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1954 Minnesota gubernatorial election
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1954 Minnesota gubernatorial election Minnesota 1893 presidential no 1952 Minnesota gubernatorial election 1952 1956 Minnesota gubernatorial election 1956 November 2, 1954 File:Orville L. Freeman (MN).png 150x150px Orville Freeman Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party 607,099 52.73% File:C. Elmer Anderson.jpg C. Elmer Anderson Republican Party (United States) 538,865 46.80% 1954 Minnesota gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 280px County resultsFreeman: #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80%Anderson: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% Governor C. Elmer Anderson Republican Party of Minnesota Orville Freeman Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
The 1954 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1954. In a rematch of the 1952 election, Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) candidate Orville Freeman defeated Republican incumbent C. Elmer Anderson.
Freeman was the first member of the DFLer to win a gubernatorial election. The Republicans had won the previous eight elections. 1954 was their first gubernatorial defeat since 1936.
Republican primary
Anderson was renominated unanimously.
Candidates
Nominated
C. Elmer Anderson, incumbent
Results
Republican Party of Minnesota primary results
Republican Party (United States) C. Elmer Anderson 244,157 100%
244,157 100%
Governor, 1954 Election Minnesota Historical Election Archive https://mnelectionarchive.datamade.us/election/2319544015020600/
Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary
Fremman was renominated. He was expected by State Chair Ray Hemenway to be renominated unanimously, with Rasmussen's primary campaign being a surprise. Rasmussen was an early supporter of Freeman.Freeman Keeps DFL Indorsement St. Paul Pioneer Press June 22, 1954 https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19540622.1.5&srpos=16&e=------195-en-20--1--img-txIN-Freeman----1954-------
Candidates
Nominated
Orville Freeman, former DFL party chairman
Eliminated in primary
Paul A. Rasmussen, railroad and warehouse commissioner
Results
Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary results
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Orville Freeman 273,306 81.52%
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Paul A. Rasmussen 61,976 18.48%
335,282 100%
Governor, 1954 Election Minnesota Historical Election Archive https://mnelectionarchive.datamade.us/election/2319544010120600/
Candidates
C. Elmer Anderson, incumbent (Republican)
Orville Freeman, DFL party chairman (DFL)
Ross Schelin, machine operator (Industrial Government)
Campaigns
Anderson and Freeman, who both already had a disliking for each other, began attacking each other with increasingly personal insults during their campaigns. Anderson called Freeman and the DFLers "a dangerous and ruthless team of self-seeking self-serving candidates and their cronies," while Freeman called the Republicans "The virus of creeping do-nothingism."Neumeier Fred Gov. Anderson Is Mad, Vows Fight On DFL 'Untruths' St. Paul Pioneer Press October 26, 1954 https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19541026.1.1&srpos=7&e=------195-en-20--1--img-txIN-Freeman----1954-------
Freeman spoke of the Republican administrations as "Promises without Performance," said that the goal of both parties should be to provide good government, and urged Anderson to either deliver good government, or lose the election so Freeman could deliver it.Freeman Says GOP Aids 'Privileged Few' St. Paul Pioneer Press June 16, 1954 https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19540616.1.8&srpos=25&e=------195-en-20--21--img-txIN-Freeman----1954-------
Results
1954 gubernatorial election, Minnesota
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
Orville Freeman
607,099
52.73%
+8.71%
Republican Party (United States)
C. Elmer Anderson (incumbent)
538,865
46.80%
-8.53%
Industrial Government Party (United States)
Ross Schelin
5,453
0.47%
+0.19%
68,234
5.93%
1,151,417
Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
Republican Party (United States)
See also
List of Minnesota gubernatorial elections
References
External links
Minnesota Historical Election Archive
Minnesota
Gubernatorial
1954
Category:November 1954 in the United States