1940 United States Senate election in Minnesota

The 1940 United States Senate election in Minnesota took place on November 5, 1940. Incumbent U.S. Senator Henrik Shipstead defected to the Republican Party of Minnesota from the Farmer–Labor Party of Minnesota, and defeated former Governor Elmer Benson of the Farmer–Labor Party and John E. Regan of the Minnesota Democratic Party to win a fourth term.

1940 United States Senate election in Minnesota
November 5, 1940
 
Nominee Henrik Shipstead Elmer A. Benson John E. Regan
Party Republican Farmer–Labor Democratic
Popular vote 641,049 310,875 248,658
Percentage 53.01% 25.71% 20.56%
County results
U.S. senator before election

Henrik Shipstead
Farmer–Labor

 Elected U.S. Senator

Henrik Shipstead
Republican

Elections in Minnesota

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared
  • Louis Erickson
  • John E. O'Rourke, Former Minnesota State Representative from the 27th district (1935-1937)
  • John E. Regan, 1932 Democratic gubernatorial nominee and former Minnesota State Representative from the 8th district (1931-1933)
  • Joseph Wolf

Results
Democratic primary election results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John E. Regan 50,328 52.31%
Democratic Joseph Wolf 20,759 21.58%
Democratic Louis Erickson 13,966 14.52%
Democratic John E. O'Rourke 11,154 11.59%
Total votes 96,207 100.00%

Farmer–Labor primary

Candidates

Declared
  • Elmer A. Benson, 24th Governor of Minnesota (1937-1939) and former U.S. Senator (1935-1936)
  • George H. Lommen, Minnesota State Senator from the 61st district since 1927

Results
Farmer–Labor primary election results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Farmer–Labor Elmer A. Benson 79,245 61.90%
Farmer–Labor George H. Lommen 48,781 38.10%
Total votes 128,026 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared
  • Ben Andreen
  • Ray P. Chase, Former U.S. Representative (1933-1935) and 9th Minnesota State Auditor (1921-1931)
  • Michael Ferch
  • O. J. Hagen
  • Asher Howard, Former Minnesota State Representative from the 34th district (1917-1923)
  • Martin A. Nelson, 1934 and 1936 Republican gubernatorial nominee (unsuccessful)
  • Henrik Shipstead, Incumbent U.S. Senator since 1923
  • Engelberth Zeiner

Results
Republican primary election results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Henrik Shipstead (Incumbent) 168,876 51.37%
Republican Martin A. Nelson 97,812 29.75%
Republican Ray P. Chase 35,697 10.86%
Republican Ben Andreen 13,858 4.22%
Republican O. J. Hagen 5,810 1.77%
Republican Asher Howard 3,313 1.01%
Republican Michael Ferch 1,712 0.52%
Republican Engelberth Zeiner 1,660 0.50%
Total votes 328,738 100.00%

General election

Results
General election results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Henrik Shipstead (Incumbent) 641,049 53.01%
Farmer–Labor Elmer A. Benson 310,875 25.71%
Democratic John E. Regan 248,658 20.56%
Trotskyist Anti-War Grace Holmes Carlson 8,761 0.72%
Total votes 1,209,343 100.00%
Majority 330,174 27.30%
Republican gain from Farmer–Labor

See also
  • United States Senate elections, 1940 and 1941

References
  1. https://www.leg.state.mn.us/archive/sessions/electionresults/1940-09-10-p-man.pdf
  2. http://www.leg.state.mn.us/archive/sessions/electionresults/1940-11-05-g-man.pdf
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