1950 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election

1950 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election

November 7, 1950
 
Nominee George M. Smith Eugene R. Clifford
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 617,668 480,696
Percentage 56.02% 43.60%

County results
Smith:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Clifford:      50–60%

Lieutenant Governor before election

George M. Smith
Republican

Elected Lieutenant Governor

George M. Smith
Republican

The 1950 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1950, in order to elect the lieutenant governor of Wisconsin. Incumbent Republican lieutenant governor George M. Smith defeated Democratic nominee Eugene R. Clifford and Socialist nominee Rudolph Beyer.[1]

Republican primary

The Republican primary election was held on September 19, 1950. Incumbent lieutenant governor George M. Smith received a majority of the votes (61.85%), and was thus elected as the nominee for the general election.[2]

Results

1950 Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George M. Smith (incumbent) 237,488 61.85%
Republican Schultz 146,464 38.15%
Total votes 383,952 100.00%

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary election was held on September 19, 1950. Candidate Eugene R. Clifford received a majority of the votes (59.11%) over former member of the Wisconsin Senate Harold A. Lytie, and was thus elected as the nominee for the general election.[3]

Results

1950 Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Eugene R. Clifford 90,417 59.11%
Democratic Harold A. Lytie 62,548 40.89%
Total votes 152,965 100.00%

Socialist primary

The Socialist primary election was held on September 19, 1950. Candidate Rudolph Beyer ran unopposed and was thus elected as the nominee for the general election.[4]

Results

1950 Socialist lieutenant gubernatorial primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Socialist Rudolph Beyer 1,988 100.00%
Total votes 1,988 100.00%

General election

On election day, November 7, 1950, incumbent Republican lieutenant governor George M. Smith won re-election by a margin of 136,972 votes against his foremost opponent Democratic nominee Eugene R. Clifford, thereby retaining Republican control over the office of lieutenant governor. Smith was sworn in for his second term on January 1, 1951.[5]

Results

Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election, 1950
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George M. Smith (incumbent) 617,668 56.02
Democratic Eugene R. Clifford 480,696 43.60
Socialist Rudolph Beyer 4,272 0.38
Total votes 1,102,636 100.00
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ "The Wisconsin Blue Book 1952". search.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  2. ^ "1950 Lt. Gubernatorial Republican Primary Election Results - Wisconsin". uselectionatlas.org. July 18, 2025. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  3. ^ "1950 Lt. Gubernatorial Democratic Primary Election Results - Wisconsin". uselectionatlas.org. July 18, 2025. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  4. ^ "The Wisconsin Blue Book 1952". search.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  5. ^ "1950 Lt. Gubernatorial General Election Results - Wisconsin". uselectionatlas.org. May 30, 2024. Retrieved 2025-10-17.