Elmer A. Benson
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 (1944-1948) |
| Other political affiliations | Farmer-Labor (Before 1944) Progressive Party (After 1948) |
| 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. 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.