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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1956/Governor/Minnesota
      1956·Governor·Minnesota

      Minnesota Governor

      Winner
      DEM
      Orville L. Freeman
      51.4%731,180 votes
      Runner-up
      REP
      Ancher Nelsen
      48.2%685,196 votes
      Margin
      D+3.2
      1,422,161 total votes
      3 candidates1,422,161 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Orville L. FreemanDEM✓
      		DEM731,18051.4%
      Ancher NelsenREP
      		REP685,19648.2%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH5,7850.4%

      Seat History

      Governor in Minnesota

      2022
      Timothy J WalzDEM
      D+7.7
      2018
      Timothy J WalzDEM
      D+11.4
      2014
      Mark DaytonDEM
      D+5.6
      2010
      Mark DaytonDEM
      D+0.4
      2006
      Tim PawlentyREP
      R+1.0
      2002
      Tim PawlentyREP
      R+7.9
      1998
      OtherOTH
      R+34.3
      1994
      Arne CarlsonREP
      R+28.6
      1990
      Arne CarlsonREP
      R+3.3
      1986
      Rudy PerpichDEM
      D+12.9
      1982
      Rudy PerpichDEM
      D+18.6
      1978
      Albert H. QuieREP
      R+7.0
      1974
      Wendell R. AndersonDEM
      D+33.5
      1970
      Wendell R. AndersonDEM
      D+8.5
      1966
      Harold LevanderREP
      R+5.6
      View all Governor history for Minnesota →

      Candidates

      Ancher NelsenREP
      Record0W-1L
      Avg MarginD+3.2
      Career1956-1956
      Governor
      Full profile →
      Orville L. FreemanDEM
      Record3W-2L
      Avg MarginD+2.2
      Career1952-1960
      Governor
      Full profile →

      Also in Minnesota, 1956

      President1 contest →
      ← All 1956 Governor races1956 overviewMinnesota profileAll elections