1934 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
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 County results La Follette: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Schmedeman: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% Greene: 30–40% 40–50% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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[edit]
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 Madison 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[edit]
Primary elections were held on September 18, 1934.
Democratic primary[edit]
Candidates[edit]
- Richard F. Lehmann
- William B. Rubin, attorney[1] and unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for governor in 1932
- Albert G. Schmedeman, incumbent Governor
Results[edit]
| 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[edit]
Candidates[edit]
- 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[edit]
| 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[edit]
Candidates[edit]
- Philip La Follette, former Governor
- Henry O. Meisel, policeman[4]
Results[edit]
| 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[edit]
Candidates[edit]
- George A. Nelson, farmer and former Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly[7]
Results[edit]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socialist | George A. Nelson | 28,877 | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | 28,877 | 100.00 | ||
General election[edit]
Candidates[edit]
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[edit]
| 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[edit]
- ^ "Double Test For New Deal In Two States". The Daily Banner. Greencastle, Indiana. September 18, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Wisconsin Blue Book 1935, p. 543.
- ^ "WI Governor, 1934 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ a b c "New Political Party Gets Test". The Daily Banner. Greencastle, Indiana. September 15, 1934. p. 4. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "WI Governor, 1934 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "WI Governor, 1934 - PRG Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "Nelson To Be Speaker Here". The Rhinelander Daily News. Rhinelander, Wisconsin. October 31, 1934. p. 2. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "Kenosha Workers Hold Lenin Meeting". The daily worker. Chicago, Ill. January 18, 1934. p. 6. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "Communists Name Full State Ticket". Marshfield News-Herald. Marshfield, Wisconsin. July 2, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "Milwaukee Will Hold State Campaign Rally". The daily worker. Chicago, Ill. August 9, 1934. p. 3. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "State Communists Prepare For Battle". The Daily Tribune. Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. December 14, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 87.
- ^ "WI Governor, 1934". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ Wisconsin Blue Book 1935, p. 613.
Bibliography[edit]
- 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.