1958 Minnesota gubernatorial election
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November 4, 1958
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 County results Freeman: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% MacKinnon: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Minnesota |
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The 1958 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1958. Incumbent Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) Orville Freeman defeated Republican challenger George MacKinnon.
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Primary
Freeman was renominated.
Candidates
Nominated
- Orville Freeman, Incumbent
Eliminated in Primary
- Harold Strom, President of Home Construction Inc.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Orville Freeman | 331,822 | 87.58% | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Harold Strom | 47,041 | 12.42% | |
| Total votes | 378,863 | 100% | ||
Republican Primary
1956 nominee Ancher Nelsen ran, intending for a rematch with Freeman. He was the frontrunner for the nomination, but dropped out of the race once MacKinnon entered. This left M. Wayne Field as the only opposition to MacKinnon.[2] Field would drop out, and be replaced by Glenn B. Brown opposing MacKinnon. MacKinnon would be victorious in a landslide.
Candidates
Nominated
Eliminated in Primary
- Glenn B. Brown, Electrician
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | George MacKinnon | 202,241 | 85.29% | |
| Republican | Glenn B. Brown | 34,878 | 14.71% | |
| Total votes | 378,863 | 100% | ||
General Election
Candidates
- Arne Anderson, Carpenter (Industrial Government)
- George MacKinnon, United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota (Republican)
- Orville Freeman, Incumbent (DFL)
Endorsements
U.S. senators
- Edward J. Thye, Former U.S. Senator from Minnesota[2]
Campaigns
MacKinnon claimed that Freeman was diverting attention from his failure to take action against the Kid Cann liquor syndicate. MacKinnon attacked the DFL-led state government as 'irresponsible legislative antics'.[4] After the DFL supported the repeal of a 1951 law banning government workers from striking, MacKinnon claimed this as evidence that the DFL was a 'radical left-wing party', and cited Franklin D. Roosevelt's opposition to the repealing of such laws.[5]
Freeman did little campaigning, which Mackinnon used as a talking point against Freeman. Freeman had used the same talking point while campaigning against incumbent C. Elmer Anderson in 1954.[6]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Orville Freeman (incumbent) | 658,326 | 56.76% | +5.34% | |
| Republican | George MacKinnon | 490,731 | 42.31% | −5.87% | |
| Industrial Government | Arne Anderson | 10,858 | 0.94% | +0.53% | |
| Majority | 167,595 | 14.45% | |||
| Turnout | 1,159,915 | ||||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | Swing | ||||
See also
References
- ↑ "Governor, 1958 Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive.
- 1 2 Neumeier, Fred (June 6, 1958). "MacKinnon OK Seen As GOP Meets". St. Paul Pioneer Press.
- ↑ "Governor, 1958 Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive.
- ↑ "MacKinnon, DFL Trade Charges". St. Paul Pioneer Press. September 15, 1958.
- ↑ "MKinnon Blasts DFL Platforms". St. Paul Pioneer Press. August 24, 1958.
- ↑ "MacKinnon Hits Freeman Silence". St. Paul Pioneer Press. October 15, 1958.
External links
Minnesota Historical Election Archive
