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 County resultsNelson: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Thomson: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1958 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1958. The Democratic nominee, state senator Gaylord A. Nelson, defeated the Republican incumbent governor, Vernon W. Thomson, receiving 53.59% of the vote.
This was the first Democratic victory in a Wisconsin gubernatorial election since 1932, and only the second since 1892. Nelson's share of the vote was the highest for a Democrat since 1873. As of 2024, this is the most recent gubernatorial election in which Vilas County has voted for the Democratic candidate.
Primary election
The primary election was held on September 9, 1958. Both major party candidates were unopposed in their respective primaries.
Republican party
Candidates
- Vernon W. Thomson, incumbent governor
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Vernon W. Thomson (incumbent) | 241,816 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 241,816 | 100.00% | ||
Democratic party
Candidates
- Gaylord A. Nelson, member of the Wisconsin State Senate since 1948.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Gaylord A. Nelson | 234,345 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 234,345 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Gaylord A. Nelson, Democrat
- Vernon W. Thomson, Republican
- Wayne Leverenz, Independent
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Gaylord A. Nelson | 644,296 | 53.59% | +5.48% | |
| Republican | Vernon W. Thomson (incumbent) | 556,391 | 46.28% | −5.61% | |
| Independent | Wayne Leverenz | 1,485 | 0.12% | ||
| Scattering | 47 | 0.00% | |||
| Majority | 87,905 | 7.31% | |||
| Total votes | 1,202,219 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic gain from Republican | Swing | +11.09% | |||
Results by county
By backing Thomson, Oconto County voted for the losing candidate for the first time since 1875, breaking a streak of 40 consecutive elections of backing the eventual winner. Additionally, Clark County, Green County, and Waupaca County voted for the losing candidate for the first time since 1892.
| County | Gaylord A. Nelson Democratic |
Vernon W. Thomson Republican |
Wayne Leverenz Independent |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 1,540 | 56.37% | 1,190 | 43.56% | 0 | 0.00% | 350 | 12.81% | 2,732 |
| Ashland | 3,773 | 59.14% | 2,603 | 40.80% | 4 | 0.06% | 1,107 | 18.34% | 6,380 |
| Barron | 4,928 | 51.05% | 4,716 | 48.86% | 9 | 0.09% | 212 | 2.20% | 9,653 |
| Bayfield | 2,739 | 59.18% | 1,886 | 40.75% | 3 | 0.06% | 853 | 18.43% | 4,628 |
| Brown | 16,747 | 44.30% | 21,036 | 55.65% | 19 | 0.05% | -4,289 | -11.35% | 37,802 |
| Buffalo | 1,779 | 49.33% | 1,824 | 50.58% | 3 | 0.08% | -45 | -1.25% | 3,606 |
| Burnett | 1,931 | 53.06% | 1,703 | 46.80% | 5 | 0.14% | 228 | 6.27% | 3,639 |
| Calumet | 2,596 | 40.22% | 3,851 | 59.67% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,255 | -19.45% | 6,454 |
| Chippewa | 7,055 | 58.29% | 5,037 | 41.62% | 11 | 0.09% | 2,018 | 16.67% | 12,103 |
| Clark | 4,809 | 49.33% | 4,932 | 50.59% | 7 | 0.07% | -123 | -1.26% | 9,748 |
| Columbia | 5,576 | 48.50% | 5,918 | 51.47% | 3 | 0.03% | -342 | -2.97% | 11,497 |
| Crawford | 2,548 | 47.18% | 2,851 | 52.79% | 2 | 0.04% | -303 | -5.61% | 5,401 |
| Dane | 39,790 | 62.12% | 2,4251 | 37.86% | 6 | 0.01% | 15,539 | 24.26% | 64,050 |
| Dodge | 8,013 | 45.76% | 9,489 | 54.19% | 8 | 0.05% | -1,476 | -8.43% | 17,510 |
| Door | 2,639 | 37.92% | 4,316 | 62.01% | 5 | 0.07% | -1,677 | -24.09% | 6,960 |
| Douglas | 11,016 | 64.38% | 6,080 | 35.53% | 15 | 0.09% | 4,936 | 28.85% | 17,111 |
| Dunn | 3,550 | 45.45% | 4,258 | 54.51% | 3 | 0.04% | -708 | -9.06% | 7,811 |
| Eau Claire | 10,347 | 56.65% | 7,896 | 43.23% | 22 | 0.12% | 2,451 | 13.42% | 18,265 |
| Florence | 856 | 55.51% | 683 | 44.29% | 3 | 0.19% | 173 | 11.22% | 1,542 |
| Fond du Lac | 10,590 | 44.42% | 13,222 | 55.46% | 27 | 0.11% | -2,632 | -11.04% | 23,841 |
| Forest | 1,965 | 65.02% | 1,050 | 34.75% | 7 | 0.23% | 915 | 30.28% | 3,022 |
| Grant | 4,517 | 34.26% | 8,637 | 65.50% | 32 | 0.24% | -4,120 | -31.25% | 13,186 |
| Green | 2,838 | 38.63% | 4,506 | 61.34% | 2 | 0.03% | -1,668 | -22.71% | 7,346 |
| Green Lake | 2,016 | 31.89% | 4,291 | 67.87% | 15 | 0.24% | -2,275 | -35.99% | 6,322 |
| Iowa | 2,663 | 45.20% | 3,229 | 54.80% | 0 | 0.00% | -566 | -9.61% | 5,892 |
| Iron | 2,463 | 70.59% | 1,020 | 29.23% | 6 | 0.17% | 1,443 | 41.36% | 3,489 |
| Jackson | 2,643 | 55.64% | 2,104 | 44.29% | 2 | 0.04% | 539 | 11.35% | 4,750 |
| Jefferson | 8,463 | 50.50% | 8,285 | 49.43% | 12 | 0.07% | 178 | 1.06% | 16,760 |
| Juneau | 3,002 | 46.53% | 3,446 | 53.41% | 4 | 0.06% | -444 | -6.88% | 6,452 |
| Kenosha | 17,699 | 59.79% | 11,871 | 40.10% | 31 | 0.10% | 5,828 | 19.69% | 29,601 |
| Kewaunee | 2,833 | 47.48% | 3,132 | 52.49% | 2 | 0.03% | -299 | -5.01% | 5,967 |
| La Crosse | 11,789 | 51.45% | 11,035 | 48.16% | 89 | 0.39% | 754 | 3.29% | 22,913 |
| Lafayette | 2,500 | 46.05% | 2,929 | 53.95% | 0 | 0.00% | -429 | -7.90% | 5,429 |
| Langlade | 3,727 | 53.67% | 3,210 | 46.23% | 7 | 0.10% | 517 | 7.45% | 6,944 |
| Lincoln | 3,840 | 50.74% | 3,719 | 49.14% | 9 | 0.12% | 121 | 1.60% | 7,568 |
| Manitowoc | 12,281 | 53.92% | 10,417 | 45.73% | 79 | 0.35% | 1,864 | 8.18% | 22,777 |
| Marathon | 16,064 | 56.65% | 12,267 | 43.26% | 23 | 0.08% | 3,797 | 13.39% | 28,356 |
| Marinette | 5,369 | 48.84% | 5,618 | 51.11% | 5 | 0.05% | -249 | -2.27% | 10,992 |
| Marquette | 941 | 36.73% | 1,620 | 63.23% | 1 | 0.04% | -679 | -26.50% | 2,562 |
| Milwaukee | 190,647 | 61.58% | 118,310 | 38.22% | 612 | 0.20% | 72,337 | 23.37% | 309,576 |
| Monroe | 4,422 | 49.85% | 4,445 | 50.11% | 0 | 0.00% | -23 | -0.26% | 8,871 |
| Oconto | 4,029 | 48.81% | 4,222 | 51.14% | 4 | 0.05% | -193 | -2.34% | 8,255 |
| Oneida | 5,090 | 57.34% | 3,782 | 42.60% | 5 | 0.06% | 1,308 | 14.73% | 8,877 |
| Outagamie | 10,611 | 39.19% | 16,388 | 60.52% | 78 | 0.29% | -5,777 | -21.34% | 27,077 |
| Ozaukee | 5,448 | 47.76% | 5,956 | 52.21% | 4 | 0.04% | -508 | -4.45% | 11,408 |
| Pepin | 838 | 48.33% | 895 | 51.61% | 1 | 0.06% | -57 | -3.29% | 1,734 |
| Pierce | 2,656 | 46.31% | 3,079 | 53.69% | 0 | 0.00% | -423 | -7.38% | 5,735 |
| Polk | 4,598 | 56.96% | 3,470 | 42.98% | 5 | 0.06% | 1,128 | 13.97% | 8,073 |
| Portage | 7,698 | 62.97% | 4,510 | 36.89% | 17 | 0.14% | 3,188 | 26.08% | 12,225 |
| Price | 3,043 | 56.10% | 2,373 | 43.75% | 8 | 0.15% | 670 | 12.35% | 5,424 |
| Racine | 26,423 | 60.49% | 17,229 | 39.44% | 32 | 0.07% | 9,194 | 21.05% | 43,684 |
| Richland | 2,756 | 43.64% | 3,557 | 56.33% | 2 | 0.03% | -801 | -12.68% | 6,315 |
| Rock | 14,166 | 47.03% | 15,913 | 52.83% | 39 | 0.13% | -1,747 | -5.80% | 30,119 |
| Rusk | 2,813 | 57.02% | 2,114 | 42.85% | 6 | 0.12% | 699 | 14.17% | 4,933 |
| Sauk | 5,539 | 46.50% | 6,366 | 53.44% | 6 | 0.05% | -827 | -6.94% | 11,912 |
| Sawyer | 1,591 | 45.48% | 1,900 | 54.32% | 0 | 0.00% | -309 | -8.83% | 3,498 |
| Shawano | 3,884 | 43.17% | 5,109 | 56.78% | 5 | 0.06% | -1,225 | -13.61% | 8,998 |
| Sheboygan | 15,777 | 51.56% | 14,815 | 48.42% | 0 | 0.00% | 962 | 3.14% | 30,599 |
| St. Croix | 4,431 | 50.01% | 4,426 | 49.95% | 3 | 0.03% | 5 | 0.06% | 8,860 |
| Taylor | 3,362 | 59.30% | 2,303 | 40.62% | 4 | 0.07% | 1,059 | 18.68% | 5,669 |
| Trempealeau | 3,670 | 53.68% | 3,166 | 46.31% | 1 | 0.01% | 504 | 7.37% | 6,837 |
| Vernon | 4,885 | 56.10% | 3,819 | 43.86% | 4 | 0.05% | 1,066 | 12.24% | 8,708 |
| Vilas | 2,398 | 51.70% | 2,232 | 48.12% | 8 | 0.17% | 166 | 3.58% | 4,638 |
| Walworth | 5,753 | 38.67% | 9,116 | 61.27% | 9 | 0.06% | -3,363 | -22.60% | 14,878 |
| Washburn | 1,784 | 49.04% | 1,852 | 50.91% | 2 | 0.05% | -68 | -1.87% | 3,638 |
| Washington | 5,768 | 46.14% | 6,728 | 53.82% | 5 | 0.04% | -960 | -7.68% | 12,502 |
| Waukesha | 20,637 | 48.45% | 21,902 | 51.42% | 57 | 0.13% | -1,265 | -2.97% | 42,596 |
| Waupaca | 3,972 | 37.09% | 6,732 | 62.87% | 4 | 0.04% | -2,760 | -25.78% | 10,708 |
| Waushara | 1,446 | 36.00% | 2,569 | 63.95% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,123 | -27.96% | 4,017 |
| Winnebago | 15,494 | 46.21% | 17,979 | 53.62% | 59 | 0.18% | -2,485 | -7.41% | 33,532 |
| Wood | 8,232 | 47.69% | 9,006 | 52.17% | 24 | 0.14% | -774 | -4.48% | 17,262 |
| Total | 644,296 | 53.59% | 556,391 | 46.28% | 1,485 | 0.12% | 87,905 | 7.31% | 1,202,219 |
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Adams
- Barron
- Burnett
- Eau Claire
- Florence
- Jefferson
- La Crosse
- Langlade
- Lincoln
- Oneida
- Price
- Sheboygan
- St. Croix
- Taylor
- Vilas
Notes
- Not listed by county in the Blue Book but full results are listed in the Board of Canvassers report.
- These are not listed in the Blue Book but are listed in the Board of Canvassers report.
- ^ Includes 2 Scattering votes
- ^ Includes 7 Scattering votes
- Includes 3 Scattering votes
- ^ Includes 1 Scattering vote
- Includes 4 Scattering votes
References
- Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
- ^ The Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library (1960). "Vote For State Officers, Wisconsin Primary Election". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1960. Madison, Wisconsin. p. 650.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - "Nelson, Gaylord A." Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
- ^ Wisconsin Historical Society, Statement of Board of State Canvassers for State Officers - General Election - 1958
- ^ The Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library (1960). "Vote For State Officers By Counties, Wisconsin General Election, November 4, 1958". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1960. Madison, Wisconsin. pp. 692–693.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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