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1974 Minnesota gubernatorial election

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1974 Minnesota gubernatorial election

← 1970 November 5, 1974 1978 →
 
Nominee Wendell Anderson John W. Johnson
Party Democratic (DFL) Republican
Running mate Rudy Perpich Dwaine Hoberg
Popular vote 786,787 376,722
Percentage 62.80% 29.35%

County results
Anderson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

Wendell Anderson
Democratic (DFL)

Elected Governor

Wendell Anderson
Democratic (DFL)

The 1974 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1974. The 1974 election was the first election where the Governor and Lieutenant Governor ran on the same ticket. Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party candidate Wendell Anderson defeated Republican Party of Minnesota challenger John W. Johnson.

Anderson won every single county in the state, becoming the first person to do so in a gubernatorial election since Joseph Burnquist in 1916. This was the first gubernatorial election with eight candidates on the ballot, as well as the first election to feature a Libertarian Party ticket on a Minnesota ballot.

DFL primary

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Candidates

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  • Wendell Anderson, incumbent Governor since 1971
    • Running mate: Rudy Perpich, incumbent Lieutenant Governor since 1971
  • Tom McDonald, perennial candidate from Minneapolis
    • Running mate: Marvin Eakman, perennial candidate from Minneapolis

Results

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1974 DFL gubernatorial primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Wendell Anderson (incumbent) 254,671 78.23%
Democratic (DFL) Tom McDonald 70,871 21.77%
Total votes 325,542 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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1974 Republican gubernatorial primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Warren Johnson 136,395 100.00%
Total votes 136,395 100.00%

General election

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Candidates

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  • Wendell Anderson, incumbent Governor since 1971 (DFL)
    • Running mate: Rudy Perpich, incumbent Lieutenant Governor since 1971
  • John W. Johnson, State Representative from Minneapolis (Republican)
  • Richard Kleinow, North Oaks resident (Libertarian)
  • Erwin Marquist, University of Minnesota physics professor (Communist)
    • Running mate: James Flower, retired Minneapolis building tradesman
  • Jim Miles, electrical engineer (Independent)
    • Running mate: Laura Miles, non-practicing attorney and wife of James Miles
  • Harry Pool, mayor of Independence (American)
    • Running mate: Elvera Jaspersen, state campaign director for John Schmitz in 1972
  • Jane Van Deusen, Minneapolis registered nurse (Socialist Workers)
    • Running mate: Ralph Schwartz, Minneapolis junior high science teacher

Results

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1974 Minnesota gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic (DFL) Wendell Anderson (incumbent) 786,787 62.80% +8.76%
Republican John W. Johnson 376,722 29.35% −16.18%
Independent James Miles 60,150 4.80% n/a
American Harry Pool 20,454 1.63% n/a
Socialist Workers Jane VanDeusen 9,232 0.74% n/a
Communist Erwin Marquit 3,570 0.28% n/a
Industrial Government Genevieve Gunderson 2,720 0.22% −0.13%
Libertarian Richard Kleinow 2,115 0.17% n/a
Majority 419,065 33.45%
Turnout 1,252,750
Democratic (DFL) hold Swing
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