The 1920 Minnesota gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 1920. Republican Party of Minnesota candidate J. A. O. Preus defeated Independent challenger's Henrik Shipstead and the Mayor of St. Paul, Laurence C. Hodgson. Shipstead narrowly lost to Preus in the Republican primary of that year and challenged him in the general, beating the Democratic nominee but coming far short of winning the general.
Shipstead would soon join the FarmerâÂÂLabor Party, which did not officially participate in this election, and would become the first party member to win statewide under that banner as Senator in 1922. The FarmerâÂÂLaborites would also become the main opposition party, replacing the Democrats, displacing them until the two parties' political union into the DFL in the 1944.
The Democratic Primary election was held on June 21, 1920.
The Republican Primary election was held on June 21, 1920.
Shipstead was endorsed by the Nonpartisan League and Arthur C. Townley. Preus's campaign in the primary was focused on emphasizing that firstly, Preus and Shipstead were the only ones with a chance in the general election, and secondly that Shipstead was a socialist in disguise as a Republican, and that he was the only candidate to stop the rise of what he called 'Townleyism'. Preus's campaign slogan would become 'Down Socialism'. In a speech in Mankato, he described the primary as "Americanism versus Socialism."
Following his defeat in the Republican primary, Shipstead would begin his campaign running as an independent on September 20, 1920.
Preus would be successful among independents, who were the deciding demographic in the election. This was the first time a gubernatorial in Minnesota would be decided by independents. On October 21, 1920, William J. Mayo, a Democrat, endorsed Preus.