Ernest O. Voigt

Ernest O. Voigt
Voigt c. 1942
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 61st district
In office
January 7, 1935 – January 4, 1943
Preceded byCharles W. Dempster
Succeeded byLester A. McMillan
Personal details
Born(1888-02-02)February 2, 1888
Waukesha, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedMay 21, 1962(1962-05-21) (aged 74)
Inglewood, California, U.S.
Resting placeInglewood Park Cemetery
PartySocialist (before 1934)
Democratic (after 1934)
Spouse(s)
Hattie Ludwig Martin
​
​
(m. 1926; died 1944)​

Amelia
Children3
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1908–1912
RankCommissary Steward
Battles/wars

Ernest Otto Voigt (February 2, 1888 – May 21, 1962)[1] was an American educator,[2][3] realtor,[4] plumber[5] and politician who served in the California State Assembly for the 61st district from 1935 to 1943.[6]

Career

Voigt served in the U.S. Navy as a commissary steward from 1908 to 1912,[7] during which he participated in the Admiral Kimball Expedition to Nicaragua.[2][3]

Voigt was one of two dozen "EPIC Democrats" elected to the state legislature in 1934.[8][9] Before his election, he was a member of the Socialist Party, running for Los Angeles's 15th City Council district in 1927.[10] He was a childhood friend of Daniel Hoan, the Socialist mayor of Milwaukee.[11]

During the 1936 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Voigt joined an EPIC slate nominally pledged to Upton Sinclair for president;[12] they actually supported Franklin D. Roosevelt, but opposed U.S. Senator William Gibbs McAdoo, who headed the president's slate.[13] The EPIC slate lost to Roosevelt's by a margin of eight to one.[14]

In 1942, just months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Voigt ran for reelection on a platform that highlighted his past support for defense spending.[15] He was defeated in the Democratic primary by Los Angeles City School District supervisor Lester A. McMillan.[16][17]

On April 3, 1943, Voigt was arrested after allegedly threatening to kill two people, Bonita West and Alphonso M. Davis.[18] When Voigt and his car were searched, police found two pairs of brass knuckles, a .38 caliber pistol and a two-foot crowbar.[19] Charged with carrying concealed weapons and attempted murder,[18] Voigt pled guilty to the former and was sentenced to six months in a road camp.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Ex-Legislator Voigt, 76, Dies". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. May 23, 1962. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Jordan, Frank C. California Blue Book, 1938. California State Printing Office. p. 59. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Peek, Paul. California Blue Book, 1942. California State Printing Office. p. 75. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  4. ^ Fletcher, Russel Holmes (1943). Who's Who In California. Los Angeles: Who's Who Publications Company. pp. 938–939. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  5. ^ "Ernest Voigt Dies, Former Assemblyman". Evening Vanguard. Venice. May 22, 1962. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  6. ^ "Ernest O. Voigt". joincalifornia.com. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  7. ^ "Ernest O. Voigt". The Waukesha Freeman. Waukesha. May 23, 1962. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  8. ^ "Olson Wins Over Cobb in State Senate Race, but G.O.P. Majority Assured". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. November 8, 1934. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  9. ^ Mitchell, Greg (1992). The Campaign of the Century. New York: Random House. p. 545–546.
  10. ^ "The Watchman". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. March 6, 1927. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  11. ^ "Demo Gains in Wisconsin Seen". United Press. October 15, 1954. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  12. ^ "Notice of Election". Madera Tribune. Madera. April 7, 1936. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  13. ^ "EPIC backs Sinclair for Presidency". Oakland Tribune. Oakland. February 24, 1936. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  14. ^ Jordan, Frank C. Statement of Vote at Presidential Primary Election held on May 5, 1936 in the State of California. Sacramento: California State Printing Office. pp. 28–29, 52–53. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  15. ^ "Voigt Tells Work For Defense and State Economy". Evening Vanguard. Venice. July 9, 1942. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  16. ^ "McMillan's Aides Give Statement On Candidacy". Evening Vanguard. Venice. October 30, 1942. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  17. ^ Hanson, Chester G. (October 5, 1942). "Economy Bloc Legislators Warned Defeat Possible". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  18. ^ a b "Ernest O. Voigt Charged With Attempted Murder". Evening Vanguard. Venice. April 8, 1943. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  19. ^ "Ernest Voigt Booked in Jail". Evening Vanguard. Venice. April 5, 1943. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  20. ^ "Ernest Voigt Sentenced to Serve Six Months in County Road Camp". Associated Press. May 28, 1943. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  • Media related to Ernest O. Voigt at Wikimedia Commons
  • JoinCalifornia - Ernest O. Voigt
  • Our Campaigns - Voigt, Ernest O. "Ernie"
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