Lieutenant Governor State Executive Office

Elections: 1857-present. Elections for Lieutenant Governor were held for two-year terms in odd-numbered years beginning in 1857. A constitutional amendment was passed in 1883 requiring state elections to be held in even-numbered years beginning in 1886 with the winner in 1883 serving a three-year term. From 1886 through 1960, the term for Lieutenant Governor remained two years - increasing to four years in 1962. Beginning in 1974, the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor were elected jointly on a single ticket. Primaries for Lieutenant Governor were first held in September 1912. There have never been term limits for this office.

Most recent elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/03/1970 Lieutenant Governor General Rudy (R.G.) Perpich (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 671,749 votes (50.65%) and a winning margin of +1.30
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Rudy (R.G.) Perpich Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 671,749 50.65
Ben Boo Man Republican 654,486 49.35

This was the last election in which the office of Lieutenant Governor appeared as a stand-alone office. Beginning in 1974, nominees for Governor and Lieutenant Governor ran as running mates on a single ticket.

Perpich was a dentist from Hibbing. He received the DFL endorsement.

Boo was the Mayor of Duluth (1967-1975).

See more details »
09/15/1970 Lieutenant Governor Primary Rudy (R.G.) Perpich (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 187,612 votes (51.20%) and a winning margin of +18.68
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Rudy (R.G.) Perpich Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 187,612 51.20
Dick Franson Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 119,177 32.52
William T. Heine Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 59,629 16.27

Perpich was a dentist from Hibbing. He received the DFL endorsement.

Franson was a former Minneapolis alderman and soon to be perennial candidate. During this cycle he was on active duty with the Navy Seabees in Vietnam.

Heine was a former bar owner in St. Paul and perennial candidate who also launched unsuccessful campaigns for the state House (1962, 1982), state Senate (1960, 1966), U.S. House (1964, 1968, 1974), U.S. Senate (1984), and Governor (1986).

See more details »
09/15/1970 Lieutenant Governor Primary Ben Boo (Republican) won with 149,549 votes (65.82%) and a winning margin of +31.64
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Ben Boo Man Republican 149,549 65.82
Harold G. (Hal) Krieger Man Republican 77,664 34.18

Boo was the Mayor of Duluth (1967-1975).

Krieger was an attorney from Rochester and state Senator (SD 04, 1963-1973; SD 33, 1973-1975).

See more details »
11/08/1966 Lieutenant Governor General Jim Goetz (Republican) won with 647,320 votes (51.07%) and a winning margin of +2.13
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Jim Goetz Man Republican 647,320 51.07
Robert E. (Bob) Short Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 620,293 48.93

Goetz was a radio station owner from Winona.

Short was a businessman from Minneapolis.

See more details »
09/13/1966 Lieutenant Governor Primary Jim Goetz (Republican) won with 133,289 votes (49.24%) and a winning margin of +22.84
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Jim Goetz Man Republican 133,289 49.24
J. Robert (Bob) Stassen Man Republican 71,452 26.39
Bruce D. (B.D.) Hasselberg Man Republican 65,964 24.37

Goetz was a radio station owner from Winona.

Stassen was the 1st CD Republican Chairman, candidate for Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner in 1956, and nephew of former Governor Harold Stassen (1939-1943). Bob Stassen would later serve in the state Senate (SD 52, 1973-1977). He was the nephew of former Governor Harold Stassn (1939-1943).

Hasselberg was a real estate salesman from Bloomington and the son of Bloomington Mayor Donald Hasselberg.

See more details »