1954 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election

1954 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election

←  1952 November 2, 1954 1956  →

Nominee Warren P. Knowles Edwin Larkin Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 593,520 535,025 Percentage 52.59% 47.40%

Lieutenant Governor before election George M. Smith Republican Elected Lieutenant Governor Warren P. Knowles Republican

The 1954 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1954, in order to elect the lieutenant governor of Wisconsin. Republican nominee and incumbent member of the Wisconsin Senate Warren P. Knowles defeated Democratic nominee and attorney Edwin Larkin. ^[1]

Republican primary

The Republican primary election was held on September 14, 1954. Incumbent lieutenant governor George M. Smith ran for a fourth term, but was criticized by his party colleagues at the Republican Party state convention for not being an active campaigner. They desired a candidate that would pull his weight for the ticket and thus endorsed the state senate leader Warren P. Knowles instead. ^[2] In the end, Knowles defeated Smith, receiving a majority of the votes (53.04%), and was thus elected as the nominee for the general election. ^[3]

Results

1954 Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Warren P. Knowles	180,585	53.04%
	Republican	George M. Smith (incumbent)	159,896	46.96%
Total votes			340,481	100.00%

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary election was held on September 14, 1954. Attorney Edwin Larkin received a majority of the votes (69.80%) over the Democratic nominee in the previous election Sverre Roang, and was thus elected as the nominee for the general election. ^[4]

Results

1954 Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Edwin Larkin	145,827	69.80%
	Democratic	Sverre Roang	63,108	30.20%
Total votes			208,935	100.00%

General election

On election day, November 2, 1954, Republican nominee Warren P. Knowles won the election by a margin of 58,495 votes against his opponent Democratic nominee Edwin Larkin, thereby retaining Republican control over the office of lieutenant governor. Knowles was sworn in as the 32nd Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin on January 3, 1955. ^[5]

Results

Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election, 1954

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Warren P. Knowles	593,520	52.59
	Democratic	Edwin Larkin	535,025	47.40
		Scattering	106	0.01
Total votes			1,128,651	100.00
	Republican hold

References

1. "The Wisconsin Blue Book 1956". search.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
2. "Knowles Backed for No. 2 Spot". Wisconsin State Journal . June 11, 1954. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-11-04– via Newspapers.com.
3. "1954 Lt. Gubernatorial Republican Primary Election Results - Wisconsin". uselectionatlas.org. July 18, 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
4. "1954 Lt. Gubernatorial Democratic Primary Election Results - Wisconsin". uselectionatlas.org. July 18, 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
5. "1954 Lt. Gubernatorial General Election Results - Wisconsin". uselectionatlas.org. May 30, 2024. Retrieved 2025-11-04.