1936 United States Senate special election in Minnesota

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1936 United States Senate special election in Minnesota
Flag of Minnesota (1893-1957).svg
  1930 November 3, 1936 1936  
  Guy Howard.jpg N. J. Holmberg.jpg
Nominee Guy V. Howard N. J. Holmberg
Party Republican Independent
Popular vote317,457210,364
Percentage42.89%28.42%

  Andrew Olaf Devold.jpg JohnGAlexander.jpg
Nominee Andrew Olaf Devold John G. Alexander
Party Independent Independent
Popular vote147,85864,493
Percentage19.98%8.71%

1936 United States Senate special election in Minnesota results map by county.svg
County results
Howard:     30-40%     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%
Holmberg:     30-40%
Devold:     30-40%
Tie:     Howard/Holmberg 30-40%

U.S. senator before election

Elmer A. Benson
Farmer–Labor

Elected U.S. Senator

Guy V. Howard
Republican

The 1936 United States Senate special election in Minnesota took place on November 3, 1936. The election was held to fill the vacancy in the seat formerly held by Thomas D. Schall for the final two months of Schall's unexpired term. Governor Floyd B. Olson had appointed Elmer Benson to fill the seat in 1935, but this appointment was temporary and subject to a special election held in the next general election year thereafter—1936. Benson opted to run for governor instead of running for election to continue for the remainder of the term. No special primaries were held for the special election. Among Minnesota's three major parties, only the Republican Party of Minnesota officially fielded a candidate—Guy V. Howard. Regardless of the absence of Farmer-Labor and Democratic nominees, Howard nevertheless faced a great degree of competition from independent candidates Nathaniel J. Holmberg, Andrew Olaf Devold, and John G. Alexander.

Contents

Candidates

Special election

Results

Special election results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Guy V. Howard 317,457 42.89%
Independent N. J. Holmberg210,36428.42%
Independent Andrew Olaf Devold 147,85819.98%
Independent John G. Alexander 64,4938.71%
Total votes740,172 100.00%
Majority107,09314.47%
Republican gain from Farmer–Labor

See also

References

  1. "General Election Returns for Minnesota - Tuesday, November Third, 1936" (PDF). Minnesota Legislature.