1934 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

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1934 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
Flag of Wisconsin (1913-1981).svg
←  1932 November 6, 1934 1936  →
  Philip La Follette (1935).jpg Albert G Schmedeman.jpg Howard T. Greene.jpg
Nominee Philip La Follette Albert G. Schmedeman Howard T. Greene
Party Progressive Democratic Republican
Popular vote373,093359,467172,980
Percentage39.12%37.69%18.14%
1934 Wisconsin gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
La Follette:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
Schmedeman:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%
Greene:     30–40%     40–50%
Governor before election

Albert G. Schmedeman
Democratic

Elected Governor

Philip La Follette
Progressive

The 1934 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1934. Primary elections were held on September 18, 1934. Incumbent Democratic Governor Albert G. Schmedeman was defeated by Progressive nominee Philip La Follette. As of 2022, this is the last time Green Lake County voted for the Democratic nominee for governor and the last time that Waushara County did not vote for the Republican candidate.

Contents

Background

With the onset of the Great Depression, Wisconsin's Republican factionalism had reached a breaking point, as Stalwarts and Progressives had grown increasingly estranged due to a growingly divergent outlook on the world. In 1928 the stalwarts had won the primary and nominated wealthy business leader Walter Kohler over Joseph Beck, defeating Madison mayor Albert Schmedemann. Two years later progressive scion Philip La Follette became governor, once again reasserting control of the party on the part of progressives. Despite taking several actions to curb the economic crisis, La Follette was unable to effectively articulate the achievements of his administration to primary voters, and with the factor of being outspent by the wealthy Kohler, went down in defeat in the primary, as Stalwarts once again retook control of the party. This time, in 1932, the Republicans went down in defeat against Schmedemann, who was propelled to victory by the election of New York governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

With this defeat, La Follette returned to his private life, but various factions within and beyond the Republican party began stirring for the formation of a new third party. This third party eventually culminated in the founding of the Wisconsin progressive party in 1934. After successfully suing the Secretary of State, La Follette and his supporters were able to hold a third party primary, and run under that label in the general election. Despite this, La Follette held reservations about running on the same ticket as his brother, Robert La Follette Jr., as he feared voters would reject "too much La Follette." In spite of this concern, he eventually threw his hat into the wring with tacit support from the Roosevelt administration.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

  • Richard F. Lehmann
  • William B. Rubin, attorney [1] and unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for governor in 1932 [1]

Results

Democratic primary results [2] [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Albert G. Schmedeman (incumbent) 166,001 74.72
Democratic William B. Rubin41,98518.90
Democratic Richard F. Lehmann14,1896.39
Total votes222,175 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

  • Howard T. Greene, dairy farmer [4]

Eliminated in primary

Results

Republican primary results [2] [5]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Howard T. Greene 84,020 56.45
Republican Fred R. Zimmerman 53,73436.10
Republican James N. Tittemore11,0847.45
Total votes148,838 100.00

Progressive primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

  • Henry O. Meisel, policeman [4]

Results

Progressive primary results [2] [6]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Progressive Philip La Follette 154,454 95.36
Progressive Henry O. Meisel7,5204.64
Total votes161,974 100.00

Socialist primary

Nominee

Results

Socialist primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Socialist George A. Nelson 28,877 100.00
Total votes28,877 100.00

Independents

The Communist, Prohibition and Socialist Labor parties were forced to run candidates as independents, as they were not recognized as legal parties due to failing to poll the required number of votes in past primary elections. [12]

General election

Results

1934 Wisconsin gubernatorial election [13] [14] [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive Philip La Follette 373,093 39.12% N/A
Democratic Albert G. Schmedeman (incumbent)359,46737.69%−14.79%
Republican Howard T. Greene172,98018.14%−23.73%
Socialist George A. Nelson 44,5894.68%−0.39%
Independent Morris Childs 2,4540.26%−0.02%
Independent Thomas W. North8570.09%−0.19%
Independent Joseph Ehrhardt3320.04%
Scattering250.00%
Majority13,6261.43%
Turnout 953,797100.00%
Progressive gain from Democratic Swing

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Robert MarionLa Follette Sr., was an American lawyer and politician. He represented Wisconsin in both chambers of Congress and served as the governor of Wisconsin from 1901 to 1906. A Republican for most of his life, he ran for president of the United States as the nominee of his own Progressive Party in the 1924 presidential election. Historian John D. Buenker describes La Follette as "the most celebrated figure in Wisconsin history".

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References

  1. 1 2 "Double Test For New Deal In Two States". The Daily Banner. Greencastle, Indiana. September 18, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Wisconsin Blue Book 1935, p. 543.
  3. ↑ "WI Governor, 1934 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "New Political Party Gets Test". The Daily Banner. Greencastle, Indiana. September 15, 1934. p. 4. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  5. ↑ "WI Governor, 1934 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  6. ↑ "WI Governor, 1934 - PRG Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Nelson To Be Speaker Here". The Rhinelander Daily News. Rhinelander, Wisconsin. October 31, 1934. p. 2. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Kenosha Workers Hold Lenin Meeting". The daily worker. Chicago, Ill. January 18, 1934. p. 6. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Communists Name Full State Ticket". Marshfield News-Herald. Marshfield, Wisconsin. July 2, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Milwaukee Will Hold State Campaign Rally". The daily worker. Chicago, Ill. August 9, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  11. ↑ "State Communists Prepare For Battle". The Daily Tribune. Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. December 14, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  12. ↑ "16 Candidates Seeking Offices As Independents Represent Communist, Social Labor, Prohibition Parties in November Election". La Crosse Tribune And Leader Press. La Crosse, Wisconsin. October 11, 1934. p. 8. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  13. ↑ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 87.
  14. ↑ "WI Governor, 1934". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  15. ↑ Wisconsin Blue Book 1935, p. 613.

Bibliography

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