Halvor L. Halvorson

Halvor Langdon Halvorson (July 15, 1881 – October 3, 1951) was an American politician and attorney who served as the mayor of Minot, North Dakota and later became a perennial candidate in North Dakota's congressional elections.

Halvor L. Halvorson
10th President of the Minot City Commission
In office
June 20, 1911  1915
Preceded byArthur LeSueur
Succeeded byWilliam S. Shaw
Personal details
Born
Halvor Langdon Halvorson

(1881-07-15)July 15, 1881
Henning, Minnesota
DiedOctober 3, 1951(1951-10-03) (aged 70)
Minot, North Dakota
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Nina Knudsen
Children4[1]
EducationUniversity of North Dakota

Early life

On August 15, 1881, Halvor Langdon Halvorson was born in Henning, Minnesota. In 1902, he graduated from the University of North Dakota with a law degree and in 1908, moved to Minot, North Dakota.[2]

Career

In 1910, he ran for state treasurer against incumbent Republican Gunder Olson and in September was named as vice chairman of the state Democratic party, but was defeated.[3][4] Following the resignation of former Commission President Arthur LeSueur on May 17, 1911, a special election was held on June 6, in which Halvorson narrowly defeated Dorr H. Carroll and Peter Vandenoever with 232 votes against 196 and 94 votes.[5] In 1912, 1914, and 1918, Halvorson ran for North Dakota's third House district, but lost each time with his best showing being 31.16%.[6][7][8] He served as a delegate to the 1916 Democratic National Convention and gave his support to incumbent President Woodrow Wilson.[9]

In 1916, Halvorson attempted to win the Democratic nomination for governor, but was defeated by D. H. McArthur who went on to lose in a landslide to Lynn Frazier.[10] In 1924, he narrowly defeated L. S. Platon for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination with 6,020 votes to 5,244 votes and was narrowly defeated by Arthur G. Sorlie with 53.93% to 46.07% of the vote.[11][12][13]

In 1932 and 1938, he attempted to win the Democratic nomination for Senator, but was defeated both times.[14][15] In 1940, he won the Democratic nomination for attorney general and was narrowly defeated by incumbent Alvin C. Strutz with 52.19% to 47.81% of the vote.[16] In 1942 and 1944, he ran for North Dakota's at-large congressional district, but was defeated both times although he was the best performing Democrat both times.[17][18]

In 1949, he was one of the attorneys who advised the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in their $24,000,000 claim against the federal government.[19] On October 3, 1951, he died in a Minot hospital after being there since June 26 due to pneumonia and a heart condition.[20]

Electoral history

Halvor L. Halvorson electoral history
1912 North Dakota Third Congressional District election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Patrick Daniel Norton 12,935 50.74%
Democratic Halvor L. Halvorson 7,306 28.66%
Socialist Arthur LeSueur 5,254 20.61%
Total votes 25,495 100.00%
1914 North Dakota Third Congressional District election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Patrick Daniel Norton (incumbent) 15,547 57.05% +6.31%
Democratic Halvor L. Halvorson 7,394 27.13% -1.53%
Socialist S. Griffith 3,798 13.94% -6.67%
Independent H.R. Ringoen 512 1.88% +1.88%
Total votes 27,251 100.00%
1918 North Dakota Third Congressional District election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican James H. Sinclair 17,564 68.84% +3.63%
Democratic Halvor L. Halvorson 7,951 31.16% +4.64%
Total votes 25,515 100.00%
1924 North Dakota gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Arthur G. Sorlie 101,170 53.93% -3.72%
Democratic Halvor L. Halvorson 86,414 46.07% +46.07%
Total votes 187,584 100.00%
1940 Attorney General election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Alvin C. Strutz (incumbent) 128,074 52.19% -0.71%
Democratic Halvor L. Halvorson 117,337 47.81% +0.71%
Total votes 245,411 100.00%
1942 North Dakota At-large Congressional District election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Usher L. Burdick (incumbent) 85,936 30.71% -3.74%
Republican William Lemke 65,905 23.55%
Independent Republican Charles R. Robertson (incumbent) 48,472 17.32% -8.51%
Democratic Halvor L. Halvorson 47,972 17.14%
Democratic E. A. Johansson 31,547 11.27%
Total votes 279,832 100.00%
1944 North Dakota At-large Congressional District election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican William Lemke (incumbent) 101,007 29.73% +6.18%
Republican Charles R. Robertson 91,425 26.91% +9.59%
Democratic Halvor L. Halvorson 56,699 16.69% -0.45%
Democratic J.R. Kennedy 45,308 13.34%
Independent Usher L. Burdick (incumbent) 39,888 11.74% -18.97%
Independent George McClellan 3,135 0.92%
Independent Arthur C. Townley 2,307 0.68%
Total votes 339,769 100.00%

References

  1. "Halvor Halvorson, N.D. Reclamation Pioneeer, Dies Page 3". The Bismarck Tribune. 3 October 1951. p. 3. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "The New Minot President". Grand Forks Herald. 30 June 1911. p. 4. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Halvorson for State Treasurer". The Ward County Independent. 5 May 1910. p. 23. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Democratic Convention". The Ward County Independent. 8 September 1910. p. 16. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Halvor Halvorson, N.D. Reclamation Pioneeer, Dies Page 3". The Ward County Independent. 15 June 1911. p. 9. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Halvorson Is Making A Tour". The Bismarck Tribune. 8 August 1912. p. 4. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Minot Man In Race For Congress". The Ward County Independent. 15 October 1914. p. 1. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Sinclair Wins for Congress". The Ward County Independent. 7 November 1918. p. 1. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Wilson And Marshall Nominated By Democrats". The Ward County Independent. 22 June 1916. p. 24. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Money Fails to Elect In N.D." Sioux County Pioneer. 11 August 1916. p. 2. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Sorlie Majority Will Be 2,500". Halvorson Picture. 3 July 1924. p. 7. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Democratic Results". The Hope Pioneer. 31 July 1924. p. 2. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  13. "ND Governor 1924". 28 September 2005.
  14. "ND US Senate – D Primary 1932". 24 February 2012.
  15. "ND US Senate – D Primary 1938". 25 February 2012.
  16. "ND Attorney General 1940". 26 February 2012.
  17. "ND At-Large 1942". 19 September 2009.
  18. "ND At-Large 1944". 29 January 2006.
  19. "Turtle Mountain Indians To Ask For $24 Million". Steele County Press. 9 June 1949. p. 7. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Halvor Halvorson, N.D. Reclamation Pioneeer, Dies". The Bismarck Tribune. 3 October 1951. p. 1. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019 via Newspapers.com.
Party political offices
Vacant
Title last held by
James Francis Thaddeus O'Connor
Democratic nominee for Governor of North Dakota
1924
Succeeded by
David M. Holmes
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