Karl Rolvaag

Karl Rolvaag
United States Ambassador to Iceland
In office
May 9, 1967 – March 27, 1969
PresidentLyndon Johnson
Richard Nixon
Preceded byJames K. Penfield
Succeeded byLuther I. Replogle
31st Governor of Minnesota
In office
March 25, 1963 – January 2, 1967
LieutenantAlexander M. Keith
Preceded byElmer L. Andersen
Succeeded byHarold LeVander
36th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
In office
January 3, 1955 – January 8, 1963
GovernorOrville L. Freeman
Elmer L. Andersen
Preceded byDonald O. Wright
Succeeded byAlexander M. Keith
Personal details
Born
Karl Fritjof Rolvaag

(1913-07-18)July 18, 1913
Northfield, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedDecember 20, 1990(1990-12-20) (aged 77)
Northfield, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Florence Amelia Boedeker Rolvaag
Marian Rankin MacKenzie Rolvaag
ProfessionPolitician, soldier

Karl Fritjof Rolvaag (July 18, 1913 – December 20, 1990) was an American diplomat and politician who served as the 31st governor of Minnesota from March 25, 1963, to January 2, 1967, as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party. He was the son of the author and professor Ole E. Rølvaag.

The 1962 election was held on November 6, but the results were not known until a 139-day recount was completed in March 1963. Rolvaag won the closest gubernatorial election in state history, defeating the incumbent, Elmer L. Andersen by 91 votes out of over 1.3 million cast. He is one of only five Minnesota Democrats to win a gubernatorial election with a Democrat in the White House.[1]

  1. ^ Ostermeier, Eric (December 6, 2013). "Can Dayton Catch Lightning in a Bottle Twice?". Smart Politics.