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 by	Arthur LeSueur
Succeeded by	William S. Shaw
Personal details
Born	Halvor Langdon Halvorson July 15, 1881 Henning, Minnesota
Died	October 3, 1951 (aged 70) Minot, North Dakota
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Nina Knudsen
Children	4[1]
Education	University 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.