Elected to the
North Dakota House of Representatives, Olson served from 1917 to 1919. He was then elected to the
North Dakota State Senate, serving from 1919 to 1931, and as president pro tempore in 1929. Olson was elected the 16th
lieutenant governor of
North Dakota. In 1934, Governor
William Langer was removed from office and sentenced to prison after a scandal, and Olson was sworn in as the
18th governor. He served the remainder of Langer's term. During his brief tenure, demonstrators marched on the state capitol and the National Guard was called in. ==Death==