[3] On July 27, 1954, Saunders was nominated for attorney general at the state convention by acclamation; Governor Sigurd Anderson said he thought that was the first time the nomination for the office for a first term had been awarded without a contest.

[4] Saunders defeated his general election opponent, Democrat Fred Nichols.

[5][6] On July 16, 1956, Saunders was nominated by acclamation at the state convention in his re-election bid.

[7] In the general election, Saunders defeated Democrat William H. Heuermann by 156,149 votes to 127,988.

He defeated L. Roy Houck for the Republican nomination,[9] but lost to Democrat Ralph Herseth in the general election.