1934 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

1934 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

←  1932 November 6, 1934 1936  →

Nominee Philip La Follette Albert G. Schmedeman Howard T. Greene Party Progressive Democratic Republican Popular vote 373,093 359,467 172,980 Percentage 39.12% 37.69% 18.14%

County results La Follette:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Schmedeman:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60% Greene:     30–40%     40–50%

Governor before election Albert G. Schmedeman Democratic Elected Governor Philip La Follette Progressive

The 1934 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1934.

Incumbent Democratic Governor Albert G. Schmedeman was defeated by Progressive nominee Philip La Follette. As of 2022, this is the last time Green Lake County voted for the Democratic nominee for governor and the last time that Waushara County did not vote for the Republican candidate.

Background

With the onset of the Great Depression, Wisconsin's Republican factionalism had reached a breaking point, as Stalwarts and Progressives had grown increasingly estranged due to a growingly divergent outlook on the world. In 1928 the stalwarts had won the primary and nominated wealthy business leader Walter Kohler over Joseph Beck, defeating Milwaukee mayor Albert Schmedemann. Two years later progressive scion Philip La Follette became governor, once again reasserting control of the party on the part of progressives. Despite taking several actions to curb the economic crisis, La Follette was unable to effectively articulate the achievements of his administration to primary voters, and with the factor of being outspent by the wealthy Kohler, went down in defeat in the primary, as Stalwarts once again retook control of the party. This time, in 1932, the Republicans went down in defeat against Schmedemann, who was propelled to victory by the election of New York governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

With this defeat, La Follette returned to his private life, but forces within the Republican party began stirring for the formation of a new third party. This third party eventually culminated in the founding of the Wisconsin progressive party in 1934. After successfully suing the secretary of state, La Follette and his supporters were able to hold a third party primary, and run under that label in the general election. Despite this, La Follette held reservations about running on the same ticket as his brother, Robert La Follette Jr., as he feared voters would reject "too much La Follette." In spite of this concern, he eventually threw his hat into the wring with tacit support from the Roosevelt administration.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 18, 1934.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Richard F. Lehmann
• William B. Rubin, attorney ^[1] and unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for governor in 1932
• Albert G. Schmedeman, incumbent Governor

Results

Democratic primary results ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Albert G. Schmedeman (incumbent)	166,001	74.72
	Democratic	William B. Rubin	41,985	18.90
	Democratic	Richard F. Lehmann	14,189	6.39
Total votes			222,175	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Howard T. Greene, dairy farmer ^[4]
• James N. Tittemore, U.S. Marshal ^[4] and unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for governor in 1918 and 1920 and Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in 1926
• Fred R. Zimmerman, former Governor

Results

Republican primary results ^{[2] [5]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Howard T. Greene	84,020	56.45
	Republican	Fred R. Zimmerman	53,734	36.10
	Republican	James N. Tittemore	11,084	7.45
Total votes			148,838	100.00

Progressive primary

Candidates

• Philip La Follette, former Governor
• Henry O. Meisel, policeman ^[4]

Results

Progressive primary results ^{[2] [6]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Progressive	Philip La Follette	154,454	95.36
	Progressive	Henry O. Meisel	7,520	4.64
Total votes			161,974	100.00

Socialist primary

Candidates

• George A. Nelson, farmer and former Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly ^[7]

Results

Socialist primary results ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Socialist	George A. Nelson	28,877	100.00
Total votes			28,877	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Albert G. Schmedeman, Democratic
• Howard T. Greene, Republican
• Philip La Follette, Progressive

Other candidates

• George A. Nelson, Socialist
• Morris Childs, Independent Communist, Communist Party district organizer ^{[8] [9] [10] [11]}
• Thomas W. North, Independent Prohibition, Prohibition nominee for Wisconsin's 1st congressional district in 1902
• Joseph Ehrhardt, Independent Socialist Labor, Socialist Labor nominee for governor in 1928 and 1932

The Communist, Prohibition and Socialist Labor parties were forced to run candidates as independents, as they were not recognized as legal parties due to failing to poll the required number of votes in past primary elections. ^[12]

Results

1934 Wisconsin gubernatorial election ^{[13] [14] [15]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive	Philip La Follette	373,093	39.12%
	Democratic	Albert G. Schmedeman (incumbent)	359,467	37.69%
	Republican	Howard T. Greene	172,980	18.14%
	Socialist	George A. Nelson	44,589	4.68%
	Communist	Morris Childs	2,454	0.26%
	Prohibition	Thomas W. North	857	0.09%
	Socialist Labor	Joseph Ehrhardt	332	0.04%
	Scattering		25	0.00%
Majority			13,626	1.43%
Turnout			953,797	100.00%
	Progressive gain from Democratic		Swing

References

1. "Double Test For New Deal In Two States". The Daily Banner. Greencastle, Indiana. September 18, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
2. Wisconsin Blue Book 1935, p. 543.
3. "WI Governor, 1934 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
4. "New Political Party Gets Test". The Daily Banner. Greencastle, Indiana. September 15, 1934. p. 4. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
5. "WI Governor, 1934 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
6. "WI Governor, 1934 - PRG Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
7. "Nelson To Be Speaker Here". The Rhinelander Daily News. Rhinelander, Wisconsin. October 31, 1934. p. 2. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
8. "Kenosha Workers Hold Lenin Meeting". The daily worker. Chicago, Ill. January 18, 1934. p. 6. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
9. "Communists Name Full State Ticket". Marshfield News-Herald. Marshfield, Wisconsin. July 2, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
10. "Milwaukee Will Hold State Campaign Rally". The daily worker. Chicago, Ill. August 9, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
11. "State Communists Prepare For Battle". The Daily Tribune. Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. December 14, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
12. "16 Candidates Seeking Offices As Independents Represent Communist, Social Labor, Prohibition Parties in November Election". La Crosse Tribune And Leader Press. La Crosse, Wisconsin. October 11, 1934. p. 8. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
13. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 87.
14. "WI Governor, 1934". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
15. Wisconsin Blue Book 1935, p. 613.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN   1-56802-396-0.
• Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., eds. (1935). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1935. Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer.