1936 United States Senate special election in Minnesota

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.

1936 United States Senate special election in Minnesota

November 3, 1936

Nominee Guy V. Howard N. J. Holmberg Party Republican Independent Popular vote 317,457 210,364 Percentage 42.89% 28.42%   Nominee Andrew Olaf Devold John G. Alexander Party Independent Independent Popular vote 147,858 64,493 Percentage 19.98% 8.71%

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

Candidates

• John G. Alexander (I), Attorney and real estate manager
• Andrew Olaf Devold (I), Attorney, State Senator since 1919, former State Representative (1915–1919); a member of the Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota and formerly a member of the Socialist Party of Minnesota
• N. J. Holmberg (I), Former State Senator (1915–1919) and State Representative (1907–1915); a member of the Republican Party of Minnesota
• Guy V. Howard (R), Businessman and Republican elector in the 1916 presidential election

Special election

Results

Special election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Guy V. Howard	317,457	42.89%
	Independent	N. J. Holmberg	210,364	28.42%
	Independent	Andrew Olaf Devold	147,858	19.98%
	Independent	John G. Alexander	64,493	8.71%
Total votes			740,172	100.00%
Majority			107,093	14.47%
	Republican gain from Farmer–Labor

See also

• United States Senate elections, 1936 and 1937