Elmer Austin Benson (September 22, 1895 – March 13, 1985) was an American lawyer and politician from Minnesota.

He never practiced law after returning from active duty, choosing instead to pursue a banking and business career.

Benson took second place, receiving 25% of the vote, in a race that also involved a Democrat, while Shipstead was reelected.

He ran for the Senate for the last time in 1942, losing to Republican Joseph H. Ball in a four-way race.

Before ill health drove him from the public arena, Benson became a force within the short-lived Progressive Party, managing the 1948 presidential campaign of its candidate, Henry Wallace.