1958 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

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1958 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

← 1956 November 4, 1958 1960 →
 
Nominee Gaylord Nelson Vernon W. Thomson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 644,296 556,391
Percentage 53.59% 46.28%

County results
Nelson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Thomson:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Vernon Wallace Thomson
Republican

Elected Governor

Gaylord Nelson
Democratic

The 1958 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1958. The Democratic nominee, state senator Gaylord 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. As of 2022, this marks the last occasion that Vilas County has voted Democratic in a gubernatorial election.[1]

General election[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Results[edit]

1958 Wisconsin gubernatorial election[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Gaylord Nelson 644,296 53.59%
Republican Vernon Wallace Thomson (incumbent) 556,391 46.28%
Socialist Workers Wayne Leverenz 1,485 0.12%
Independent Write-ins 47 0.00%
Majority 87,905 7.31%
Turnout 1,202,219
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

References[edit]

  1. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "THOMSON, Vernon Wallace 1905–1988". House.gov. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  3. ^ "WI Governor (1956)". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  4. ^ "Nelson, Gaylord A." Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  5. ^ "Leverenz, Wayne". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  6. ^ "WI Governor (1958)". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 23, 2020.