Halvorson moved to Minnesota in November 1865 and homesteaded near Belgrade, Stearns County where he engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock raising. He served as justice of the peace 1870 – 1875; chairman of the board of supervisors 1870–1880; township assessor in 1880; town clerk 1880 – 1891 and member of the Minnesota House of Representatives 1886–1888. He was elected as a Populist to the 52nd United States Congress, (March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1892 to the 53rd Congress. He resumed agricultural pursuits near Brooten, Stearns County, Minnesota. He served as an alternate delegate to the Populist Party National Convention in 1896. He moved to Tewaukon Township, Sargent County, North Dakota in 1900 and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was an unsuccessful candidate for representative from North Dakota for the Socialist Party of America in 1906.[4] He returned to Minnesota in 1910 and resuming farming in North Fork until 1924, when he retired.
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