1978 Wisconsin Secretary of State election

none February 2026 May 2024 1978 Wisconsin Secretary of State election presidential no November 7, 1978 Wisconsin 1974 Wisconsin Secretary of State election 1974 1982 Wisconsin Secretary of State election 1982 Vel Phillips (WI).png Vel Phillips Democratic Party of Wisconsin 697,945 50.4% 3x4.svg Frederic A. Seefeldt Republican Party of Wisconsin 663,474 47.9% 1978 Wisconsin Secretary of State election results map by county.svg Phillips: #A5B0FF 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #3933E5 80–90%Seefeldt: #ffb2b2 40–50% #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% Secretary of State Doug La Follette Democratic Party of Wisconsin Vel Phillips Democratic Party of Wisconsin The 1978 Wisconsin Secretary of State election took place on November 7, 1978, to elect the Secretary of State of Wisconsin. Incumbent Democrat Doug La Follette declined to seek re-election, instead running in the primary for Lieutenant Governor. Milwaukee Alderwoman and civil rights activist Vel Phillips was nominated in a field of 9 candidates and defeated Republican Frederic A. Seefeldt. Her election made her the first African American to be elected to a statewide office in Wisconsin. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Vel Phillips, former Milwaukee Alderwoman and civil rights activist Eliminated in primary Harvey J. Cooper Ada Deer, Native American activist and scholar Michael Jaliman Janet Soergel Mielke, former state representative and union officer Jan A. Olson Thomas F. St. John Benjamin Southwick Rita Wlodarczyk, former staffer for Frank Zeidler's mayoral campaign Results thumb|Results by county: #BDD3FF Phillips #EBF2FF 10–20% #DFEEFF 20–30% #BDD3FF 30–40% #ACF2F2 Deer #E3F7F7 10–20% #D0F9F9 20–30% #ACF2F2 30–40% #009696 70–80% #87DE87 Southwick #D2F7D2 10–20% #C0F0C0 20–30% #87DE87 40–50% #FFDCEC Wlodarczyk #FFF0F5 10–20% #FFDCEC 20–30% #FF9A50 Mielke #FFEFDF 10–20% #FF9A50 50–60% #EFE7F5 Phillips–Deer Tie #EFE7F5 10-20% Democratic primary resultsVote for State Officers by County - primary https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AKCFKES24WHTNW8F/full/A5K622Z6BXCUHQ8A University of Wisconsin Madison - Libraries Vel Phillips Democratic Party of Wisconsin 78,797 25.58% Ada Deer Democratic Party of Wisconsin 46,696 15.16% Benjamin Southwick Democratic Party of Wisconsin 37,791 12.27% Harvey J. Cooper Democratic Party of Wisconsin 31,444 10.21% Jan A. Olson Democratic Party of Wisconsin 31,027 10.07% Rita Wlodarczyk Democratic Party of Wisconsin 30,473 9.89% Janet Soergel Mielke Democratic Party of Wisconsin 25,251 8.20% Thomas F. St. John Democratic Party of Wisconsin 14,182 4.60% Michael Jaliman Democratic Party of Wisconsin 12,315 3.40% 307,976 100.0% Republican primary Frederic A. Seefeldt ran unopposed in the primary Constitution primary George A. Myers ran unopposed in the primary General election Results 1978 Wisconsin Secretary of State electionVote for State Officers by County - general https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AKCFKES24WHTNW8F/full/ANHE6TN6L7XIMF86 University of Wisconsin Madison - Libraries Democratic Party of Wisconsin Vel Phillips 697,945 50.37% % Republican Party of Wisconsin Frederic A. Seefeldt 663,474 47.88% % Constitution Party (United States) George A. Meyers 24,272 1.75% % 34,471 2.49% -% 1,385,691 100.0% -% Democratic Party of Wisconsin References Category:1978 Wisconsin elections Category:Wisconsin Secretary of State elections