The 1938 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1938.
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 County results Heil: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% La Follette: 40–50% 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Progressive Governor Philip La Follette was defeated by Republican nominee Julius P. Heil.
Primary elections edit
Primary elections were held on September 20, 1938.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
- Jerome F. Fox, former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
- Robert Kirkland Henry, former Wisconsin State Treasurer
- Edward Ihlenfeldt, unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for Secretary of State of Wisconsin in 1934
Results edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Robert Kirkland Henry | 64,363 | 51.15 | |
| Democratic | Jerome F. Fox | 50,497 | 40.13 | |
| Democratic | Edward Ihlenfeldt | 10,984 | 6.73 | |
| Total votes | 125,844 | 100.00 | ||
Henry, former Democratic State Treasurer, stood for both the Democratic and Republican nominations as part of a coalition movement designed to defeat Philip La Follette and the Progressive Party. If he had won both nominations, he intended to decline the nomination of the party in whose primary he received fewest votes.[3][4]
Henry won the Democratic nomination but lost the Republican nomination to Julius P. Heil. On October 1, 1938, Henry withdrew from the election in favour of Heil.[5] On October 7, 1938, the Democratic state central committee met and nominated State Senator Harry W. Bolens to replace Henry on the Democratic ticket.[6][7]
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
- Julius P. Heil, industrialist[4][8]
- Robert Kirkland Henry, former Wisconsin State Treasurer
- Clun L. Miller, insurance counsellor[9]
- James G. Peterson, farmer[10]
Results edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Julius P. Heil | 126,820 | 55.83 | |
| Republican | Robert Kirkland Henry | 73,348 | 32.29 | |
| Republican | James G. Peterson | 20,262 | 8.92 | |
| Republican | Clun L. Miller | 6,729 | 2.96 | |
| Total votes | 227,159 | 100.00 | ||
Progressive primary edit
Candidates edit
- Philip La Follette, incumbent Governor
- Glenn P. Turner, Socialist nominee for Attorney General of Wisconsin in 1930 and 1934
Results edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | Philip La Follette (incumbent) | 136,291 | 80.21 | |
| Progressive | Glenn P. Turner | 33,631 | 19.79 | |
| Total votes | 169,922 | 100.00 | ||
Union primary edit
Candidates edit
- Frank W. Smith
Results edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union | Frank W. Smith | 2,553 | 100.00 | |
| Total votes | 2,553 | 100.00 | ||
General election edit
Candidates edit
Major party candidates
- Harry W. Bolens, Democratic
- Julius P. Heil, Republican
- Philip La Follette, Progressive
Other candidates
- John Schleier, Jr., Independent Socialist Labor
- Frank W. Smith, Union
Results edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Julius P. Heil | 543,675 | 55.39% | ||
| Progressive | Philip La Follette (incumbent) | 353,381 | 36.00% | ||
| Democratic | Harry W. Bolens | 78,446 | 7.99% | ||
| Union | Frank W. Smith | 4,564 | 0.47% | ||
| Independent Socialist Labor | John Schleier, Jr. | 1,459 | 0.15% | ||
| Scattering | 35 | 0.00% | |||
| Majority | 190,294 | 19.39% | |||
| Turnout | 981,560 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican gain from Progressive | Swing | ||||
References edit
- ^ a b c d Wisconsin Blue Book 1940, p. 536.
- ^ "WI Governor, 1938 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ "Oshkosh men are active at session of coalitionists". The Oshkosh Northwestern. Oshkosh, Wisconsin. November 22, 1937. p. 5. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ a b "Primaries: Wisconsin Obstacle Race". Time. New York City: Time Inc. October 3, 1938. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ "Henry Withdraws In Favor Of Heil". La Crosse Tribune And Leader-Press. La Crosse, Wisconsin. October 2, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ "Democrats Favor Harry Bolens for Governor Battle". The Post-Crescent. Appleton, Wisconsin. October 4, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ "Dem Party Is Reinforced; In Contest Again". The Capital Times. Madison, Wisconsin. October 8, 1938. p. 3. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ "Democrats Intend To Replace Henry In November Race". The Post-Crescent. Appleton, Wisconsin. October 3, 1938. p. 1. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ "Miller Has Engine". The Oshkosh Northwestern. Oshkosh, Wisconsin. September 3, 1938. p. 7. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ "'Beat LaFollette' battle cry rings". Marshfield News-Herald. Marshfield, Wisconsin. September 16, 1938. p. 5. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ "WI Governor, 1938 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ "WI Governor, 1938 - PRG Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 87.
- ^ "WI Governor, 1938". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ Wisconsin Blue Book 1940, p. 606.
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. (1940). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1940. State of Wisconsin.