1942 Minnesota gubernatorial election

none January 2025 September 2023 1942 Minnesota gubernatorial election Minnesota 1893 presidential no 1940 Minnesota gubernatorial election 1940 1944 Minnesota gubernatorial election 1944 November 3, 1942 Gov. Harold E. Stassen LCCN2016877429 Alt Crop.jpg 150x150px Harold Stassen Republican Party of Minnesota 409,800 51.60% Hjalmar Petersen 1935 Oval Crop Edit.png Hjalmar Petersen Farmer–Labor Party 299,917 37.76% John D. Sullivan.jpg John D. Sullivan Democratic Party (United States) 75,151 9.46% 1942 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 1942 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1942. Republican incumbent Harold Stassen defeated Farmer–Labor Party challenger Hjalmar Petersen. This was the last election in which the Democratic Party of Minnesota and the Farmer–Labor Party ran separate candidates; in 1944, both parties ran under the umbrella of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. Republican primary Incumbent Harold Stassen faced primary opposition from two-time gubernatorial candidate Martin A. Nelson and Congressmember John G. Alexander. Candidates Nominated Harold Stassen, incumbent Eliminated in primary John G. Alexander, former congressman for MN-03 Martin A. Nelson, attorney and Republican gubernatorial candidate in 1934 and 1936 Results Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota primary resultsRepublican Party (United States) Harold Stassen 218,457 53.31%Republican Party (United States) Martin A. Nelson 142,465 34.77%Republican Party (United States) John G. Alexander 48,865 11.92%409,787 100% Governor, 1942 Election Minnesota Historical Election Archive https://mnelectionarchive.datamade.us/election/2319424015020600/ Farmer-Labor primary The Farmer-Labor primary election was won by former governor Hjalmar Petersen, who was running a second time to re-take his former position as governor. Candidates Nominated Hjalmar Petersen, former governor Eliminated in primary Edgar Bernard, darmer, Republican primary candidate in 1934, and Farmer-Labor primary candidate in 1936 and 1940 Paul A. Rasmussen, former state budget commissioner Results Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota primary resultsFarmer-Labor Party Hjalmar Petersen 66,405 58.05%Farmer-Labor Party Paul A. Rasmussen 39,362 34.41%Farmer-Labor Party Edgar Bernard 8,627 7.54%114,394 100% Governor, 1942 Election Minnesota Historical Election Archive https://mnelectionarchive.datamade.us/election/2319424032420600/ Candidates Harris A. Brandborg, farmer (Industrial Government) Martin Mackie, labor organizer (Communist) Hjalmar Petersen, former governor (Farmer-Labor) Harold Stassen, incumbent (Republican) John D. Sullivan, attorney (Democrat) Campaigns Stassen campaigned on expanding social welfare, notably old age pension, stating, "We will not make extravagant promises to our aged folks in a demagogic attempt to get votes, but we will steadily improve the old age assistance and we will administer it without favoritism for political views or race, or creeds or color."Parlin L.D. 3 MILLION STATE ORE TAX LOST, PETERSEN CHARGES October 10, 1942 St. Paul Pioneer Press https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19420901.1.11&srpos=19&e=------194-en-20--1--img-txIN-Stassen----1942------- Petersen criticized Stassen's 27.5% tax cut on mining companies, claiming that this lost the state approximately $3,000,000 in revenue.Parlin L.D. Stassen Offers Civil Service, Old Age, Labor Program September 1, 1942 St. Paul Pioneer Press https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19421010.1.13&srpos=5&e=------194-en-20--1--img-txIN-Petersen----1942------- Sullivan, running on a similar platform, sent a letter to Petersen and the Farmer-Labor party office proposing that Petersen should drop out and a Fusion ticket should be created. Party Secretary Viena P. Johnson responded with a letter only acknowledging that the proposal had been received.JOHN D. SULLIVAN October 7, 1942 St. Paul Pioneer Press https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19421007.1.5&srpos=17&e=------194-en-20--1--img-txIN-Sullivan----1942------- Petersen and Sullivan broke mainly on the issue of war, with Petersen an isolationist and Sullivan a pro-war candidate.John D. Sullivan attacks Stassen, Ball and Hjalmar Petersen. October 27, 1942 St. Paul Pioneer Press https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19421027.1.11&srpos=20&e=------194-en-20--1--img-txIN-Sullivan----1942------- Stassen was the "recommended candidate" chosen by the CIO. The CIO generally opposed Stassen's labor policies, but believed that due to the ongoing Second World War, Stassen's policies would best allow for Minnesota to contribute to the war effort. The CIO vice president went on to accuse Petersen of advocating for negotiating for peace with Adolf Hitler.CIO Workers Urged To Vote for Stassen, Petersen Criticized October 28, 1942 St. Paul Pioneer Press https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19421028.1.16&srpos=4&e=------194-en-20--1--img-txIN-Stassen----1942------- Petersen criticized Stassen as not caring for the farmers of the state, saying that wheat and grain priced were now about half of what they were in 1918, and citing Stassen's lack of concern for struggling farmers.Stassen With Wall St., Petersen Charges October 28, 1942 St. Paul Pioneer Press https://newspaperhub.mnhs.org/?a=d&d=sppp19421028.1.16&srpos=4&e=------194-en-20--1--img-txIN-Stassen----1942------- Results 1942 gubernatorial election, Minnesota Republican Party (United States) Harold Stassen (incumbent) 409,800 51.60% -0.47% Farmer–Labor Party Hjalmar Petersen 299,917 37.76% +1.21% Democratic Party (United States) John D. Sullivan 75,151 9.46% -1.67% Communist Party USA Martin Mackie 5,082 0.64% n/a Industrial Government Party (United States) Harris A. Brandborg 4,278 0.53% n/a 109,883 13.84% 794,228 Republican Party (United States) See also List of Minnesota gubernatorial elections References External links Minnesota Historical Election Archive Gubernatorial 1942 Minnesota Category:November 1942 in the United States