The 1916 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1916. Republican Party of Minnesota candidate J. A. A. Burnquist defeated Democratic Party of Minnesota challenger Thomas P. Dwyer.
In 1914, Democratic candidate Winfield Scott Hammond was victorious. In December of 1915, Hammond would die in office. Lieutenant Governor Joseph A.A. Burnquist, a Republican, became governor. As of the 1916 election, he had been in office for less than a year. The Democrats lacked a strong candidate following Hammond's death.
Iverson, who had served as State Auditor for twelve years, challenged incumbent Burnquist, believing him to lack the appropriate experience to be an effective governor.
The primary election was held on June 19, 1916.
On June 29, 1916, the official beginning of the primary was postponed until July 13, 1916. Despite this, frontrunner Thomas P. Dwyer decided to begin his campaign early, before being formally nominated. Dwyer would win the nomination.
Following his nomination, opposition to his from within the party grew, with runner-up Cyrus M. King even attempting to organize a 'Independent Democracy' ticket. Party leaders decided to allow Dwyer to continue his run simply because they did not have a budget capable of fielding another candidate. Dwyer continued to sow division by campaigning against prohibition, while the candidate for lieutenant governor, Julius Thorson, campaigned as a prohibitionist. Dwyer's nomination would be called "a good joke" by the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Dwyer's campaign suffered due to both factions of his party becoming dissatisfied with him, and most effort being put towards Woodrow Wilson's re-election campaign.
Burnquist did not even launch his re-election campaign until October 21, 1916.
Dwyer campaigned on raising the minimum wage to $0.25 an hour, and would free imprisoned iron worker strikers held in the Stillwater prison.