Joseph Alfred Arner Burnquist (July 21, 1879 – January 12, 1961) was an American attorney and Republican politician in Minnesota.

Having attracted waves of European immigrants in the previous decades, US officials were anxious about the loyalties of these new residents and their native-born citizen descendants.

The seven-member commission, ostensibly nonpartisan, opposed groups and actions its members considered suspect, such as immigrants, labor unions, and the Non-Partisan League.

Governor Burnquist threatened German-American citizens in New Ulm, Minnesota, with deportation on suspicion of loyalty to Prussia.

He initiated legislation to improve state highways, disaster assistance programs, labor relations, and, especially the welfare of children.

The Duluth lynchings occurred during his tenure in this position and also during his second term as governor;[7][8] however, his responses to the event were cautious and limited.