1940 Minnesota gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1940 Minnesota gubernatorial election Minnesota 1893 presidential no 1938 Minnesota gubernatorial election 1938 1942 Minnesota gubernatorial election 1942 November 5, 1940 Gov. Harold E. Stassen LCCN2016877429 Alt Crop.jpg Harold Stassen Republican Party of Minnesota 654,686 52.06% Hjalmar Petersen 1935 Oval Crop Edit.png Hjalmar Petersen Farmer–Labor Party 459,609 36.55% Ed Murphy 1940.jpg Edward Murphy Democratic Party (United States) 140,021 11.13% 1940 Minnesota gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 280px County resultsStassen: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80%Peterson: #b4f1b4 40–50% #7fe27f 50–60% Governor Harold Stassen Republican Party of Minnesota Harold Stassen Republican Party of Minnesota The 1940 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Republican Harold Stassen defeated Farmer–Labor Party challenger, and former governor, Hjalmar Petersen. Stassen was seeking a second term. Petersen had served as governor from 1936 to 1937 after the death of Farmer-Laborite governor Floyd B. Olson. In 1936, Elmer Benson was elected governor, and lost his second term to Stassen in 1938. Petersen and Benson were political rivals following the death of Olson, with Petersen unsuccessfully challenging Benson in the Farmer-Labor primary of 1938. With Benson not running in 1940, Petersen found himself without major opposition within his party. Stassen, as a popular incumbent, found no serious opposition either. The Democrats, unable to win any state offices since 1914, had no clear strong candidates, and had placed third every election since 1918. Republican primary Incumbent governor Harold Stassen won re-nomination without serious opposition in a landslide. Ernest F. Jacobson ran his campaign on a platform critical of Henrik Shipstead, a Farmer-Laborite who had recently won the Republican nomination for senator. Jacobson believed Stassen should run against Shipstead in the senatorial primary, to prevent a Farmer-Laborite from entering the ranks of the Republican party, leaving Jacobson able to run for governor.Jacobson Flays Stassen's Record St. Paul Pioneer Press August 31, 1940 https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19400831.1.1&e=------194-en-20--1--img-txIN-stassen----1940------- Candidates Nominated Harold Stassen, incumbent Eliminated in primary Arthur B. Gilbert, president of the Recovery League of Minnesota Ernest F. Jacobson, attorney Results Republican Party of Minnesota primary results Republican Party (United States) Harold Stassen 301,508 89.90% Republican Party (United States) Ernest F. Jacobson 24,209 7.22% Republican Party (United States) Arthur B. Gilbert 9,658 2.88% 335,375 100% Governor, 1940 Election Minnesota Historical Election Archive https://mnelectionarchive.datamade.us/election/2319404015020600/ Farmer-Labor primary The Farmer-Labor primary election was won by former governor Hjalmar Petersen. His only major opposition was Charles Egley. Egley considered Petersen too moderate, and openly sparred with pro-Petersen politicial William Mahoney. Egley considered Petersen as too similar to the Republicans, and sabotaged the Farmer-Labor party internally, but also handed the electoral victory to Stassen. Mahoney responded, falling short of calling Egley a communist, but called his campaign "communist-inspired". Petersen did not directly involve himself, allowing Mahoney to argue for him to the press.Ball Joseph H. Egley Replies To Mahoney September 6, 1940 St. Paul Pioneer Press https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19400906.1.1&srpos=19&e=------194-en-20--1--img-txIN-Petersen----1940------- April 10, 2026 Candidates Nominated Hjalmar Petersen, former governor Eliminated in primary Jesse C. Becker Edgar Bernard, farmer and Republican primary candidate in 1934. Charles Egley, representative of the Farmers Union Livestock Exchange Results Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota primary results Farmer-Labor Party Hjalmar Petersen 92,443 70.47% Farmer-Labor Party Charles Egley 23,201 17.69% Farmer-Labor Party Edgar Bernard 9,271 7.07% Farmer-Labor Party Jesse C. Becker 6,258 4.77% 131,173 100% Governor, 1940 Election Minnesota Historical Election Archive https://mnelectionarchive.datamade.us/election/2319404032420600/ Democratic primary Murphy, a pro-Roosevelt candidate, won over Slen in an upset victory.Murphy Pledges Support to Roosevelt September 12, 1940 St. Paul Pioneer Press https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19400912.1.2&srpos=15&e=------194-en-20--1--img-txIN-Murphy----1940------- April 11, 2026 Slen was accused by Murphy and Sylvester McGovern of making a deal to, once nominated, drop out to support Petersen, resulting in his popularity suffering in the last week of the campaign.McGovern Charges Slen Withdrawal Deal September 8, 1940 St. Paul Pioneer Press https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19400908.1.3&srpos=16&e=------194-en-20--1--img-txIN-Murphy----1940------- Murphy was further boosted by an endorsement from Congressman Elmer Ryan. Slen was supported by Joseph N. Moonan, who was elected state chairman, now putting the candidate and party leadership at odds.Ball Joseph H. St. Paul Pioneer Press Murphy Clinches Nomination September 12, 1940 https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19400912.1.1&srpos=18&e=------194-en-20--1--img-txIN-Murphy----1940------- Candidates Nominated Edward Murphy, attorney Eliminated in primary John McGovern, farmer Sylvester McGovern, radio political commentator on KSTP (AM) Theodor S. Slen, member of the Minnesota House of Representatives Results Democratic Party of Minnesota primary results Democratic Party (United States) Edward Murphy 34,463 36.08% Democratic Party (United States) Theodor S. Slen 28,021 29.33% Democratic Party (United States) John McGovern 21,795 22.82% Democratic Party (United States) Sylvester McGovern 11,249 11.78% 95,528 100% Governor, 1940 Election Minnesota Historical Election Archive https://mnelectionarchive.datamade.us/election/2319404010020600/ Candidates John William Castle, painter (Industrial) Martin Mackie (write-in), labor organizer (Communist) Edward Murphy, attorney (Democrat) Hjalmar Petersen, former governor (Farmer-Labor) Harold Stassen, incumbent (Republican) Campaigns Petersen opened his campaign on September 30, at a dinner in Mankato, with a speech attacking Stassen. He claimed that relief funds after a tornado in Anoka were misused, with one person's $600 damages being compensated for with $3,341. Petersen said that state financial reports were mandated under state law, but Stassen released none in his term, despite Stassen's claims of $18 million in saving and a 25% reduction in state employees. The actual number of savings was unknown, and the reduction in state employees was only 14%, almost all of which was cut from the highway department. Furthermore, the number of miles of highway paved by the highway department was halved. Petersen gave explicit accusations of forgery and embezzlement by the Stassen administration. He called on liberal voters who voted for Roosevelt to put their support with progressives and leftists behind his campaign.Ball Joseph H. Petersen Opens Campaign With Blast at Stassen October 1, 1940 St. Paul Pioneer Press https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19401001.1.1&e=------194-en-20--1--img-txIN-Petersen----1940------- April 10, 2026 Stassen spent little time campaigning after his primary victory, focusing mostly on supporting the elections of Henrik Shipstead and Wendell Willkie. With the Farmer-Labor party falling victim to factionalism, Murphy attempted to consolidate the similarly divided and factional Democratic Party around him. He stated, "If Minnesota Democrats will forget factionalism and petty jealousies, we will become the No. 1 party in Minnesota. I have no feeling against any Democrat or faction of Democrats. I invite and ask co-operation of all. I appreciate the clean, sportsman like campaigns conducted by my three (primary) opponents and their supporters and look forward to their help in November." Stassen was at an advantage with an 81% approval rate.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31833573/the_minneapolis_star/ Gallup Analyzes Stassen's Position May 1, 1943 The Minneapolis Star https://web.archive.org/web/20190523001735/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31833573/the_minneapolis_star/ May 23, 2019 live 4 Newspapers.com Results 1940 gubernatorial election, Minnesota Republican Party (United States) Harold Stassen (incumbent) 654,686 52.06% -7.86% Farmer–Labor Party Hjalmar Petersen 459,609 36.55% +2.37% Democratic Party (United States) Edward Murphy 140,021 11.13% +5.32% Industrial Party (United States) John William Castle 3,175 0.25% +0.17% Communist Party (United States) Martin Mackie (write-in) 360 0.03% n/a 195,077 15.51% 1,257,851 Republican Party (United States) Governor, 1940 Election Minnesota Historical Election Archive https://mnelectionarchive.datamade.us/election/2319401099920600/ See also List of Minnesota gubernatorial elections References External links Minnesota Historical Election Archive Gubernatorial 1940 Minnesota Category:November 1940 in the United States