Halvor Langdon Halvorson (July 15, 1881 – October 3, 1951) was an American politician and attorney who served as the mayor of Minot, North Dakota and later became a perennial candidate in North Dakota's congressional elections.
Halvor L. Halvorson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 10th President of the Minot City Commission | |
| In office June 20, 1911 – 1915 | |
| Preceded by | Arthur LeSueur |
| Succeeded by | William S. Shaw |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Halvor Langdon Halvorson July 15, 1881 Henning, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | October 3, 1951 (aged 70) Minot, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nina Knudsen |
| Children | 4[1] |
| Education | University of North Dakota |
Early life
editOn August 15, 1881, Halvor Langdon Halvorson was born in Henning, Minnesota. In 1902, he graduated from the University of North Dakota with a law degree and in 1908, moved to Minot, North Dakota.[2]
Career
editIn 1910, he ran for state treasurer against incumbent Republican Gunder Olson and in September was named as vice chairman of the state Democratic party, but was defeated.[3][4] Following the resignation of former Commission President Arthur LeSueur on May 17, 1911, a special election was held on June 6, in which Halvorson narrowly defeated Dorr H. Carroll and Peter Vandenoever with 232 votes against 196 and 94 votes.[5] In 1912, 1914, and 1918, Halvorson ran for North Dakota's third House district, but lost each time with his best showing being 31.16%.[6][7][8] He served as a delegate to the 1916 Democratic National Convention and gave his support to incumbent President Woodrow Wilson.[9]
In 1916, Halvorson attempted to win the Democratic nomination for governor, but was defeated by D. H. McArthur who went on to lose in a landslide to Lynn Frazier.[10] In 1924, he narrowly defeated L. S. Platon for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination with 6,020 votes to 5,244 votes and was narrowly defeated by Arthur G. Sorlie with 53.93% to 46.07% of the vote.[11][12][13]
In 1932 and 1938, he attempted to win the Democratic nomination for Senator, but was defeated both times.[14][15] In 1940, he won the Democratic nomination for attorney general and was narrowly defeated by incumbent Alvin C. Strutz with 52.19% to 47.81% of the vote.[16] In 1942 and 1944, he ran for North Dakota's at-large congressional district, but was defeated both times although he was the best performing Democrat both times.[17][18]
In 1949, he was one of the attorneys who advised the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in their $24,000,000 claim against the federal government.[19] On October 3, 1951, he died in a Minot hospital after being there since June 26 due to pneumonia and a heart condition.[20]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Patrick Daniel Norton | 12,935 | 50.74% | ||
| Democratic | Halvor L. Halvorson | 7,306 | 28.66% | ||
| Socialist | Arthur LeSueur | 5,254 | 20.61% | ||
| Total votes | 25,495 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Patrick Daniel Norton (incumbent) | 15,547 | 57.05% | +6.31% | |
| Democratic | Halvor L. Halvorson | 7,394 | 27.13% | −1.53% | |
| Socialist | S. Griffith | 3,798 | 13.94% | −6.67% | |
| Independent | H.R. Ringoen | 512 | 1.88% | +1.88% | |
| Total votes | 27,251 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | James H. Sinclair | 17,564 | 68.84% | +3.63% | |
| Democratic | Halvor L. Halvorson | 7,951 | 31.16% | +4.64% | |
| Total votes | 25,515 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Arthur G. Sorlie | 101,170 | 53.93% | −3.72% | |
| Democratic | Halvor L. Halvorson | 86,414 | 46.07% | +46.07% | |
| Total votes | 187,584 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Alvin C. Strutz (incumbent) | 128,074 | 52.19% | −0.71% | |
| Democratic | Halvor L. Halvorson | 117,337 | 47.81% | +0.71% | |
| Total votes | 245,411 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Usher L. Burdick (incumbent) | 85,936 | 30.71% | −3.74% | |
| Republican | William Lemke | 65,905 | 23.55% | ||
| Independent Republican | Charles R. Robertson (incumbent) | 48,472 | 17.32% | −8.51% | |
| Democratic | Halvor L. Halvorson | 47,972 | 17.14% | ||
| Democratic | E. A. Johansson | 31,547 | 11.27% | ||
| Total votes | 279,832 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | William Lemke (incumbent) | 101,007 | 29.73% | +6.18% | |
| Republican | Charles R. Robertson | 91,425 | 26.91% | +9.59% | |
| Democratic | Halvor L. Halvorson | 56,699 | 16.69% | −0.45% | |
| Democratic | J.R. Kennedy | 45,308 | 13.34% | ||
| Independent | Usher L. Burdick (incumbent) | 39,888 | 11.74% | −18.97% | |
| Independent | George McClellan | 3,135 | 0.92% | ||
| Independent | Arthur C. Townley | 2,307 | 0.68% | ||
| Total votes | 339,769 | 100.00% | |||
References
edit- ^ "Halvor Halvorson, N.D. Reclamation Pioneeer, Dies Page 3". The Bismarck Tribune. 3 October 1951. p. 3. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The New Minot President". Grand Forks Herald. 30 June 1911. p. 4. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Halvorson for State Treasurer". The Ward County Independent. 5 May 1910. p. 23. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Democratic Convention". The Ward County Independent. 8 September 1910. p. 16. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Halvor Halvorson, N.D. Reclamation Pioneeer, Dies Page 3". The Ward County Independent. 15 June 1911. p. 9. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Halvorson Is Making A Tour". The Bismarck Tribune. 8 August 1912. p. 4. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Minot Man In Race For Congress". The Ward County Independent. 15 October 1914. p. 1. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sinclair Wins for Congress". The Ward County Independent. 7 November 1918. p. 1. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Wilson And Marshall Nominated By Democrats". The Ward County Independent. 22 June 1916. p. 24. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Money Fails to Elect In N.D." Sioux County Pioneer. 11 August 1916. p. 2. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sorlie Majority Will Be 2,500". Halvorson Picture. 3 July 1924. p. 7. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Democratic Results". The Hope Pioneer. 31 July 1924. p. 2. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "ND Governor 1924". 28 September 2005.
- ^ "ND US Senate – D Primary 1932". 24 February 2012.
- ^ "ND US Senate – D Primary 1938". 25 February 2012.
- ^ "ND Attorney General 1940". 26 February 2012.
- ^ "ND At-Large 1942". 19 September 2009.
- ^ "ND At-Large 1944". 29 January 2006.
- ^ "Turtle Mountain Indians To Ask For $24 Million". Steele County Press. 9 June 1949. p. 7. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Halvor Halvorson, N.D. Reclamation Pioneeer, Dies". The Bismarck Tribune. 3 October 1951. p. 1. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.