1928 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

1928 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

←  1925 (special) November 6, 1928 1934  →

Nominee Robert La Follette Jr. William H. Markham Party Republican Independent Republican Popular vote 635,376 81,302 Percentage 85.57% 10.92%

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.

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

• Robert M. La Follette Jr., incumbent Senator since 1925
• George W. Mead

Results

1928 Republican U.S. Senate primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Robert M. La Follette Jr. (incumbent)	322,979	66.71%
	Republican	George W. Mead	161,156	33.29%
Total votes			484,135	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Michael K. Reilly, former U.S. representative (1913–1917)

Results

1928 Democratic U.S. Senate primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Michael K. Reilly	38,432	100.00%
Total votes			38,432	100.00%

Prohibition primary

Candidates

• David W. Emerson

Results

1928 Prohibition U.S. Senate primary ^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Prohibition	David W. Emerson	827	100.00%
Total votes			827	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• David W. Emerson (Prohibition)
• John Kasun (Workers)
• Richard Koeppel (Labor)
• Robert M. La Follette Jr., incumbent Senator since 1925 (Republican)
• William H. Markham, State Senator from Horicon (Independent Republican)
• Michael K. Reilly (Democratic) (withdrew)

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]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Robert La Follette Jr. (incumbent)	635,376	85.57%	19.06
	Independent Republican	William H. Markham	81,302	10.95%	14.98
	Prohibition	David W. Emerson	21,359	2.88%	N/A
	Socialist Labor	Richard Koeppel	3,053	0.41%	0.18
	Communist	John Kasun	1,463	0.20%	N/A
	Write-in		92	100.00%	{{{change}}}
Total votes			742,645	100.00%
	Republican hold

See also

• 1928 United States Senate elections

References

1. "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.