1962 Minnesota gubernatorial election

The 1962 Minnesota gubernatorial election was the closest statewide race in Minnesota history and one of the closest gubernatorial elections in U.S. history. The election was held on November 6, 1962, but the results were not known until March 21, 1963. The vote count after election day had Governor Elmer L. Andersen in the lead by 142 votes. Then-Lieutenant Governor Karl Rolvaag went to court and won the right to a recount.^[1] After the recount, it was determined that Rolvaag had defeated Andersen by 91 votes out of over 1.2 million cast. He received 619,842 votes to Andersen's 619,751.

1962 Minnesota gubernatorial election

← 1960 November 6, 1962 1966 →

Nominee Karl Rolvaag Elmer Andersen Party Democratic (DFL) Republican Popular vote 619,842 619,751 Percentage 49.713% 49.706%

County results Rolvaag:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Andersen:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Elmer Andersen Republican Elected Governor Karl Rolvaag Democratic (DFL)

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

Results

1962 Gubernatorial Election, Minnesota

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

See also

• List of Minnesota gubernatorial elections