1936 United States presidential election in Wisconsin explained

See main article: article and 1936 United States presidential election.

Election Name:1936 United States presidential election in Wisconsin
Country:Wisconsin
Flag Year:1913
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1932 United States presidential election in Wisconsin
Previous Year:1932
Next Election:1940 United States presidential election in Wisconsin
Next Year:1940
Election Date:November 3, 1936
Image1:FDR in 1933 (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:Franklin D. Roosevelt
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Home State1:New York
Running Mate1:John Nance Garner
Electoral Vote1:12
Popular Vote1:802,984
Percentage1:63.79%
Nominee2:Alf Landon
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Home State2:Kansas
Running Mate2:Frank Knox
Electoral Vote2:0
Popular Vote2:380,828
Percentage2:30.26%
Map Size:315px
President
Before Election:Franklin D. Roosevelt
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Franklin D. Roosevelt
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 1936 United States presidential election in Wisconsin was held on November 3, 1936 as part of the 1936 United States presidential election. State voters chose 12 electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

Wisconsin had since the decline of the Populist movement been substantially a one-party state dominated by the Republican Party.[1] The Democratic Party became entirely uncompetitive outside certain German Catholic counties adjoining Lake Michigan as the upper classes, along with the majority of workers who followed them, completely fled from William Jennings Bryan's agrarian and free silver sympathies.[2] As Democratic strength weakened severely after 1894 – 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.[3]

The beginning of the 1910s would see a minor Democratic revival as many La Follette progressives endorsed Woodrow Wilson,[4] but this flirtation would not be long-lasting as Wilson's "Anglophile" foreign policies were severely opposed by Wisconsin's largely German- and Scandinavian-American populace.[5] Subsequent federal elections saw the Midwest desert the Democratic Party even more completely due to supposed preferential treatment of Southern farmers,[6] and in Wisconsin there were never more than three Democrats in the state legislature (and none in the State Senate) between 1921 and 1929.

The Great Depression radically altered the state's politics, as the La Follette family did not support President Herbert Hoover in 1932, with the result that he lost to Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt by two-to-one. Following a brief Democratic interlude after the 1932 elections, Robert M. La Follette, Jr. formed the Wisconsin Progressive Party and during the 1934 midterm elections that party captured seven of Wisconsin's ten House of Representatives seats and most statewide offices under a platform of improved land conservation and a federal referendum and initiative system.[7] La Follette, despite his respect for Union Party nominee William Lemke, strongly endorsed Roosevelt,[8] whilst Landon based his hopes on traditional Democrats responding to Al Smith's backing of him and the state's farmers' dislike of trade treaties as reducing their access to foreign markets.

At the beginning of the poll it was thought that Union Party candidate Lemke would threaten Roosevelt's hold on Wisconsin's electoral votes as the Midwest had gone through a record heatwave and extreme drought.[9] Republican nominee Alf Landon campaigned in Wisconsin in late September, arguing that Roosevelt's trade agreements with Canada were hurting Wisconsin's farmers,[10] and that racial tolerance in a state where virtually all areas outside inner Milwaukee had become sundown towns[11] alongside academic freedom were critical issues for the state and the nation.[12] Landon did receive a good reception in Milwaukee, but had his hotel invaded in Oshkosh.[12] Senator La Follette did much of the campaigning for Roosevelt in the state, whilst the President focused his campaign on other states of the Midwest.[13]

Late in September, polls showed Roosevelt narrowly leading Landon,[14] although a Gallup poll showed him increasing his lead in Wisconsin.[15] Although no later polls were conducted, as it turned out Roosevelt won convincingly and held his two-to-one 1932 margin, carrying all but four counties. Vis-à-vis the 1932 election, Roosevelt gained significantly in the industrial areas of the northwest – in Douglas County he gained 24 percent on his 1932 figures – and in the urban southeast,[16] but lost in the rural areas lying between these two groups. A substantial vote for Lemke from isolationist German Catholics would pave the way for the traditionally Democratic areas in the east to permanently leave the party with the following election, as this group could not accept the urban bias of the New Deal.

Roosevelt was the first Democrat since Franklin Pierce in 1852 to carry Rock County. As of 2020, this remains the strongest performance by a Democrat in Wisconsin.[17]

Results

1936 United States presidential election in Wisconsin[18] [19]
PartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes
DemocraticFranklin D. Roosevelt (incumbent)802,98463.79%12
RepublicanAlf Landon380,82830.26%0
UnionWilliam Lemke60,2974.79%0
SocialistNorman Thomas10,6260.84%0
CommunistEarl R. Browder2,1970.17%0
IndependentD. Leigh Colvin1,0710.09%0
Socialist LaborJohn W. Aiken5570.04%0
Write-inScattering1520.01%0
Totals1,258,712100.00%12

Results by county

CountyFranklin D. Roosevelt
Democratic
Herbert Hoover
Republican
William Lemke
Union
Norman Thomas
Socialist
All Others
Various
MarginTotal votes cast
%%%%%%
Adams2,28963.96%1,19133.28%852.37%50.14%90.25%1,09830.68%3,579
Ashland5,90468.01%2,43928.10%2262.60%520.60%600.69%3,46539.91%8,681
Barron7,41955.55%5,06737.94%7145.35%970.73%580.43%2,35217.61%13,355
Bayfield4,33665.37%2,07131.22%1091.64%640.96%530.80%2,26534.15%6,633
Brown21,41768.92%8,43327.14%1,0883.50%1080.35%310.10%12,98441.78%31,077
Buffalo3,43455.44%2,48140.05%2494.02%270.44%30.05%95315.39%6,194
Burnett2,80162.80%1,42231.88%1914.28%330.74%130.29%1,37930.92%4,460
Calumet4,69465.99%1,97227.72%4245.96%140.20%90.13%2,72238.27%7,113
Chippewa7,85453.08%5,76038.93%1,1077.48%500.34%250.17%2,09414.15%14,796
Clark6,93152.78%5,19639.57%8456.43%840.64%760.58%1,73513.21%13,132
Columbia8,93659.36%5,60737.25%4452.96%380.25%280.19%3,32922.11%15,054
Crawford4,37755.02%2,85735.91%6998.79%120.15%110.14%1,52019.11%7,956
Dane35,85667.77%15,23328.79%1,3332.52%2680.51%2180.41%20,62338.98%52,908
Dodge14,78265.41%6,82930.22%9003.98%660.29%220.10%7,95335.19%22,599
Door3,95251.57%3,14641.05%5356.98%110.14%200.26%80610.52%7,664
Douglas16,68475.28%5,07922.92%1920.87%900.41%1180.53%11,60552.36%22,163
Dunn5,61951.20%4,57041.64%7026.40%530.48%310.28%1,0499.56%10,975
Eau Claire10,06558.31%6,80239.41%3311.92%430.25%190.11%3,26318.90%17,260
Florence1,03753.67%80041.41%703.62%170.88%80.41%23712.27%1,932
Fond du Lac14,82157.16%9,17935.40%1,7856.88%700.27%760.29%5,64221.76%25,931
Forest3,09268.18%1,33429.42%891.96%130.29%70.15%1,75838.77%4,535
Grant9,17052.39%7,19641.11%1,0726.12%340.19%310.18%1,97411.28%17,503
Green5,94160.26%3,70037.53%1651.67%270.27%260.26%2,24122.73%9,859
Green Lake3,84055.84%2,92642.55%941.37%80.12%90.13%91413.29%6,877
Iowa4,98854.85%3,62339.84%4454.89%120.13%260.29%1,36515.01%9,094
Iron3,31976.46%90220.78%471.08%50.12%681.57%2,41755.68%4,341
Jackson4,53765.01%2,23532.02%1812.59%180.26%80.11%2,30232.98%6,979
Jefferson11,14464.33%5,59932.32%5243.02%400.23%170.10%5,54532.01%17,324
Juneau4,54455.74%3,08437.83%4885.99%190.23%170.21%1,46017.91%8,152
Kenosha18,13766.57%7,26826.68%1,5375.64%1990.73%1040.38%10,86939.89%27,245
Kewaunee4,97174.01%1,52722.73%2133.17%40.06%20.03%3,44451.27%6,717
La Crosse14,45563.29%7,55833.09%7693.37%370.16%210.09%6,89730.20%22,840
Lafayette4,97653.81%3,80141.11%4324.67%180.19%200.22%1,17512.71%9,247
Langlade5,83767.22%2,63530.34%1261.45%380.44%480.55%3,20236.87%8,684
Lincoln5,52059.86%3,12033.83%5235.67%360.39%230.25%2,40026.02%9,222
Manitowoc15,53964.68%5,09421.20%3,27413.63%900.37%290.12%10,44543.47%24,026
Marathon17,89866.10%7,32827.06%1,6616.13%1500.55%390.14%10,57039.04%27,076
Marinette8,88462.24%4,93834.59%3692.59%650.46%180.13%3,94627.64%14,274
Marquette1,81246.26%1,95749.96%1353.45%80.20%50.13%-145-3.70%3,917
Milwaukee221,51274.59%54,81118.46%13,1004.41%6,3112.13%1,2240.41%166,70156.14%296,958
Monroe6,49154.06%4,69539.10%7506.25%400.33%320.27%1,79614.96%12,008
Oconto6,72960.98%3,77434.20%4544.11%670.61%100.09%2,95526.78%11,034
Oneida5,20864.65%2,29428.48%4836.00%600.74%110.14%2,91436.17%8,056
Outagamie16,16359.07%9,48534.66%1,6426.00%500.18%240.09%6,67824.40%27,364
Ozaukee5,59470.65%1,78522.54%4896.18%360.45%140.18%3,80948.11%7,918
Pepin1,78551.80%1,46642.54%1775.14%110.32%70.20%3199.26%3,446
Pierce4,06144.06%3,93542.70%1,13912.36%610.66%200.22%1261.37%9,216
Polk5,61853.51%3,59634.25%9208.76%3343.18%310.30%2,02219.26%10,499
Portage10,57671.25%3,96926.74%2461.66%320.22%210.14%6,60744.51%14,844
Price5,09866.62%2,21528.95%2202.88%430.56%760.99%2,88337.68%7,652
Racine24,47464.54%10,85028.61%2,0525.41%2440.64%3000.79%13,62435.93%37,920
Richland4,08046.97%4,24548.87%2943.38%170.20%500.58%-165-1.90%8,686
Rock17,99153.34%14,69343.56%9072.69%720.21%660.20%3,2989.78%33,729
Rusk3,87757.18%2,45336.18%3384.99%801.18%320.47%1,42421.00%6,780
Sauk8,35556.41%5,62637.98%7575.11%370.25%370.25%2,72918.42%14,812
Sawyer2,83459.88%1,72636.47%1402.96%230.49%100.21%1,10823.41%4,733
Shawano8,86568.59%3,67928.46%2742.12%790.61%280.22%5,18640.12%12,925
Sheboygan17,41562.06%8,86531.59%1,4425.14%2340.83%1070.38%8,55030.47%28,063
St. Croix4,67941.71%4,31638.47%2,15319.19%520.46%180.16%3633.24%11,218
Taylor4,72167.55%1,75825.15%3555.08%1121.60%430.62%2,96342.40%6,989
Trempealeau5,92960.30%3,33933.96%5255.34%210.21%180.18%2,59026.34%9,832
Vernon6,04453.22%4,81142.36%4594.04%170.15%260.23%1,23310.86%11,357
Vilas2,55961.69%1,29831.29%2165.21%220.53%531.28%1,26130.40%4,148
Walworth7,09344.15%8,46252.67%4442.76%520.32%150.09%-1,369-8.52%16,066
Washburn3,22061.73%1,65031.63%3035.81%290.56%140.27%1,57030.10%5,216
Washington7,12958.96%3,58929.68%1,29710.73%600.50%170.14%3,54029.28%12,092
Waukesha14,98259.47%8,92135.41%1,1254.47%1210.48%450.18%6,06124.06%25,194
Waupaca6,92047.52%6,68045.88%8956.15%460.32%200.14%2401.65%14,561
Waushara2,63641.05%3,30251.43%4236.59%340.53%260.40%-666-10.37%6,421
Winnebago18,52258.57%11,67936.93%1,2013.80%1400.44%790.25%6,84321.64%31,621
Wood9,98262.57%4,90230.73%9035.66%660.41%1000.63%5,08031.84%15,953
Totals802,98463.79%380,82830.26%60,2974.79%10,6260.84%3,9770.32%422,15633.54%1,258,712

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Electors

These were the names of the electors for each ticket.[18]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Burnham, Walter Dean; 'The System of 1896: An Analysis'; in The Evolution of American Electoral Systems, pp. 178-179
  2. Sundquist, James; Politics and Policy: The Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson Years, p. 526
  3. 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
  4. Crews, Kenneth D.; 'Woodrow Wilson, Wisconsin, and the Election of 1912'; Presidential Studies Quarterly, Vol. 12, No. 3: 'Presidents, Vice Presidents and Political Parties: Performance and Prospects' (Summer, 1982), pp. 369-376
  5. Leary, William M. (jr.); 'Woodrow Wilson, Irish Americans, and the Election of 1916'; The Journal of American History, Vol. 54, No. 1 (June 1967), pp. 57-72
  6. Morello, John A.; Albert D. Lasker, Advertising, and the Election of Warren G. Harding, p. 64
  7. Janus, Erika; A Short History of Wisconsin, p. 138
  8. 'Roosevelt Assets Large in Wisconsin: Backed by La Follettes and Labor, His Forces Count on Retaining State'; The New York Times, October 22, 1936, p. 13
  9. Blair, Edson; 'Washington: Both Sides of the Curtain: Lemke's Part in the National Election Campaign – La Follette and Discriminating Wisconsin Voters – Landon and Illinois'; Barron's (Boston, Massachusetts), August 24, 1936, p. 4
  10. Hagerty, James A.; 'Drive in Wisconsin Began by Landon: Leaders Pledge State Victory When They Board His Train on Way to Milwaukee'; The New York Times, September 26, 1936, p. 1
  11. See Loewen, James W.; Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism, pp. 56, 68
  12. 'Landon Demands Racial Tolerance: In Wisconsin Wayside Talks Candidate Also Calls for Academic Freedom'; Special to The New York Times, September 27, 1936, p. 30
  13. 'La Follette Urges Roosevelt Return: Senator Radios a Call From Chicago to All Liberals to Back the President'; The New York Times, September 29, 1936, p. 23
  14. 'Close Race Seen in Four States Landon Will Visit: Trend of Democratic Popularity in Four States'; Daily Boston Globe, September 22, 1936, p. 3
  15. Gallup, George; 'Roosevelt Is Gaining According to Nationwide Poll: Delaware, Minnesota Shift Gives 306 Electoral Votes'; Daily Boston Globe, October 4, 1936, p. 5
  16. [Kevin Phillips (political commentator)|Phillips, Kevin P.]
  17. Web site: Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections . 2022-12-29 . uselectionatlas.org.
  18. Wisconsin Historical Society, Certificate of Board of State Canvassers Relative to Presidential Candidates and Presidential Electors - November 3, 1936
  19. Book: The Wisconsin Blue Book 1937. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. Summary Vote For President By Counties. Madison, Wisconsin. 418.