1912 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
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 County results
McGovern: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Karel: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Wisconsin |
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The 1912 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1912. Primary elections were held on September 3, 1912.
Incumbent Republican Governor Francis E. McGovern defeated Democratic nominee John C. Karel and Socialist nominee Carl D. Thompson, with 45.54% of the vote. This was the closest gubernatorial election in Wisconsin during the Fourth Party System and one of only two decided by single digits during that era.
This was the tenth consecutive Republican victory in Wisconsin, breaking the previous record of nine consecutive wins that ran from 1855 through 1871. This streak would eventually reach 19 consecutive Republican wins before being broken in 1932.
Primary election
[edit]Republican party
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- Francis E. McGovern, incumbent Governor
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Francis E. McGovern (incumbent) | 81,412 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 81,412 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic party
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- John C. Karel, Milwaukee County Court judge
- Adolph J. Schmitz, lawyer, Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1894,[2] Democratic nominee for Governor in 1910
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John C. Karel | 48,455 | 57.29% | |
| Democratic | Adolph J. Schmitz | 36,117 | 42.71% | |
| Total votes | 84,572 | 100.00% | ||
Socialist party
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- Carl D. Thompson, former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socialist | Carl D. Thompson | 12,726 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 12,726 | 100.00% | ||
Prohibition party
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- Charles L. Hill, Prohibition nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1910
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibition | Charles L. Hill | 2,385 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 2,385 | 100.00% | ||
General election
[edit]Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Francis E. McGovern (incumbent) | 179,360 | 45.54% | −5.04% | |
| Democratic | John C. Karel | 167,316 | 42.48% | +7.92% | |
| Social Democratic | Carl D. Thompson | 34,468 | 8.75% | −3.63% | |
| Prohibition | Charles L. Hill | 9,433 | 2.40% | +0.06% | |
| Socialist Labor | William H. Curtis | 3,253 | 0.83% | +0.69% | |
| Scattering | 19 | 0.00% | |||
| Majority | 12,044 | 3.06% | |||
| Total votes | 393,849 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | -12.96% | |||
Results by county
[edit]Karel was the first Democrat since George W. Peck in 1890 to carry Racine County. Additionally, Forest County, Portage County, Sheboygan County, and Waukesha County voted Democratic for the first time since 1892. After this election, Forest County, Marathon County, and Milwaukee County would not vote Democratic again until 1932.
Portage County voted for the losing candidate for the first time since 1873. Additionally, Waukesha County, Forest County, and Sheboygan County voted for the losing candidate for the first time since 1884, 1886, and 1888, respectively.
| County[3][4] | Francis E. McGovern Republican |
John C. Karel Democratic |
Carl D. Thompson Social Democratic |
Charles L. Hill Prohibition |
William H. Curtis Socialist Labor |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 991 | 70.43% | 326 | 23.17% | 53 | 3.77% | 34 | 2.42% | 3 | 0.21% | 665 | 47.26% | 1,407 |
| Ashland | 1,797 | 52.96% | 1,235 | 36.40% | 243 | 7.16% | 107 | 3.15% | 11 | 0.32% | 562 | 16.56% | 3,393 |
| Barron | 2,360 | 62.30% | 920 | 24.29% | 226 | 5.97% | 257 | 6.78% | 24 | 0.63% | 1,440 | 38.01% | 3,788[b] |
| Bayfield | 1,239 | 57.49% | 539 | 25.01% | 275 | 12.76% | 79 | 3.67% | 23 | 1.07% | 700 | 32.48% | 2,155 |
| Brown | 3,936 | 48.84% | 3,444 | 42.73% | 510 | 6.33% | 146 | 1.81% | 23 | 0.29% | 492 | 6.10% | 8,059 |
| Buffalo | 1,525 | 62.99% | 804 | 33.21% | 28 | 1.16% | 47 | 1.94% | 17 | 0.70% | 721 | 29.78% | 2,421 |
| Burnett | 983 | 68.17% | 214 | 14.84% | 158 | 10.96% | 54 | 3.74% | 33 | 2.29% | 768 | 53.33% | 1,442 |
| Calumet | 1,317 | 46.90% | 1,393 | 49.61% | 65 | 2.31% | 25 | 0.89% | 8 | 0.28% | -76 | -2.71% | 2,808 |
| Chippewa | 2,471 | 50.45% | 2,232 | 45.57% | 83 | 1.69% | 99 | 2.02% | 12 | 0.24% | 239 | 4.88% | 4,898[b] |
| Clark | 2,650 | 61.06% | 1,433 | 33.02% | 115 | 2.65% | 114 | 2.63% | 28 | 0.65% | 1,217 | 28.04% | 4,340 |
| Columbia | 3,045 | 53.60% | 2,395 | 42.16% | 98 | 1.73% | 132 | 2.32% | 11 | 0.19% | 650 | 11.44% | 5,681 |
| Crawford | 1,571 | 47.29% | 1,634 | 49.19% | 49 | 1.48% | 64 | 1.93% | 4 | 0.12% | -63 | -1.90% | 3,322 |
| Dane | 8,358 | 51.81% | 7,102 | 44.03% | 232 | 1.44% | 398 | 2.47% | 41 | 0.25% | 1,256 | 7.79% | 16,131 |
| Dodge | 2,697 | 31.42% | 5,656 | 65.89% | 98 | 1.14% | 129 | 1.50% | 4 | 0.05% | -2,959 | -34.47% | 8,584 |
| Door | 1,358 | 50.04% | 1,156 | 42.59% | 67 | 2.47% | 125 | 4.61% | 8 | 0.29% | 202 | 7.44% | 2,714 |
| Douglas | 2,450 | 47.31% | 1,584 | 30.59% | 935 | 18.05% | 148 | 2.86% | 62 | 1.20% | 866 | 16.72% | 5,179 |
| Dunn | 2,571 | 73.25% | 621 | 17.69% | 205 | 5.84% | 91 | 2.59% | 22 | 0.63% | 1,950 | 55.56% | 3,510 |
| Eau Claire | 2,947 | 61.40% | 1,497 | 31.19% | 228 | 4.75% | 108 | 2.25% | 17 | 0.35% | 1,450 | 30.21% | 4,800[c] |
| Florence | 386 | 69.42% | 146 | 26.26% | 12 | 2.16% | 11 | 1.98% | 1 | 0.18% | 240 | 43.17% | 556 |
| Fond du Lac | 3,955 | 42.11% | 4,824 | 51.37% | 289 | 3.08% | 314 | 3.34% | 9 | 0.10% | -869 | -9.25% | 9,391 |
| Forest | 569 | 42.49% | 693 | 51.76% | 45 | 3.36% | 29 | 2.17% | 3 | 0.22% | -124 | -9.26% | 1,339 |
| Grant | 3,868 | 50.35% | 3,496 | 45.51% | 93 | 1.21% | 214 | 2.79% | 11 | 0.14% | 372 | 4.84% | 7,682 |
| Green | 2,044 | 50.73% | 1,707 | 42.37% | 85 | 2.11% | 172 | 4.27% | 20 | 0.50% | 337 | 8.36% | 4,029[b] |
| Green Lake | 1,299 | 44.17% | 1,526 | 51.89% | 39 | 1.33% | 76 | 2.58% | 1 | 0.03% | -227 | -7.72% | 2,941 |
| Iowa | 2,343 | 51.55% | 2,009 | 44.20% | 32 | 0.70% | 160 | 3.52% | 1 | 0.02% | 334 | 7.35% | 4,545 |
| Iron | 628 | 52.38% | 450 | 37.53% | 65 | 5.42% | 31 | 2.59% | 25 | 2.09% | 178 | 14.85% | 1,199 |
| Jackson | 1,830 | 72.16% | 550 | 21.69% | 68 | 2.68% | 81 | 3.19% | 7 | 0.28% | 1,280 | 50.47% | 2,536 |
| Jefferson | 2,075 | 30.15% | 4,546 | 66.06% | 101 | 1.47% | 150 | 2.18% | 8 | 0.12% | -2,471 | -35.91% | 6,882[d] |
| Juneau | 1,675 | 54.33% | 1,179 | 38.24% | 153 | 4.96% | 62 | 2.01% | 14 | 0.45% | 496 | 16.09% | 3,083 |
| Kenosha | 2,650 | 43.82% | 2,722 | 45.01% | 462 | 7.64% | 175 | 2.89% | 38 | 0.63% | -72 | -1.19% | 6,047 |
| Kewaunee | 1,415 | 45.72% | 1,635 | 52.83% | 19 | 0.61% | 26 | 0.84% | 0 | 0.00% | -220 | -7.11% | 3,095 |
| La Crosse | 3,688 | 47.09% | 3,628 | 46.32% | 346 | 4.42% | 153 | 1.95% | 17 | 0.22% | 60 | 0.77% | 7,832 |
| Lafayette | 2,414 | 54.00% | 1,971 | 44.09% | 19 | 0.43% | 62 | 1.39% | 4 | 0.09% | 443 | 9.91% | 4,470 |
| Langlade | 1,341 | 46.40% | 1,446 | 50.03% | 54 | 1.87% | 45 | 1.56% | 4 | 0.14% | -105 | -3.63% | 2,890 |
| Lincoln | 1,661 | 50.17% | 1,421 | 42.92% | 188 | 5.68% | 29 | 0.88% | 12 | 0.36% | 240 | 7.25% | 3,311 |
| Manitowoc | 2,951 | 38.59% | 3,818 | 49.93% | 808 | 10.57% | 62 | 0.81% | 8 | 0.10% | -867 | -11.34% | 7,647 |
| Marathon | 3,865 | 43.17% | 4,374 | 48.86% | 505 | 5.64% | 176 | 1.97% | 32 | 0.36% | -509 | -5.69% | 8,952 |
| Marinette | 2,612 | 55.72% | 1,764 | 37.63% | 210 | 4.48% | 90 | 1.92% | 12 | 0.26% | 848 | 18.09% | 4,688 |
| Marquette | 1,161 | 54.03% | 925 | 43.04% | 15 | 0.70% | 44 | 2.05% | 4 | 0.19% | 236 | 10.98% | 2,149 |
| Milwaukee | 17,771 | 24.15% | 31,746 | 43.14% | 21,301 | 28.94% | 991 | 1.35% | 1,785 | 2.43% | -10,445[e] | -14.19% | 73,594 |
| Monroe | 2,441 | 52.68% | 1,869 | 40.33% | 117 | 2.52% | 185 | 3.99% | 22 | 0.47% | 572 | 12.34% | 4,634 |
| Oconto | 2,373 | 55.69% | 1,710 | 40.13% | 120 | 2.82% | 46 | 1.08% | 12 | 0.28% | 663 | 15.56% | 4,261 |
| Oneida | 1,107 | 55.13% | 700 | 34.86% | 169 | 8.42% | 22 | 1.10% | 10 | 0.50% | 407 | 20.27% | 2,008 |
| Outagamie | 4,076 | 49.10% | 3,831 | 46.15% | 179 | 2.16% | 157 | 1.89% | 59 | 0.71% | 245 | 2.95% | 8,302 |
| Ozaukee | 714 | 24.87% | 2,074 | 72.24% | 55 | 1.92% | 22 | 0.77% | 6 | 0.21% | -1,360 | -47.37% | 2,871 |
| Pepin | 748 | 59.70% | 453 | 36.15% | 21 | 1.68% | 27 | 2.15% | 4 | 0.32% | 295 | 23.54% | 1,253 |
| Pierce | 2,295 | 71.10% | 694 | 21.50% | 81 | 2.51% | 100 | 3.10% | 58 | 1.80% | 1,601 | 49.60% | 3,228 |
| Polk | 2,095 | 70.47% | 465 | 15.64% | 266 | 8.95% | 106 | 3.57% | 41 | 1.38% | 1,630 | 54.83% | 2,973 |
| Portage | 2,366 | 45.36% | 2,652 | 50.84% | 99 | 1.90% | 89 | 1.71% | 10 | 0.19% | -286 | -5.48% | 5,216 |
| Price | 1,225 | 53.68% | 682 | 29.89% | 273 | 11.96% | 67 | 2.94% | 35 | 1.53% | 543 | 23.79% | 2,282 |
| Racine | 3,725 | 43.05% | 3,918 | 45.28% | 550 | 6.36% | 328 | 3.79% | 120 | 1.39% | -193 | -2.23% | 8,652[f] |
| Richland | 1,930 | 50.43% | 1,444 | 37.73% | 107 | 2.80% | 331 | 8.65% | 15 | 0.39% | 486 | 12.70% | 3,827 |
| Rock | 4,717 | 49.14% | 4,263 | 44.41% | 227 | 2.36% | 319 | 3.32% | 74 | 0.77% | 454 | 4.73% | 9,600 |
| Rusk | 976 | 59.26% | 427 | 25.93% | 181 | 10.99% | 50 | 3.04% | 13 | 0.79% | 549 | 33.33% | 1,647 |
| Sauk | 2,774 | 50.61% | 2,348 | 42.84% | 58 | 1.06% | 290 | 5.29% | 11 | 0.20% | 426 | 7.77% | 5,481 |
| Sawyer | 485 | 56.07% | 354 | 40.92% | 10 | 1.16% | 15 | 1.73% | 1 | 0.12% | 131 | 15.14% | 865 |
| Shawano | 2,753 | 62.94% | 1,386 | 31.69% | 107 | 2.45% | 114 | 2.61% | 14 | 0.32% | 1,367 | 31.25% | 4,374 |
| Sheboygan | 4,197 | 43.61% | 4,227 | 43.92% | 1,047 | 10.88% | 138 | 1.43% | 16 | 0.17% | -30 | -0.31% | 9,625 |
| St. Croix | 2,442 | 54.98% | 1,720 | 38.72% | 152 | 3.42% | 121 | 2.72% | 7 | 0.16% | 722 | 16.25% | 4,442 |
| Taylor | 1,195 | 53.71% | 757 | 34.02% | 246 | 11.06% | 21 | 0.94% | 6 | 0.27% | 438 | 19.69% | 2,225 |
| Trempealeau | 2,474 | 64.82% | 1,206 | 31.60% | 39 | 1.02% | 93 | 2.44% | 5 | 0.13% | 1,268 | 33.22% | 3,817 |
| Vernon | 2,880 | 64.75% | 1,310 | 29.45% | 70 | 1.57% | 174 | 3.91% | 14 | 0.31% | 1,570 | 35.30% | 4,448 |
| Vilas | 416 | 47.22% | 383 | 43.47% | 61 | 6.92% | 12 | 1.36% | 9 | 1.02% | 33 | 3.75% | 881 |
| Walworth | 2,835 | 51.03% | 2,287 | 41.16% | 88 | 1.58% | 325 | 5.85% | 21 | 0.38% | 548 | 9.86% | 5,556 |
| Washburn | 821 | 53.49% | 476 | 31.01% | 193 | 12.57% | 40 | 2.61% | 5 | 0.33% | 345 | 22.48% | 1,535 |
| Washington | 1,803 | 38.39% | 2,735 | 58.24% | 138 | 2.94% | 20 | 0.43% | 0 | 0.00% | -932 | -19.85% | 4,696 |
| Waukesha | 3,235 | 44.64% | 3,521 | 48.59% | 183 | 2.53% | 295 | 4.07% | 13 | 0.18% | -286 | -3.95% | 7,247 |
| Waupaca | 3,741 | 68.12% | 1,339 | 24.38% | 141 | 2.57% | 199 | 3.62% | 72 | 1.31% | 2,402 | 43.74% | 5,492 |
| Waushara | 2,142 | 73.18% | 586 | 20.02% | 75 | 2.56% | 93 | 3.18% | 31 | 1.06% | 1,556 | 53.16% | 2,927 |
| Winnebago | 5,490 | 51.05% | 4,398 | 40.90% | 498 | 4.63% | 202 | 1.88% | 166 | 1.54% | 1,092 | 10.15% | 10,754 |
| Wood | 2,422 | 46.22% | 2,340 | 44.66% | 340 | 6.49% | 122 | 2.33% | 16 | 0.31% | 82 | 1.56% | 5,240 |
| Total | 179,360 | 45.54% | 167,316 | 42.48% | 34,468 | 8.75% | 9,433 | 2.40% | 3,253 | 0.83% | 12,044 | 3.06% | 393,849 |
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
[edit]Counties that flipped from Social Democratic to Democratic
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ One must exercise caution using the Blue Book as a source for Wisconsin election data for the period of 1890-1920 as it was unreliable during this period. In this case, the Blue Book's totals for all candidates are incorrect and it also contains numerous mistakes in the county figures.
- ^ a b c Includes 1 Scattering vote
- ^ Includes 3 Scattering votes
- ^ Includes 2 Scattering votes
- ^ Karel's margin over Thompson
- ^ Includes 11 Scattering votes
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Industrial Commission (1913). "Primary Election Vote for Governor, September 3, 1912". The Wisconsin Blue Book. Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Co., State Printer.
- ^ Bruce, William George; Currey, Josiah Seymour (1922). History of Milwaukee City and County. Vol. II. Milwaukee: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 404–407.
- ^ a b Wisconsin Historical Society, Statement of Board of Canvassers of the State of Wisconsin for General Election held November 5, 1912
- ^ a b Industrial Commission (1913). "Governor". The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin. Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Co., State Printer. p. 260.
Bibliography
[edit]- Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.
- Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
- The Wisconsin Blue Book. Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Co., State Printer. 1913.