1942 United States Senate election in Minnesota

The 1942 United States Senate election in Minnesota took place on November 3, 1942. Incumbent Republican Joseph H. Ball, who had been temporarily appointed by Governor Harold Stassen in 1940 to fill the seat of the deceased Farmer–Labor U.S. Senator Ernest Lundeen, defeated Farmer–Labor former U.S. Senator and former Governor Elmer Benson, independent candidate Martin A. Nelson, and Democratic nominee Ed Murphy, to win election to the full six-year term beginning in January 1943. A special election held on the same date elected Republican nominee Arthur E. Nelson to serve the remainder of Lundeen's unexpired term.

1942 United States Senate election in Minnesota

← 1942 (special) November 3, 1942 1948 →

Nominee Joseph H. Ball Elmer A. Benson Party Republican Farmer–Labor Popular vote 356,297 213,965 Percentage 46.98% 28.21%   Nominee Martin A. Nelson Ed Murphy Party Independent Democratic Popular vote 109,226 78,959 Percentage 14.40% 10.41%

County results Ball:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Benson:      40–50%      50–60% Nelson:      30–40%      40–50%

U.S. senator before election Joseph H. Ball Republican Elected U.S. Senator Joseph H. Ball Republican

Following his 1940 appointment and subsequent election, Ball ultimately served the longest tenure of any Senator only elected once.

Farmer–Labor primary

Candidates

Declared

• Henry Arens, Former U.S. Representative (1933–1935) and 26th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota (1931–1933)
• Elmer A. Benson, 24th Governor of Minnesota (1937–1939) and former U.S. Senator (1935–1936)
• Norma Ward Lundeen (named "Mrs. Ernest Lundeen" on the ballot), widow of Ernest Lundeen
• Herbert L. Millington

Results

Farmer–Labor primary election results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Farmer–Labor	Elmer A. Benson	66,051	59.14%
	Farmer–Labor	Mrs. Ernest Lundeen	24,019	21.50%
	Farmer–Labor	Henry Arens	17,163	15.37%
	Farmer–Labor	Herbert L. Millington	4,453	3.99%
Total votes			111,686	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Joseph H. Ball, Incumbent U.S. Senator since 1940
• Walter K. Mickelson, New Ulm-area publisher
• Harson A. Northrop
• Henry J. Soltau, Methodist pastor and ardent prohibitionist

Results

Republican primary election results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joseph H. Ball (Incumbent)	198,733	51.93%
	Republican	Walter K. Mickelson	111,834	29.22%
	Republican	Henry J. Soltau	53,138	13.88%
	Republican	Harson A. Northrop	19,027	4.97%
Total votes			382,732	100.00%

General election

Results

General election results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joseph H. Ball (Incumbent)	356,297	46.98%
	Farmer–Labor	Elmer A. Benson	213,965	28.21%
	Independent	Martin A. Nelson	109,226	14.40%
	Democratic	Ed Murphy	78,959	10.41%
Total votes			758,447	100.00%
Majority			142,332	18.77%
	Republican hold

See also

• United States Senate elections, 1942