1921 North Dakota recall
Encyclopedia
The North Dakota recall election was a recall election
of North Dakota Governor Lynn Frazier
in 1921. Frazier was the first American 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.
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-capitalist 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.
In the October 28 vote, Ragnvald A. Nestos
was elected as governor by a margin of 4,102. He was sworn in on November 23.
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
of North Dakota Governor Lynn Frazier
Lynn Frazier
Lynn Joseph Frazier was a politician from North Dakota, serving as a U.S. Senator from 1923 to 1941 and the 12th Governor of North Dakota of that state from 1917 until being recalled in 1921. He was the first American governor ever successfully recalled from office...
in 1921. Frazier was the first American governor
Governor (United States)
In the United States, the title governor refers to the chief executive of each state or insular territory, not directly subordinate to the federal authorities, but the political and ceremonial head of the state.-Role and powers:...
ever successfully recalled from office; there would not be another successful recall of a governor until California Governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Gray Davis
Gray Davis
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
was recalled in 2003.
The recall stemmed from the conflict between the socialist-leaning Nonpartisan League, of which Governor Frazier was a member, and the Independent Voters Association
Independent Voters Association
The Independent Voters Association, or IVA, was a North Dakota political organization formed on May 1, 1918, at the height of the Non Partisan League's influence on the North Dakota Republican Party. The IVA was a conservative, capitalist faction created to counter the NPL's socialist leanings. ...
, a conservative and pro-capitalist 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
Bank of North Dakota
The Bank of North Dakota is a state-owned and -run financial institution based in Bismarck, North Dakota. Under state law the bank is the State of North Dakota doing business as the Bank of North Dakota....
and State Mill and Elevator
North Dakota Mill and Elevator
The North Dakota Mill and Elevator is the largest flour mill in the United States. It is located in the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. The mill is owned by the U.S. state of North Dakota and is the only state-owned milling facility in the United States....
.
By September, the campaigners had been able to gather 73,000 names on petitions asking for the recall of Frazier, Attorney General William Lemke
William Lemke
William Frederick Lemke was a United States politician.-Life and career:He was born in Albany, Minnesota, and raised in Towner County, North Dakota, the son of Fred Lemke and Julia Anna Klier, pioneer farmers who had accumulated some of land...
, and Commissioner of Agriculture John Hagan
John N. Hagan
John N. Hagan was a North Dakota Republican/NPL politician who served as the North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor from 1917 to 1921 and from 1937 to 1938. He is one of three politicians in the state ever to be recalled; he was recalled during his first time in the office along with...
. 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.
In the October 28 vote, Ragnvald A. Nestos
Ragnvald A. Nestos
Ragnvald Anderson Nestos was the 13th Governor of the U.S. state of North Dakota from 1921 through 1925.-Biography:...
was elected as governor by a margin of 4,102. He was sworn in on November 23.
See also
- California gubernatorial recall election, 2003
- Cleveland recall election, 1978