1921 North Dakota gubernatorial recall election

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:ElectionsND 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.

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. The date of the recall was set for October 28, 1921.

Results

Template:Election box margin of victory no change

North Dakota gubernatorial election, 1921

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Ragnvald A. Nestos		50.9
		Lynn Frazier (incumbent)		49.1
Total votes				100
	gain from

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

See also

• 1978 Cleveland mayoral recall election
• 2003 California gubernatorial recall election
• 2012 Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election
• 2021 California gubernatorial recall election

References

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