1958 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election

1958 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election

November 4, 1958
 
Nominee Philleo Nash Warren P. Knowles
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 587,209 581,061
Percentage 50.26% 49.74%

Lieutenant Governor before election

Warren P. Knowles
Republican

Elected Lieutenant Governor

Philleo Nash
Democratic

The 1958 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1958, in order to elect the lieutenant governor of Wisconsin. Democratic nominee and former Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Philleo Nash defeated incumbent Republican lieutenant governor Warren P. Knowles.[1]

Republican primary

The Republican primary election was held on September 9, 1958. Incumbent lieutenant governor Warren P. Knowles received a majority of the votes (73.58%) over former lieutenant governor George M. Smith and incumbent member of the Wisconsin Senate Leo P. O'Brien, and was thus elected as the nominee for the general election.[2]

Results

1958 Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Warren P. Knowles (incumbent) 183,671 73.58%
Republican George M. Smith 37,583 15.06%
Republican Leo P. O'Brien 28,352 11.36%
Total votes 249,606 100.00%

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary election was held on September 9, 1958. Former Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Philleo Nash received a plurality of the votes (47.34%), and was thus elected as the nominee for the general election.[3]

Results

1958 Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Philleo Nash 110,526 47.34%
Democratic Jerome D. Grant 93,091 39.88%
Democratic Albert Di Piazza 29,848 12.78%
Total votes 233,465 100.00%

General election

On election day, November 4, 1958, Democratic nominee Philleo Nash won the election by a margin of 6,148 votes against his opponent incumbent Republican lieutenant governor Warren P. Knowles, thereby gaining Democratic control over the office of lieutenant governor. Nash was sworn in as the 33rd lieutenant governor of Wisconsin on January 5, 1959.[4]

Results

Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election, 1958
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Philleo Nash 587,209 50.26
Republican Warren P. Knowles (incumbent) 581,061 49.74
Scattering 40 0.00
Total votes 1,168,310 100.00
Democratic gain from Republican

References

  1. ^ "The Wisconsin Blue Book 1960". search.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  2. ^ "1958 Lt. Gubernatorial Republican Primary Election Results - Wisconsin". uselectionatlas.org. July 19, 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  3. ^ "1958 Lt. Gubernatorial Democratic Primary Election Results - Wisconsin". uselectionatlas.org. July 19, 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  4. ^ "1958 Lt. Gubernatorial General Election Results - Wisconsin". uselectionatlas.org. May 30, 2024. Retrieved 2025-11-04.