1956 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election

1956 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election

November 6, 1956
 
Nominee Warren P. Knowles William A. Schmidt
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 822,780 684,844
Percentage 54.57% 45.42%

Lieutenant Governor before election

Warren P. Knowles
Republican

Elected Lieutenant Governor

Warren P. Knowles
Republican

The 1956 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1956, in order to elect the lieutenant governor of Wisconsin. Incumbent Republican lieutenant governor Warren P. Knowles defeated Democratic nominee and incumbent member of the Wisconsin Senate William A. Schmidt.[1]

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary election was held on September 11, 1956. Incumbent member of the Wisconsin Senate William A. Schmidt received a majority of the votes (53.21%) over the Democratic nominee in the previous election and attorney Edwin Larkin, and was thus elected as the nominee for the general election.[2]

Results

1956 Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William A. Schmidt 135,843 53.21%
Democratic Edwin Larkin 119,441 46.79%
Total votes 255,284 100.00%

General election

On election day, November 6, 1956, incumbent Republican lieutenant governor Warren P. Knowles won re-election by a margin of 137,936 votes against his opponent Democratic nominee William A. Schmidt, thereby retaining Republican control over the office of lieutenant governor. Knowles was sworn in for his second term on January 7, 1957.[3]

Results

Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election, 1956
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Warren P. Knowles (incumbent) 822,780 54.57
Democratic William A. Schmidt 684,844 45.42
Scattering 43 0.01
Total votes 1,507,667 100.00
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ "The Wisconsin Blue Book 1958". search.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  2. ^ "1956 Lt. Gubernatorial Democratic Primary Election Results - Wisconsin". uselectionatlas.org. July 19, 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  3. ^ "1956 Lt. Gubernatorial General Election Results - Wisconsin". uselectionatlas.org. May 30, 2024. Retrieved 2025-11-04.