Elmer A. Benson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 24th Governor of Minnesota | |
| In office January 4, 1937 – January 2, 1939 | |
| Lieutenant | Gottfrid Lindsten |
| Preceded by | Hjalmar Petersen |
| Succeeded by | Harold Stassen |
| United States Senator from Minnesota | |
| In office December 27, 1935 – November 3, 1936 | |
| Appointed by | Floyd B. Olson |
| Preceded by | Thomas D. Schall |
| Succeeded by | Guy V. Howard |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 22, 1895 Appleton, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | March 13, 1985 (aged 89) Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic-Farmer-Labor (after 1944) |
| Other political affiliations | Farmer-Labor (before 1944) |
| Spouse | Francis Miller |
| Education | William Mitchell College of Law |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1918–1919 |
| Rank | Private |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
Elmer Austin Benson (September 22, 1895 – March 13, 1985) was an American lawyer and politician from Minnesota. In 1935, Benson was appointed to the U.S. Senate following the death of Thomas Schall.[1] He served as the 24th governor of Minnesota, defeating Republican Martin Nelson in a landslide in Minnesota's 1936 gubernatorial election. He lost the governorship two years later to Republican Harold Stassen in the 1938 gubernatorial election.[2]
- ^ Services, Times Wire (March 16, 1985). "Socialist Elmer Benson Dies at 89 : Radical Played a Prominent Role in Minnesota Politics". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
- ^ Elmer A. Benson, "Politics in My Lifetime." Minnesota History 47 (1980): 154–60.