1911 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

For related races, see 1910–11 United States Senate elections.

1911 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

←  1905 January 25, 1911 1916  →

Nominee Robert M. La Follette Charles H. Weisse John C. Kleist Party Republican Democratic Social-Democratic Legislative vote 83 31 14 Percentage 64.34% 24.03% 10.85%

U.S. senator before election Robert M. La Follette Republican Elected U.S. Senator Robert M. La Follette Republican

The 1911 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held in the 50th Wisconsin Legislature on January 25, 1911. Incumbent Republican U.S. senator Robert M. La Follette was re-elected on the first ballot. ^[1]

In the 1911 term, Republicans held overwhelming majorities in both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature, so had more than enough votes to elect a Republican United States senator. This was the second U.S. Senate election in Wisconsin carried out after the implementation of partisan primary elections. La Follette won the Republican primary by a wide margin over challenger Samuel A. Cook. U.S. representative Charles H. Weisse won the nomination for Democrats, although the Democratic state convention had voted to support Burt Williams of Ashland.

Democratic primary

On the ballot

• Charles H. Weisse, incumbent U.S. representative from Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin.
• Burt Williams, former mayor of Ashland, Wisconsin, self-professes progressive Democrat and Democratic state convention nominee.

Primary result

Democratic Primary, September 6, 1910 ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Charles H. Weisse	30,579	65.52%
	Democratic	Burt Williams	16,089	34.48%
Plurality			14,490	31.05%
Total votes			46,668	100.0%

Republican primary

On the ballot

• Samuel A. Cook, former U.S. representative and prominent state leader in the Grand Army of the Republic from Neenah, Wisconsin, unsuccessful candidate in the 1909 primary.
• Robert M. La Follette, incumbent U.S. senator and former governor.

Primary result

Republican Primary, September 6, 1910 ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Robert M. La Follette (incumbent)	142,978	77.80%
	Republican	Samuel A. Cook	40,791	22.20%
Plurality			102,187	55.61%
Total votes			183,769	100.0%

Social-Democratic primary

On the ballot

• John C. Kleist, lawyer from Milwaukee.

Primary result

Social-Democratic Primary, September 6, 1910 ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Social-Democratic	John C. Kleist	11,435	100.0%
Total votes			11,435	100.0%

Prohibition primary

On the ballot

• John V. Collins

Primary result

Prohibition Primary, September 6, 1910 ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Prohibition	John V. Collins	1,832	100.0%
Total votes			1,832	100.0%

Election

The two legislative chambers voted separately on January 24, 1911, then convened in joint session on January 25, reading their respective tallies and announcing La Follette as the winner.

1st Vote of the 50th Wisconsin Legislature, January 25, 1911 ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Robert M. La Follette (incumbent)	83 [a]	64.34%
	Democratic	Charles H. Weisse	31 [b]	24.03%
	Social-Democratic	John C. Kleist	14 [c]	10.85%
	Republican	Frederick C. Winkler	1 [d]	0.78%
	Prohibition	John V. Collins	0	0.0%
		Absent or not voting	4
Majority			65	50.39%
Total votes			129	96.99%
	Republican hold

Notes

1. La Follette received the votes of all Republicans except senator John Meek Whitehead (who voted for Winkler), and senators Edward E. Browne and James A. Wright (who were absent).
2. Weisse received the votes of all Democrats except representatives Mathias J. Scholey and William E. Wheelan (who were absent).
3. Kleist received the votes of all Social-Democrats.
4. Republican senator John Meek Whitehead voted for Winkler.

References

1. State of Wisconsin Assembly Journal (Report). Wisconsin Legislature. 1911. pp. 109–110, 116–117. Retrieved July 28, 2025– via HathiTrust.
2. "Official Figures on Major Places". Eau Claire Leader-Tribune . September 21, 1910. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2025– via Newspapers.com.