1944 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
Election
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 County results Goodland: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Hoan: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1944 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1944.
Incumbent Republican Governor Walter Samuel Goodland defeated Democratic nominee Daniel Hoan with 52.84% of the vote.
Primary elections
Primary elections were held on August 15, 1944.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Daniel Hoan, former mayor of Milwaukee
- John N. Zimmermann, purchasing agent[1]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Daniel Hoan | 67,632 | 63.23 | |
| Democratic | John N. Zimmermann | 39,333 | 36.77 | |
| Total votes | 106,965 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Walter Samuel Goodland, incumbent governor
- Roland E. Kannenberg, former State Senator[4]
- Delbert J. Kenny, businessman[5]
- Milton T. Murray, State Senator and unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for governor in 1942
- Christian J. Otjen, lawyer and soldier[6]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Walter Samuel Goodland (incumbent) | 147,378 | 47.15 | |
| Republican | Delbert J. Kenny | 79,492 | 25.43 | |
| Republican | Milton T. Murray | 41,244 | 13.19 | |
| Republican | Christian J. Otjen | 29,004 | 9.28 | |
| Republican | Roland E. Kannenberg | 15,470 | 4.95 | |
| Total votes | 312,588 | 100.00 | ||
Progressive primary
Candidates
- Ralph F. Amoth
- Alexander O. Benz, president of the Aid Association for Lutherans[8]
- John H. Kaiser, Progressive candidate for Secretary of State in 1942
- Leo E. Vaudreuil, former Deputy Attorney General of Wisconsin[9]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | Alexander O. Benz | 9,448 | 33.13 | |
| Progressive | Leo E. Vaudreuil | 9,207 | 32.28 | |
| Progressive | Ralph F. Amoth | 5,691 | 19.95 | |
| Progressive | John H. Kaiser | 4,174 | 14.64 | |
| Total votes | 28,520 | 100.00 | ||
General election
Candidates
Major party candidates
- Walter Samuel Goodland, Democratic
- Daniel Hoan, Republican
- Alexander O. Benz, Progressive
Other candidates
- Georgia Cozzini, Socialist Labor, candidate for governor in 1942
- George A. Nelson, Socialist, candidate for governor in 1934
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Walter Samuel Goodland (incumbent) | 697,740 | 52.84% | ||
| Democratic | Daniel Hoan | 536,357 | 40.62% | ||
| Progressive | Alexander O. Benz | 76,028 | 5.76% | ||
| Socialist | George A. Nelson | 9,183 | 0.70% | ||
| Socialist Labor | Georgia Cozzini | 1,122 | 0.09% | ||
| Scattering | 53 | 0.00% | |||
| Majority | 161,383 | 12.22% | |||
| Turnout | 1,320,483 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | Swing | ||||
References
- ^ "CIO Actionists Face Wisconsin Test Today". Evening Star. Washington, D.C. August 15, 1944. p. A-3. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ a b c Wisconsin Blue Book 1946, p. 590.
- ^ "WI Governor, 1944 – D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "Former State Senator Kannenberg Dies". Wausau Daily Herald. November 17, 1983. p. 6. Retrieved July 30, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Only One Candidate Has All The Qualifications". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. August 14, 1944. p. 2. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Col. C. J. Otjen, Milwaukee Civic Leader And Soldier, Dies". The Sheboygan Press. Sheboygan, Wisconsin. July 17, 1950. p. 3. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "WI Governor, 1944 – R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "Benz To Seek Nomination". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. May 2, 1944. p. 16. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "Vaudreuil For Governor, But No Statement". Kenosha Evening News. Kenosha, Wisconsin. May 25, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
- ^ "WI Governor, 1944 – PRG Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 87.
- ^ "WI Governor, 1944". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ Wisconsin Blue Book 1946, p. 664.
Bibliography
- Gubernatorial Elections, 1787–1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
- Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1946). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1946. State of Wisconsin.
