1954 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

The 1954 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1954.

1954 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

← 1952 November 2, 1954 1956 →

Nominee Walter J. Kohler Jr. William Proxmire Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 596,158 560,747 Percentage 51.45% 48.40%

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

Governor before election Walter J. Kohler Jr. Republican Elected Governor Walter J. Kohler Jr. Republican

Incumbent Republican Governor Walter J. Kohler Jr. defeated Democratic nominee William Proxmire in a rematch of the 1952 election with 51.45% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 14, 1954.^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• James Edward Doyle, former Chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party^[2]
• William Proxmire, Democratic nominee for Governor in 1952

Results

Democratic primary results^[3][4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William Proxmire	141,548	62.43
	Democratic	James Edward Doyle	85,187	37.57
Total votes			226,735	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Walter J. Kohler Jr., incumbent Governor

Results

Republican primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Walter J. Kohler Jr. (incumbent)	331,006	100.00
Total votes			331,006	100.00

General election

Candidates

• William Proxmire, Democratic
• Walter J. Kohler Jr., Republican
• Arthur Wepfer, Socialist Labor

Results

1954 Wisconsin gubernatorial election^[5][6][7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Walter J. Kohler Jr. (incumbent)	596,158	51.45%
	Democratic	William Proxmire	560,747	48.40%
	Socialist Labor	Arthur Wepfer	1,722	0.15%
	Scattering		39	0.00%
Majority			35,411	3.05%
Turnout			1,158,666	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. "Table IV. 1954 Elections". Voting Information. Washington, D.C.: Prepared by Office of Armed Forces Information & Education, Department of Defense. April 1954. pp. 99–101. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
2. "Doyle funeral Saturday". Wausau Daily Herald. Wausau, Wisconsin. April 2, 1987. p. 20. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
3. Wisconsin Blue Book 1956, p. 702.
4. "WI Governor, 1954 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
5. Wisconsin Blue Book 1956, p. 746.
6. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 87.
7. "WI Governor, 1954". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 8, 2020.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
• Toepel, M. J.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1956). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1956. State of Wisconsin.