1948 United States presidential election in Wisconsin

none June 2025 September 2023 1948 United States presidential election in Wisconsin Wisconsin 1913 presidential no 1944 United States presidential election in Wisconsin 1944 1952 United States presidential election in Wisconsin 1952 November 2, 1948 x200px Harry S Truman, bw half-length photo portrait, facing front, 1945 (cropped).jpg Harry S. Truman Democratic Party (United States) Missouri Alben W. Barkley 12 647,310 50.70% Thomas Dewey (3x4 crop).jpg Thomas E. Dewey Republican Party (United States) New York Earl Warren 0 590,959 46.28% 1948 United States presidential election in Wisconsin results map by county.svg 300px County results Truman #b9d7ff 40–50% #86b6f2 50–60% #4389e3 60–70% Dewey #f2b3be 40–50% #e27f90 50–60% #cc2f4a 60–70% President Harry S. Truman Democratic Party (United States) Harry S. Truman Democratic Party (United States) The 1948 United States presidential election in Wisconsin was held on November 2, 1948, as part of the 1948 United States presidential election. State voters chose 12 electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president. Politics in Wisconsin since the Populist movement had been dominated by the Republican Party.Burnham, Walter Dean; 'The System of 1896: An Analysis'; in The Evolution of American Electoral Systems, pp. 178-179 0313213798 The Democratic Party became uncompetitive outside certain eastern German areas as the upper classes, along with the majority of workers who followed them, fled from William Jennings Bryan’s agrarian and free silver sympathies.Sundquist, James; Politics and Policy: The Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson Years, p. 526 0815719094 Although the state did develop a strong Socialist Party to provide opposition to the GOP, Wisconsin developed the direct Republican primary in 1903 and this ultimately created competition between the “League” under Robert M. La Follette, and the conservative “Regular” faction.Hansen, John Mark; Shigeo Hirano, and Snyder, James M. Jr.; ‘Parties within Parties: Parties, Factions, and Coordinated Politics, 1900-1980’; in Gerber, Alan S. and Schickler, Eric; Governing in a Polarized Age: Elections, Parties, and Political Representation in America, pp. 165-168 978-1-107-09509-0 This ultimately would develop into the Wisconsin Progressive Party in the late 1930s, which was opposed to the conservative German Democrats and to the national Republican Party, and allied with Franklin D. Roosevelt at the federal level. During the two wartime elections, the formerly Democratic German counties in the east of the state – which had been powerfully opposed to the Civil War because they saw it as a “Yankee” war and opposed the military draft instituted during itPhillips, Kevin P.; The Emerging Republican Majority, pp. 381-382, 414 978-0-691-16324-6 – viewed Communism as a much greater threat to America than Nazism and consequently opposed President Roosevelt's war effort.Phillips; The Emerging Republican Majority, pp. 387-388 Consequently, these historically Democratic counties became virtually the most Republican in the entire state, and the two wartime elections were very close after Roosevelt had in 1932 and 1936, aided by the support of Robert M. La Follette Jr., carried Wisconsin by more than two-to-one. As the Progressive Party disintegrated and its members returned to the GOP, that party regained its hegemony in the state legislature and Congressional representation, so that by 1946 Wisconsin had an entirely Republican Congressional delegation for the first time since the 71st Congress, and the Democrats’ representation in the state legislature fell as low as it had been since that same point. Although the state's Republican presidential primary went to Harold E. Stassen of neighboring Minnesota, the earliest polls had second-time nominee Thomas E. Dewey well ahead of incumbent Harry S. Truman.Gallup, George; ‘Dewey Barely Won Wisconsin In '44; It's in the Bag Today: Dewey to Fore In Wisconsin’; The Washington Post, September 25, 1948, p. 1 A final poll on the first day of November had Dewey leading by 56 percent to 41 percent, with “People’s Progressive” nominee and former Vice-president Henry A. Wallace on three percent.Gallup, George; ‘Final Poll Gives Dewey 49.5%, Truman 44.5% of Popular Vote’; The Washington Post, November 1, 1948, p. 1 Nonetheless, as he achieved elsewhere in the Midwest, Truman made a major comeback to claim Wisconsin by a larger margin than Roosevelt had done in 1940. His victory was attributed to the fact that Dewey, compared to 1944, soft-pedalled the issue of communism,Fried, Richard M.; ‘“Operation Polecat”: Thomas E. Dewey, the 1948 Election, and the Origins of McCarthyism’; Journal of Policy History, Vol. 22, Issue 1, (January 2010), pp. 1-22 to the fact that a large number of isolationist voters who had been responsible for the dramatic Republican presidential gains earlier in the decade stayed home, and to fear of loss of New Deal farm programs if Dewey were elected.Phillips; The Emerging Republican Majority, p. 431 Henry Wallace's candidacy, of which much had been expected due to the state's isolationism, disappointed, receiving only 1.98 percent of the vote mostly from historically progressive Scandinavian-Americans,Phillips; The Emerging Republican Majority, p. 433 further helping Truman. Results 1948 United States presidential election in WisconsinWisconsin Historical Society, Statement of Board of State Canvassers for President, Vice President and Presidential Electors - General Election - 1948The Wisconsin Blue Book 1950 Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library Vote For President By Counties Madison, Wisconsin 746 https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/ACKSBXV5IMWXXJ8I/full/AJVGP44DJO7BB38IPartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes Democratic Harry S. Truman (incumbent) 647,310 50.70% 12 Republican Thomas E. Dewey 590,959 46.28% 0 People's Progressive Henry A. Wallace 25,282 1.98% 0 Socialist Norman Thomas 12,547 0.98% 0 Independent Socialist Labor Edward A. Teichert 399 0.03% 0 Independent Socialist Workers Farrell Dobbs 303 0.02% 0 Totals 1,276,800 100.00% 12 Results by county County Harry S. TrumanDemocratic Thomas E. DeweyRepublican Henry A. WallaceProgressive Norman ThomasSocialist Other candidatesVarious parties Margin Total votescast # % # % # % # % # % # % Adams 1,419 51.39% 1,259 45.60% 70 2.54% 10 0.36% 3 0.11% 160 5.80% 2,761 Ashland 4,110 54.73% 3,135 41.75% 234 3.12% 28 0.37% 2 0.03% 975 12.98% 7,509 Barron 6,148 51.17% 5,516 45.91% 286 2.38% 66 0.55% 0 0.00% 632 5.26% 12,016 Bayfield 3,081 52.80% 2,338 40.07% 392 6.72% 24 0.41% 0 0.00% 743 12.73% 5,835 Brown 18,449 50.47% 17,729 48.50% 243 0.66% 121 0.33% 16 0.04% 720 1.97% 36,558 Buffalo 2,563 51.33% 2,350 47.07% 48 0.96% 31 0.62% 1 0.02% 213 4.27% 4,993 Burnett 2,177 55.83% 1,590 40.78% 120 3.08% 8 0.21% 4 0.10% 587 15.06% 3,899 Calumet 2,662 38.53% 4,185 60.57% 32 0.46% 27 0.39% 3 0.04% -1,523 -22.04% 6,909 Chippewa 7,702 54.62% 6,146 43.58% 210 1.49% 41 0.29% 3 0.02% 1,556 11.03% 14,102 Clark 4,840 43.31% 5,885 52.66% 382 3.42% 64 0.57% 4 0.04% -1,045 -9.35% 11,175 Columbia 5,615 46.14% 6,406 52.64% 104 0.85% 42 0.35% 2 0.02% -791 -6.50% 12,169 Crawford 3,639 50.65% 3,465 48.23% 55 0.77% 18 0.25% 8 0.11% 174 2.42% 7,185 Dane 35,486 58.50% 22,934 37.80% 1,341 2.21% 870 1.43% 33 0.05% 12,552 20.69% 60,664 Dodge 8,212 43.59% 10,381 55.11% 160 0.85% 78 0.41% 7 0.04% -2,169 -11.51% 18,838 Door 2,440 32.71% 4,911 65.84% 90 1.21% 18 0.24% 0 0.00% -2,471 -33.13% 7,459 Douglas 12,278 63.79% 6,252 32.48% 620 3.22% 94 0.49% 4 0.02% 6,026 31.31% 19,248 Dunn 4,894 52.16% 4,319 46.03% 131 1.40% 33 0.35% 5 0.05% 575 6.13% 9,382 Eau Claire 9,971 55.27% 7,825 43.37% 178 0.99% 67 0.37% 1 0.01% 2,146 11.89% 18,042 Florence 885 50.34% 756 43.00% 107 6.09% 9 0.51% 1 0.06% 129 7.34% 1,758 Fond du Lac 8,904 38.57% 13,760 59.61% 283 1.23% 126 0.55% 10 0.04% -4,856 -21.04% 23,083 Forest 2,208 61.97% 1,251 35.11% 89 2.50% 10 0.28% 5 0.14% 957 26.86% 3,563 Grant 6,575 43.57% 8,299 55.00% 125 0.83% 87 0.58% 3 0.02% -1,724 -11.43% 15,089 Green 3,881 46.21% 4,403 52.43% 68 0.81% 45 0.54% 1 0.01% -522 -6.22% 8,398 Green Lake 1,722 30.06% 3,939 68.76% 50 0.87% 17 0.30% 1 0.02% -2,217 -38.70% 5,729 Iowa 3,917 50.26% 3,745 48.05% 100 1.28% 31 0.40% 1 0.01% 172 2.21% 7,794 Iron 2,665 63.32% 1,281 30.43% 240 5.70% 21 0.50% 2 0.05% 1,384 32.88% 4,209 Jackson 2,921 52.51% 2,553 45.89% 63 1.13% 25 0.45% 1 0.02% 368 6.62% 5,563 Jefferson 7,256 46.13% 8,244 52.42% 151 0.96% 75 0.48% 2 0.01% -988 -6.28% 15,728 Juneau 2,889 42.43% 3,793 55.71% 99 1.45% 28 0.41% 0 0.00% -904 -13.28% 6,809 Kenosha 17,987 56.02% 12,780 39.80% 1,046 3.26% 281 0.88% 15 0.05% 5,207 16.22% 32,109 Kewaunee 2,746 42.39% 3,646 56.28% 64 0.99% 15 0.23% 7 0.11% -900 -13.89% 6,478 La Crosse 12,345 53.07% 10,525 45.25% 299 1.29% 86 0.37% 5 0.02% 1,820 7.82% 23,260 Lafayette 3,740 52.65% 3,288 46.28% 55 0.77% 19 0.27% 2 0.03% 452 6.36% 7,104 Langlade 4,346 53.78% 3,441 42.58% 275 3.40% 18 0.22% 1 0.01% 905 11.20% 8,081 Lincoln 3,368 42.67% 4,339 54.97% 140 1.77% 37 0.47% 10 0.13% -971 -12.30% 7,894 Manitowoc 13,401 53.90% 10,947 44.03% 355 1.43% 150 0.60% 10 0.04% 2,454 9.87% 24,863 Marathon 15,898 56.62% 11,494 40.93% 368 1.31% 310 1.10% 9 0.03% 4,404 15.68% 28,079 Marinette 6,468 51.48% 5,869 46.71% 169 1.35% 56 0.45% 3 0.02% 599 4.77% 12,565 Marquette 1,095 34.59% 2,033 64.21% 24 0.76% 14 0.44% 0 0.00% -938 -29.63% 3,166 Milwaukee 187,637 54.72% 138,672 40.44% 9,718 2.83% 6,521 1.90% 362 0.11% 48,965 14.28% 342,910 Monroe 4,970 47.38% 5,347 50.97% 113 1.08% 59 0.56% 1 0.01% -377 -3.59% 10,490 Oconto 4,269 46.17% 4,865 52.61% 68 0.74% 44 0.48% 1 0.01% -596 -6.45% 9,247 Oneida 4,081 50.92% 3,729 46.53% 151 1.88% 46 0.57% 8 0.10% 352 4.39% 8,015 Outagamie 11,233 40.59% 16,161 58.40% 151 0.55% 119 0.43% 8 0.03% -4,928 -17.81% 27,672 Ozaukee 4,159 45.17% 4,866 52.85% 123 1.34% 59 0.64% 1 0.01% -707 -7.68% 9,208 Pepin 1,381 49.96% 1,333 48.23% 36 1.30% 14 0.51% 0 0.00% 48 1.74% 2,764 Pierce 4,395 52.91% 3,753 45.18% 121 1.46% 36 0.43% 1 0.01% 642 7.73% 8,306 Polk 5,330 55.68% 3,974 41.52% 216 2.26% 50 0.52% 2 0.02% 1,356 14.17% 9,572 Portage 8,154 59.13% 5,424 39.33% 134 0.97% 71 0.51% 8 0.06% 2,730 19.80% 13,791 Price 3,373 49.71% 2,952 43.51% 415 6.12% 41 0.60% 4 0.06% 421 6.20% 6,785 Racine 23,266 53.12% 19,029 43.45% 1,165 2.66% 329 0.75% 8 0.02% 4,237 9.67% 43,797 Richland 2,990 43.30% 3,836 55.55% 60 0.87% 17 0.25% 3 0.04% -846 -12.25% 6,906 Rock 16,150 47.93% 17,068 50.66% 297 0.88% 167 0.50% 10 0.03% -918 -2.72% 33,692 Rusk 3,401 54.51% 2,623 42.04% 187 3.00% 26 0.42% 2 0.03% 778 12.47% 6,239 Sauk 5,831 43.82% 7,140 53.66% 130 0.98% 197 1.48% 9 0.07% -1,309 -9.84% 13,307 Sawyer 2,177 47.75% 2,257 49.51% 100 2.19% 25 0.55% 0 0.00% -80 -1.75% 4,559 Shawano 4,192 39.33% 6,286 58.97% 136 1.28% 45 0.42% 0 0.00% -2,094 -19.65% 10,659 Sheboygan 15,339 53.00% 12,459 43.05% 692 2.39% 431 1.49% 21 0.07% 2,880 9.95% 28,942 St. Croix 6,173 57.69% 4,326 40.43% 154 1.44% 48 0.45% 0 0.00% 1,847 17.26% 10,701 Taylor 3,184 51.99% 2,579 42.11% 200 3.27% 159 2.60% 2 0.03% 605 9.88% 6,124 Trempealeau 4,711 55.67% 3,650 43.13% 74 0.87% 23 0.27% 5 0.06% 1,061 12.54% 8,463 Vernon 5,226 55.18% 4,139 43.71% 75 0.79% 24 0.25% 6 0.06% 1,087 11.48% 9,470 Vilas 1,688 36.93% 2,665 58.30% 169 3.70% 39 0.85% 10 0.22% -977 -21.37% 4,571 Walworth 5,377 33.29% 10,509 65.07% 170 1.05% 94 0.58% 1 0.01% -5,132 -31.78% 16,151 Washburn 2,708 54.98% 2,059 41.81% 131 2.66% 23 0.47% 4 0.08% 649 13.18% 4,925 Washington 4,495 38.87% 6,876 59.46% 127 1.10% 64 0.55% 3 0.03% -2,381 -20.59% 11,565 Waukesha 13,952 43.67% 17,324 54.22% 400 1.25% 260 0.81% 14 0.04% -3,372 -10.55% 31,950 Waupaca 4,020 30.97% 8,764 67.51% 132 1.02% 64 0.49% 2 0.02% -4,744 -36.54% 12,982 Waushara 1,430 27.69% 3,594 69.60% 110 2.13% 28 0.54% 2 0.04% -2,164 -41.91% 5,164 Winnebago 13,116 42.16% 17,165 55.18% 536 1.72% 278 0.89% 15 0.05% -4,049 -13.02% 31,110 Wood 7,999 49.23% 8,073 49.69% 125 0.77% 46 0.28% 4 0.02% -74 -0.46% 16,247Totals647,31050.70%590,95946.28%25,2821.98%12,5470.98%7020.05%56,3514.41%1,276,800 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic 20em Adams Barron Brown Buffalo Burnett Chippewa Crawford Dunn Eau Claire Iowa Jackson La Crosse Lafayette Manitowoc Marathon Marinette Pepin Pierce Polk Sheboygan St. Croix Trempealeau Vernon Washburn Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Vilas Electors These were the names of the electors on each ticket. Harry S. Truman & Alben W. BarkleyDemocratic Party Thomas E. Dewey & Earl WarrenRepublican Party Henry A. Wallace & Glen H. TaylorProgressive Party Norman Thomas & Tucker P. SmithSocialist Party Edward A. Teichert & Stephen EmerySocialist Labor Party Farrell Dobbs & Grace CarlsonSocialist Workers Party text-align:center Carl W. Thompson Anthony P. Gawronski Elmer Beck Charles W. Henney William D. Carroll John Mierzejewski Thomas E. Fairchild Arthur H. Gruenewald Clayton Crooks William C. Sullivan Arthur L. Henning George F. Meyer text-align:center Harvey V. Higley Walter J. Kohler Jr. Edward F. Hilker Frank E. Panzer Donald C. McDowell Roy R. Stauff Joseph F. Heil George Greeley Julius Spearbraker Lloyd R. Watson Norris J. Kellman Folke Becker text-align:center Alex Y. Wallace Lawrence Grab Cecile Lund Alex J. McCulloch Mary P. Samb Edmund V. Bobrowicz M. Michael Essin Harold H. Priebe Emil Muelver Oliver J. Rasmussen Linton Jahr Henry J. Berquist text-align:center Frank P. Zeidler Ruth Hart William Cote Lea Heine Ethel Dahir Allen Wilson Stanley Budny William J. Kirst Clarence Mielke Fred Kesting Nina Mae Gold Robert Suter text-align:center Frank Brlas Jr. Artemio Cozzini Marko Golubich Matthew Karlovich Samuel Munek Louis Myler Rudolph Prosen Phillip Purdoff Sebastian Rack Ferdinand Schnarsky Walter Semrau Amos Wagner text-align:center Earl M. Boulton Helen G. Boulton James E. Boulton Lily B. Boulton Shirley Conell Robert E. Durkin George W. Golubeff Roman Hermann Lula R. Johnson Loretta M. Kranski Francis X. Shepherd Raymond C. Shepherd See also United States presidential elections in Wisconsin References 60em Wisconsin 1948 Category:1948 Wisconsin elections