Railroad & Warehouse Commissioner State Executive Office

Elections: 1900-1966. On March 5, 1885, the legislature created a three-member Railroad and Warehouse Commission with members appointed by the Governor. On March 6, 1899, the legislature provided for the election of members of the Commission to commence with the November 1900 general election. In the initial election, two of the three seats were elected to four-year terms with the third for a two-year term. From 1902 through 1910, commissioners were elected to four-year terms. On April 13, 1911 the legislature established that commissioners were elected to six-year terms with one seat up every two years. As such, for the two seats on the ballot in 1912, one seat was designated as a four-year term and the other as a six-year term. From 1914 through the last election for the office in 1966, commissioners were elected to six-year terms. On May 25, 1967, the legislature created the a three-member Public Service Commission under the Department of Public Service. Members from the Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner served out their term on the Commission. Primaries for Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner were first held in September 1912. There were never term limits for this office.

Most recent elections

Date Office Stage Winners Details
11/08/1966 Railroad & Warehouse Commissioner General P. Kenneth (P.K.) Peterson (Republican) won with 724,691 votes (58.05%) and a winning margin of +16.11
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
P. Kenneth (P.K.) Peterson Man Republican 724,691 58.05
William R. (W.R.) Youngdahl Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 523,613 41.95

The election for this seat was for a six-year term.

Peterson was a resident of Minneapolis, former Chair of the Minnesota Republican Party (1950-1953), former state Representative (HD 34, 1947-1955), former Mayor of Minneapolis (1957-1961), GOP nominee for U.S. Senate in 1960, and nominee for Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner in 1964.

Youngdahl was a contractor from Minneapolis DFL candidate for Public Service Commissioner in 1972.

See more details »
09/13/1966 Railroad & Warehouse Commissioner Primary William R. (W.R.) Youngdahl (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 135,490 votes (30.32%) and a winning margin of +11.54
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
William R. (W.R.) Youngdahl Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 135,490 30.32
Curtis B. (C.B.) Warnke Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 83,934 18.79
James G. (J.G.) Dooley Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 65,214 14.60
Severin Mortinson Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 57,468 12.86
Dick Franson Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 54,790 12.26
Emil S. (E.S.) Novak Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 49,905 11.17

Youngdahl was a contractor from Minneapolis DFL candidate for Public Service Commissioner in 1972.

Warnke was a printer from Wood Lake, sitting state Representative (HD 13, 1957-1963; HD 22, 1963-1967), and party-endorsed candidate.

Dooley was a chief railway clerk from St. Paul and union representative.

Mortinson was a bank promotion representative from St. Paul and former commissioner of public utilities and commissioner of auditoriums, libraries, and civic buildings in St. Paul.

Franson was an industrial salesman, former Minneapolis Alderman (12th Ward), and perennial candidate.

Novak was a real estate broker from New Brighton.

See more details »
09/13/1966 Railroad & Warehouse Commissioner Primary P. Kenneth (P.K.) Peterson (Republican) won with 268,679 votes (100.00%) and a winning margin of +100.00
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
P. Kenneth (P.K.) Peterson Man Republican 268,679 100.00

Peterson was a resident of Minneapolis, former Chair of the Minnesota Republican Party (1950-1953), former state Representative (HD 34, 1947-1955), former Mayor of Minneapolis (1957-1961), GOP nominee for U.S. Senate in 1960, and nominee for Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner in 1964.

See more details »
11/03/1964 Railroad & Warehouse Commissioner General Ronald L. (Ron) Anderson (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) won with 819,454 votes (55.59%) and a winning margin of +11.18
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
Ronald L. (Ron) Anderson Incumbent Man Democratic-Farmer-Labor 819,454 55.59
P. Kenneth (P.K.) Peterson Man Republican 654,705 44.41

The election for this seat was for a six-year term. Commissioner Anderson was reelected to a second term.

Peterson was a resident of Minneapolis, former Chair of the Minnesota Republican Party (1950-1953), former state Representative (HD 34, 1947-1955), former Mayor of Minneapolis (1957-1961), and GOP nominee for U.S. Senate in 1960.

See more details »
09/08/1964 Railroad & Warehouse Commissioner Primary P. Kenneth (P.K.) Peterson (Republican) won with 154,043 votes (100.00%) and a winning margin of +100.00
Candidate Gender Party Votes Percent
P. Kenneth (P.K.) Peterson Man Republican 154,043 100.00

Peterson was a resident of Minneapolis, former Chair of the Minnesota Republican Party (1950-1953), former state Representative (HD 34, 1947-1955), former Mayor of Minneapolis (1957-1961), and GOP nominee for U.S. Senate in 1960.

See more details »