1907 United States Senate special election in Wisconsin

none related races 1906–07 United States Senate elections March 2026 January 2025 1907 United States Senate special election in Wisconsin Wisconsin presidential no 1903 United States Senate election in Wisconsin 1903 1909 United States Senate election in Wisconsin 1909 April 17, 1907May 17, 1907 Legislative x150px Isaac Stephenson.jpg Isaac Stephenson Republican Party (United States) 87 81.31% George W. Bird Democratic Party (United States) 16 14.95% Jacob Rummel.jpg Jacob Rummel Socialist Party of America 4 3.74% U.S. Senator John C. Spooner Republican Party (United States) Isaac Stephenson Republican Party (United States) The 1907 United States Senate special election in Wisconsin was held in the 48th Wisconsin Legislature between April 17, 1907, and May 17, 1907. The special election was necessary to complete the unexpired term of U.S. Senator John Coit Spooner, who announced his resignation in March 1907 and left office April 30. Republican former U.S. representative Isaac Stephenson was elected on the 22nd ballot after a month of voting and negotiation. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112109669322 State of Wisconsin Assembly Journal 1907 Wisconsin Legislature 505-507, 517-519, 529-531, 544-546, 556-558, 567-569, 578-580, 588-590, 610-611, 616-618, 630-632, 639-641, 656-658, 664-666, 679-681, 695-697, 708-710, 729-730, 741-742, 751-754, 769-770, 780-782 March 29, 2025 HathiTrust In the 1907 term, Republicans held overwhelming majorities in both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature, so had more than enough votes to elect a Republican United States senator. The main contest was in the Republican legislative caucus, where multiple progressive and conservative factions failed to reach consensus for nearly a month. Progressives ultimately coalesced around 77-year-old former U.S. representative Isaac Stephenson—who had made several previous bids for U.S. Senate—and secured his nomination. Major candidates Democratic George W. Bird, prominent lawyer from Madison, Wisconsin. Republican Henry Allen Cooper, incumbent U.S. representative of Wisconsin's 1st congressional district, from Racine County. John J. Esch, incumbent U.S. representative of Wisconsin's 7th congressional district, from La Crosse, Wisconsin. William H. Hatton, former state senator from Outagamie County. Irvine Lenroot, former Wisconsin Assembly speaker from Superior, Wisconsin. Isaac Stephenson, former U.S. representative of Wisconsin's 9th congressional district, from Marinette, Wisconsin. Socialist Jacob Rummel, incumbent state senator from Milwaukee. Results Vote on April 17, 1907 1st Vote of the 48th Wisconsin Legislature, April 17, 1907 Democratic Party (United States) George W. Bird 24On the 1st and 2nd ballots, Bird received the votes of every Democratic legislator. "Bird-1st" 18.32% Republican Party (United States) John J. Esch 19On the 1st ballot, Esch received the votes of Republican senators H. W. Barker, Theodore W. Brazeau, Theodore C. Froemming, Spencer M. Marsh, Thomas Morris, Oliver Munson, and James H. Noble, and Republican representatives John Franklin Baker, Jacob D. Harring, C. A. Ingram, F. M. Jackson, John R. Jones, Valentine S. Keppel, David F. Mains, Thomas H. Miller, Elwyn F. Nelson, Anton G. Schauer, and Simon F. Wehrwein. 14.50% Republican Party (United States) Irvine Lenroot 19On the 1st ballot, Lenroot received the votes of Republican senators Edward E. Browne, George Hudnall, Walter C. Owen, and Albert M. Stondall, Republican representatives Roderick Ainsworth, Ove H. Berg, Lorenzo Clausen, Albert W. Durley, William A. Kay, Edward J. Keyes, Frank J. Kimball, Duncan McGregor, James A. McKenzie, Ray J. Nye, Jens Peterson, Thomas A. Roycraft, George E. Scott, and Theodore M. Thomas, and Republican speaker Herman Ekern. 14.50% Republican Party (United States) Henry Allen Cooper 18On the 1st ballot, Cooper received the votes of Republican senators Isaac T. Bishop, Edward E. Burns, Henry Lockney, Harry C. Martin, and John Meek Whitehead, and Republican representatives Allen S. Baker, William H. Bell, M. J. Cleary, Walker M. Curtiss, Charles E. Estabrook, Clifford R. Goldsworthy, Jacob Luy, David Morris, Simon Smith, Ole P. Sorenson, Edward H. Sprague, John O. Thomas, and Fred Ties. 13.74% Republican Party (United States) Isaac Stephenson 17On the 1st ballot, Stephenson received the votes of Republican senator Harlan P. Bird and Republican representatives Wilbur Cahoon, Elmer Cain, William Disch, William H. Falvey, Herman Georgi, Wallace Hager, Herman H. Heilbron, Simon Kander, Edward Webster LeRoy, William J. McGee, Frank F. Mueller, Thomas Reynolds, Henry Edgar Roethe, Fred E. Soper, William Rufus Turner, and Christian C. Wellensgard. 12.98% Republican Party (United States) William H. Hatton 16 12.21% Republican Party (United States) Emil Baensch 6 4.58% Socialist Party of America Jacob Rummel 5 3.82% Republican Party (United States) Frederick C. Winkler 3 2.29% Republican Party (United States) Charles E. Estabrook 1 0.76% Republican Party (United States) George Hudnall 1On the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th & 19th ballots, Republican representative George Grassie was the lone vote for George Hudnall. "grassie-hudnall" 0.76% Republican Party (United States) John Meek Whitehead 1 0.76% Blank 1 0.76% Absent or not voting 2 66 50.38% 131 98.50% Votes from April 18 to April 26 +2nd–7th Votes of the 48th Wisconsin Legislature, April 18April 26, 1907PartyCandidateBallotsApr. 18Apr. 19Apr. 23Apr. 24Apr. 25Apr. 26 Democratic George W. Bird 24"Bird-1st" 18 18 21 22 17 Republican Isaac Stephenson 19 19 20 20 20 18 Republican John J. Esch 19 18 20 20 19 17 Republican Henry Allen Cooper 18 19 18 18 19 18 Republican Irvine Lenroot 18 18 17 17 17 17 Republican William H. Hatton 16 16 16 16 16 15 Republican Emil Baensch 6 6 5 5 5 4 Socialist Jacob Rummel 5 4 5 5 5 4 Republican Frederick C. Winkler 3 3 3 3 3 1 Republican George Hudnall 1"grassie-hudnall" 1"grassie-hudnall" 1"grassie-hudnall" 1"grassie-hudnall" 1"grassie-hudnall" Republican Albert W. Sanborn 1 Socialist Carl D. Thompson 1"Rummel" 1"Rummel" 1"Rummel" 1"Rummel" 1"Rummel" 1"Rummel" Republican John Meek Whitehead 1 Republican John A. Hazelwood 1 1 1 Republican Walter C. Owen 1 1 Republican Walter D. Tarrant 1 Absent 1 10 7 4 4 20 Needed for majority 67 62 64 65 65 57 Total votes 132 123 126 129 129 113 Vote on April 29, 1907 On April 29, by agreement between the various candidates, most legislators were allowed to be absent, with each declared candidate designating one trusted supporter to arrive and cast a placeholder vote. 8th Vote of the 48th Wisconsin Legislature, April 29, 1907 Republican Party (United States) Emil Baensch 1 12.50% Republican Party (United States) John Barnes 1 12.50% Democratic Party (United States) George W. Bird 1 12.50% Republican Party (United States) Henry Allen Cooper 1 12.50% Republican Party (United States) John J. Esch 1 12.50% Republican Party (United States) William H. Hatton 1 12.50% Republican Party (United States) Irvine Lenroot 1 12.50% Republican Party (United States) Isaac Stephenson 1 12.50% Absent or not voting 125 5 62.50% 8 6.02% Votes from April 30 to May 10 +9th–16th Votes of the 48th Wisconsin Legislature, April 30May 10, 1907PartyCandidateBallotsApr. 30May 1May 2May 3May 7May 8May 9May 10 Republican Isaac Stephenson 19 18 19 19 17 26 28 32 Republican John J. Esch 19 20 19 16 19 21 21 19 Republican Irvine Lenroot 19 18 18 13 17 Democratic George W. Bird 18 18 19 10 14 16 19 14 Republican Henry Allen Cooper 18 18 17 17 14 18 Republican William H. Hatton 16 16 16 15 12 16 22 23 Republican Emil Baensch 5 5 5 5 5 4 1 1 Socialist Jacob Rummel 5 5 3 4 4 5 5 5 Republican Frederick C. Winkler 3 4 3 2 4 Socialist Carl D. Thompson 1"Rummel" 1"Rummel" 1"Rummel" 1"Rummel" 1"Rummel" 1"Rummel" 1"Rummel" 1"Rummel" Republican John A. Hazelwood 1 1 1 1 1 Republican Philo A. Orton 1 Republican James A. Frear 1 3 2 3 Republican W. A. Gordon 1 Democratic Barnabas S. Potter 1On the 10th ballot, Democratic representative Elmore Elver voted for B. S. Potter. Democratic Charles H. Weisse 1 Republican Thomas H. Gill 1 Republican William D. Hoard 1 1 Republican John C. Spooner 1 Republican George H. Benzenberg 1 Republican Duncan McGregor 5 10 20 Republican George Hudnall 3 Republican James Huff Stout 2 1 Republican Albert W. Sanborn 6 1 Republican Charles E. Estabrook 4 1 Republican Harry C. Martin 3 1 Republican Albert M. Stondall 1 Republican C. G. Pearse 1 Republican Otis Wells Johnson 1 Republican David F. Mains 1 Absent 8 5 11 26 28 10 6 12 Needed for majority 63 65 62 54 53 62 64 61 Total votes 125 128 122 107 105 123 127 121 Vote on May 13, 1907 On May 13, by agreement between the various candidates, most legislators were allowed to be absent, with each declared candidate designating one trusted supporter to arrive and cast a placeholder vote. 17th Vote of the 48th Wisconsin Legislature, May 13, 1907 Democratic Party (United States) George W. Bird 1 20.00% Republican Party (United States) John J. Esch 1 20.00% Republican Party (United States) William H. Hatton 1 20.00% Republican Party (United States) Duncan McGregor 1 20.00% Republican Party (United States) Isaac Stephenson 1 20.00% Absent or not voting 128 3 60.00% 5 3.76% Votes from May 14 to May 16 +18th–21st Votes of the 48th Wisconsin Legislature, May 14May 16, 1907PartyCandidateBallotsMay 14May 15May 16(9am)May 16(noon) Republican Isaac Stephenson 31 44 46 48 Republican William H. Hatton 25 26 52 53 Republican Duncan McGregor 23 3 1 2 Republican John J. Esch 20 28 2 Democratic George W. Bird 15 11 14 16 Socialist Jacob Rummel 4On the 18th, 19th, 20th, & 21st ballots, Rummel received the votes of all Socialists except representative Frank J. Weber (who was absent) and Rummel himself (who voted for Carl D. Thompson). "Soc-4" 4"Soc-4" 4"Soc-4" 4"Soc-4" Republican James A. Frear 1On the 18th ballot, Republican representative William A. Kay voted for James A. Frear. Republican John A. Hazelwood 1On the 18th ballot, Republican representative George Grassie voted for John A. Hazelwood. Democratic Henry L. Palmer 1On the 18th ballot, Democratic senator Charles L. Pearson voted for H. L. Palmer. Socialist Carl D. Thompson 1On every ballot where he was present and voting, Socialist senator Jacob Rummel voted for Carl D. Thompson. "Rummel" 1"Rummel" 1"Rummel" 1"Rummel" Democratic Charles H. Weisse 2On the 19th ballot, Democratic representatives William J. Bichler and John M. Detling voted for Charles H. Weisse. Republican George Brumder 1On the 19th ballot, Republican representative Jacob Luy voted for George Brumder. Democratic Joseph E. Davies 1On the 19th and 20th ballots, Democratic representative Fred Smith voted for Joseph E. Davies. "smith-davies" 1"smith-davies" Democratic David L. Douglas 1On the 19th and 20th ballots, Democratic representative Elmore Elver voted for David L. Douglas. "elver-douglas" 1"elver-douglas" Republican George Hudnall 1"grassie-hudnall" 1On the 21st ballot, Republican representative Clifford R. Goldsworthy voted for George Hudnall. Democratic D. S. Rose 1On the 19th and 20th ballots, Democratic representative Joseph Domachowski voted for D. S. Rose. "Domachowski-19-20" 1"Domachowski-19-20" Republican Albert W. Sanborn 1On the 19th ballot, Republican representative Ove H. Berg voted for A. W. Sanborn. Republican Samuel A. Cook 1On the 20th ballot, Republican representative Otto Harrass voted for Samuel A. Cook. Republican Irvine Lenroot 1On the 20th ballot, Republican representative Ray J. Nye voted for Irvine Lenroot. Democratic George Wilbur Peck 1On the 21st ballot, Democratic representative Joseph Domachowski voted for George W. Peck. Absent 11 8 8 7 Needed for majority 62 63 63 64 Total votes 122 125 125 126 Republican caucus on May 16, 1907 On the evening of May 16, 1907, William H. Hatton expected to secure the nomination after coming within two votes of the caucus majority earlier that day. Lieutenant Governor William D. Connor was credited with denying Hatton the nomination after he managed to convince representatives Clifford R. Goldsworthy and Elwyn F. Nelson to withhold their support. Hatton's support collapsed during the roll call vote, with Goldsworthy, Nelson, and Duncan McGregor leading the rout. Instead Isaac Stephenson achieved a majority with 55 of 98 votes cast, and the caucus then moved to make him their unanimous nominee. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oshkosh-northwestern-us-senate-nomin/169198354/ Stephenson the Man. Named for Senator. Oshkosh Northwestern May 17, 1907 9 March 30, 2025 Newspapers.com Vote on May 17, 1907 The legislature re-convened in joint session on May 17. Voting proceeded exactly along party lines, with 26 members absent. Stephenson received the support of all the Republicans present and voting and was elected U.S. senator. 22nd Vote of the 48th Wisconsin Legislature, May 17, 1907 Republican Party (United States) Isaac Stephenson 87 81.31% Democratic Party (United States) George W. Bird 16 14.95% Socialist Party of America Jacob Rummel 4On the 22nd ballot, Rummel received the votes of all Socialists except representative Frank J. Weber (who was absent) and Rummel himself (who did not cast a vote). 3.74% Absent or not voting 26 54 50.47% 107 80.45% Republican Party (United States) Notes References 1907 Wisconsin United States Senate Wisconsin 1907 Wisconsin 1907 United States Senate 1907