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
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. Field dropped out, and was replaced by Glenn B. Brown opposing MacKinnon. MacKinnon would be victorious in a landslide.
Candidates
Nominated George MacKinnon, United States attorney for the District of Minnesota
Eliminated in primary Glenn B. Brown, electrician
Results
General election
Candidates Arne Anderson, carpenter (Industrial Government) Orville Freeman, tincumbent (DFL) George MacKinnon, United States attorney for the District of Minnesota (Republican)
Endorsements
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". 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.
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.
Results
See also List of Minnesota gubernatorial elections
References
External links Minnesota Historical Election Archive