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1912 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

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1912 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

← 1910 November 5, 1912 1914 →
 
Nominee Francis E. McGovern John C. Karel Carl D. Thompson
Party Republican Democratic Socialist
Popular vote 179,360 167,316 34,468
Percentage 45.54% 42.48% 8.75%

County results

McGovern:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Karel:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election

Francis E. McGovern
Republican

Elected Governor

Francis E. McGovern
Republican

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

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Republican party

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Francis E. McGovern (incumbent) 81,412 100.00%
Total votes 81,412 100.00%

Democratic party

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[1]
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

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Candidates

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Results

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Socialist primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Socialist Carl D. Thompson 12,726 100.00%
Total votes 12,726 100.00%

Prohibition party

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Candidates

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Results

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Prohibition primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Prohibition Charles L. Hill 2,385 100.00%
Total votes 2,385 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1912 Wisconsin gubernatorial election[3][4][a]
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

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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

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Counties that flipped from Social Democratic to Democratic

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Notes

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b c Includes 1 Scattering vote
  3. ^ Includes 3 Scattering votes
  4. ^ Includes 2 Scattering votes
  5. ^ Karel's margin over Thompson
  6. ^ Includes 11 Scattering votes

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b Wisconsin Historical Society, Statement of Board of Canvassers of the State of Wisconsin for General Election held November 5, 1912
  4. ^ a b Industrial Commission (1913). "Governor". The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin. Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Co., State Printer. p. 260.

Bibliography

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  • 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.