Wisconsin gubernatorial elections

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Wisconsin gubernatorial elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November every four years on even, non-presidential election years since 1970. Between 1884 and 1970, gubernatorial elections were held on every even-numbered year. Prior to 1882, gubernatorial elections were held on every odd-numbered year.

The Wisconsin gubernatorial election selects the Governor of Wisconsin and Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin who will take office for a four-year term beginning the first Monday of the first January following the election. The election operates under first-past-the-post rules with no runoff. Prior to 2014, the lieutenant gubernatorial election was a separate election on the same ballot.

The first Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held May 8, 1848, concurrent with a referendum to ratify the Wisconsin Constitution. Since then, there have been 74 regular Wisconsin gubernatorial elections and one special recall election.

Fifty-five elections have been won by Republican candidates. Seventeen elections were won by Democratic candidates. Three were won by Wisconsin Progressives. One was won by a Whig.

Incumbents have been re-elected 35 times and have been defeated 14 times.

List of election results

Percentages are approximate:

YearElectedDefeated
1848 Nelson Dewey Democratic 19,87556% John Hubbard Tweedy 14,62141%
Charles Durkee 1,1343%
1849 Nelson Dewey (inc) Democratic 16,64952% Alexander L. Collins 14,62136%
Warren Chase 3,76112%
1851 Leonard J. Farwell Whig 22,31951% Don A. J. Upham 21,81249%
1853 William A. Barstow Democratic 30,40555% Edward D. Holton 21,88639%
Henry S. Baird 3,3046%
1855 Coles Bashford Republican 36,19850% William A. Barstow (inc)36,35550%
1857 Alexander Randall Republican 44,69350% James B. Cross 44,23949%
1859 Alexander Randall (inc) Republican 59,99953% Harrison Carroll Hobart 52,53947%
1861 Louis P. Harvey Republican 53,77754% Benjamin Ferguson 45,45646%
1863 James T. Lewis Republican 72,71760% Henry L. Palmer 49,05340%
1865 Lucius Fairchild Republican 58,33255% Harrison Carroll Hobart 48,33045%
1867 Lucius Fairchild (inc) Republican 73,63752% John J. Tallmadge 68,87348%
1869 Lucius Fairchild (inc) Republican 69,50253% Charles D. Robinson 61,23947%
1871 Cadwallader C. Washburn Republican 78,30153% James R. Doolittle 68,91047%
1873 William Robert Taylor Democratic 81,59955% Cadwallader C. Washburn (inc)66,22445%
1875 Harrison Ludington Republican 85,15550% William Robert Taylor (inc)84,31450%
1877 William E. Smith Republican 78,75944%James A. Mallory70,48640%
Edward P. Allis 26,21615%
Collin M. Campbell2,1761%
1879 William E. Smith (inc) Republican 100,53553% James Graham Jenkins 75,03040%
Reuben May 12,9967%
1881 Jeremiah M. Rusk Republican 81,75448% Nicholas D. Fratt 69,79741%
Theodore D. Kanouse13,2258%
Edward P. Allis 7,0024%
1884 Jeremiah M. Rusk (inc) Republican 163,21451% Nicholas D. Fratt 143,94545%
Samuel D. Hastings 8,5453%
William L. Utley 4,2741%
1886 Jeremiah M. Rusk (inc) Republican 133,24747% Gilbert M. Woodward 114,52940%
John Cochrane21,4677%
John Myers Olin17,0896%
1888 William D. Hoard Republican 175,69649%James Morgan155,42344%
E. G. Durant14,3734%
D. Frank Powell9,1963%
1890 George Wilbur Peck Democratic 160,38852% William D. Hoard (inc)132,06843%
Charles Alexander11,2464%
Reuben May 5,4472%
1892 George Wilbur Peck (inc) Democratic 178,09548% John Coit Spooner 170,49746%
Thomas C. Richmond13,1854%
Cyrus M. Butt 9,6383%
1894 William H. Upham Republican 196,15052% George Wilbur Peck (inc)142,25038%
D. Frank Powell25,6047%
John F. Cleghorn11,2403%
1896 Edward Scofield Republican 264,98160% Willis C. Silverthorn 169,25738%
Joshua H. Berkey 8,1402%
Christ Tuttrop1,3060%
Robert Henderson4070%
1898 Edward Scofield (inc) Republican 173,13753% Hiram Wilson Sawyer 135,35341%
Albinus A. Worsley8,5183%
Eugene W. Chafin 8,0782%
Howard Tuttle2,5441%
Henry Riese1,4730%
Robert M. La Follette 1120%
1900 Robert M. La Follette Republican 264,41960%Louis G. Bomrich160,67436%
J. Burritt Smith9,7072%
Howard Tuttle6,5901%
Frank R. Wilke5090%
1902 Robert M. La Follette (inc) Republican 193,41753% David Stuart Rose 145,81840%
Emil Seidel 15,9704%
Edwin W. Drake9,6473%
Henry E. D. Puck7910%
1904 Robert M. La Follette (inc) Republican 227,25351% George Wilbur Peck 173,30139%
William A. Arnold24,8576%
Edward Scofield 12,1363%
William H. Clark8,7642%
Charles M. Minkley2490%
1906 James O. Davidson (inc) Republican 183,55857%John A. Aylward103,31132%
Winfield R. Gaylord 24,4378%
Ephraim L. Eaton8,2113%
Ole T. Rosaas4550%
1908 James O. Davidson (inc) Republican 242,93554%John A. Aylward165,97737%
Harvey D. Brown28,5836%
Winfred D. Cox11,7603%
Herman Bottema3930%
1910 Francis E. McGovern Republican 161,61951%Adolph H. Schmitz110,44235%
William A. Jacobs39,54712%
Byron E. Van Keuren7,4502%
Fred G. Kremer4300%
1912 Francis E. McGovern (inc) Republican 179,36046% John C. Karel 167,31642%
Carl D. Thompson 34,4689%
Charles L. Hill 9,4332%
William H. Curtis3,2531%
1914 Emanuel L. Philipp Republican 140,78743% John C. Karel 119,50937%
John J. Blaine 32,56010%
Oscar Ameringer 25,9178%
David W. Emerson6,2792%
John Vierthaler3520%
1916 Emanuel L. Philipp (inc) Republican 229,88953%Burt Williams164,55538%
Rae Weaver30,6497%
George McKerrow9,1932%
1918 Emanuel L. Philipp (inc) Republican 155,79947% Henry A. Moehlenpah 112,57634%
Emil Seidel 57,52317%
William C. Dean5,2962%
1920 John J. Blaine Republican 366,24753% Robert Bruce McCoy 247,74636%
William Coleman 71,12610%
Henry H. Tubbs6,0471%
1922 John J. Blaine (inc) Republican 367,92976%Arthur A. Bentley51,06111%
Louis A. Arnold 39,5708%
M. L. Welles21,4384%
Arthur A. Dietrich1,4440%
1924 John J. Blaine (inc) Republican 412,25552% Martin L. Lueck 317,55040%
William F. Quick 45,2686%
Adolph R. Bucknam11,5161%
Severi Alanne 4,1070%
Farrand K. Shuttleworth4,0790%
Jose Snover1,4520%
1926 Fred R. Zimmerman Republican 350,92763% Charles B. Perry 76,50714%
Virgil H. Cady 72,62713%
Herman O. Kent 40,2937%
David W. Emerson7,3331%
Alex Gorden4,5931%
1928 Walter J. Kohler Sr. Republican 547,73855% Albert G. Schmedeman 394,36840%
Otto R. Hauser36,9244%
Adolph R. Bucknam6,4771%
Joseph Ehrhardt1,9380%
Alvar J. Hayes1,4200%
1930 Philip La Follette Republican 392,95865% Charles E. Hammersley 170,02028%
Frank Metcalfe 25,6074%
Alfred B. Taynton14,8182%
Fred Basset Blair 2,9980%
1932 Albert G. Schmedeman Democratic 590,11452% Walter J. Kohler Sr. 470,80542%
Frank Metcalfe 56,9655%
William C. Dean3,1480%
Fred Basset Blair 2,9260%
Joseph Ehrhardt3980%
1934 Philip La Follette Progressive 373,09339% Albert G. Schmedeman (inc)359,46738%
Howard Greene172,98018%
George A. Nelson 44,5895%
Morris Childs 2,4540%
Thomas W. North8570%
Joseph Ehrhardt3320%
1936 Philip La Follette (inc) Progressive 573,72446% Alexander Wiley 363,97329%
Arthur W. Lueck268,53022%
Joseph F. Walsh27,9342%
Joseph Ehrhardt1,7380%
August F. Fehlandt1,0080%
1938 Julius P. Heil Republican 543,67555% Philip La Follette (inc)353,38136%
Harry W. Bolens 78,4468%
Frank W. Smith4,5640%
John Schleier Jr.1,4590%
1940 Julius P. Heil (inc) Republican 558,67841% Orland Steen Loomis 546,43640%
Francis E. McGovern 264,98519%
Fred Basset Blair 2,3400%
Louis Fisher1,1580%
1942 Orland Steen Loomis Progressive 397,66450% Julius P. Heil (inc)291,94536%
William C. Sullivan98,15312%
Frank Zeidler 11,2951%
Fred Basset Blair 1,0920%
Georgia Cozzini 4800%
1944 Walter Samuel Goodland (inc) Republican 697,74053% Daniel Hoan 536,35741%
Alexander O. Benz76,0286%
George A. Nelson 9,1831%
Georgia Cozzini 1,1220%
1946 Walter Samuel Goodland (inc) Republican 621,97060% Daniel Hoan 406,49939%
Walter H. Uphoff8,9961%
Sigmund G. Eisenscher1,8570%
Jerry R. Kenyon9590%
1948 Oscar Rennebohm (inc) Republican 684,83954% Carl W. Thompson 558,49744%
Henry J. Berquist 12,9281%
Walter H. Uphoff9,1491%
James E. Boulton3560%
Georgia Cozzini 3280%
1950 Walter J. Kohler Jr. Republican 605,64953% Carl W. Thompson 525,31946%
M. Michael Essin3,7350%
William O. Hart3,3840%
1952 Walter J. Kohler Jr. (inc) Republican 1,009,17162% William Proxmire 601,84437%
M. Michael Essin3,7060%
1954 Walter J. Kohler Jr. (inc) Republican 596,15851% William Proxmire 560,74748%
Arthur Wepfer1,7220%
1956 Vernon W. Thomson Republican 808,27352% William Proxmire 749,42148%
1958 Gaylord Nelson Democratic 644,29654% Vernon W. Thomson (inc)556,39146%
Wayne Leverenz1,4850%
1960 Gaylord Nelson (inc) Democratic 890,86852%Phillip G. Kuehn837,12348%
1962 John W. Reynolds Jr. Democratic 637,49150%Phillip G. Kuehn625,53649%
Adolf Wiggert2,4770%
1964 Warren P. Knowles Republican 856,77951% John W. Reynolds Jr. (inc)837,90149%
1966 Warren P. Knowles (inc) Republican 626,04154% Patrick Lucey 539,25846%
Adolf Wiggert4,7450%
1968 Warren P. Knowles (inc) Republican 893,46353% Bronson La Follette 791,10047%
Adolf Wiggert3,2250%
Robert Wilkinson1,8130%
1970 Patrick Lucey Democratic 728,40354% Jack B. Olson 602,61745%
Leo James McDonald9,0351%
Georgia Cozzini 1,2870%
Samuel K. Hunt8880%
Myrtle Kastner6280%
1974 Patrick Lucey (inc) Democratic 628,63953% William Dyke 497,18942%
William H. Upham33,5283%
Crazy Jim12,1071%
William Hart5,1130%
Fred Basset Blair 3,6170%
Georgia Cozzini 1,4920%
1978 Lee S. Dreyfus Republican 816,05654% Martin J. Schreiber (inc)673,81345%
Eugene R. Zimmerman6,3550%
John C. Doherty2,1830%
Adrienne Kaplan1,5480%
Henry A. Ochsner8490%
1982 Tony Earl Democratic 896,87257% Terry Kohler 662,73842%
Larry Smiley9,7341%
James Wickstrom 7,7210%
Peter Seidman3,0250%
1986 Tommy Thompson Republican 805,09053% Tony Earl (inc)705,57846%
Kathryn A. Christensen10,3231%
Darold E. Wall3,9130%
Sanford Knapp1,6680%
1990 Tommy Thompson (inc) Republican 802,32158% Thomas A. Loftus 576,28042%
1994 Tommy Thompson (inc) Republican 1,051,32667% Charles Chvala 482,85031%
David S. Harmon11,6391%
Edward J. Frami9,1881%
Michael J. Mangan8,1501%
1998 Tommy Thompson (inc) Republican 1,047,71660% Ed Garvey 679,55339%
Jim Mueller11,0711%
Edward J. Frami10,2691%
Michael J. Mangan4,9850%
A-Ja-mu Muhammad1,6040%
Jeffrey L. Smith140%
2002 Jim Doyle Democratic 800,51545% Scott McCallum (inc)734,77941%
Ed Thompson 185,45510%
Jim Young44,1112%
Alan D. Eisenberg2,8470%
Ty A. Bollerud2,6370%
Michael J. Mangan1,7100%
Aneb Jah Rasta Sensa-Utcha Nefer-I9290%
2006 Jim Doyle (inc) Democratic 1,139,11553% Mark Andrew Green 979,42745%
Nelson Eisman40,7092%
2010 Scott Walker Republican 1,128,94152% Tom Barrett 1,004,30346%
Jim Langer10,6080%
James James8,2730%
2012^ Scott Walker (inc) Republican 1,335,58553% Tom Barrett 1,164,48046%
Hari Trivedi14,4631%
2014 Scott Walker (inc) Republican 1,259,70652% Mary Burke 1,122,91347%
Robert Burke18,7201%
Dennis Fehr7,5301%
2018 Tony Evers Democratic 1,324,30750% Scott Walker (inc)1,295,08048%
Phil Anderson20,2551%
Maggie Turnbull18,8841%
Michael White11,0870%
Arnie Enz2,7450%
2022 Tony Evers (inc) Democratic 1,358,77451%Tim Michels1,268,53547%
Joan Ellis Beglinger27,1981%

^ Recall election

References