1922 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

The 1922 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1922.

1922 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

← 1920 November 7, 1922 1924 →

Nominee John J. Blaine Arthur A. Bentley Louis A. Arnold Party Republican Independent Democrat Socialist Popular vote 367,929 51,061 39,570 Percentage 76.36% 10.60% 8.21%

County results Blaine:      50–60%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100%

Governor before election John J. Blaine Republican Elected Governor John J. Blaine Republican

Incumbent Republican Governor John J. Blaine won re-election to a second term, defeating Democratic nominee Arthur A. Bentley and Socialist nominee Louis A. Arnold.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 5, 1922.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Arthur A. Bentley, mayor of La Crosse,^[1] Democratic nominee for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district in 1918
• Karl Mathie, paper manufacturer,^[2] former president of the Friends of German Democracy^[3]

Results

Democratic primary results^[4][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Arthur A. Bentley	10,313	54.57
	Democratic	Karl Mathie	8,584	45.43
Total votes			18,897	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• John J. Blaine, incumbent Governor
• A. C. McHenry, unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 1920
• William J. Morgan, incumbent Attorney General of Wisconsin

Results

Republican primary results^[4][6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John J. Blaine (incumbent)	336,453	67.22
	Republican	William J. Morgan	147,379	29.44
	Republican	A. C. McHenry	16,716	3.34
Total votes			500,548	100.00

Socialist primary

Candidates

• Louis A. Arnold, Tax Commissioner of Milwaukee

Results

Socialist primary results^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Socialist	Louis A. Arnold	17,375	100.00
Total votes			17,375	100.00

Prohibition primary

Candidates

• M. L. Welles

Results

Prohibition primary results^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Prohibition	M. L. Welles	1,520	100.00
Total votes			1,520	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• John J. Blaine, Republican
• Arthur A. Bentley, Independent Democrat

The Democratic Party was forced to run candidates as independents, as they were not recognized as a legal party due to failing to poll the required number of votes in the primary election.^[7][8]

Other candidates

• M. L. Welles, Prohibition
• Louis A. Arnold, Socialist
• Arthur A. Dietrich, Independent Socialist Labor

Results

1922 Wisconsin gubernatorial election^{[9][10][11][12]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John J. Blaine (incumbent)	367,929	76.36%
	Independent Democrat	Arthur A. Bentley	51,061	10.60%
	Socialist	Louis A. Arnold	39,570	8.21%
	Prohibition	M. L. Welles	21,438	4.45%
	Independent Socialist Labor	Arthur A. Dietrich	1,444	0.30%
	Scattering		386	0.08%
Majority			316,868	65.76%
Turnout			481,828	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. "Photographers of Fargo - Exhibition - A. A. Bentley". Institute for Regional Studies, North Dakota State University. 2001.
2. "Karl Mathie: Leader in Paper Manufacturing in Wisconsin Dies on Coast". New York Times. New York, NY. December 10, 1938. p. 17. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
3. "Democrats Hold State Meeting". Wausau pilot. Wausau, Wis. June 29, 1922. p. 3. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
4. Wisconsin Blue Book 1923, p. 501.
5. "WI Governor, 1922 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
6. "WI Governor, 1922 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
7. Nichols, John (Summer 2020). "Daniel Webster-Hoan: The Socialist Mayor Who Jump-started Wisconsin's Modern Democratic Party". Wisconsin Magazine of History. 103 (4). Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Historical Society: 4–17. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
8. "The State Candidates". Vernon County censor. Viroqua, Wis. October 11, 1922. p. 5. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
9. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 87.
10. "WI Governor, 1922". Our Campaigns. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
11. Wisconsin Blue Book 1923, p. 565.
12. "La Follette wins by 278,552 votes". Vernon County censor. Viroqua, Wis. December 6, 1922. p. 3. Retrieved July 11, 2021.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
• The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1923. 1923.