1968 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election

1968 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election

November 5, 1968

Nominee Jack B. Olson Taylor Benson Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 955,439 654,893 Percentage 59.33% 40.67%

Lieutenant Governor before election Jack B. Olson Republican Elected Lieutenant Governor Jack B. Olson Republican

The 1968 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1968. Republican Jack B. Olson won the election with 59% of the vote, winning his fourth term as Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin and defeating Democrat Taylor Benson. This was the last lieutenant gubernatorial election in Wisconsin where the lieutenant governor was elected to a two year term separately from the Governor, when a constitutional amendment which made it so the two offices were elected on a single ticket for four years. As part of the amendment, the Lieutenant governor would be elected separately from the governor in primary elections.

This would also serve as Olson's last successful bid for elected office, as he was defeated by his predecessor, Patrick Lucey, in the 1970 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jack B. Olson, incumbent Lieutenant Governor

Results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jack B. Olson	264,260	100%
Total votes			264,260	100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Taylor Benson, State Senator from the 28th Senate district

Eliminated in primary

• David S. Miller

Results

Primary results by county:

  Benson

•   50-60%
•   60-70%
•   70-80%

  Miller

•   50-60%
•   60-70%

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Taylor Benson	396,302	61.46%
	Democratic	David S. Miller	69,572	38.54%
Total votes			758,775	100.0

General election

Results

1968 Wisconsin lieutenant governor election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jack B. Olson (incumbent)	955,439	59.33
	Democratic	Taylor Benson	654,893	40.67
Total votes			1,610,332	100.0
	Republican hold