Biggest governor landslides in Minnesota
The biggest landslide in a Minnesota governor’s race was in 1916, a margin of 39.1 points. J. A. A. Burnquist beat Thomas P. Dwyer, 245,841 to 93,112. Next widest are 1974 (33.4 points) and 1928 (32.3 points).
Every state is ranked together on Biggest governor landslides. For every gubernatorial race Minnesota has held, special elections included, see the Minnesota governor hub.
What is the biggest landslide in a Minnesota governor’s race?
The widest margin in a Minnesota gubernatorial general election came in 1916, 39.1 points. J. A. A. Burnquist beat Thomas P. Dwyer, 245,841 to 93,112. Next are 1974 (33.4 points) and 1928 (32.3 points).
Why do some huge wins not appear?
A blowout only counts here when somebody real finished second, which means at least 5% of the vote. Without that rule the list fills with uncontested races and with contests where the record is simply missing the major opponent, both of which show the winner near 100%.
Does this include recalls and special elections?
No, only regular general elections for governor. The Minnesota governor hub lists every race including specials and recalls.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1916 | J. A. A. Burnquist R def. Thomas P. Dwyer D | 245,841 – 93,112 | +39.1 points |
| 2 | 1974 | Wendell Anderson D def. John Albert Johnson R | 786,787 – 376,722 | +33.4 points |
| 3 | 1928 | Theodore Christianson R def. Ernest Lundeen D | 549,857 – 227,193 | +32.3 points |
| 4 | 1994 | Arne Carlson R def. John Marty D | 1,094,165 – 589,344 | +29.2 points |
| 5 | 1881 | Lucius Frederick Hubbard R def. Richard W. Johnson D | 65,025 – 37,168 | +26.4 points |
| 6 | 1906 | John Albert Johnson D def. Albert L. Cole R | 168,480 – 96,162 | +26.1 points |
| 7 | 1938 | Harold Stassen R def. Elmer Austin Benson D | 678,839 – 387,263 | +25.7 points |
| 8 | 1944 | Edward John Thye R def. Byron G. Allen D | 701,185 – 430,132 | +23.8 points |
| 9 | 1930 | Floyd B. Olson D def. Ray P. Chase R | 473,154 – 289,528 | +23.0 points |
| 10 | 1950 | Luther Youngdahl R def. Harry H. Peterson D | 635,800 – 400,637 | +22.5 points |
| 11 | 1936 | Elmer Austin Benson D def. Martin A. Nelson R | 680,342 – 431,841 | +22.2 points |
| 12 | 1861 | Alexander Ramsey R def. Edward O. Hamlin D | 16,239 – 10,398 | +21.8 points |
| 13 | 1863 | Stephen Miller N def. Henry T. Welles D | 19,628 – 12,737 | +21.2 points |
| 14 | 1871 | Horace Austin R def. Winthrop Young D | 46,950 – 30,376 | +21.2 points |
| 15 | 1902 | Samuel Rinnah Van Sant R def. Leonard A. Rosing D | 155,849 – 99,362 | +20.9 points |
| 16 | 1910 | Adolph Olson Eberhart R def. James Gray D | 164,185 – 103,779 | +20.5 points |
| 17 | 1894 | Knute Nelson R def. Sidney M. Owen P | 147,943 – 87,890 | +20.3 points |
| 18 | 1946 | Luther Youngdahl R def. Harold H. Barker D | 519,067 – 349,565 | +19.3 points |
| 19 | 1982 | Rudy Perpich D def. Wheelock Whitney Jr. R | 1,049,104 – 711,796 | +18.9 points |
| 20 | 1926 | Theodore Christianson R def. Magnus Johnson D | 395,779 – 266,845 | +18.4 points |
| 21 | 1932 | Floyd B. Olson D def. Earle Brown R | 522,438 – 334,081 | +18.2 points |
| 22 | 1877 | John S. Pillsbury R def. William L. Banning D | 57,071 – 39,147 | +17.9 points |
| 23 | 1920 | J. A. O. Preus R def. Henrik Shipstead I | 415,805 – 281,402 | +17.2 points |
| 24 | 1940 | Harold Stassen R def. Hjalmar Petersen D | 654,686 – 459,609 | +15.5 points |
| 25 | 1879 | John S. Pillsbury R def. Edmund Rice D | 57,524 – 41,524 | +15.1 points |