Halvor L. Halvorson

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 byArthur LeSueur
Succeeded byWilliam S. Shaw
Personal details
Born
Halvor Langdon Halvorson

(1881-07-15)July 15, 1881
Henning, Minnesota
DiedOctober 3, 1951(1951-10-03) (aged 70)
Minot, North Dakota
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Nina Knudsen
Children4[1]
EducationUniversity of North Dakota

Early life

On 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

In 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
Halvor L. Halvorson electoral history
1912 North Dakota Third Congressional District election
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%'
1914 North Dakota Third Congressional District election
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%'
1918 North Dakota Third Congressional District election
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%'
1924 North Dakota gubernatorial election
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%'
1940 Attorney General election
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%'
1942 North Dakota At-large Congressional District election
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%'
1944 North Dakota At-large Congressional District election
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%'
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References
  1. "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.
  2. "The New Minot President". Grand Forks Herald. 30 June 1911. p. 4. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Halvorson for State Treasurer". The Ward County Independent. 5 May 1910. p. 23. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Democratic Convention". The Ward County Independent. 8 September 1910. p. 16. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "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.
  6. "Halvorson Is Making A Tour". The Bismarck Tribune. 8 August 1912. p. 4. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "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.
  8. "Sinclair Wins for Congress". The Ward County Independent. 7 November 1918. p. 1. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "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.
  10. "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.
  11. "Sorlie Majority Will Be 2,500". Halvorson Picture. 3 July 1924. p. 7. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Democratic Results". The Hope Pioneer. 31 July 1924. p. 2. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "ND Governor 1924". 28 September 2005.
  14. "ND US Senate – D Primary 1932". 24 February 2012.
  15. "ND US Senate – D Primary 1938". 25 February 2012.
  16. "ND Attorney General 1940". 26 February 2012.
  17. "ND At-Large 1942". 19 September 2009.
  18. "ND At-Large 1944". 29 January 2006.
  19. "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.
  20. "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.
Party political offices
Vacant
Title last held by
James Francis Thaddeus O'Connor		 Democratic nominee for Governor of North Dakota
1924		 Succeeded by
David M. Holmes
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