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

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v t e

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 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

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

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

Progressive primary

Candidates

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

Results

Socialist primary

Candidates

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

Results

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

References

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.

This page was last edited on 11 April 2024, at 02:42