| Election Name: | 1881 Wisconsin gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Wisconsin |
| Flag Year: | 1866 |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1879 Wisconsin gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1879 |
| Next Election: | 1884 Wisconsin gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1884 |
| Election Date: | November 8, 1881 |
| Nominee1: | Jeremiah McLain Rusk |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 81,754 |
| Percentage1: | 47.57% |
| Nominee2: | Nicholas D. Fratt |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 69,797 |
| Percentage2: | 40.61% |
| Nominee3: | Theodore D. Kanouse |
| Party3: | Prohibition Party |
| Popular Vote3: | 13,225 |
| Percentage3: | 7.70% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | William E. Smith |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Jeremiah McLain Rusk |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 1881 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1881.
Republican nominee Jeremiah McLain Rusk defeated Democratic nominee Nicholas D. Fratt and two other nominees with 47.57% of the vote.
This was the last Wisconsin gubernatorial election held in an odd-numbered year. In 1882, a constitutional amendment was carried moving gubernatorial elections to even-numbered years.
Major party candidates
Other candidates
