1956 United States presidential election in Wisconsin

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1956 United States presidential election in Wisconsin
Flag of Wisconsin (1913-1981).svg
  1952 November 6, 1956 1960  
  Dwight David Eisenhower 1952 crop.jpg CAC CC 001 18 6 0000 0519.jpg
Nominee Dwight D. Eisenhower Adlai Stevenson
Party Republican Democratic
Home state Pennsylvania [lower-alpha 1] Illinois
Running mate Richard Nixon Estes Kefauver
Electoral vote120
Popular vote954,844586,768
Percentage61.58%37.84%

Wisconsin Presidential Election Results 1956.svg
County Results

President before election

Dwight D. Eisenhower
Republican

Elected President

Dwight D. Eisenhower
Republican

The 1956 United States presidential election in Wisconsin was held on November 6, 1956 as part of the 1956 United States presidential election. State voters chose 12 electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

Contents

Politics in Wisconsin since the Populist movement had been dominated by the Republican Party. [2] The Democratic Party became uncompetitive away from the Lake Michigan coast as the upper classes, along with the majority of workers who followed them, fled from William Jennings Bryan's agrarian and free silver sympathies. [3] Although the state did develop a strong Socialist Party to provide opposition to the GOP, Wisconsin developed the direct Republican primary in 1903 and this ultimately created competition between the "League" under Robert M. La Follette, and the conservative "Regular" faction. [4] This ultimately would develop into the Wisconsin Progressive Party in the late 1930s, which was opposed to the conservative German Democrats and to the national Republican Party, and allied with Franklin D. Roosevelt at the federal level.

During the two wartime elections, the formerly Democratic German counties in the east of the state – which had been powerfully opposed to the Civil War because they saw it as a "Yankee" war and opposed the military draft instituted during it [5] – viewed Communism as a much greater threat to America than Nazism and consequently opposed President Roosevelt's war effort. [6] Consequently, these historically Democratic counties became virtually the most Republican in the entire state, and became a major support base for populist conservative Senator Joe McCarthy, who became notorious for his investigations into Communists inside the American government. The state's populace's opposition to Communism and the Korean War turned Wisconsin strongly to Republican nominee Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential election.

For the 1956 rematch, Democratic nominee Adlai Stevenson II began by campaigning against Eisenhower's handling of farm problems, at a time when most of the interior United States was suffering from a severe drought. [7] The Democrat would then attack Eisenhower as a "weak" President when the two were touring the Midwest during September. [8]

Early polls showed Eisenhower leading the state despite farm unrest, owing to the unpopularity of Stevenson. [9] No later poll was taken, but evidence was that state's farmers were not trending to Stevenson at all, and that the Suez Crisis would hurt rather than help Stevenson. [10]

Polls

SourceRatingAs of
The Boston Daily Globe [11] Likely ROctober 23, 1956
Fort Worth Star-Telegram [12] Safe RNovember 2, 1956
Corpus Christi Times [13] Safe RNovember 3, 1956
The Philadelphia Inquirer [14] Safe RNovember 4, 1956
The Salt Lake Tribune [15] Safe RNovember 4, 1956

Results

1956 United States presidential election in Wisconsin [16]
PartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes
Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower (incumbent)954,84461.58%12
Democratic Adlai Stevenson 586,76837.84%0
Independent T. Coleman Andrews 6,9180.45%0
Independent Darlington Hoopes 7540.05%0
Independent Eric Hass 7100.05%0
Independent Farrell Dobbs 5640.04%0
Totals1,550,558100.0%12

Results by county

1956 United States presidential election in Wisconsin by county [17]
CountyDwight D. Eisenhower
Republican
Adlai Stevenson II
Democratic
T. Coleman Andrews
Independent
Various candidates
Other parties
MarginTotal votes cast
# %# %# %# %# %
Adams 1,85459.48%1,24439.91%150.48%40.13%61019.57%3,117
Ashland 4,12152.70%3,67747.03%160.20%50.06%4445.68%7,819
Barron 8,63461.12%5,41938.36%440.31%290.21%3,21522.76%14,126
Bayfield 3,09653.32%2,69146.35%80.14%110.19%4056.98%5,806
Brown 32,87870.24%13,64229.14%2460.53%420.09%19,23641.10%46,808
Buffalo 3,38759.83%2,26640.03%70.12%10.02%1,12119.80%5,661
Burnett 2,19852.36%1,98647.31%70.17%70.17%2125.05%4,198
Calumet 6,16674.22%2,09925.26%380.46%50.06%4,06748.95%8,308
Chippewa 9,78159.42%6,61740.20%580.35%50.03%3,16419.22%16,461
Clark 7,94162.26%4,76537.36%390.31%90.07%3,17624.90%12,754
Columbia 10,12066.01%5,15833.65%450.29%70.05%4,96232.37%15,330
Crawford 4,12361.71%2,52237.75%310.46%50.07%1,60123.96%6,681
Dane 38,95551.11%36,89148.41%2950.39%720.09%2,0642.71%76,213
Dodge 17,56972.10%6,70427.51%760.31%170.07%10,86544.59%24,366
Door 6,72277.96%1,85921.56%320.37%90.10%4,86356.40%8,622
Douglas 9,18344.79%11,27655.00%220.11%210.10%-2,093-10.21%20,502
Dunn 6,40160.36%4,18939.50%110.10%30.03%2,21220.86%10,604
Eau Claire 13,12258.48%9,27641.34%330.15%80.04%3,84617.14%22,439
Florence 1,00357.94%72341.77%40.23%10.06%28016.18%1,731
Fond du Lac 21,49672.46%7,94026.76%2070.70%230.08%13,55645.70%29,666
Forest 2,03957.03%1,52742.71%80.22%10.03%51214.32%3,575
Grant 11,64868.69%5,20830.71%920.54%100.06%6,44037.98%16,958
Green 7,11466.00%3,61433.53%430.40%80.07%3,50032.47%10,779
Green Lake 5,44176.49%1,64323.10%250.35%40.06%3,79853.40%7,113
Iowa 5,20161.79%3,17637.73%360.43%40.05%2,02524.06%8,417
Iron 1,93046.22%2,22653.30%140.34%60.14%-296-7.09%4,176
Jackson 3,61456.66%2,75543.20%70.11%20.03%85913.47%6,378
Jefferson 13,35767.02%6,45232.37%940.47%280.14%6,90534.64%19,931
Juneau 5,13567.58%2,42831.96%300.39%50.07%2,70735.63%7,598
Kenosha 21,36755.08%17,09444.06%2690.69%660.17%4,27311.01%38,796
Kewaunee 5,10668.00%2,36431.48%310.41%80.11%2,74236.52%7,509
La Crosse 18,26461.66%11,25838.01%730.25%270.09%7,00623.65%29,622
Lafayette 4,73359.33%3,21240.26%300.38%30.04%1,52119.06%7,978
Langlade 5,00463.82%2,80435.76%280.36%50.06%2,20028.06%7,841
Lincoln 6,32967.74%2,88030.83%1181.26%160.17%3,44936.92%9,343
Manitowoc 18,07861.91%10,80036.99%2911.00%300.10%7,27824.93%29,199
Marathon 22,58659.36%15,30140.21%1260.33%380.10%7,28519.15%38,051
Marinette 8,87463.12%5,11336.37%630.45%100.07%3,76126.75%14,060
Marquette 2,79673.87%97525.76%140.37%00.00%1,82148.11%3,785
Milwaukee 227,25355.79%177,28643.53%1,7830.44%9960.24%49,96712.27%407,318
Monroe 7,46063.16%4,31136.50%270.23%130.11%3,14926.66%11,811
Oconto 6,83664.95%3,63234.51%510.48%60.06%3,20430.44%10,525
Oneida 6,26164.89%3,32834.49%510.53%80.08%2,93330.40%9,648
Outagamie 26,09076.56%7,72522.67%2360.69%260.08%18,36553.89%34,077
Ozaukee 9,80869.63%4,13929.38%1260.89%130.09%5,66940.25%14,086
Pepin 1,97565.51%1,04034.49%00.00%00.00%93531.01%3,015
Pierce 5,78261.13%3,64438.53%250.26%70.07%2,13822.61%9,458
Polk 5,89454.04%4,98545.71%140.13%130.12%9098.33%10,906
Portage 8,32054.08%7,01045.56%410.27%150.10%1,3108.51%15,386
Price 4,02858.82%2,77840.57%270.39%150.22%1,25018.25%6,848
Racine 31,96858.21%22,64641.24%2480.45%570.10%9,32216.97%54,919
Richland 5,06264.29%2,78335.34%260.33%30.04%2,27928.94%7,874
Rock 28,98067.42%13,83432.18%1480.34%250.06%15,14635.23%42,987
Rusk 3,43353.68%2,92945.80%240.38%90.14%5047.88%6,395
Sauk 10,64466.46%5,29233.04%610.38%190.12%5,35233.42%16,016
Sawyer 2,82364.54%1,52034.75%260.59%50.11%1,30329.79%4,374
Shawano 9,38871.54%3,67528.01%540.41%50.04%5,71343.54%13,122
Sheboygan 22,07759.91%14,54039.46%1820.49%530.14%7,53720.45%36,852
St. Croix 6,95655.72%5,49944.05%210.17%80.06%1,45711.67%12,484
Taylor 3,84357.75%2,75941.46%350.53%170.26%1,08416.29%6,654
Trempealeau 5,47654.25%4,60245.59%90.09%70.07%8748.66%10,094
Vernon 6,20055.66%4,92344.19%150.13%20.02%1,27711.46%11,140
Vilas 3,68374.07%1,26725.48%190.38%30.06%2,41648.59%4,972
Walworth 16,69676.62%4,92222.59%1520.70%200.09%11,77454.03%21,790
Washburn 2,79858.88%1,93540.72%140.29%50.11%86318.16%4,752
Washington 12,16772.93%4,44726.66%590.35%100.06%7,72046.27%16,683
Waukesha 35,21268.93%15,49630.33%3130.61%630.12%19,71638.60%51,084
Waupaca 11,79878.64%3,13320.88%660.44%60.04%8,66557.76%15,003
Waushara 4,71776.99%1,38722.64%200.33%30.05%3,33054.35%6,127
Winnebago 28,75971.44%11,11527.61%3530.88%270.07%17,64443.83%40,254
Wood 15,09169.92%6,41229.71%660.31%140.06%8,67940.21%21,583
Totals954,84461.58%586,76837.84%6,9180.45%2,0280.13%368,07623.74%1,550,558

Analysis

As it turned out, despite the doubts of the Boston Daily Globe Eisenhower slightly improved upon his 1952 margin in Wisconsin: although he did lose some support in the farming areas, he gained upon his 1952 vote in Wisconsin's cities due to increased Catholic support, and carried all but two northern counties. Wisconsin’s result was 8.34% more Republican than the nation-at-large. As of 2020 , this remains the last time a Republican has carried Wisconsin by double digits, as the state would trend Democratic beginning with the 1958 midterm elections, although Democrats have subsequently won Wisconsin by double digits just three times – Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, Bill Clinton in 1996 and Barack Obama in 2008. [18] This is also the last election as of 2020 in which Portage County, Ashland County, Milwaukee County, and Dane County voted for a Republican presidential candidate. [19]

See also

Notes

  1. Although he was born in Texas and grew up in Kansas before his military career, at the time of the 1952 election Eisenhower was president of Columbia University and was, officially, a resident of New York. During his first term as president, he moved his private residence to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and officially changed his residency to Pennsylvania. [1]

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References

  1. "The Presidents". David Leip. Retrieved September 27, 2017. Eisenhower's home state for the 1956 Election was Pennsylvania
  2. Burnham, Walter Dean. "The System of 1896: An Analysis". The Evolution of American Electoral Systems. pp. 178–179. ISBN   0313213798.
  3. Sundquist, James. Politics and Policy: The Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson Years. p. 526. ISBN   0815719094.
  4. Hansen, John Mark; Shigeo, Hirano; Snyder jr, James M. "Parties within Parties: Parties, Factions, and Coordinated Politics, 1900-1980". In Gerber, Alan S.; Schickler, Eric (eds.). Governing in a Polarized Age: Elections, Parties, and Political Representation in America. pp. 165–168. ISBN   978-1-107-09509-0.
  5. Phillips, Kevin P. The Emerging Republican Majority. pp. 381–382, 414. ISBN   978-0-691-16324-6.
  6. Phillips. The Emerging Republican Majority, pp. 387-388
  7. Blair, William M. (August 30, 1956). "Stevenson Asserts G.O.P. Fosters Farm Depression: Broken Promises Charged Stevenson Urges Action Stevenson Accuses Republicans of Fostering a Farm Depression — 3 States Are Pivotal". The New York Times . p. 1.
  8. Salisbury, Harrison E. (September 27, 1956). "Stevenson Says Eisenhower Fails to Lead Country: In Kansas City, He Asserts the Question Is, "Who's in Charge Here?" Decries Farm Policy: Nominee Charges That the President Defaulted on 90% Parity Pledgeedition=Special to The New York Times". The New York Times . p. 1.
  9. White, William S. (October 1, 1956). "G.O.P. Retaining Wisconsin Lead; Democrats Gain: Survey Shows Farm Unrest and Spotty Unemployment Are Having Influence". The New York Times (Special to The New York Times ed.). p. 1.
  10. King, Seth H. (November 1, 1956). "Major Farm Vote Still Republican: Democrats Fail to Stir Big Revolt – May Lose Votes on Crisis in Mideast". The New York Times. p. 44.
  11. Cornell, Douglas B. (October 23, 1956). "But Smaller Margin Seen: "Old Faithful" Wisconsin Expected To Go GOP Again". The Boston Daily Globe . p. 26.
  12. "Final Babson Poll Shows Eisenhower Winning Easily". Fort Worth Star-Telegram . CTS. November 2, 1956. p. 22.
  13. Trohan, Walter (November 3, 1956). "Hour of Decision Near: Eisenhower Lead Increasing Daily". Corpus Christi Times . Chicago Tribune Service. p. 4.
  14. "What the Polls Show — Eisenhower Victory Is Indicated across Nation". The Philadelphia Inquirer . November 4, 1956. pp. B 1, B 3.
  15. Lawrence, W.H. (November 4, 1956). ""Times Team" Counts Up 20-State GOP Margin". The Salt Lake Tribune . p. A 11.
  16. "1956 Presidential General Election Results – Wisconsin" . Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  17. "WI US President Race, November 06, 1956". Our Campaigns.
  18. "Presidential General Election Results Comparison – Wisconsin". Dave Leip's U.S. Election Atlas.
  19. Sullivan, Robert David (June 29, 2016). "How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century". The National Catholic Review (America Magazine ed.).