1932 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

1932 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

← 1930 November 8, 1932 1934 →

Nominee Albert G. Schmedeman Walter J. Kohler Sr. Frank Metcalfe Party Democratic Republican Socialist Popular vote 590,114 470,805 56,965 Percentage 52.48% 41.87% 5.07%

County results Schmedeman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Kohler:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

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

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The 1932 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1932.

Incumbent Republican Governor Philip La Follette was defeated in the Republican primary.

Democratic nominee Albert G. Schmedeman defeated Republican nominee Walter J. Kohler Sr. and Socialist nominee Frank Metcalfe with 52.48% of the vote. Schmedeman became the first Democratic Governor of Wisconsin since George Wilbur Peck in 1895.

Primary elections[]

Primary elections were held on September 20, 1932.

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

• Leo P. Fox, Democratic nominee for Wisconsin's 6th congressional district in 1920 and for Lieutenant Governor in 1928
• William B. Rubin, attorney^[1]
• Albert G. Schmedeman, mayor of Madison and Democratic nominee for Governor in 1928

Results[]

Democratic primary results^[2][3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Albert G. Schmedeman	58,098	44.04
	Democratic	William B. Rubin	44,556	33.77
	Democratic	Leo P. Fox	29,276	22.19
Total votes			131,930	100.00

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

• Walter J. Kohler, Sr., former Governor
• Philip La Follette, incumbent Governor

Results[]

Republican primary results^[2][4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Walter J. Kohler, Sr.	414,575	56.45
	Republican	Philip La Follette (incumbent)	319,884	43.55
Total votes			734,459	100.00

Socialist primary[]

Candidates[]

• Frank Metcalfe, nominee for Governor in 1930

Results[]

Socialist primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Socialist	Frank Metcalfe	31,836	100.00
Total votes			31,836	100.00

Prohibition primary[]

Candidates[]

• Adolph R. Bucknam, Prohibition nominee for U.S. Senate in 1922 and for Governor in 1924 and 1928
• William C. Dean, Prohibition nominee for Governor in 1918

Results[]

Prohibition primary results^[2][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Prohibition	William C. Dean	717	53.79
	Prohibition	Adolph R. Bucknam	616	46.21
Total votes			1,333	100.00

General election[]

Candidates[]

Major party candidates

• Albert G. Schmedeman, Democratic
• Walter J. Kohler Sr., Republican

Other candidates

• Fred B. Blair, Communist, nominee for Governor in 1930
• William C. Dean, Prohibition
• Frank Metcalfe, Socialist
• Joseph Ehrhardt, Socialist Labor, nominee for Governor in 1928

Results[]

1932 Wisconsin gubernatorial election^[6][7][8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Albert G. Schmedeman	590,114	52.48%
	Republican	Walter J. Kohler Sr.	470,805	41.87%
	Socialist	Frank Metcalfe	56,965	5.07%
	Prohibition	William C. Dean	3,148	0.28%
	Communist	Fred Basset Blair	2,926	0.26%
	Socialist Labor	Joseph Ehrhardt	398	0.04%
	Scattering		146	0.01%
Majority			119,309	10.61%
Turnout			1,124,502	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

References[]

Bibliography[]

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
• Witte, Edwin E.; Kelly, Alice, eds. (1933). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1933. Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer.