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1914 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

The 1914 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held on November 6, 1914. Incumbent Republican Senator Isaac Stephenson did not run for re-election.

1914 United States Senate election in Wisconsin
← 1909 November 6, 1914 1918 (special) →
 
Nominee Paul O. Husting Francis E. McGovern Emil Seidel
Party Democratic Republican Socialist
First round 134,925
43.80% 		133,966
43.49% 		29,774
9.677%
Final round 135,306
50.18% 		134,339
49.82% 		Eliminated
County results
Husting:      30-40%      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
McGovern:      40-50%      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%
U.S. senator before election

Isaac Stephenson
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Paul O. Husting
Democratic

Democratic State Senator Paul O. Husting narrowly defeated Republican Governor Francis E. McGovern. Socialist former mayor of Milwaukee Emil Seidel ran a strong third. This was the first United States Senate election to be held by a popular vote in Wisconsin. Uniquely for this contest, Wisconsin utilized an early form of instant-runoff voting; all other elections in the state in 1914 were conducted using traditional first-past-the-post voting and Wisconsin would discontinue using this method following this election.[1]

Primary election

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Republican party

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Francis E. McGovern 37,125 32.23%
Republican Levi H. Bancroft 26,156 22.71%
Republican Thomas Morris 26,012 22.58%
Republican John Strange 11,983 10.40%
Republican Charles E. Estabrook 7,179 6.23%
Republican Timothy Burke 6,721 5.84%
Republican Scattering 2 0.00%
Total votes 115,178 100.00%

Democratic party

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Paul O. Husting 35,963 54.93%
Democratic Thomas Kearney 29,459 45.00%
Democratic Scattering 47 0.07%
Total votes 65,469 100.00%

Socialist party

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Candidates

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Results

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Socialist primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Socialist Emil Seidel 12,417 100.00%
Total votes 12,417 100.00%

Prohibition party

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Candidates

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Results

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Prohibition primary results[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Prohibition Charles L. Hill 1,754 99.66%
Prohibition Scattering 6 0.34%
Total votes 1.760 100.00%

General election

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Candidates

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Results

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Wisconsin's general election for United States Senate in 1914 utilized an early form of instant-runoff voting and it was only used for this particular election. Voters were able to make a first and second choice among the four candidates.[3] Since no candidate received an absolute majority of the first choice votes, candidates were progressively eliminated and their second choice votes added to the remaining candidates. However, very few voters actually availed themselves of the second choice option. The final tally only netted each major party candidate about 400 votes each. Hustings' leads in the first choice votes only and after the final elimination were essentially the same, but once Seidel was eliminated, that lead was sufficient for a small majority.[1]

1914 United States Senate election in Wisconsin[1]
Party Candidate First choice Round 1 Round 2 Round 3
Votes % Transfer Votes % Transfer Votes % Transfer Votes %
Democratic Paul O. Husting 134,925 43.80% +0 134,925 43.82% +188 135,113 45.18% +193 135,306 50.18%
Republican Francis E. McGovern 133,966 43.49% +0 133,966 43.50% +158 134,124 44.85% +215 134,339 49.82%
Socialist Emil Seidel 29,774 9.67% +0 29,774 9.67% +30 29,804 9.97% −29,804 Eliminated
Prohibition Charles L. Hill 9,276 3.01% +0 9,276 3.01% −9,276 Eliminated
Scattering 78 0.03% -78 Eliminated
Total votes 308,019 307,941 299,041 269,645
Blank or inactive ballots 78 +8,900 8,978 +29,396 38,374
Democratic gain from Republican

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Wisconsin Historical Society, Certificate of Board of State Canvassers for United States Senator, General Election - 1914
  2. ^ a b c d "Election Statistics". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1915 (Report). Industrial Commission of Wisconsin. 1915. pp. 234–235. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  3. ^ "Notice of General Election". The Milwaukee Leader. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. November 2, 1914. p. 8. Retrieved September 16, 2024.


   

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