1940 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

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1940 United States Senate election in Wisconsin
Flag of Wisconsin (1913-1981).svg
  1934 November 5, 1940 1946  
  RMLaFolletteJr.jpg 3x4.svg James E. Finnegan (WI).png
Nominee Robert La Follette Jr. Fred H. Clausen James E. Finnegan
Party Progressive Republican Democratic
Popular vote605,609553,692176,688
Percentage45.26%41.38%13.20%

1940 United States Senate election in Wisconsin results map by county.svg
County results
La Follete Jr.:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
Clausen:      40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Robert La Follette Jr.
Progressive

Elected U.S. Senator

Robert La Follette Jr.
Progressive

The 1940 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held on November 5, 1940.

Contents

Incumbent Progressive U.S. Senator Robert La Follette Jr. was elected to a third term in office over Republican Fred H. Clausen and Democrat James E. Finnegan.

Progressive primary

Candidates

Results

1940 Progressive U.S. Senate primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Progressive Robert M. La Follette Jr. (incumbent) 144,692 100.00%
Total votes144,692 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Campaign

Frank died two days before the primary, on September 15, but remained on the ballot.

Results

1940 Republican U.S. Senate primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Fred H. Clausen 109,293 31.23%
Republican John P. Koehler 64,77418.51%
Republican Glenn Frank (deceased)47,88513.68%
Republican Michael G. Eberlein43,78412.51%
Republican William C. Maas29,9408.56%
Republican Reuben W. Peterson 29,3318.38%
Republican Walter B. Chilsen 24,9287.12%
Total votes349,935 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

1940 Democratic U.S. Senate primary [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic James E. Finnegan 55.145 42.79%
Democratic William D. Carroll 36,30628.17%
Democratic James J. Kerwin22,64217.57%
Democratic John Cudahy (write-in)14,77311.46%
Total votes128,866 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1940 U.S. Senate election in Wisconsin [3] [4]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive Robert M. La Follette Jr. (incumbent) 805,609 45.26% Decrease2.svg2.52
Republican Fred H. Clausen553,69241.38%Increase2.svg18.54
Democratic James E. Finnegan 176,68813.20%Decrease2.svg11.04
Communist Ted Furman1,3080.10%N/A
Socialist Labor Adolf Wiggert8380.06%N/A
Total votes1,538,135 100.00%
Progressive hold

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1954" (PDF). p. 517. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  2. "Clausen, Frederick Harold 1875 - 1944". Wisconsin Historical Society. August 8, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  3. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 1940" (PDF). Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  4. "The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1954" (PDF). Our Campaigns. p. 599. Retrieved June 17, 2021.