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 County results Thomson: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Proxmire: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Wisconsin |
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The 1956 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1956. Republican nominee Vernon W. Thomson defeated Democratic nominee William Proxmire with 51.89% of the vote. Proxmire was defeated for the third consecutive gubernatorial election; he would subsequently win a special election for the United States Senate the following year after the death of Joseph McCarthy.
The primary election was held on September 11, 1956. Both major party candidates were unopposed in their respective primaries.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Vernon W. Thomson | 400,442 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 400,442 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | William Proxmire | 265,475 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 265,475 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Vernon W. Thomson | 808,273 | 51.89% | +0.43% | |
| Democratic | William Proxmire | 749,421 | 48.11% | −0.29% | |
| Scattering [a] | 94 | 0.01% | |||
| Majority | 58,852 | 3.78% | |||
| Total votes | 1,557,788 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | +0.72% | |||
After this election, Taylor County would not vote Republican again until 1978.
| County [3] [4] | Vernon W. Thomson Republican | William Proxmire Democratic | Scattering Write-in | Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 1,652 | 52.98% | 1,466 | 47.02% | 0 | 0.00% | 186 | 5.97% | 3,118 |
| Ashland | 3,584 | 46.55% | 4,115 | 53.45% | 0 | 0.00% | -531 | -6.90% | 7,699 |
| Barron | 7,584 | 54.38% | 6,362 | 45.62% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,222 | 8.76% | 13,946 |
| Bayfield | 2,730 | 48.38% | 2,913 | 51.62% | 0 | 0.00% | -183 | -3.24% | 5,643 |
| Brown | 26,181 | 56.45% | 20,192 | 43.54% | 2 | 0.00% | 5,989 | 12.91% | 46,375 |
| Buffalo | 3,030 | 55.20% | 2,459 | 44.80% | 0 | 0.00% | 571 | 10.40% | 5,489 |
| Burnett | 2,109 | 51.70% | 1,970 | 48.30% | 0 | 0.00% | 139 | 3.41% | 4,079 |
| Calumet | 5,370 | 64.88% | 2,905 | 35.10% | 2 | 0.02% | 2,465 | 29.78% | 8,277 |
| Chippewa | 8,228 | 49.95% | 8,246 | 50.05% | 0 | 0.00% | -18 | -0.11% | 16,474 |
| Clark | 6,926 | 54.06% | 5,886 | 45.94% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,040 | 8.12% | 12,812 |
| Columbia | 9,265 | 59.74% | 6,243 | 40.26% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,022 | 19.49% | 15,508 |
| Crawford | 3,593 | 53.70% | 3,098 | 46.30% | 0 | 0.00% | 495 | 7.40% | 6,691 |
| Dane | 34,496 | 43.47% | 44,851 | 56.52% | 9 | 0.01% | -10,355 | -13.05% | 79,356 |
| Dodge | 15,244 | 61.23% | 9,652 | 38.77% | 0 | 0.00% | 5,592 | 22.46% | 24,896 |
| Door | 5,929 | 69.50% | 2,602 | 30.50% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,327 | 39.00% | 8,531 |
| Douglas | 8,283 | 41.16% | 11,841 | 58.84% | 1 | 0.00% | -3,558 | -17.68% | 20,125 |
| Dunn | 5,838 | 55.80% | 4,624 | 44.20% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,214 | 11.60% | 10,462 |
| Eau Claire | 11,631 | 50.32% | 11,485 | 49.68% | 0 | 0.00% | 146 | 0.63% | 23,116 |
| Florence | 841 | 50.06% | 839 | 49.94% | 0 | 0.00% | 2 | 0.12% | 1,680 |
| Fond du Lac | 18,424 | 61.19% | 11,685 | 38.81% | 1 | 0.00% | 6,739 | 22.38% | 30,110 |
| Forest | 1,502 | 42.26% | 2,052 | 57.74% | 0 | 0.00% | -550 | -15.48% | 3,554 |
| Grant | 10,929 | 65.72% | 5,699 | 34.27% | 1 | 0.01% | 5,230 | 31.45% | 16,629 |
| Green | 6,090 | 56.97% | 4,599 | 43.03% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,491 | 13.95% | 10,689 |
| Green Lake | 4,944 | 69.90% | 2,128 | 30.09% | 1 | 0.01% | 2,816 | 39.81% | 7,073 |
| Iowa | 4,762 | 56.99% | 3,594 | 43.01% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,168 | 13.98% | 8,356 |
| Iron | 1,367 | 34.57% | 2,587 | 65.43% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,220 | -30.85% | 3,954 |
| Jackson | 3,033 | 48.47% | 3,224 | 51.52% | 1 | 0.02% | -191 | -3.05% | 6,258 |
| Jefferson | 11,511 | 57.26% | 8,591 | 42.73% | 1 | 0.00% | 2,920 | 14.53% | 20,103 |
| Juneau | 4,660 | 62.16% | 2,837 | 37.84% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,823 | 24.32% | 7,497 |
| Kenosha | 16,273 | 41.98% | 22,494 | 58.02% | 1 | 0.00% | -6,221 | -16.05% | 38,768 |
| Kewaunee | 4,127 | 55.78% | 3,272 | 44.22% | 0 | 0.00% | 855 | 11.56% | 7,399 |
| La Crosse | 15,498 | 51.79% | 14,427 | 48.21% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,071 | 3.58% | 29,925 |
| Lafayette | 4,381 | 55.10% | 3,570 | 44.90% | 0 | 0.00% | 811 | 10.20% | 7,951 |
| Langlade | 4,261 | 54.64% | 3,537 | 45.36% | 0 | 0.00% | 724 | 9.28% | 7,798 |
| Lincoln | 5,664 | 60.42% | 3,711 | 39.58% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,953 | 20.83% | 9,375 |
| Manitowoc | 14,224 | 48.64% | 15,017 | 51.35% | 1 | 0.00% | -793 | -2.71% | 29,242 |
| Marathon | 17,802 | 46.42% | 20,545 | 53.58% | 0 | 0.00% | -2,743 | -7.15% | 38,347 |
| Marinette | 8,054 | 56.54% | 6,190 | 43.46% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,864 | 13.09% | 14,244 |
| Marquette | 2,528 | 66.65% | 1,264 | 33.32% | 1 | 0.03% | 1,264 | 33.32% | 3,793 |
| Milwaukee | 180,462 | 44.02% | 229,443 | 55.97% | 27 | 0.01% | -48,981 | -11.95% | 409,932 |
| Monroe | 6,712 | 56.99% | 5,065 | 43.00% | 1 | 0.01% | 1,647 | 13.98% | 11,778 |
| Oconto | 6,109 | 58.61% | 4,314 | 41.39% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,795 | 17.22% | 10,423 |
| Oneida | 5,177 | 53.68% | 4,467 | 46.31% | 1 | 0.01% | 710 | 7.36% | 9,645 |
| Outagamie | 23,037 | 66.33% | 11,694 | 33.67% | 0 | 0.00% | 11,343 | 32.66% | 34,731 |
| Ozaukee | 8,066 | 57.90% | 5,864 | 42.10% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,202 | 15.81% | 13,930 |
| Pepin | 1,689 | 58.54% | 1,196 | 41.46% | 0 | 0.00% | 493 | 17.09% | 2,885 |
| Pierce | 5,343 | 57.78% | 3,904 | 42.22% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,439 | 15.56% | 9,247 |
| Polk | 5,279 | 49.64% | 5,356 | 50.36% | 0 | 0.00% | -77 | -0.72% | 10,635 |
| Portage | 6,357 | 41.42% | 8,991 | 58.58% | 1 | 0.01% | -2,634 | -17.16% | 15,349 |
| Price | 3,430 | 51.37% | 3,247 | 48.63% | 0 | 0.00% | 183 | 2.74% | 6,677 |
| Racine | 25,987 | 46.85% | 29,453 | 53.10% | 26 | 0.05% | -3,466 | -6.25% | 55,466 |
| Richland | 4,747 | 59.72% | 3,200 | 40.26% | 2 | 0.03% | 1,547 | 19.46% | 7,949 |
| Rock | 25,495 | 59.25% | 17,531 | 40.75% | 0 | 0.00% | 7,964 | 18.51% | 43,026 |
| Rusk | 3,112 | 49.19% | 3,215 | 50.81% | 0 | 0.00% | -103 | -1.63% | 6,327 |
| Sauk | 9,715 | 60.12% | 6,443 | 39.87% | 1 | 0.01% | 3,272 | 20.25% | 16,159 |
| Sawyer | 2,474 | 58.09% | 1,785 | 41.91% | 0 | 0.00% | 689 | 16.18% | 4,259 |
| Shawano | 8,698 | 65.95% | 4,489 | 34.04% | 1 | 0.01% | 4,209 | 31.92% | 13,188 |
| Sheboygan | 20,359 | 52.97% | 18,078 | 47.03% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,281 | 5.93% | 38,437 |
| St. Croix | 6,256 | 51.72% | 5,840 | 48.28% | 0 | 0.00% | 416 | 3.44% | 12,096 |
| Taylor | 3,388 | 51.07% | 3,245 | 48.91% | 1 | 0.02% | 143 | 2.16% | 6,634 |
| Trempealeau | 4,766 | 48.66% | 5,029 | 51.34% | 0 | 0.00% | -263 | -2.69% | 9,795 |
| Vernon | 5,438 | 48.45% | 5,787 | 51.55% | 0 | 0.00% | -349 | -3.11% | 11,225 |
| Vilas | 3,109 | 53.50% | 1,787 | 36.50% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,322 | 27.00% | 4,896 |
| Walworth | 14,895 | 69.01% | 6,688 | 30.98% | 2 | 0.01% | 8,207 | 38.02% | 21,585 |
| Washburn | 2,573 | 55.14% | 2,093 | 44.86% | 0 | 0.00% | 480 | 10.29% | 4,666 |
| Washington | 10,004 | 60.09% | 6,645 | 39.91% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,359 | 20.18% | 16,649 |
| Waukesha | 29,573 | 57.94% | 21,465 | 42.05% | 6 | 0.01% | 8,108 | 15.88% | 51,044 |
| Waupaca | 11,060 | 73.08% | 4,074 | 26.92% | 0 | 0.00% | 6,986 | 46.16% | 15,134 |
| Waushara | 4,377 | 71.19% | 1,771 | 28.81% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,606 | 42.39% | 6,148 |
| Winnebago | 25,638 | 62.93% | 15,101 | 37.06% | 3 | 0.01% | 10,537 | 25.86% | 40,742 |
| Wood | 12,400 | 56.91% | 9,389 | 43.09% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,011 | 13.82% | 21,789 |
| Total | 808,273 | 51.89% | 749,421 | 48.11% | 94 | 0.01% | 58,852 | 3.78% | 1,557,788 |
The 1978 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1978. Republican Lee S. Dreyfus won the election with 54% of the vote, winning his first term as Governor of Wisconsin and defeating incumbent Democrat Martin J. Schreiber. Bob Kasten unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination.
The 1974 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974. Democrat Patrick Lucey won the election with 53% of the vote, winning his second term as Governor of Wisconsin and defeating Republican William Dyke.
The 1970 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970. Democrat Patrick J. Lucey won the election with 54.23% of the vote, winning his first term as Governor of Wisconsin and defeating incumbent lieutenant governor, Republican Jack B. Olson. Roman R. Blenski unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination. As of 2024, this is the last time the Democratic gubernatorial candidate carried Oconto County.
The 1968 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1968. Republican Warren P. Knowles won the election with 53% of the vote, winning his third term as Governor of Wisconsin and defeating Democrat Bronson C. La Follette. This was the last gubernatorial election in Wisconsin where the governor was elected to a two year term separately from the Lieutenant Governor.
The 1966 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1966. Republican Warren P. Knowles won the election with 53.50% of the vote, winning his second term as Governor of Wisconsin and defeating Democrat incumbent lieutenant governor and future governor Patrick J. Lucey.
The 1960 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1960. Democrat Gaylord A. Nelson won the election with 51.5% of the vote, retaining his position as Governor of Wisconsin.
The 1960 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1960. Democrat Gaylord A. Nelson won the election with 51.5% of the vote, retaining his position as Governor of Wisconsin.
The 1914 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1914. Primary elections were held on September 1, 1914.
The 1922 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1922. Primary elections were held on September 5, 1922.
The 1958 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1958. The Democratic nominee, state senator Gaylord A. Nelson, defeated the Republican incumbent governor, Vernon W. Thomson, receiving 53.59% of the vote.
The 1954 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1954.
The 1952 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1952.
The 1950 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1950.
The 1948 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1948.
The 1946 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1946.
The 1942 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1942.
The 1940 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Primary elections were held on September 17, 1940.
The 1938 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1938. Primary elections were held on September 20, 1938. Incumbent Progressive Governor Philip La Follette was defeated by Republican nominee Julius P. Heil.
The 1936 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1936. Primary elections were held on September 15, 1936. Incumbent Progressive Governor Philip La Follette won re-election, defeating Republican nominee Alexander Wiley and Democratic nominee Arthur W. Lueck. As of 2022, this is the last time that Shawano County did not vote for the Republican nominee for governor and the last time Dodge County voted Democratic for governor.
The 1932 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1932. Incumbent Republican Governor Philip La Follette was defeated in the Republican primary, and in the midst of the Great Depression and nationwide voter dissatisfaction with the Republican Party, Democratic nominee Albert G. Schmedeman defeated Republican nominee Walter J. Kohler Sr. and Socialist nominee Frank Metcalfe with 52.48% of the vote. Schmedeman became the first Democrat to win a gubernatorial election in Wisconsin since George Wilbur Peck in 1892. Two years later, in 1934, La Follette would run for governor again and defeated Schmedeman, this time running with the Progressive Party.
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