The 1923 United States Senate special election in Minnesota took place on July 16, 1923. The election was held to fill, for the remainder of the unexpired term, the seat in the United States Senate left vacant by Republican U.S. Senator Knute Nelson, who died in office on April 28, 1923. State Senator Magnus Johnson of the Farmer–Labor Party of Minnesota defeated Governor J. A. O. Preus of the Republican Party of Minnesota, and State Senator James A. Carley of the Minnesota Democratic Party, which, together with Henrik Shipstead's victory in 1922, brought both of Minnesota's seats in the United States Senate into the hands of the Farmer–Labor Party for the first time in history.
Johnson's victory marked the first time, since Morton S. Wilkinson took office in 1859, that neither of Minnesota's seats in the United States Senate were held by a Republican. It also marked the first time, since Wilkinson's assumption of the office, that the person holding Minnesota's Class 2 U.S. Senate seat was not a Republican, and Johnson became just the second non-Republican to ever hold that seat (the first being the Democrat James Shields, whose term of office ended when Wilkinson's began).
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominated
J.A.O. Preus, Governor (1921–1925), former state Insurance Commissioner (1911–1915), former state Auditor (1915–1921), Minneapolis attorney
Eliminated in Primary
Sydney Anderson, Lanesboro attorney, U.S. Representative from the 1st CD (1911–1925) Joseph A. A. Burnquist, former state representative from the 33rd HD (1909–1913), former lieutenant governor (1913–1915), former governor (1915–1921) Oscar Hallam, St. Paul attorney, former Second Judicial District judge, former associate justice of the Supreme Court (1913–1923) Ernest Lundeen, former state representative from the 42nd HD (1911–1915), former U.S. Representative from the 5th CD (1917–1919), candidate for U.S. Senate in 1922, Minneapolis attorney John J. Martin, Minneapolis attorney Victor L. Power, attorney and mayor of Hibbing (1913–1922, 1923–1924) Thomas D. Schall, Excelsior attorney, Progressive-turned-Republican U.S. Representative from the 10th CD (1915–1925) Halvor Steenerson, former Polk County prosecuting attorney (1881–1883), former city attorney of Crookson, former state Senator from the 45th SD (1883–1887), former U.S. Representative from the 9th CD (1903–1923), resident of Crookson
Results +Republican Party primary resultsRepublicanJ.A.O. Preus 57,91933.64RepublicanOscar Hallam32,48218.87RepublicanThomas D. Schall29,71317.26RepublicanSydney Anderson17,52610.18RepublicanVictor L. Power15,3848.94RepublicanJoseph A.A. Burnquist8,3814.87RepublicanErnest Lundeen5,8513.40RepublicanHalvor Steenerson4,0322.34RepublicanJohn J. Martin8610.50 Total Votes172,149100.0
Farmer-Labor Primary
Candidates
Nominated
Magnus Johnson, state senator from the 26th SD (1919–1923), former state Representative from the 26th House District (1915–1919)
Eliminated in Primary
L.A. Fritsche, Mayor of New Ulm, physician Charles August Lindbergh, former prosecuting attorney of Morrison County (1891–1893), former Republican U.S. Representative (CD 06, 1907–1917), candidate for U.S. Senate in 1916, candidate for governor in 1918, resident of Little Falls
Results +Farmer-Labor primary resultsFarmer-LaborMagnus Johnson 57,57048.88Farmer-LaborL.A. Fritsche38,39332.60Farmer-LaborCharles A. Lindbergh21,81118.52 Total Votes117,774100.0
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominated
James A. Carley, state senator from the 3rd SD (1915-), former Democratic state Representative from the 3rd HD (1909–1911), Plainview attorney
Eliminated in Primary
Francis C. Cary, Lecturer and former attorney from Minneapolis
Results +Democratic primary resultsDemocraticJames A. Carley 7,55574.19DemocraticFrancis C. Cary2,62825.81 Total Votes10,183100.0
Special election
Candidates
Republican
J.A.O. Preus, Governor (1921–1925), former state Insurance Commissioner (1911–1915), former state Auditor (1915–1921), Minneapolis attorney
Farmer-Labor
Magnus Johnson, state senator from the 26th SD (1919–1923), former state Representative from the 26th House District (1915–1919)
Democratic
James A. Carley, state senator from the 3rd SD (1915-), former Democratic state Representative from the 3rd HD (1909–1911), Plainview attorney
Results
See also 1923 United States Senate elections
References