1936 Minnesota gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1936 Minnesota gubernatorial election Minnesota 1893 presidential no 1934 Minnesota gubernatorial election 1934 1938 Minnesota gubernatorial election 1938 November 3, 1936 File:Elmer A. Benson Trim Edit.jpg Elmer Austin Benson Farmer–Labor Party Democratic Party of Minnesota 680,342 60.74% Martin A. Nelson.png Martin A. Nelson Republican Party of Minnesota 431,841 38.55% 1936 Minnesota gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 280px County results Benson: #b4f1b4 40–50% #7fe27f 50–60% #4fd44f 60–70% #27cd27 70–80%Nelson #f2b3be 40–50% #e27f90 50–60% Governor Hjalmar Petersen Farmer–Labor Party Elmer Austin Benson Farmer–Labor Party The 1936 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1936. Farmer-Labor candidate Elmer Austin Benson defeated Republican challenger Martin A. Nelson. The Democratic candidate withdrew and endorsed Benson. Farmer-Laborite Floyd B. Olson had won the previous three elections. Olson would die in office on August 22, 1936. Lieutenant Governor Hjalmar Petersen would succeed him, and did not run for a term in his own right in this election. Farmer-Labor primary The Farmer-Labor primary election was held on June 15, 1936, before Olson was even hospitalized. Olson was not seeking a fourth term due to ambitions to run for the Senate. Candidates Nominated Elmer Benson, senator and former state commissioner of banks Eliminated in primary Edgar Bernard, farmer Magnus Johnson, former senator and Farmer-Labor gubernatorial candidate in 1922 and 1926 Adolph W. Olson, dried goods salesman Results Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota primary results Farmer-Labor Party Elmer Benson 126,088 66.14% Farmer-Labor Party Magnus Johnson 50,503 26.49% Farmer-Labor Party Edgar Bernard 7,901 4.14% Farmer-Labor Party Adolph W. Olson 6,156 3.23% 190,648 100% Governor, 1936 Election Minnesota Historical Election Archive https://mnelectionarchive.datamade.us/election/2319364032420600/ Republican primary The Republican primary was held on June 15, 1936. Martin A. Nelson won the primary for a second time. The primary was a rematch between the two top-finishing candidates in the 1934 Republican gubernatorial primary. Candidates Nominated Martin A. Nelson, attorney and Republican gubernatorial candidate in 1934 Eliminated in primary Arthur B. Gilbert, president of the Recovery League of Minnesota Results Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota primary results Republican Party (United States) Martin A. Nelson 174,586 86.42% Republican Party (United States) Arthur B. Gilbert 17,536 13.5% 202,011 100% Governor, 1936 Election Minnesota Historical Election Archive https://mnelectionarchive.datamade.us/election/2319364015020600/ Democratic primary The Democratic primary was held on June 15, 1936. Fred A. Curtis won the primary election. Following the primary, Novak's campaign manager, William Fitzharris, sued Curtis, alleging he had violated the Minnesota Corrupt Practices Act. Instead of taking the suit to court, Curtis withdrew and endorsed Farmer-Labor nominee Elmer Benson. Candidates Nominated Fred A. Curtis, attorney and former member of the Minnesota House of RepresentativesCurtis, Fred A. Minnesota Legislative Reference Library https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?id=11683 Eliminated in primary Edward E. Novak, physician Results Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota primary results Democratic Party (United States) Fred A. Curtis 66,324 53.31% Democratic Party (United States) Edward E. Novak 58,080 46.69% 124,404 100% Governor, 1936 Election Minnesota Historical Election Archive https://mnelectionarchive.datamade.us/election/2319364010020600/ Candidates Elmer Benson, senator (Farmer-Labor) Earl Stewart, machinist (Industrial) Martin A. Nelson, attorney and Republican gubernatorial candidate in 1934 (Republican) Campaigns Benson launched his campaign on September 21, 1936, in Appleton, Minnesota. He argued in his keynote address against the Republican plan to pass a constitutional amendment banning property tax and increasing sales tax. He argued that the state should instead deliver tax relief through a raised income tax on the rich, inheritance tax, and various forms of higher corporate tax. His address was so well attended, the 2000 seats in the county armory were filled, as was all standing room, and 3000 people gathered in a nearby park to listen to the broadcast. Benson found it difficult to deliver the speech due to the amount of applause received.BENSON FLAYS G.0.P., DEFENDS F.-L IN KEYNOTE September 22, 1936 https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19360922.1.1&e=------193-en-20--1--img-txIN-Benson----1936------- On October 9, 1936, Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered an address at the Minnesota State Capitol in which he endorsed Benson for governor. Benson called Roosevelt "...A man who has done more for industrial workers, small business men and farmers than any other man in this generation".ROOSEVELT PRAISES F.-L.-DEMS ALLIANCE October 10, 1936 https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19361010.1.5&srpos=13&e=------193-en-20--1--img-txIN-Benson----1936------- Benson, like previous Farmer-Laborite candidates, faced regular accusations of communism. Specifically, he was accused of being a supporter of Earl Browder. Benson stated that these accusations were created to distract from real issues. He chose not to treat these claims as serious, and mostly ignored them.BENSON ACCUSED OF ‘CARRYING RED FLAG’ October 15, 1936 https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19361015.1.10&srpos=24&e=------193-en-20--21--img-txIN-Benson----1936------- Results 1936 gubernatorial election, Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party Elmer Austin Benson 680,342 60.74% +16.12% Republican Party (United States) Martin A. Nelson 431,841 38.55% +0.83% Industrial Party (United States) Earl Stewart 7,996 0.71% n/a 248,501 22.18% 1,120,179 Farmer–Labor Party References See also List of Minnesota gubernatorial elections External links Minnesota Historical Election Archive Minnesota Gubernatorial 1936 Category:November 1936 in the United States