1932 United States House of Representatives election in Minnesota

none February 2026 September 2023 1932 United States House of Representatives election in Minnesota Minnesota presidential no 1930 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota 1930 1934 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota 1934 November 8, 1932 150x150px MagnusJohnson.jpg Magnus Johnson Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party 388,616 5.00% Paul J. Kvale, 1929 (cropped).jpg Paul J. Kvale Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party 380,444 4.90% Henry Arens, 1934.jpg Henry M. Arens Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party 361,724 4.65% Ernest Lundeen 1929 Trim Crop (cropped).jpg Ernest Lundeen Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party 350,455 4.51% Theodore Christianson 1925 edit.jpg Theodore Christianson Republican Party (United States) 337,110 4.34% Einar Hoidale - DPLA - c38866b7ab5f1b570463a7e11d3f154b (cropped).jpg Einar Hoidale Democratic Party (United States) 321,949 4.14% Ray P. Chase, 1930 (cropped).jpg Ray P. Chase Republican Party (United States) 321,102 4.13% Francis Shoemaker, 1933.jpg Francis Shoemaker Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party 317,109 4.08% KNUTSON, HAROLD. HONORABLE LCCN2016859751 (cropped).jpg Harold Knutson Republican Party (United States) 313,221 4.03% U.S. Representatives Victor Christgau (R)Frank Clague (R)August H. Andresen (R)Melvin Maas (R)William I. Nolan (R)Harold Knutson (R)Paul J. Kvale (F–L)William Alvin Pittenger (R)Conrad Selvig (R)Godfrey G. Goodwin (R) Henry M. Arens (F–L)Einar Hoidale (D)Ernest Lundeen (F–L)Ray P. Chase (R)Theodore Christianson (R)Harold Knutson (R)Paul J. Kvale (F–L)Magnus Johnson (F–L)Francis Shoemaker (F–L) The 1932 United States House of Representatives election in Minnesota was held on November 8, 1932, to elect nine members of the U.S. House of Representatives from the state's at-large seats. Background Minnesota's representation in the United States House of Representatives fell from ten to nine seats after the Reapportionment Act of 1929. The Minnesota Legislature, controlled by the Republican Party, passed legislation redistricting these seats in April 1931. However, Governor Floyd B. Olson, a member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party, vetoed it on April 20, stating that it was a gerrymander. The 7th congressional district stretched over 175 miles across the state and Hennepin County was divided between three districts.Shumate 1933 58 The legislature was unable to overturn Olson's veto. Proponents of the legislation argued that the Constitution of the United States gives redistricting power solely to the legislature and Olson, as governor, had no power over it. The Minnesota Secretary of State started accepting nominations from the new districts and rejected at-large nominations.Shumate 1933 59 W. Yale Smiley filed a writ of mandamus to force the secretary of state to accept his at-large nomination. He was rejected and appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Smiley's favor on April 11, 1932. Minnesota had to use an at-large district as the legislature was not set to convene until January 1933, and Olson refused to call a special session.Shumate 1933 59-60Smiley v. Holm, 285 U.S. 355 (1932) Justia https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/285/355/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240623101237/https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/285/355/ June 23, 2024 Minnesota previously used an at-large seat during the 1912 election, which was won by James Manahan.April 12, 1932 Decision Hits Congressmen 4 Star Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/149999006/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240624225533/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/149999006/ June 24, 2024 Newspapers.com Primary 88 candidates were on the primary ballots for the Democrats, Farmer–Laborers, and Republicans. This long ballot resulted in long lines at polling locations and slow counting.June 21, 1932 Long Ballot In 3 Parties Slows Count 1 Star Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/149887285/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240623102510/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/149887285/ June 23, 2024 Newspapers.comJune 21, 1932 Earle Brown Is Nominated 7 Star Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/149887341/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240623102732/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/149887341/ June 23, 2024 Newspapers.com This was the first time in Minnesota history that women ran for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, with Laura Emelia Naplin and Susie Stageberg seeking the Farmer–Labor nomination and Anna Dickie Olesen and Mary Brainerd seeking the Democratic nomination.May 12, 1932 State To Vote On Record Size Ballot In June 1 Star Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/149887717/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240623105111/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/149887717/ June 23, 2024 Newspapers.com Farmer–Labor Farmer–Labor vice chair Albert G. Bastis, state senator Lynn Thompson, and Andrew Olaf Devold reached an agreement with the Socialist Party of Minnesota. It agreed to not run candidates in all but one statewide race and endorsed the Farmer–Labor campaign under the condition that it would not do fusion with the Democrats.Gieske 1979 159March 29, 1932 Pact With F.-L, Party Favored 3 Star Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/149908369/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240623180706/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/149908369/ June 23, 2024 Newspapers.com Republican Representative Frank Clague declined to seek reelection.May 2, 1932 G.O.P. Of State Committed To Vote On Repeal 4 Star Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star/149958575/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240624125404/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star/149958575/ June 24, 2024 Newspapers.com Milo B. Price initially filed to run against Victor Christgau in the 1st congressional district.January 2, 1932 Milo Price 1 St. Cloud Times https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-cloud-times/149996657/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240624221848/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-cloud-times/149996657/ June 24, 2024 Newspapers.com Representatives Melvin Maas and Christgau, liberal Republicans who had conflicts with Herbert Hoover, announced that they would seek reelection, but not seek the endorsement of their district conventions.April 19, 1932 Maas, Christgau Ask No Favor 2 Star Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star/149958321/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240624124521/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star/149958321/ June 24, 2024 Newspapers.comApril 27, 1932 Put Christgau And Maas Out, Coleman Says 5 Albert Lea Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-albert-lea-tribune/149958720/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240624125706/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-albert-lea-tribune/149958720/ June 24, 2024 Newspapers.com The Republican Party of Minnesota voted to endorse August H. Andresen, Harold Knutson, William Alvin Pittenger, Conrad Selvig, J.V. Weber, and Theodore Christianson at its state convention, but not Maas and Christgau. Endorsements August H. Andresen 60em Organizations Republican Party of Minnesota Victor Christgau 60em Organizations Woman's Christian Temperance UnionJune 10, 1932 Christgau Is Indorsed At W.C.T.U. Parley 12 Austin Daily Herald https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald/150024615/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240625120643/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald/150024615/ June 25, 2024 Newspapers.com Theodore Christianson 60em Organizations Republican Party of Minnesota Harold Knutson 60em Organizations Republican Party of Minnesota William Alvin Pittenger 60em Organizations Republican Party of Minnesota Conrad Selvig 60em Organizations Republican Party of Minnesota J.V. Weber 60em Organizations Republican Party of Minnesota Results Republican primaryPrimary 1933 188-191 Republican Party (United States) Theodore Christianson 139,680 8.08% Republican Party (United States) Ray P. Chase 123,376 7.14% Republican Party (United States) William I. Nolan (incumbent) 103,902 6.01% Republican Party (United States) Joseph A. A. Burnquist 95,719 5.54% Republican Party (United States) Harold Knutson (incumbent) 94,553 5.47% Republican Party (United States) N. J. Holmberg 77,619 4.49% Republican Party (United States) William Alvin Pittenger (incumbent) 76,665 4.43% Republican Party (United States) Conrad Selvig (incumbent) 73,083 4.23% Republican Party (United States) August H. Andresen (incumbent) 71,766 4.15% Republican Party (United States) Henry Rines 70,203 4.06% Republican Party (United States) Victor Christgau (incumbent) 68,583 3.97% Republican Party (United States) Melvin Maas (incumbent) 68,121 3.94% Republican Party (United States) Godfrey G. Goodwin (incumbent) 63,846 3.69% Republican Party (United States) Elmer Adams 57,782 3.34% Republican Party (United States) Milo B. Price 52,644 3.04% Republican Party (United States) John H. Hougen 51,727 2.99% Republican Party (United States) Charles A. Lund 47,618 2.75% Republican Party (United States) Knute Knutson 44,684 2.58% Republican Party (United States) J.V. Weber 43,168 2.50% Republican Party (United States) Samuel A. Rask 39,121 2.26% Republican Party (United States) Martin F. Falk 33,918 1.96% Republican Party (United States) Louis P. Johnson 32,682 1.89% Republican Party (United States) Hilding Alfred Swanson 32,046 1.85% Republican Party (United States) E.F. Jacobson 30,666 1.77% Republican Party (United States) Ed C. Cole 26,325 1.52% Republican Party (United States) John W. Johnson 26,282 1.52% Republican Party (United States) Orville Nelson 24,289 1.40% Republican Party (United States) Charles J. Andre 24,040 1.39% Republican Party (United States) Hans Yugve 22,283 1.29% Republican Party (United States) George Reimers 17,691 1.02% Republican Party (United States) Roy Dalfred Modeen 14,123 0.82% Republican Party (United States) Kleve J. Flake 12,807 0.74% 1,728,976 100.00% Democratic The Democratic Party faced internal division between the Catholic and conservative Al Smith supporters and Protestant and liberal Franklin D. Roosevelt supporters. The liberal faction supported electoral fusion with the Farmer–Laborers while the conservatives opposed it.Gieske 1979 156-157Gieske 1979 162-163 Einar Hoidale, Joseph Wolf, J. J. Farrell, Adolph Bremer, and Z. H. Austin led the liberal faction. John E. Regan, Ruth Haynes Carpenter, and Ray Moonan led the conservative faction.Gieske 1979 156-157Gieske 1979 162-163 Two state conventions were held. The conservatives held a rival convention on April 14. They opposed any fusion between the Democrats and Farmer–Laborers. This faction controlled all of the party's activities except for the delegates to the 1932 Democratic National Convention, which the liberal faction controlled.Gieske 1979 162-163 General thumb|586x586px|1932 Congressional Sample Ballot Supporters of Christgau sought to draft him as a write-in candidate after losing in the Republican primary.September 3, 1932 Christgau to Open 'Sticker' Campaign 2 St. Cloud Times https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-cloud-times/150025300/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240625123100/https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-cloud-times/150025300/ June 25, 2024 Newspapers.comSeptember 8, 1932 Cong. Christgau Is Urged To Make Race On Stickers 1 Blooming Prairie Times https://www.newspapers.com/article/blooming-prairie-times/150025411/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240625123509/https://www.newspapers.com/article/blooming-prairie-times/150025411/ June 25, 2024 Newspapers.com He formally announced his write-in candidacy on September 28,September 28, 1932 Sticker Drive For Christgau 6 Star Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star/150025635/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240625124216/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star/150025635/ June 25, 2024 Newspapers.com and his supporters requested one million ballot stickers.September 21, 1932 Christgau Forces Place Order For A Million Stickers 10 Austin Daily Herald https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald/150025663/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240625124351/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald/150025663/ June 25, 2024 Newspapers.com He was accused of being a spoiler candidate and causing Republicans to lose.November 26, 1932 Minnesota Politics 4 Minneapolis Journal https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal/150026696/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240625131126/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal/150026696/ June 25, 2024 Newspapers.com Eight incumbents sought reelection, eight Republicans and one Farmer-Laborer. The Farmer-Laborer won reelection, but only one Republican did so.Shumate 1933 61-62 The Farmer-Labor Party won a majority of the seats and the top four recipients of vote were Farmer-Laborers.Gieske 1979 169 Franklin D. Roosevelt won the state in the concurrent presidential election, the first Democrat to do so.Shumate 1933 58 Olson won reelection in the concurrent gubernatorial election with more votes than his party received in the U.S. House elections.Shumate 1933 61 Endorsements Victor Christgau 60em Individuals William Green, president of the American Federation of LaborNovember 3, 1932 Wm. Green, Labor Head In America, Lauds Christgau 1 Blooming Prairie Times https://www.newspapers.com/article/blooming-prairie-times/150026416/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240625130613/https://www.newspapers.com/article/blooming-prairie-times/150026416/ June 25, 2024 Newspapers.com Results 1932 United States House of Representatives election in MinnesotaMoore Preimesberger Tarr 2001 1053 Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party Magnus Johnson 388,616 5.00% Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party Paul J. Kvale (incumbent) 380,444 4.90% Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party Henry M. Arens 361,724 4.65% Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party Ernest Lundeen 350,455 4.51% Republican Party (United States) Theodore Christianson 337,110 4.34% Democratic Party (United States) Einar Hoidale 321,949 4.14% Republican Party (United States) Ray P. Chase 321,102 4.13% Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party Francis Shoemaker 317,109 4.08% Republican Party (United States) Harold Knutson (incumbent) 313,221 4.03% Republican Party (United States) August H. Andresen (incumbent) 312,198 4.02% Republican Party (United States) William I. Nolan (incumbent) 306,266 3.94% Republican Party (United States) Conrad Selvig (incumbent) 304,846 3.92% Republican Party (United States) Joseph A. A. Burnquist 302,356 3.89% Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party J. L. Peterson 298,331 3.84% Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party Henry Teigan 291,837 3.75% Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party C.F. Gaarenstroom 291,687 3.75% Republican Party (United States) William Alvin Pittenger (incumbent) 291,478 3.75% Republican Party (United States) N. J. Holmberg 287,381 3.70% Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party Arthur C. Townley 261,120 3.36% Democratic Party (United States) Robert C. Bell 237,881 3.06% Democratic Party (United States) John P. Coughlin 214,462 2.76% Democratic Party (United States) Silas M. Bryan 207,419 2.67% Democratic Party (United States) Emil E. Holmes 205,673 2.65% Democratic Party (United States) James R. Bennett 198,421 2.55% Democratic Party (United States) Donald A. Chapman 190,530 2.45% Democratic Party (United States) Hugh T. Kennedy 186,466 2.40% Democratic Party (United States) John Bowe 184,587 2.37% Write-in candidate Victor Christgau (incumbent) 82,826 1.07% Communist Party USA J.W. Anderson 16,299 0.21% Communist Party USA M. Karson 9,573 0.12% Communist Party USA Fred Lequier 8,927 0.11% Write-in candidate Melvin Maas (incumbent) 784 0.01% 7,783,078 100.00% References Works cited Gieske Millard Minnesota Farmer-Laborism: The Third Party Alternative University of Minnesota Press 1979 0816608903 https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5749/j.cttts646 Moore John Preimesberger Jon Tarr David Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections Congressional Quarterly 2001 1-56802-602-1 https://archive.org/details/congressionalqua0002unse Shumate Roger Minnesota's Congressional Election at Large American Political Science Review American Political Science Association 1933 27 1 58–63 10.2307/1947345 1947345 https://www.jstor.org/stable/1947345 subscription Primary Election Returns of Election Held June 20th, 1932 Minnesota Legislature 1933 https://www.lrl.mn.gov/archive/sessions/electionresults/1932-06-20-p-man.pdf Primary 1933 Further reading Schweigert Benedict "Now for a Clean Sweep!": Smiley v. Holm, Partisan Gerrymandering, and At-Large Congressional Elections Michigan Law Review Michigan Law Review Association 2008 107 1 133–64 40041659 https://www.jstor.org/stable/40041659 External links Biographies Category:United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota Minnesota United States House of Representatives