Minnesota gubernatorial election, 1962

Minnesota gubernatorial election, 1962

November 6, 1962

Nominee Karl Rolvaag Elmer Andersen Party DFL Republican Popular vote 619,842 619,751 Percentage 49.71% 49.71%

County Results

Governor before election Elmer Andersen Republican Elected Governor Karl Rolvaag DFL

Minnesota's 1962 gubernatorial election was the closest statewide race in Minnesota history and one of the closest gubernatorial elections in American history. The election was held on November 6, 1962, but the results were not known until March 21, 1963. After recounts and court challenges, it was determined that then-Lieutenant Governor Karl Rolvaag of the DFL had defeated Governor Elmer L. Andersen, Republican, by 91 votes out of nearly 1.3 million cast. Rolvaag collected 619,842 votes to Andersen's 619,751.

At that time governors and lieutenant governors were elected on separate ballots. Thus the incumbent governor was a Republican while the lieutenant governor was a Democrat. The 1962 election was also the first four-year term election for Minnesota governor.

Results

1962 Gubernatorial Election, Minnesota

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	DFL	Karl Rolvaag	619,842	49.71%	+0.63%
	Republican	Elmer Andersen	619,751	49.71%	-0.85%
	Industrial Government	William Braatz	7,234	0.58%	+0.22%
Majority			91	0.01%
Turnout			1,246,827
	DFL gain from Republican		Swing

See also

• List of Minnesota gubernatorial elections

External links

• http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=653
• http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=657