,722 29.35
Jim Miles Man Laura Miles (Woman) Independent 60,150 4.80
Harry Pool Man Elvera (Mrs. Carl) Jasperson (Woman) American 20,454 1.63
Jane Van Deusen Woman Ralph Schwartz (Man) Socialist Workers 9,232 0.74
Erwin Marquit Man James Flower (Man) Communist 3,570 0.28
Genevieve Gunderson Woman Karl H. Heck (Man) Industrial Government 2,720 0.22
Richard Kleinow Man Claudia Jensen (Woman) Libertarian 2,115 0.17
Tom McDonald Man Write-In 71 0.01

This is the first Minnesota guberntorial election with eight candidates on the ballot. Governor Anderson and Lieutenant Governor Perpich were reelected to a second term. Anderson resigned on December 29, 1976 after U.S. Senator Walter Mondale resigned to become Vice-President. Lieutenant Governor Rudy Perpich succeeded Anderson and then appointed him to Mondale’s vacant seat.

Johnson was a resident of Minneapolis, Executive Vice President of the American Collectors Association, and state Representative (HD 37, 1967-1973; HD 58A, 1973-1975); Hoberg was Mayor of Moorhead and later a state Representative (HD 09A, 1979-1984).

Jim Miles was an electrical engineer; Laura Miles was his wife and a non-practicing attorney. They were nominated by petition.

Pool was the Mayor of Independence; Jasperson was a resident of Willmar and state campaign director of 1972 American Party presidential nominee John Schmitz. They were nominated by petition.

Van Deusen was a registered nurse from Minneapolis; Schwartz was a junior high school science teacher from St. Paul. They were nominated by petition.

Marquit was professor of Physics at the University of Minnesota and a resident of Minneapolis; Flower was a retired building tradesman from Minneapolis. They were nominated by petition.

Gunderson was a resident of Minneapolis and Socialist Labor Vice-Presidential nominee in 1972; Heck was a resident of White Bear Lake, Industrial Government nominee for Governor in 1970, and nominee for U.S. Senate in 1972. They were nominated by petition.

Kleinow was a resident of North Oaks and Jensen was a resident of Apple Valley – the first Libertarians to appear on a Minnesota ballot. They were nominated by petition.

Sources

  • State of Minnesota General Election Results 1974, Office of Secretary of State (p. 9).