1940 United States presidential election in Wisconsin

none June 2025 September 2023 1940 United States presidential election in Wisconsin Wisconsin 1913 presidential no 1936 United States presidential election in Wisconsin 1936 1944 United States presidential election in Wisconsin 1944 November 5, 1940 x200px FDRoosevelt1938.png Franklin D. Roosevelt Democratic Party (United States) New Yorkhttps://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/votes/1941_1953.html#1940 U. S. Electoral College Archives.gov 2016-08-18 Henry A. Wallace 12 704,821 50.15% WendellWillkie.jpg Wendell Willkie Republican Party (United States) New York Charles L. McNary 0 679,206 48.32% 1940 United States presidential election in Wisconsin results map by county.svg 300px County results Roosevelt #b9d7ff 40–50% #86b6f2 50–60% #4389e3 60–70% Willkie #e27f90 50–60% #cc2f4a 60–70% #d40000 70–80% President Franklin D. Roosevelt Democratic Party (United States) Franklin D. Roosevelt Democratic Party (United States) The 1940 United States presidential election in Wisconsin was held on November 5, 1940, as part of the 1940 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 had been 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. In 1936, despite continuing Democratic gains in industrial and urban areas, German Catholic areas of Wisconsin gave substantial support to Union Party candidate William Lemke due to his support for rigid isolationism.Phillips, Kevin P.; The Emerging Republican Majority, pp. 387-388 978-0-691-16324-6 When the next presidential election came, the Progressive Party had lost ground in 1938 but World War II had divided the country deeply on ethnic lines. Germans – especially German Catholics – and Irish Catholics believed Communism in the shape of Stalinist Russia was a much greater danger to the United States than Nazism and that the United States should not aid Britain and France,Phillips; The Emerging Republican Majority, pp. 47, 159 whereas the British and French, bound by ties to their homeland, were strongly in favor of such aid. Republican nominee Willkie visited Wisconsin in his campaign in September, saying change was needed to make the American political system work.Hagery, James A.; ‘Willkie Demands Out System Stand: Change of Administration Is Needed to Save Democracy, He Says in Wisconsin “Must Make System Work”’; The New York Times, September 28, 1940, p. 1 By late September opinion polls suggested he had the edge over Roosevelt in the state.Grimes, W.H.; ‘Willkie’s Chances In Midwest: Editors Give Him Edge in Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana’; The Wall Street Journal, September 25, 1940, p. 1 Even as some other states of the Midwest moved towards President Roosevelt, Wisconsin was still seen as likely to go to Willkie as Senator Robert M. La Follette Jr. strongly opposed war aid to Britain and France.Catledge, Turner; ‘Wisconsin Trend Buck Roosevelt: Anti-War Feeling Is the Main Factor Involved – Betting Odds 11 to 10 for Willkie’; The New York Times, October 28, 1940, p. 8 A Gallup poll four days before voting showed Willkie still ahead but falling.Gallup, George; ‘The Gallup Poll: Willkie Gain in 3 States, but Roosevelt Reverses Trend in Michigan’; Daily Boston Globe, November 2, 1940, p. 1 In the end, however, unlike in Iowa, Michigan and Indiana, Roosevelt's gains proved enough to pass Willkie, and he carried Wisconsin, although by a massively reduced margin compared to 1932 and 1936. Whereas Alf Landon had carried only four of Wisconsin's seventy-one counties, Willkie carried forty-two. Most significantly, Willkie established the historically German “WOW counties” surrounding Milwaukee as reliable GOP strongholds that as of 2024 have not voted Democratic since except during Lyndon B. Johnson's landslide in 1964. Roosevelt's win was due to his seventy-eight-thousand vote plurality in Milwaukee County, and to maintaining his strength in the unionized, Scandinavian-American northwest. Several long bellwether streaks for Wisconsin counties were broken in this election. Most notably, this was the first time Green Lake ever voted for the losing candidate in Wisconsin. Other notable broken streaks include Iowa County voting for the statewide loser for the first time since 1864, Chippewa County voting for the statewide loser for the first time since 1880, and Shawano County voting for the statewide loser for the first time since 1884. This is the fourth most recent election in which Wisconsin voted for a different candidate than neighboring Iowa, a phenomenon that has only been repeated in 1976, 2004, and 2020. Results 1940 United States presidential election in WisconsinWisconsin Historical Society, Certificate of Board of State Canvassers Relative to Presidential Candidates and Presidential Electors - November 5, 1940The Wisconsin Blue Book 1942 Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library Summary Vote For President By Counties Madison, Wisconsin 654 https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AGPUOJWPI5SXM38W/full/AS7WNVLK33ZCLU8IPartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes Democratic Franklin D. Roosevelt (incumbent) 704,821 50.15% 12 Republican Wendell Willkie 679,206 48.32% 0 SocialistWas listed as "Independent Socialist" in Wisconsin Norman Thomas 15,071 1.07% 0 CommunistWas listed as "Independent Communist" in Wisconsin Earl R. Browder 2,394 0.17% 0 ProhibitionWas listed as "Independent Prohibition" in Wisconsin Roger W. Babson 2,148 0.15% 0 Socialist LaborWas listed as "Independent Socialist Labor" in Wisconsin John W. Aiken 1,882 0.13% 0 Write-in ScatteringThe Scattering votes are not listed in the 1942 Blue Book 18 0.00% 0 Totals 1,405,540 100.00% 12 Results by county County Franklin D. RooseveltDemocratic Wendell WillkieRepublican Norman ThomasSocialist Other candidatesVarious parties Margin Total votescast # % # % # % # % # % Adams 1,883 50.48% 1,818 48.74% 16 0.43% 13 0.35% 65 1.74% 3,730 Ashland 5,586 60.01% 3,592 38.59% 29 0.31% 102 1.10% 1,994 21.42% 9,309 Barron 6,183 43.46% 7,806 54.87% 107 0.75% 131 0.92% -1,623 -11.41% 14,227 Bayfield 4,387 59.75% 2,829 38.53% 52 0.71% 74 1.01% 1,558 21.22% 7,342 Brown 19,526 54.18% 16,379 45.45% 78 0.22% 57 0.16% 3,147 8.73% 36,040 Buffalo 2,516 37.69% 4,056 60.76% 74 1.11% 29 0.43% -1,540 -23.07% 6,675 Burnett 2,513 49.23% 2,510 49.17% 50 0.98% 32 0.63% 3 0.06% 5,105 Calumet 2,324 30.08% 5,327 68.96% 51 0.66% 23 0.30% -3,003 -38.87% 7,725 Chippewa 7,250 44.83% 8,781 54.30% 72 0.45% 68 0.42% -1,531 -9.47% 16,171 Clark 4,683 32.48% 9,501 65.89% 118 0.82% 118 0.82% -4,818 -33.41% 14,420 Columbia 7,021 45.63% 8,260 53.68% 52 0.34% 54 0.35% -1,239 -8.05% 15,387 Crawford 3,595 43.35% 4,667 56.28% 8 0.10% 23 0.28% -1,072 -12.93% 8,293 Dane 40,331 64.23% 21,845 34.79% 409 0.65% 202 0.32% 18,486 29.44% 62,787 Dodge 8,938 37.48% 14,651 61.43% 174 0.73% 86 0.36% -5,713 -23.95% 23,849 Door 2,750 33.29% 5,461 66.11% 28 0.34% 21 0.25% -2,711 -32.82% 8,260 Douglas 15,548 66.12% 7,695 32.72% 122 0.52% 150 0.64% 7,853 33.40% 23,515 Dunn 4,545 39.05% 6,968 59.87% 61 0.52% 65 0.56% -2,423 -20.82% 11,639 Eau Claire 10,129 51.07% 9,595 48.38% 48 0.24% 60 0.30% 534 2.69% 19,832 Florence 980 48.73% 1,008 50.12% 12 0.60% 11 0.55% -28 -1.39% 2,011 Fond du Lac 10,323 37.76% 16,804 61.46% 124 0.45% 91 0.33% -6,481 -23.70% 27,342 Forest 2,951 63.61% 1,672 36.04% 1 0.02% 15 0.32% 1,279 27.57% 4,639 Grant 7,458 39.76% 11,143 59.40% 46 0.25% 112 0.60% -3,685 -19.64% 18,759 Green 4,565 44.05% 5,711 55.10% 48 0.46% 40 0.39% -1,146 -11.06% 10,364 Green Lake 2,357 32.23% 4,919 67.25% 9 0.12% 29 0.40% -2,562 -35.03% 7,314 Iowa 4,025 44.04% 4,978 54.46% 22 0.24% 115 1.26% -953 -10.43% 9,140 Iron 3,525 66.90% 1,672 31.73% 24 0.46% 48 0.91% 1,853 35.17% 5,269 Jackson 3,975 51.09% 3,741 48.08% 26 0.33% 38 0.49% 234 3.01% 7,780 Jefferson 7,842 43.16% 10,178 56.02% 93 0.51% 56 0.31% -2,336 -12.86% 18,169 Juneau 3,554 39.91% 5,268 59.15% 54 0.61% 30 0.34% -1,714 -19.25% 8,906 Kenosha 17,174 57.68% 12,182 40.91% 262 0.88% 159 0.53% 4,992 16.76% 29,777 Kewaunee 3,389 46.60% 3,862 53.10% 11 0.15% 11 0.15% -473 -6.50% 7,273 La Crosse 13,079 48.58% 13,711 50.92% 72 0.27% 62 0.23% -632 -2.35% 26,924 Lafayette 4,315 45.81% 5,059 53.71% 23 0.24% 22 0.23% -744 -7.90% 9,419 Langlade 5,190 52.88% 4,523 46.09% 37 0.38% 64 0.65% 667 6.80% 9,814 Lincoln 3,951 39.57% 5,812 58.21% 131 1.31% 90 0.90% -1,861 -18.64% 9,984 Manitowoc 13,142 50.30% 12,616 48.29% 248 0.95% 120 0.46% 526 2.01% 26,126 Marathon 13,724 46.57% 15,264 51.80% 373 1.27% 108 0.37% -1,540 -5.23% 29,469 Marinette 7,703 49.75% 7,688 49.65% 48 0.31% 44 0.28% 15 0.10% 15,483 Marquette 1,195 27.71% 3,086 71.57% 11 0.26% 20 0.46% -1,891 -43.85% 4,312 Milwaukee 209,861 59.75% 131,120 37.33% 8,484 2.42% 1,748 0.50% 78,741 22.42% 351,213 Monroe 4,673 36.33% 8,042 62.52% 84 0.65% 64 0.50% -3,369 -26.19% 12,863 Oconto 5,273 45.55% 6,238 53.88% 37 0.32% 29 0.25% -965 -8.34% 11,577 Oneida 5,375 58.77% 3,694 40.39% 59 0.65% 18 0.20% 1,681 18.38% 9,146 Outagamie 12,168 40.47% 17,733 58.98% 99 0.33% 67 0.22% -5,565 -18.51% 30,067 Ozaukee 3,662 41.98% 4,913 56.32% 125 1.43% 23 0.26% -1,251 -14.34% 8,723 Pepin 1,194 33.90% 2,272 64.51% 39 1.11% 17 0.48% -1,078 -30.61% 3,522 Pierce 3,259 32.59% 6,624 66.25% 69 0.69% 47 0.47% -3,365 -33.65% 9,999 Polk 4,979 44.27% 6,031 53.62% 185 1.64% 53 0.47% -1,052 -9.35% 11,248 Portage 10,148 63.78% 5,670 35.63% 50 0.31% 44 0.28% 4,478 28.14% 15,912 Price 4,042 49.94% 3,879 47.93% 67 0.83% 105 1.30% 163 2.01% 8,093 Racine 23,532 54.75% 18,753 43.63% 480 1.12% 213 0.50% 4,779 11.12% 42,978 Richland 3,524 38.56% 5,527 60.48% 30 0.33% 58 0.63% -2,003 -21.92% 9,139 Rock 17,543 46.29% 20,141 53.15% 104 0.27% 110 0.29% -2,598 -6.86% 37,898 Rusk 3,578 49.97% 3,484 48.66% 42 0.59% 56 0.78% 94 1.31% 7,160 Sauk 6,106 38.87% 9,363 59.61% 116 0.74% 122 0.78% -3,257 -20.74% 15,707 Sawyer 2,439 46.61% 2,745 52.46% 25 0.48% 24 0.46% -306 -5.85% 5,233 Shawano 5,241 44.51% 6,377 54.16% 94 0.80% 62 0.53% -1,136 -9.65% 11,774 Sheboygan 15,800 49.77% 15,305 48.21% 504 1.59% 138 0.43% 495 1.56% 31,747 St. Croix 4,898 41.24% 6,857 57.74% 80 0.67% 41 0.35% -1,959 -16.50% 11,876 Taylor 3,771 49.11% 3,668 47.77% 190 2.47% 49 0.64% 103 1.34% 7,678 Trempealeau 5,175 48.92% 5,319 50.28% 40 0.38% 45 0.43% -144 -1.36% 10,579 Vernon 5,776 46.24% 6,614 52.95% 25 0.20% 77 0.62% -838 -6.71% 12,492 Vilas 2,470 51.48% 2,251 46.92% 25 0.52% 52 1.08% 219 4.56% 4,798 Walworth 5,449 31.77% 11,594 67.59% 62 0.36% 49 0.29% -6,145 -35.82% 17,154 Washburn 2,901 50.35% 2,805 48.68% 20 0.35% 36 0.62% 96 1.67% 5,762 Washington 4,683 35.00% 8,501 63.54% 150 1.12% 46 0.34% -3,818 -28.54% 13,380 Waukesha 12,859 42.94% 16,726 55.86% 287 0.96% 72 0.24% -3,867 -12.91% 29,944 Waupaca 4,616 29.09% 11,099 69.95% 87 0.55% 64 0.40% -6,483 -40.86% 15,866 Waushara 1,747 26.13% 4,872 72.88% 27 0.40% 39 0.58% -3,125 -46.75% 6,685 Winnebago 15,570 45.08% 18,697 54.14% 64 0.19% 204 0.59% -3,127 -9.05% 34,535 Wood 8,574 46.59% 9,654 52.46% 97 0.53% 77 0.42% -1,080 -5.87% 18,402Totals704,82150.15%679,20648.32%15,0711.07%6,4420.46%25,6151.82%1,405,540 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican 18em Barron Buffalo Calumet Chippewa Clark Columbia Crawford Dodge Door Dunn Florence Fond du Lac Grant Green Green Lake Iowa Jefferson Juneau Kewaunee La Crosse Lafayette Lincoln Marathon Monroe Oconto Outagamie Ozaukee Pepin Pierce Polk Rock Sauk Sawyer Shawano St. Croix Trempealeau Vernon Washington Waukesha Waupaca Winnebago Wood Electors These were the names of the electors on each ticket. Franklin D. Roosevelt & Henry A. WallaceDemocratic Party Wendell Willkie & Charles L. McNaryRepublican Party Norman Thomas & Maynard C. KruegerSocialist Party Earl R. Browder & James W. FordCommunist Party Roger W. Babson & Edgar MoormanProhibition Party John W. Aiken & Aaron M. OrangeSocialist Labor Party text-align:center William B. Rubin Charles E. Hammersley Edwin J. Boyle A. L. Olson Albert C. Wolfe Walter McGrath William J. McCauley Maurice Fitzsimmons Sr. A. J. Aschenbrener John D. Kehoe Miles McNally George Meyer text-align:center Lila O. Burton D. J. Kenny B. P. Eldred Sr. William Hoard E. J. Roethe Frank Wabiszewski Edward Kickhaefer Harry Hill W. E. Fisher Robert K. Bassett G. Donald Barnes Henry O. Goode text-align:center Carl Benson William Cote Anna Mae Davis David Gourlie Fred Kneevers George Nelson John Pearson Jr. William F. Quick Olin Swenson Walter C. Weinig William C. White Lucy J. Work text-align:center Edwin Johnson James Knox Violet Hamilton Clarence Kailin John Emedy Matt Vetengl Leslie William Potter Leonard L. Gudex Esther Mattson Ellen O. Johnson Emil Luchterhand Joseph Polin text-align:center Edward L. Cady Luther B. Irish Jacob Jensen Otto D. Kahl George McKerrow Verdie Martiny Ivan D. Mishoff William C. Pickering C. Howard Purdy Nellie Tribbey Wesley R. Vasey Merritt L. Welles text-align:center Trueman F. Davis Wakter Schwartz Stephen Paschke Christopher Hagen Louis Ballin Marko Golubich Louis Myler Anthony Kolosso John Bialkowski Robert Petersen Albert C. Larson Keith McKenzie See also United States presidential elections in Wisconsin Notes References 60em Wisconsin 1940 Category:1940 Wisconsin elections