1950 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election

1950 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election

←  1948 7 November 1950 1952  →

Nominee George M. Smith Eugene R. Clifford Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 617,668 480,696 Percentage 56.02% 43.60%

County results Smith:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Clifford:      50–60%

Lieutenant Governor before election George M. Smith Republican Elected Lieutenant Governor George M. Smith Republican

The 1950 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on 7 November 1950 in order to elect the lieutenant governor of Wisconsin. Incumbent Republican lieutenant governor George M. Smith defeated Democratic nominee Eugene R. Clifford and Socialist nominee Rudolph Beyer. ^[1]

Republican primary

The Republican primary election was held on 19 September 1950. Incumbent lieutenant governor George M. Smith received a majority of the votes (61.85%), and was thus elected as the nominee for the general election. ^[2]

Results

1950 Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George M. Smith (incumbent)	237,488	61.85%
	Republican	Schultz	146,464	38.15%
Total votes			383,952	100.00%

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary election was held on 19 September 1950. Candidate Eugene R. Clifford received a majority of the votes (59.11%) over former member of the Wisconsin Senate Harold A. Lytie, and was thus elected as the nominee for the general election. ^[3]

Results

1950 Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Eugene R. Clifford	90,417	59.11%
	Democratic	Harold A. Lytie	62,548	40.89%
Total votes			152,965	100.00%

Socialist primary

The Socialist primary election was held on 19 September 1950. Candidate Rudolph Beyer ran unopposed and was thus elected as the nominee for the general election. ^[4]

Results

1950 Socialist lieutenant gubernatorial primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Socialist	Rudolph Beyer	1,988	100.00%
Total votes			1,988	100.00%

General election

On election day, 7 November 1950, incumbent Republican lieutenant governor George M. Smith won re-election by a margin of 136,972 votes against his foremost opponent Democratic nominee Eugene R. Clifford, thereby retaining Republican control over the office of lieutenant governor. Smith was sworn in for his second term on 1 January 1951. ^[5]

Results

Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election, 1950

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George M. Smith (incumbent)	617,668	56.02
	Democratic	Eugene R. Clifford	480,696	43.60
	Socialist	Rudolph Beyer	4,272	0.38
Total votes			1,102,636	100.00
	Republican hold

References

1. "The Wisconsin Blue Book 1952". search.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
2. "1950 Lt. Gubernatorial Republican Primary Election Results - Wisconsin". uselectionatlas.org. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
3. "1950 Lt. Gubernatorial Democratic Primary Election Results - Wisconsin". uselectionatlas.org. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
4. "The Wisconsin Blue Book 1952". search.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
5. "1950 Lt. Gubernatorial General Election Results - Wisconsin". uselectionatlas.org. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2025.