1940 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

1940 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

← 1934 November 5, 1940 1946 →

Nominee Robert La Follette Jr. Fred H. Clausen James E. Finnegan Party Progressive Republican Democratic Popular vote 605,609 553,692 176,688 Percentage 45.26% 41.38% 13.20%

U.S. senator before election Robert La Follette Jr. Progressive Elected U.S. Senator Robert La Follette Jr. Progressive

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The 1940 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held on November 5, 1940.

Incumbent Progressive U.S. Senator Robert La Follette Jr. was elected to a third term in office over Republican Fred H. Clausen and Democrat James E. Finnegan.

Progressive primary[]

Candidates[]

• Robert M. La Follette Jr., incumbent Senator since 1925

Results[]

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

• Walter B. Chilsen, former State Assemblyman (1919–21) and editor of the Merrill Daily Herald
• Fred H. Clausen, farming equipment manufacturer^[2]
• Michael G. Eberlein
• Glenn Frank, former President of the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• John P. Koehler, Health Commissioner of Milwaukee
• William C. Maas
• Reuben W. Peterson, former State Assemblyman (1937–39)

Campaign[]

Frank died two days before the primary, on September 15, but remained on the ballot.

Results[]

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

• William D. Carroll, former State Senator (1933–37)
• John Cudahy, former U.S. Ambassador to Poland, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Irish Free State (write-in)
• James E. Finnegan, former Wisconsin Attorney General (1933–37)
• James J. Kerwin

Results[]

General election[]

Candidates[]

• Fred H. Clausen, farming equipment manufacturer (Republican)
• James E. Finnegan, former Wisconsin Attorney General (Democratic)
• Ted Furman (Communist)
• Robert M. La Follette Jr., incumbent Senator since 1925 (Progressive)
• Adolf Wiggert (Socialist Labor)

Results[]

1940 U.S. Senate election in Wisconsin^[3][4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Progressive	Robert M. La Follette Jr. (incumbent)	805,609	45.26%	2.52
	Republican	Fred H. Clausen	553,692	41.38%	18.54
	Democratic	James E. Finnegan	176,688	13.20%	11.04
	Communist	Ted Furman	1,308	0.10%	N/A
	Socialist Labor	Adolf Wiggert	838	0.06%	N/A
Total votes			1,538,135	100.00%
	Progressive hold

See also[]

• 1940 United States Senate elections

References[]