# Theodore Christianson *Governor of Minnesota, 1925–1931* Theodore Christianson (September 12, 1883 – December 9, 1948) was the 21st person to hold the office of [[Governor of Minnesota]], serving from January 6, 1925, to January 6, 1931.[^1] Before his governorship he was a lawyer and newspaper editor in western Minnesota, and he sat for five terms in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]].[^1] He ran in 1924 on tax limitation and opposition to socialism. As governor he set up a three-member Commission of Administration and Finance.[^1] The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library's biography of him covers the 1925 Reorganization Act together with that commission.[^2] In 1925 he signed into law a eugenics-based sterilization bill passed by the [[Minnesota Senate]] and the House. On January 8, 1926, six women living in an asylum in Faribault were sterilized.[^1] ## Early life and education Christianson was born in Lac qui Parle Township, [[Minnesota]], was of Norwegian descent, and went to Dawson High School.[^1] He took a degree from the [[University of Minnesota]] in 1906 and completed the [[University of Minnesota Law School]] in 1909. He joined the Minnesota State Bar that same year.[^1] ## Career Before he entered politics, Christianson practiced law in western Minnesota and spent fifteen years as editor and publisher of the *Dawson Sentinel*.[^1] The editorials he published in the paper were anti-German and anti-Bolshevik. Albert Pfaender of New Ulm, the son of [[William Pfaender]], was a particular target.[^1] Christianson later held a seat in the Minnesota House for five terms.[^1] ### 1924 campaign His slogan in the 1924 race for governor was "More Ted, Less Taxes." The incumbent governor, J.A.O. Preus, and Representative Thomas D. Schall both endorsed him.[^1] The campaign's stated focus was "No compromise with Socialism in any of its disguises."[^1] Christianson held that the Farmer-Labor Party's program of state-owned railroads and utilities would put the country into debt. He proposed directing state money to education instead.[^1] He spoke at local gatherings of Republican women, and the encyclopedia account credits him as the first candidate for governor to campaign toward women.[^1] ### Administration In office, Christianson held taxes down and reduced spending across every level of state government.[^1] He created a three-member Commission of Administration and Finance, called the "Big Three." Under that arrangement he used the governor's veto to cut appropriations he judged extravagant.[^1] The Legislative Reference Library's governor biography treats the commission alongside the 1925 Reorganization Act.[^2] ### Sterilization law In 1925 both chambers of the Legislature passed a bill for eugenics-based sterilization, and Christianson signed it into law.[^1] On January 8, 1926, six women living in an asylum in Faribault were sterilized.[^1] The session-law chapter and text of the 1925 act are not among the sources assembled for this article. The record here does not establish the bill's number or wording, and these dates rest on the encyclopedia account.[^1] ## Personal life His son, also named Theodore Christianson, later sat on the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]].[^1] Christianson retired to Dawson and died of a heart attack at 65. His grave is at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in [[Minneapolis]].[^1] In 1989, Dawson chose him as the first person to be depicted as its community gnome. The town gives this honor each year to someone who has served the community. The wooden "Governor Ted" figure is kept in the Dawson Public Library.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Theodore Christianson, 21st governor of Minnesota.[^1] ### What - Established a three-member Commission of Administration and Finance and used the veto to cut appropriations.[^1] - The Legislative Reference Library's biography covers the 1925 Reorganization Act and the commission.[^2] - Signed a 1925 eugenics-based sterilization bill passed by both legislative chambers.[^1] ### When - Governor from January 6, 1925, to January 6, 1931.[^1] - Six women were sterilized at a Faribault asylum on January 8, 1926.[^1] ### Where - Born in Lac qui Parle Township. Practiced law and published the *Dawson Sentinel* in western Minnesota.[^1] ### Why - Stated campaign platform: tax limitation and "No compromise with Socialism in any of its disguises."[^1] ### How - Used the veto to reduce budget appropriations through the three-member commission arrangement.[^1] ### How many - Six women sterilized on January 8, 1926, per the encyclopedia account.[^1] - Five terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Theodore Christianson* (revision 1369617346, retrieved 2026-10-25) — life dates, term of office, education, newspaper and legislative career, 1924 campaign, commission and veto use, 1925 sterilization law and 1926 sterilizations, family, burial and Dawson gnome; CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Christianson [^2]: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, *Governor Theodore Christianson* biography (n.d.) — covers the 1925 Reorganization Act and the three-member commission. https://www.lrl.mn.gov/mngov/govbio?govid=18