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1928 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

The 1928 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held on November 6, 1928.

1928 United States Senate election in Wisconsin
← 1925 (special) November 6, 1928 1934 →
 
Nominee Robert La Follette Jr. William H. Markham
Party Republican Independent Republican
Popular vote 635,376 81,302
Percentage 85.57% 10.92%

La Follete:      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
U.S. senator before election

Robert La Follette Jr.
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Robert La Follette Jr.
Republican

Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Robert La Follette Jr., who had won a special election to finish his late father's term in 1925, was elected to a full term in office.

La Follette had to fend off two challenges from his own party, defeating George W. Mead in the party primary and Republican State Senator William H. Markham in the general election. Markham ran as a pro-Hoover "Regular Republican."

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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1928 Republican U.S. Senate primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert M. La Follette Jr. (incumbent) 322,979 66.71%
Republican George W. Mead 161,156 33.29%
Total votes 484,135 100.00%

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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1928 Democratic U.S. Senate primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael K. Reilly 38,432 100.00%
Total votes 38,432 100.00%

Prohibition primary

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Candidates

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  • David W. Emerson

Results

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1928 Prohibition U.S. Senate primary[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Prohibition David W. Emerson 827 100.00%
Total votes 827 100.00%

General election

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Candidates

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Campaign

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The Democratic Party of Wisconsin decided to endorse the progressive La Follette after he won the Republican primary.[2] The Democrats asked their own nominee, Michael K. Reilly, to withdraw from the race; he agreed, announcing his decision on October 8.[3] This was part of a broader attempt at a coalition between progressives and Democrats in Wisconsin to throw the state to Democrat Al Smith in the concurrent presidential election.[4]

Results

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1928 U.S. Senate election in Wisconsin[5][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Robert La Follette Jr. (incumbent) 635,376 85.57%  19.06
Independent Republican William H. Markham 81,302 10.95%  14.98
Prohibition David W. Emerson 21,359 2.88% N/A
Socialist Labor Richard Koeppel 3,053 0.41%  0.18
Communist John Kasun 1,463 0.20% N/A
Write-in 92 100.00% {{{change}}}
Total votes 742,645 100.00%
Republican hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1929" (PDF). p. 735. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  2. ^ "Reilly Admits He May Quit for 'Bob'". Wisconsin State Journal. October 1, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved September 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "DEMOCRAT WITHDRAWS AS LA FOLLETTE RIVAL; M.K. Reilly's Action Leaves a Hoover Independent Opposing the Senator in Wisconsin". The New York Times. October 9, 1928. p. 2.
  4. ^ "Says Progressives for Smith". The Capital Times. October 8, 1928. p. 16. Retrieved September 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 1928" (PDF). Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  6. ^ "The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1929" (PDF). Our Campaigns. p. 816. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
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