1938 Minnesota Attorney General election

The 1938 Minnesota Attorney General election was held on 8 November 1938 in order to elect the attorney general of Minnesota. Republican nominee and former governor of Minnesota Joseph A. A. Burnquist defeated Farmer–Labor nominee and incumbent acting attorney general William S. Ervin and Democratic nominee John D. Sullivan.^[1]

1938 Minnesota Attorney General election

← 1936 8 November 1938 1940 →

Nominee Joseph A. A. Burnquist William S. Ervin John D. Sullivan Party Republican Farmer–Labor Democratic Popular vote 530,971 378,385 154,799 Percentage 49.90% 35.55% 14.55%

Attorney General before election William S. Ervin (Acting) Farmer–Labor Elected Attorney General Joseph A. A. Burnquist Republican

General election

On election day, 8 November 1938, Republican nominee Joseph A. A. Burnquist won the election by a margin of 152,586 votes against his foremost opponent Farmer–Labor nominee William S. Ervin, thereby gaining Republican control over the office of attorney general. Burnquist was sworn in as the 21st attorney general of Minnesota on 2 January 1939.^[2]

Results

Minnesota Attorney General election, 1938

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joseph A. A. Burnquist	530,971	49.90
	Farmer–Labor	William S. Ervin (incumbent)	378,385	35.55
	Democratic	John D. Sullivan	154,799	14.55
Total votes			1,064,155	100.00
	Republican gain from Farmer–Labor