1914 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

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1914 United States Senate election in Wisconsin
Flag of Wisconsin.svg
←  1909 November 6, 1914 1918 (special)  →
  Paul O. Husting (cropped).jpg Francis E. McGovern.jpg Seidell-Emil-1910.jpg
Nominee Paul O. Husting Francis E. McGovern Emil Seidel
Party Democratic Republican Socialist
First round134,925
43.80%		133,966
43.49%		29,774
9.677%
Final round 135,306
50.18%		134,339
49.82%		Eliminated
1914 United States Senate election in Wisconsin results map by county.svg
County results
Husting:     30-40%     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%
McGovern:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%
U.S. senator before election

Isaac Stephenson
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Paul O. Husting
Democratic

The 1914 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held on November 6, 1914. Incumbent Republican Senator Isaac Stephenson did not run for re-election.

Contents

Democratic State Senator Paul O. Husting narrowly defeated Republican Governor Francis E. McGovern. Socialist former mayor of Milwaukee Emil Seidel ran a strong third. This was the first United States Senate election to be held by a popular vote in Wisconsin. Uniquely for this contest, Wisconsin utilized an early form of instant-runoff voting; all other elections in the state in 1914 were conducted using traditional first-past-the-post voting and Wisconsin would discontinue using this method following this election. [1]

Primary election

Republican party

Candidates

Results

Republican primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Francis E. McGovern 37,125 32.23%
Republican Levi H. Bancroft 26,15622.71%
Republican Thomas Morris 26,01222.58%
Republican John Strange 11,98310.40%
Republican Charles E. Estabrook 7,1796.23%
Republican Timothy Burke 6,7215.84%
Republican Scattering20.00%
Total votes115,178 100.00%

Democratic party

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Paul O. Husting 35,963 54.93%
Democratic Thomas Kearney29,45945.00%
Democratic Scattering470.07%
Total votes65,469 100.00%

Socialist party

Candidates

Results

Socialist primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Socialist Emil Seidel 12,417 100.00%
Total votes12,417 100.00%

Prohibition party

Candidates

Results

Prohibition primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Prohibition Charles L. Hill 1,754 99.66%
Prohibition Scattering60.34%
Total votes1.760 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

Wisconsin's general election for United States Senate in 1914 utilized an early form of instant-runoff voting and it was only used for this particular election. Voters were able to make a first and second choice among the four candidates. [3] Since no candidate received an absolute majority of the first choice votes, candidates were progressively eliminated and their second choice votes added to the remaining candidates. However, very few voters actually availed themselves of the second choice option. The final tally only netted each major party candidate about 400 votes each. Hustings' leads in the first choice votes only and after the final elimination were essentially the same, but once Seidel was eliminated, that lead was sufficient for a small majority. [1]

1914 United States Senate election in Wisconsin [1]
PartyCandidateFirst choiceRound 1Round 2Round 3
Votes%TransferVotes%TransferVotes%TransferVotes%
Democratic Paul O. Husting 134,92543.80%+0134,92543.82%+188135,11345.18%+193135,30650.18%
Republican Francis E. McGovern 133,96643.49%+0133,96643.50%+158134,12444.85%+215134,33949.82%
Socialist Emil Seidel 29,7749.67%+029,7749.67%+3029,8049.97%−29,804Eliminated
Prohibition Charles L. Hill 9,2763.01%+09,2763.01%−9,276Eliminated
Scattering 780.03%-78Eliminated
Total votes308,019307,941299,041269,645
Blank or inactive ballots 78+8,9008,978+29,39638,374
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Wisconsin Historical Society, Certificate of Board of State Canvassers for United States Senator, General Election - 1914
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Election Statistics". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1915 (Report). Industrial Commission of Wisconsin. 1915. pp. 234–235. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Notice of General Election". The Milwaukee Leader. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. November 2, 1914. p. 8. Retrieved September 16, 2024.


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