1948 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

The 1948 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1948.

1948 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

November 2, 1948

Nominee Oscar Rennebohm Carl W. Thompson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 684,839 558,497 Percentage 54.09% 44.11%

County Results Rennebohm:      50–60%      60–70%      70-80% Thompson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Oscar Rennebohm Republican Elected Governor Oscar Rennebohm Republican

Incumbent Republican Governor Oscar Rennebohm defeated Democratic nominee Carl W. Thompson with 54.09% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on September 21, 1948.

Candidates

• William D. Carroll, former State Senator[1]
• Carl W. Thompson, attorney[2]

Results

Democratic primary results[3][4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Carl W. Thompson	72,084	65.32
	Democratic	William D. Carroll	38,275	34.68
Total votes			110,359	100.00

Candidates

• Ralph M. Immell, unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for Governor in 1946
• Oscar Rennebohm, incumbent Governor

Results

Republican primary results[5][4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Oscar Rennebohm	278,650	58.19
	Republican	Ralph M. Immell	200,248	41.81
Total votes			478,898	100.00

General election

Candidates

Major party candidates

• Carl W. Thompson, Democratic
• Oscar Rennebohm, Republican

Other candidates

• Henry J. Berquist, People's Progressive, candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1942
• James E. Boulton, Socialist Workers, industrial worker, candidate for Mayor of Milwaukee in March 1948[6]
• Georgia Cozzini, Socialist Labor, candidate for Governor in 1942 and 1944
• Walter H. Uphoff, Socialist, candidate for Governor in 1946

Results

Wisconsin gubernatorial election, 1948[7][8][9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Oscar Rennebohm (incumbent)	684,839	54.09%	-5.69%
	Democratic	Carl W. Thompson	558,497	44.11%	+5.04%
	Progressive	Henry J. Berquist	12,928	1.02%
	Socialist	Walter H. Uphoff	9,149	0.72%	-0.14%
	Socialist Workers	James E. Boulton	356	0.03%	-0.15%
	Socialist Labor	Georgia Cozzini	328	0.03%	-0.07%
		Scattering	42	0.00%
Plurality			126,342	9.98%	-10.73%
Total votes			1,266,139	100.00%	+21.69%
	Republican hold

References

1. "William Carroll, Prairie du Chien Mayor, Dead at 72". Janesville Daily Gazette. Janesville, Wisconsin. 14 November 1955. p. 3. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
2. "Defeat of Stevenson For House Lone Upset In Wisconsin Primary". Evening star. Washington, D.C. 22 September 1948. p. A-2. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
3. "WI Governor, 1948 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
4. Wisconsin Blue Book 1950, p. 647.
5. "WI Governor, 1948 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
6. "Milwaukee SWP Runs J. Boulton for Mayor" (PDF). The Militant. New York, NY. 22 December 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
7. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 87.
8. "WI Governor, 1948". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
9. Wisconsin Blue Book 1950, p. 739.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
• Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1950). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1950. State of Wisconsin.