1921 North Dakota gubernatorial recall election explained

Election Name:1921 North Dakota gubernatorial recall election
Country:North Dakota
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1920 North Dakota gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1920
Next Election:1922 North Dakota gubernatorial election
Next Year:1922
Election Date:October 28, 1921
Nominee1:Ragnvald Nestos
Party1:Independent Voters Association
Popular Vote1:111,425
Percentage1:50.94%
Nominee2:Lynn Frazier
Party2:Nonpartisan League
Popular Vote2:107,332
Percentage2:49.06%
Map Size:250px
Governor
Before Election:Lynn Frazier
Before Party:Non-Partisan League
After Election:Ragnvald A. Nestos
After Party:Independent Voters Association

The 1921 North Dakota gubernatorial recall election was a recall election of North Dakota Governor Lynn Frazier in 1921. Frazier was the first U.S. governor ever successfully recalled from office; there would not be another successful recall of a governor until California Governor Gray Davis was recalled in 2003.

Background

The recall stemmed from the conflict between the socialist-leaning Nonpartisan League, of which Governor Frazier was a member, and the Independent Voters Association, a conservative and ‘pro-free market’ faction. Frazier and his party supported state ownership of industries, while the IVA opposed it. A dispute broke out specifically over government ownership of the Bank of North Dakota and State Mill and Elevator.[1]

By September, the campaigners had been able to gather 73,000 names on petitions asking for the recall of Frazier, Attorney General William Lemke, and Commissioner of Agriculture John Hagan. These men made up the Industrial Commission, which acts as a board of directors for the state-owned entities.[1] The date of the recall was set for October 28, 1921.[1]

Results

In the October 28 vote, Ragnvald A. Nestos was elected as governor by a margin of 4,093.[2] He was sworn in on November 23.

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20A1EFA3E5A1B7A93C5A81782D85F458285F9 "North Dakota to Vote October 28 on Recall Aimed at Gov. Frazier and Townley League"
  2. Web site: Helm. Merry. Dakota Datebook: Ragnvold Nestos. Prairie Public. July 10, 2017. October 28, 2003.