1934 Wisconsin Senate election

Last updated

1934 Wisconsin State Senate election
Flag of Wisconsin (1913-1981).svg
 1932November 6, 19341936 

17 of 33 seats in the Wisconsin State Senate
17 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
 
DEM
PROG
Party Democratic Progressive
Last election7 seats, TBD%N/A
Seats before9new party
Seats won78
Seats after1413
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 5Increase2.svg 13
Popular vote140,030136,749
Percentage33.31%32.53%
SwingSteady2.svgTBD ppSteady2.svgTBD pp

 Third partyFourth party
 
GOP
SOC
Party Republican Socialist
Last election9 seats, TBD%0 seats [a] , TBD%
Seats before231
Seats won20
Seats after60
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 17Decrease2.svg 1
Popular vote115,63226,578
Percentage27.51%6.32%
SwingSteady2.svgTBD ppSteady2.svgTBD pp

President pro tempore before election

Orland S. Loomis
Republican

Elected President pro tempore

Harry W. Bolens
Democratic

The 1934 Wisconsin Senate election was held on Tuesday, November 6, 1934. Seventeen of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin State Senate were up for electionthe odd-numbered districts. Prior to the election 22 seats were held by Republicans, 9 were held by Democrats, one seat was held by a Socialist, and one seat was vacant.

Contents

The primary election was held on September 18, 1934.

Background

Results summary

SeatsParty
(majority caucus shading)
Total
Democratic Socialist Progressive Republican
Last election (1932)710916
Total after last election (1932)91933
Total before this election9102333
Up for election2101417
of which:Incumbent retiring144
Vacated11
This election708217
Change from last electionSteady2.svgDecrease2.svg 1Increase2.svg 8Decrease2.svg 1Decrease2.svg 1
Total after this election14013633
Change in totalIncrease2.svg 5Decrease2.svg 1Increase2.svg 13Decrease2.svg 17Steady2.svg
Popular vote
Democratic
33.31%
Progressive
32.53%
Republican
27.51%
Socialist
6.32%
Independent
0.32%
Senate seats won
Progressive
47.06%
Democratic
41.17%
Republican
11.76%

Close races

Outgoing incumbents

Retiring

Seeking other office

Vacated office

Special elections

There was one special election scheduled in 1934 for the Wisconsin state Senate.

Dist.Previous Incumbent This Election
SenatorPartyFirst

elected

StatusCandidate(s)Results
26 Alvin C. Reis Rep.1932Incumbent resigned in July, 1934.

New member elected on November 6, 1934.

  • Harold Groves (Prog.) 47.72%
  • Fred T. Finn (Rep.) 32.33%
  • Frank A. Stewart (Dem.) 18.73%
  • Dalton T. Clarke (Soc.) 0.12%
New member elected
Progressive gain

Candidates and results

Dist.IncumbentThis race [2]
MemberPartyFirst electedStatusGeneral
01 John E. Cashman Republican1922Incumbent re-elected.
Progressive gain.
03 None (open seat)No incumbent
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
  • Green check.svgY Arthur L. Zimny (Dem.) 40.83%
  • George L. Tews (Soc.) 26.71%
  • H. C.Schultz (Prog.) 20.92%
  • Carl Lester (Ind.) 5.97%
  • William B. Manning (Rep.) 5.57%
05 Bernhard Gettelman Republican1922Incumbent lost re-election
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
07 Leonard Fons Republican1930Incumbent retired
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
Walter Polakowski (Redistricted from the 3rd district)Socialist1922Incumbent defeated. Socialist loss
09 Irving P. Mehigan Republican1924Incumbent lost re-election
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
  • Green check.svgY James L. Callan (Dem.) 38.76%
  • Irving P. Mehigan (Rep.) 29.84%
  • Robert McCarthy (Prog.) 16.73%
  • Gustave A. Dick (Soc.) 13.78%
  • Mary Allen (Ind.) 0.89%
11 Philip Nelson Republican1930Incumbent re-elected
  • Green check.svgY Philip E. Nelson (Rep.) 42.79%
  • Albert N. Young (Prog.) 35.62%
  • Laverne A. Sutfin (Dem.) 20.00%
  • Carrol T. Hodsdon (Soc.) 1.59%
13 Eugene A. Clifford Democratic1930Ran for U.S. House
New member elected.
Progressive gain.
15 Alexander Paul Democratic1933 (special)Incumbent lost re-election
New member elected. Republican gain.
17 George Engebretson Republican1932 (special)Incumbent re-elected.
Progressive gain.
  • Green check.svgY George Engebretson (Prog.) 44.74%
  • Floyd E. Olson (Rep.) 35.44%
  • Leland C. White (Dem.) 19.80%
19 --Vacant [b] --Previous incumbent died July 28, 1934
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
  • Green check.svgY Pierce A. Morrissey (Dem.) 35.00%
  • Norton J. Williams (Rep.) 33.09%
  • Charles P. Potratz (Prog.) 31.91%
21 Walter S. Goodland Republican1926Incumbent retired
New member elected.
Democratic gain.
  • Green check.svgY Joseph Clancy (Dem.) 40.80%
  • Thorwald M. Beck (Rep.) 28.50%
  • Peden Back (Prog.) 26.27%
  • Lars P. Christiansen (Soc.) 4.43%
23 Herman J. Severson Republican1918Incumbent re-elected.
Progressive gain.
  • Green check.svgY Herman J. Severson (Prog.) 38.33%
  • Michael J. Mersch (Dem.) 36.91%
  • John S. Hensel (Rep.) 24.72%
25 Otto Mueller Republican1926Incumbent lost re-election
New member elected.
Progressive gain.
27 Fred W. Zantow Republican1930Incumbent re-elected.
Progressive gain.
29 John A. Anderson Republican1930Incumbent re-elected.
Progressive gain.
  • Green check.svgY John Anderson (Prog.) 46.13%
  • Herschel Shipley (Rep.) 22.67%
  • Joseph H. Wallis (Dem.) 19.50%
  • Olaf A. Bloom (Soc.) 11.69%
31 Orland S. Loomis Republican1930Incumbent ran for Attorney General
New member elected.
Progressive gain.
33 William Edwards Republican1930Incumbent retired
New member elected.
Democratic gain.

Detailed results

District 1

Incumbent Republican John E. Cashman ran for re-election as a Progressive. He defeated Democrat Ray J. Scheuer and Republican Alvin O'Konski in the general election.

District 1 general election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Progressive John E. Cashman (incumbent) 14,072 50.20
Democratic Ray J. Scheuer8,55230.51
Republican Alvin O'Konski 5,41019.29
Total votes28,034 100.0

District 3

Incumbent Socialist Walter Polakowski was moved into the 7th district due to redistricting, leaving this district open. Democrat Arthur L. Zimny defeated Socialist George L. Tews, Progressive H. C. Schultz, Independent Carl Lester, and Republican William B. Manning.

District 3 general election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Arthur L. Zimny 8,277 40.83
Socialist George L. Tews 5,41526.71
Progressive H. C.Schultz4,24120.92
Independent Carl Lester1,2105.97
Republican William B. Manning1,1305.57
Total votes20,273 100.0

District 5

Incumbent Republican Bernhard Gettelman ran for re-election. He was defeated by Democrat Harold V. Schoenecker.

District 5 general election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Harold V. Schoenecker 10,435 35.39
Republican Bernhard Gettelman (incumbent)6,91623.46
Socialist Carl Minkley6,45821.91
Progressive Gustave A. Dick5,67419.24
Total votes29,483 100.0

District 7

Incumbent Republican Leonard Fons declined to seek re-election, leaving the district open. Democrat Max Galasinski defeated Socialist Walter Polakowski – who had been moved into this district due to redistricting – as well as Progressive Edwarf R. Buer and Republican Herbert W. Koch.

District 7 general election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Max Galasinski 11,444 43.59
Socialist Walter Polakowski 7,29227.78
Progressive Edwarf R. Buer4,41616.82
Republican Herbert W. Koch3,10011.81
Total votes26,252 100.0

District 9

Incumbent Republican Irving P. Mehigan ran for re-election. He was defeated by Democrat James L. Callan.

District 9 general election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic James L. Callan 6,501 38.76
Republican Irving P. Mehigan (incumbent)5,00529.84
Progressive Robert McCarthy2,80516.73
Socialist Gustave A. Dick2,31113.78
Independent Mary Allen1490.89
Total votes16,771 100.0

District 11

Incumbent Republican Philip Nelson ran for re-election. He defeated Progressive Albert N. Young, Democrat Laverne A. Sutfin, and Socialist Carrol T. Hodsdon.

District 11 general election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Philip Nelson (incumbent) 12,125 42.79
Progressive Albert N. Young10,09435.62
Democratic Laverne A. Sutfin5,66720.00
Socialist Carrol T. Hodsdon4491.59
Total votes28,335 100.0

District 13

Incumbent Democrat Eugene A. Clifford declined to seek re-election, instead unsuccessfully running for Congress from Wisconsin's 8th congressional district. Progressive Frank E. Panzer defeated Democrat Paul A. Hemmy Jr., Republican Jesse M. Peters, and Socialist Alfred A. Naber.

District 13 general election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Progressive Frank E. Panzer 10,545 39.83
Democratic Paul A. Hemmy Jr.10,08938.11
Republican Jesse M. Peters 5,31320.07
Socialist Alfred A. Naber5281.99
Total votes26,475 100.0

District 15

Incumbent Democrat Alexander Paul ran for re-election. He was defeated by Republican Maurice Coakley.

District 15 general election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Maurice Coakley 8,847 38.31
Democratic Alexander Paul (incumbent)8,07634.98
Progressive George S. Geffs6,16826.71
Total votes23,091 100.0

District 17

Incumbent Republican George Engebretson ran for re-election as a Progressive. He defeated Republican Floyd E. Olson and Democrat Leland C. White.

District 2 general election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Progressive George Engebretson (incumbent) 9,292 44.74
Republican Floyd E. Olson7,36035.44
Democratic Leland C. White4,11119.80
Write-in 40.02
Total votes20,767 100.0

District 19

Incumbent Republican Merritt F. White died on July 28, 1934, leaving the district open. Democrat Pierce A. Morrissey defeated Republican Norton J. Williams and Progressive Charles P. Potratz.

District 21

Incumbent Republican Walter S. Goodland declined to seek re-election, leaving the district open. Democrat Joseph Clancy defeated Republican Thorwald M. Beck, Progressive Peden Back, and Socialist Lars P. Christiansen.

District 23

Incumbent Republican Herman J. Severson ran for re-election as a Progressive. He defeated Democrat Michael J. Mersch and Republican John S. Hensel.

District 23 general election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Progressive Herman J. Severson (incumbent) 8,583 38.33
Democratic Michael J. Mersch 8,26736.91
Republican John S. Hensel5,53724.72
Write-in 100.04
Total votes22,397 100.0

District 25

Incumbent Republican Otto Mueller ran for re-election. He was defeated by Progressive Roland E. Kannenberg.

District 27

Incumbent Republican Fred W. Zantow ran for re-election as a Progressive. He defeated Republican Harry Pauls and Democrat Isaac C. Evans.

District 29

Republican John A. Anderson ran for re-election as a Progressive. He defeated Republican Herschel Shipley, Democrat Joseph H. Wallis, and Socialist Olaf A. Bloom.

District 29 general election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Progressive John Anderson (incumbent) 11,431 46.13
Republican Herschel Shipley5,61722.67
Democratic Joseph H. Wallis4,83219.50
Socialist Olaf A. Bloom2,89811.69
Write-in 20.01
Total votes24,780 100.0

District 31

Republican Orland S. Loomis declined to seek re-election, instead unsuccessfully running for Wisconsin Attorney General as a Progressive, leaving this district open. Progressive J. Earl Leverich defeated Republican Kevin J. Callahan, Democrat Timothy P. Donovan, and Socialist Glen C. Felker.

District 33

Incumbent Republican William Edwards declined to seek re-election, leaving this seat open. Democrat Chester Dempsey defeated Republican Evan G. Davies and Progressive John C. Schumann.

See also

Notes

  1. Walter Polakowski was not up for election in 1932
  2. Merritt F. White (R) died on July 28, 1934

References

  1. "Merritt F White". Find A Grave. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  2. "The Wisconsin Blue Book 1935". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., eds. (1935). "Parties and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1935 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. p.  622, 623 . Retrieved March 10, 2025.