Minnesota gubernatorial election, 1962
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Minnesota's 1962 gubernatorial election was the closest statewide race in Minnesota history. The election was held on November 6, 1962 but the results were not known until March 21, 1963. After recounts and court challenges, it was determined that then-Lieutenant Governor Karl Rolvaag, DFL had defeated Governor Elmer L. Andersen, Republican by 91 votes out of nearly 1.3 million cast. Rolvaag collected 619,842 votes to Andersen's 619,751.
At that time Governors and Lt. Governors were elected on separate ballots. That explains why the incumbent governor was a Republican while the lt. governor was a Democrat. The 1962 election was also the first four year term election for Minnesota governor.