1934 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election

1934 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election

←  1932 November 6, 1934 1936  →

Nominee Thomas J. O'Malley Henry Gunderson Party Democratic Progressive Popular vote 322,873 313,682 Percentage 36.28% 35.24%   Nominee Waldemar C. Wehe Robert Buech Party Republican Socialist Popular vote 196,459 53,087 Percentage 22.07% 5.96%

Lieutenant Governor before election Thomas J. O'Malley Democratic Elected Lieutenant Governor Thomas J. O'Malley Democratic

The 1934 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1934, in order to elect the lieutenant governor of Wisconsin. Incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Thomas J. O'Malley defeated Progressive nominee Henry Gunderson, Republican nominee Waldemar C. Wehe and Socialist nominee Robert Buech. ^[1]

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary election was held on September 18, 1934. Incumbent lieutenant governor Thomas J. O'Malley received a majority of the votes (63.97%) against candidate and incumbent state administrator of the Civil Works Administration Robert C. Johnson, and was thus elected as the nominee for the general election. Despite winning the primary, O'Malley was abandoned by the state party apparatus in the general election, but went on to win re-election without their support. His victory was partially aided by the emergence of the Wisconsin Progressive Party, which caused a three-way split of the major party votes. ^[2]

Results

1934 Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Thomas J. O'Malley (incumbent)	129,304	63.97%
	Democratic	Robert C. Johnson	72,831	36.03%
Total votes			202,135	100.00%

General election

On election day, November 6, 1934, incumbent Democratic lieutenant governor Thomas J. O'Malley won re-election by a margin of 9,191 votes against his foremost opponent Progressive nominee Henry Gunderson, thereby retaining Democratic control over the office of lieutenant governor. O'Malley was sworn in for his second term on January 7, 1935. ^[3]

Results

Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election, 1934

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Thomas J. O'Malley (incumbent)	322,873	36.28
	Progressive	Henry Gunderson	313,682	35.24
	Republican	Waldemar C. Wehe	196,459	22.07
	Socialist	Robert Buech	53,087	5.96
		Scattering	3,927	0.45
Total votes			890,028	100.00
	Democratic hold

References

1. "Wisconsin blue book". library.wisc.edu. 1935. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
2. "Primary election tables". library.wisc.edu. 1935. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
3. "1934 Lt. Gubernatorial General Election Results - Wisconsin". uselectionatlas.org. May 30, 2024. Retrieved 2025-11-11.