1928 United States presidential election in Wisconsin

none June 2025 September 2023 1928 United States presidential election in Wisconsin Wisconsin 1913 presidential no 1924 United States presidential election in Wisconsin 1924 1932 United States presidential election in Wisconsin 1932 November 6, 1928 200x200px Herbert Hoover - NARA - 532049.jpg Herbert Hoover Republican Party (United States) California Charles Curtis 13 544,205 53.52% Unsuccessful 1928.jpg Al Smith Democratic Party (United States) New York Joseph T. Robinson 0 450,259 44.28% 1928 United States presidential election in Wisconsin results map by county.svg 300px County results Hoover #f2b3be 40–50% #e27f90 50–60% #cc2f4a 60–70% #d40000 70–80% Smith #b9d7ff 40–50% #86b6f2 50–60% #4389e3 60–70% #1666cb 70–80% President Calvin Coolidge Republican Party (United States) Herbert Hoover Republican Party (United States) The 1928 United States presidential election in Wisconsin was held on November 6, 1928, as part of the 1928 United States presidential election. State voters chose 13 electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president. Wisconsin had since the decline of the Populist movement been substantially a one-party state 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 entirely uncompetitive outside certain German Catholic counties adjoining Lake Michigan as the upper classes, along with the majority of workers who followed them, completely 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 As Democratic strength weakened severely after 1894 – 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 The beginning of the 1910s would see a minor Democratic revival as many La Follette progressives endorsed Woodrow Wilson,Crews, Kenneth D.; 'Woodrow Wilson, Wisconsin, and the Election of 1912'; Presidential Studies Quarterly, Vol. 12, No. 3: 'Presidents, Vice Presidents and Political Parties: Performance and Prospects' (Summer, 1982), pp. 369-376 but this flirtation would not be long-lasting as Wilson's "Anglophile" foreign policies were severely opposed by Wisconsin's largely German- and Scandinavian-American populace.Leary, William M. (jr.); 'Woodrow Wilson, Irish Americans, and the Election of 1916'; The Journal of American History, Vol. 54, No. 1 (June 1967), pp. 57-72 Subsequent federal elections saw the Midwest desert the Democratic Party even more completely due to supposed preferential treatment of Southern farmers,Morello, John A.; Albert D. Lasker, Advertising, and the Election of Warren G. Harding, p. 64 0275970302 and in 1920 Wisconsin's status as a one-party Republican state was solidified as James M. Cox won less than a sixth of the state's presidential vote and Democrats claimed only four state legislative seats, all but one of which would be lost in 1922. Conservative Southern Democrat John W. Davis would do even worse, winning less than one-twelfth of Wisconsin's 1924 presidential vote, and there would never be more than two Democrats in the state legislature between 1922 and 1928. Nonetheless, in that 1924 election Wisconsin's popular long-time Republican Senator La Follette would via prevalent isolationist and progressive sentiment carry the state's electoral votes, and when La Follette died the following year his family did not endorse a Republican, but rather New York City Catholic Democrat Al Smith.Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, p. 59 0786422173 The nomination of Smith – inevitable with other Democrats sitting the election outWarren, Kenneth F.; Encyclopedia of U.S. campaigns, elections, and electoral behavior: A-M, Volume 1, p. 620 1412954894 – aligned the Democrats towards Wisconsin's sizeable Southern and Eastern European immigrant population, and Smith's Wall Street connections helped reconnect the isolationist, conservative German Catholic areas of eastern Wisconsin who had completely deserted the Democrats over opposition to Wilson's foreign policies.Baggaley, Andrew R.; 'Religious Influence on Wisconsin Voting, 1928-1960'; The American Political Science Review, Vol. 56, No. 1 (March 1962), pp. 66-70 When Senator John J. Blaine endorsed Smith in late September,'La Follette Chief Out Against Hoover: Senator Blaine Say No Republican Owes Allegiance to Him'; The New York Times, September 24, 1928 it became clear that La Follette's endorsement of him had been shared by other prominent Progressives,'Party Lines Fade in Wisconsin: Straight Ticket Is Non-Existent in the Criss-Cross of Politics. Betting Even on the State but Odds Should Be Given on Smith, the Republicans Say' despite his son urging that sides not be taken.'La Follette Shuns Aid to Either Party: Principles Forced Into Campaign by Progressives Are Only Hope of People, He Declares'; The New York Times, October 27, 1928, p. 9 Polls in October, after both candidates had campaigned in the state, viewed Wisconsin as close but leaning toward Smith. However, when the polls closed, it became clear Hoover was showing greater strength than expected even in the pro-Catholic eastern region,'Wisconsin Starts Hoover with Lead: Republican Shows Strength in Smith Territory'; Daily Boston Globe; and when returns from Milwaukee came in later Smith did not receive the projected two-to-one majority. Hoover thus carried Wisconsin by a comfortable 9.24 percentage point margin, still a remarkable transformation from 1920 when the state had been Cox's weakest and Harding won by over 55 percentage points. Smith recouped the Third Party System Democratic counties: in entirely Catholic Marshfield Township which typically gave pre-1916 Democrats over ninety percent but gave Cox only 4 percent, Smith won all but two percent. Hoover's ability to take the La Follette vote in anti-Catholic Scandinavian areas of western Wisconsin was critical in winning him the state. 2024 11 As of 2024, this is the last election in which Douglas County voted for a Republican presidential candidate.Sullivan, Robert David; 'How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century'; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016 Results 1928 United States presidential election in WisconsinWisconsin Historical Society, Certificate of Board of State Canvassers Relative to Presidential Electors - November 6, 1928The Wisconsin Blue Book 1929 State Printing Board Summary Vote For President Madison, Wisconsin 815 https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AVXBBLDIOJOQ268I/full/AH4XXCTA3RO2XB82PartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes Republican Herbert Hoover 544,205 53.52% 13 Democratic Al Smith 450,259 44.28% 0 Socialist Norman Thomas 18,213 1.79% 0 Prohibition William F. Varney 2,245 0.22% 0 Independent Workers William Z. Foster 1,528 0.15% 0 Independent Labor Verne L. Reynolds 381 0.04% 0 Write-in ScatteringThe Scattering votes are not listed directly by county in the 1929 Blue Book, but they are included in the total vote per county. Thus, the breakdown of the Scattering vote can easily be deduced. The Board of Canvassers report shows the Scattering vote in its own column, separate from the total vote. 41 0.00% 0 Totals 1,016,872 100.00% 13 Results by county County Herbert HooverRepublican Al SmithDemocratic Norman ThomasSocialist Other candidatesVarious parties Margin Total votescast # % # % # % # % # %Adams1,62462.95%91435.43%240.93%180.70%71027.52%2,580Ashland3,63949.35%3,57048.41%951.29%700.95%690.94%7,374Barron8,45571.98%3,18527.12%710.60%350.30%5,27044.87%11,746Bayfield3,27963.41%1,70933.05%490.95%1342.59%1,57030.36%5,171Brown9,37136.04%16,46563.32%1350.52%330.13%-7,094-27.28%26,004Buffalo3,02761.88%1,83637.53%110.22%180.37%1,19124.35%4,892Burnett2,74274.71%88023.98%310.84%170.46%1,86250.74%3,670Calumet2,40538.04%3,87161.22%350.55%120.19%-1,466-23.19%6,323Chippewa7,51455.41%5,98544.13%250.18%370.27%1,52911.27%13,561Clark6,94862.48%3,93835.41%1401.26%950.85%3,01027.07%11,121Columbia7,61560.70%4,81938.41%500.40%610.49%2,79622.29%12,545Crawford3,45251.18%3,23848.01%190.28%360.53%2143.17%6,745Dane23,68054.84%19,12644.29%2520.58%1260.29%4,55410.55%43,184Dodge9,66049.71%9,53649.07%1800.93%580.30%1240.64%19,434Door3,63659.28%2,45640.04%170.28%250.41%1,18019.24%6,134Douglas11,28061.20%6,76236.69%870.47%3031.64%4,51824.51%18,432Dunn7,09676.51%2,04522.05%520.56%810.87%5,05154.46%9,274Eau Claire10,07969.25%4,38530.13%490.34%420.29%5,69439.12%14,555Florence99364.27%54034.95%20.13%100.65%45329.32%1,545Fond du Lac12,59351.36%11,71947.80%1260.51%810.33%8743.56%24,519Forest1,91852.82%1,67746.19%130.36%230.63%2416.64%3,631Grant10,05259.85%6,63039.48%370.22%750.45%3,42220.38%16,794Green5,15264.18%2,81235.03%310.39%320.40%2,34029.15%8,027Green Lake3,03853.15%2,62245.87%260.45%300.52%4167.28%5,716Iowa5,48463.26%3,12936.09%200.23%360.42%2,35527.17%8,669Iron1,27440.68%1,72455.04%160.51%1183.77%-450-14.37%3,132Jackson4,35375.17%1,36423.55%220.38%520.90%2,98951.61%5,791Jefferson8,61257.28%6,30541.94%760.51%410.27%2,30715.35%15,034Juneau3,77757.74%2,70841.40%340.52%220.34%1,06916.34%6,541Kenosha11,33050.66%10,63847.57%2761.23%1190.53%6923.09%22,363Kewaunee1,55627.94%3,98871.61%110.20%140.25%-2,432-43.67%5,569La Crosse11,32155.78%8,87743.74%380.19%590.29%2,44412.04%20,295Lafayette5,13458.53%3,58540.87%160.18%360.41%1,54917.66%8,771Langlade3,71547.15%4,07851.76%450.57%410.52%-363-4.61%7,879Lincoln4,02556.06%3,09143.05%280.39%360.50%93413.01%7,180Manitowoc7,51941.70%10,29257.08%1720.95%490.27%-2,773-15.38%18,032Marathon10,12748.02%10,67550.61%2211.05%680.32%-548-2.60%21,091Marinette6,51657.04%4,78141.85%960.84%310.27%1,73515.19%11,424Marquette2,55465.44%1,31333.64%150.38%210.54%1,24131.80%3,903Milwaukee82,02539.77%110,66853.66%12,9346.27%6100.30%-28,643-13.89%206,237Monroe5,93660.83%3,70938.01%590.60%550.56%2,22722.82%9,759Oconto4,66151.91%4,25347.37%280.31%370.41%4084.54%8,979Oneida3,10054.32%2,50443.88%751.31%280.49%59610.44%5,707Outagamie12,37849.58%12,47449.96%650.26%500.20%-96-0.38%24,967Ozaukee2,33837.16%3,86461.41%701.11%200.32%-1,526-24.25%6,292Pepin1,83958.57%1,27640.64%160.51%90.29%56317.93%3,140Pierce6,49167.65%3,01731.44%510.53%360.38%3,47436.21%9,595Polk6,90575.14%2,17723.69%760.83%320.35%4,72851.45%9,190Portage5,16143.03%6,76456.39%360.30%340.28%-1,603-13.36%11,995Price3,21057.92%2,22340.11%480.87%611.10%98717.81%5,542Racine17,42356.56%13,02142.27%2580.84%1040.34%4,40214.29%30,806Richland5,68570.87%2,26228.20%320.40%430.54%3,42342.67%8,022Rock21,49770.75%8,72628.72%810.27%800.26%12,77142.03%30,384Rusk3,52463.62%1,92534.75%510.92%390.70%1,59928.87%5,539Sauk7,49658.89%5,15140.47%350.27%470.37%2,34518.42%12,729Sawyer1,88261.44%1,12936.86%290.95%230.75%75324.58%3,063Shawano5,19857.34%3,77941.69%520.57%360.40%1,41915.65%9,065Sheboygan12,64051.17%11,43946.31%5352.17%870.35%1,2014.86%24,701St. Croix6,85562.16%4,08337.02%560.51%340.31%2,77225.14%11,028Taylor2,64854.61%2,09543.20%881.81%180.37%55311.40%4,849Trempealeau5,59664.96%2,96334.40%160.19%390.45%2,63330.57%8,614Vernon6,59671.28%2,55927.65%350.38%640.69%4,03743.62%9,254Vilas1,60958.11%1,08339.11%461.66%311.12%52619.00%2,769Walworth9,84669.36%4,25329.96%450.32%520.37%5,59339.40%14,196Washburn2,89870.03%1,19228.81%360.87%120.29%1,70641.23%4,138Washington4,16341.13%5,82757.57%1151.14%170.17%-1,664-16.44%10,122Waukesha12,21860.15%7,84638.63%1680.83%790.39%4,37221.53%20,311Waupaca8,92872.32%3,30726.79%680.55%420.34%5,62145.53%12,345Waushara4,06875.42%1,26023.36%340.63%320.59%2,80852.06%5,394Winnebago16,19161.10%9,99537.72%2010.76%1140.43%6,19623.38%26,501Wood6,65551.24%6,16747.48%1311.01%350.27%4883.76%12,988Totals544,20553.52%450,25944.28%18,2131.79%4,1950.41%93,9469.24%1,016,872 Counties that flipped from Progressive to Republican 18em Adams Ashland Barron Bayfield Buffalo Burnett Chippewa Clark Columbia Crawford Dane Dodge Door Douglas Dunn Eau Claire Fond du Lac Forest Grant Green Green Lake Iowa Jackson Jefferson Juneau La Crosse Lafayette Lincoln Marquette Monroe Oconto Oneida Pierce Polk Price Rusk Sauk Sawyer Shawano Sheboygan St. Croix Taylor Trempealeau Vernon Vilas Washburn Waupaca Waushara Wood Counties that flipped from Progressive to Democratic 18em Brown Calumet Iron Kewaunee Langlade Manitowoc Marathon Milwaukee Outagamie Ozaukee Portage Washington Electors Starting with this election, voters in Wisconsin no longer chose presidential electors directly. For the 1928 election, Wisconsin adopted the modern "short ballot" whereby one votes for the presidential candidates by name with the understanding that a vote for a candidate is a vote for that party's entire slate of electors. These were the names of the electors for each ticket in 1928. Herbert Hoover & Charles CurtisRepublican Party Al Smith & Joseph T. RobinsonDemocratic Party Norman Thomas & James H. MaurerSocialist Party William F. Varney & James A. EdgertonProhibition Party William Z. Foster & Benjamin GitlowWorkers PartyThe Workers ticket had only two electors Verne L. Reynolds & Jeremiah D. CrowleySocialist Labor PartyThe Socialist Labor ticket had only four electors text-align:center Edward L. Kelley Frederick H. Clausen J. J. Phoenix Robert Caldwell W. H. Doyle George S. Meredith James T. Drought Charles Hitchcock Frank Sisson George W. Mead Fred Felix Wettengel Herman T. Lange Theodore Whiprude text-align:center Gertrude Bowler Nathan Glicksman Lewis G. Brown Frank W. Bucklin John W. McGonigle August F. Kringle Max Hottelet Herman A. Michler Albert Wolf Charles Fara Carl Riggins Ferris W. White Henry Wachsmuth Sr. text-align:center Victor L. BergerHad Thomas won the state, Berger would have been disqualified as an elector due to being a sitting member of the United States House of Representatives. However, Berger simultaneously lost reelection in 1928 so he could have subsequently resigned prior to the end of his term to maintain eligibility as a presidential elector. Daniel W. Hoan Samuel Sherman Ada Burow F. S. Collins Augusta Melms Bertha Ramsthal Edward C. Damrow Louis T. Zeisler H. E. Clawson Lison Watson Peter Gilles Charles Kingston text-align:center Alexander McEathron Isaac A. Travis Alice G. Ford John Mansfield Jane H. Robinson L. A. Willis John E. Clayton A. F. Collins Mrs. L. H. Luhrsen Ella T. Sanford John H. Mallock Otto D. Kahl Annie P. Kerswill text-align:center Joe Polin Walter Harju text-align:center Alice Gradijan P. J. Pacovsky Charles Ehrhardt Angel Angelhoff See also United States presidential elections in Wisconsin Notes References 60em Wisconsin 1928 Category:1928 Wisconsin elections