1928 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

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1928 United States Senate election in Wisconsin
Flag of Wisconsin (1913-1981).svg
  1925 (special) November 6, 1928 1934  
  RMLaFolletteJr.jpg William H. Markham.png
Nominee Robert La Follette Jr. William H. Markham
Party Republican Independent Republican
Popular vote635,37681,302
Percentage85.57%10.92%

1928 United States Senate election in Wisconsin results map by county.svg

La Follete:     70–80%     80–90%     >90%

U.S. senator before election

Robert La Follette Jr.
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Robert La Follette Jr.
Republican

The 1928 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held on November 6, 1928.

Contents

Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Robert La Follette Jr., who had won a special election to finish his late father's term in 1925, was elected to a full term in office.

La Follette had to fend off two challenges from his own party, defeating George W. Mead in the party primary and Republican State Senator William H. Markham in the general election. Markham ran as a pro-Hoover "Regular Republican."

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

1928 Republican U.S. Senate primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Robert M. La Follette Jr. (incumbent) 322,979 66.71%
Republican George W. Mead161,15633.29%
Total votes484,135 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1928 Democratic U.S. Senate primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Michael K. Reilly 38,432 100.00%
Total votes38,432 100.00%

Prohibition primary

Candidates

Results

1928 Prohibition U.S. Senate primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Prohibition David W. Emerson 827 100.00%
Total votes827 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Campaign

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin decided to endorse the progressive La Follette after he won the Republican primary. [2] The Democrats asked their own nominee, Michael K. Reilly, to withdraw from the race; he agreed, announcing his decision on October 8. [3] This was part of a broader attempt at a coalition between progressives and Democrats in Wisconsin to throw the state to Democrat Al Smith in the concurrent presidential election. [4]

Results

1928 U.S. Senate election in Wisconsin [5] [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Robert La Follette Jr. (incumbent) 635,376 85.57% Increase2.svg19.06
Independent Republican William H. Markham 81,30210.95%Decrease2.svg14.98
Prohibition David W. Emerson21,3592.88%N/A
Socialist Labor Richard Koeppel3,0530.41%Increase2.svg0.18
Communist John Kasun1,4630.20%N/A
Write-in 92100.00%{{{change}}}
Total votes742,645 100.00%
Republican hold

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1929" (PDF). p. 735. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  2. "Reilly Admits He May Quit for 'Bob'". Wisconsin State Journal . October 1, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved September 2, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "DEMOCRAT WITHDRAWS AS LA FOLLETTE RIVAL; M.K. Reilly's Action Leaves a Hoover Independent Opposing the Senator in Wisconsin". The New York Times. October 9, 1928. p. 2.
  4. "Says Progressives for Smith". The Capital Times . October 8, 1928. p. 16. Retrieved September 2, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1928" (PDF). Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  6. "The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1929" (PDF). Our Campaigns. p. 816. Retrieved June 17, 2021.