# Alec G. Olson *American politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Minnesota Senate, and as Minnesota's lieutenant governor* Alec Gehard Olson (born September 11, 1930) is a [[Minnesota]] politician who held office at both the federal and state levels. He represented Minnesota's 6th congressional district in the [[United States House of Representatives]] for two terms, from 1963 to 1967. He then sat in the [[Minnesota Senate]] from 1969 to 1976 and was the 40th [[Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota]] from 1976 to 1979.[^1] Olson was active in the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party from 1952 to 1962.[^2] He became lieutenant governor in December 1976 through a chain of vacancies. Wendell R. Anderson left the governorship for the U.S. Senate, and Rudy Perpich moved up from lieutenant governor to governor. Olson and Perpich then lost the 1978 gubernatorial race as a ticket.[^2] ## Biography Olson's birthplace was Mamre Township in [[Kandiyohi County, Minnesota]]. After attending public schools, he finished at Willmar High School in 1948. He farmed from 1948 until 1955 and then worked as an insurance representative from 1955 to 1962.[^2] Between 1952 and 1962 Olson took part in the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, and he held a district chairmanship for four of those years. He went to the Democratic National Convention as a delegate in 1960, 1964 and 1968.[^2] ## U.S. House of Representatives Olson's House tenure ran from January 3, 1963, through January 3, 1967, which covered the 88th and 89th Congresses. In that period he voted in favor of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]]. He lost his bid for re-election in 1966, which ended his House service after two terms.[^2] ## Minnesota Senate Olson was a state senator from 1969 to 1976. From 1973 to 1976 he presided over the chamber as its President.[^2] ## Lieutenant governor In 1976 Governor [[Wendell R. Anderson]] resigned to take a seat in the U.S. Senate. Lieutenant Governor [[Rudy Perpich]] succeeded him as [[Governor of Minnesota]], and Olson filled the vacated lieutenant governorship. He held that office from December 29, 1976, to January 3, 1979.[^2] In the 1978 gubernatorial election Olson ran as Perpich's running mate, and the ticket was defeated.[^2] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Alec Gehard Olson, born September 11, 1930.[^1] ### What - U.S. Representative for Minnesota's 6th congressional district, 1963–1967.[^1] - State senator, 1969–1976, and President of the Minnesota Senate, 1973–1976.[^2] - 40th lieutenant governor of Minnesota, 1976–1979.[^1] ### When - House service: January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1967.[^2] - Lieutenant governorship: December 29, 1976 – January 3, 1979.[^2] ### Where - Born in Mamre Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.[^2] ### How - Succeeded to the lieutenant governorship after Anderson's 1976 resignation and Perpich's elevation to governor.[^2] ### How many - Two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.[^1] - Three Democratic National Conventions attended as a delegate (1960, 1964, 1968).[^2] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Alec G. Olson*, lead section (revision 1365702941, retrieved 2026-10-25) — establishes the birth date, the 6th-district House service of 1963–1967, the Senate service of 1969–1976, and the 40th lieutenant governorship of 1976–1979. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alec_G._Olson [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Alec G. Olson*, "Biography" section (revision 1365702941, retrieved 2026-10-25) — establishes the birthplace, schooling, occupations, DFL activity, convention delegacies, House dates and the 1964 vote, the 1966 defeat, the Senate presidency, the succession and the 1978 ticket. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alec_G._Olson