1911 United States Senate election in Wisconsin
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The 1911 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held in the 50th Wisconsin Legislature on January 25, 1911. Incumbent Republican U.S. senator Robert M. La Follette was re-elected on the first ballot.[1]
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January 25, 1911
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In the 1911 term, Republicans held overwhelming majorities in both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature, so had more than enough votes to elect a Republican United States senator. This was the second U.S. Senate election in Wisconsin carried out after the implementation of partisan primary elections. La Follette won the Republican primary by a wide margin over challenger Samuel A. Cook. U.S. representative Charles H. Weisse won the nomination for Democrats, although the Democratic state convention had voted to support Burt Williams of Ashland.
Democratic primary
On the ballot
- Charles H. Weisse, incumbent U.S. representative from Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin.
- Burt Williams, former mayor of Ashland, Wisconsin, self-professes progressive Democrat and Democratic state convention nominee.
Primary result
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Charles H. Weisse | 30,579 | 65.52% | |
| Democratic | Burt Williams | 16,089 | 34.48% | |
| Plurality | 14,490 | 31.05% | ||
| Total votes | 46,668 | 100.0% | ||
Republican primary
On the ballot
- Samuel A. Cook, former U.S. representative and prominent state leader in the Grand Army of the Republic from Neenah, Wisconsin, unsuccessful candidate in the 1909 primary.
- Robert M. La Follette, incumbent U.S. senator and former governor.
Primary result
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert M. La Follette (incumbent) | 142,978 | 77.80% | |
| Republican | Samuel A. Cook | 40,791 | 22.20% | |
| Plurality | 102,187 | 55.61% | ||
| Total votes | 183,769 | 100.0% | ||
Social-Democratic primary
On the ballot
- John C. Kleist, lawyer from Milwaukee.
Primary result
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social-Democratic | John C. Kleist | 11,435 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 11,435 | 100.0% | ||
Prohibition primary
On the ballot
- John V. Collins
Primary result
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibition | John V. Collins | 1,832 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 1,832 | 100.0% | ||
Election
The two legislative chambers voted separately on January 24, 1911, then convened in joint session on January 25, reading their respective tallies and announcing La Follette as the winner.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert M. La Follette (incumbent) | 83[a] | 64.34% | ||
| Democratic | Charles H. Weisse | 31[b] | 24.03% | ||
| Social-Democratic | John C. Kleist | 14[c] | 10.85% | ||
| Republican | Frederick C. Winkler | 1[d] | 0.78% | ||
| Prohibition | John V. Collins | 0 | 0.0% | ||
| Absent or not voting | 4 | ||||
| Majority | 65 | 50.39% | |||
| Total votes | 129 | 96.99% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
Notes
- La Follette received the votes of all Republicans except senator John Meek Whitehead (who voted for Winkler), and senators Edward E. Browne and James A. Wright (who were absent).
- Weisse received the votes of all Democrats except representatives Mathias J. Scholey and William E. Wheelan (who were absent).
- Kleist received the votes of all Social-Democrats.
- Republican senator John Meek Whitehead voted for Winkler.