1916 United States presidential election in Wisconsin

The 1916 United States presidential election in Wisconsin was held on November 7, 1916 as part of the 1916 United States presidential election. State voters chose 13 electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

Ever since the decline of the Populist movement, Wisconsin had become almost a one-party state dominated by the Republican Party.Burnham, Walter Dean; 'The System of 1896: An Analysis'; in The Evolution of American Electoral Systems, pp. 178-179 The Democratic Party became entirely uncompetitive outside certain German Catholic counties adjoining Lake Michigan as the upper classes, along with the majority of workers who followed them, completely fled from William Jennings Bryan's agrarian and free silver sympathies.Sundquist, James; Politics and Policy: The Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson Years, p. 526 As Democratic strength weakened severely after 1894 – although the state did develop a strong Socialist Party to provide opposition to the GOP – Wisconsin developed the direct Republican primary in 1903 and this ultimately created competition between the "League" under Robert M. La Follette, and the conservative "Regular" faction.Hansen, John Mark; Shigeo Hirano, and Snyder, James M. Jr.; 'Parties within Parties: Parties, Factions, and Coordinated Politics, 1900-1980'; in Gerber, Alan S. and Schickler, Eric; Governing in a Polarized Age: Elections, Parties, and Political Representation in America, pp. 165-168

At the turn of the decade, the Democratic Party underwent a brief revival, as it made significant gains upon its small share of state legislative seats and many people in the state saw in New Jersey Governor Woodrow Wilson the possibility of the party returning to the ideals it was felt to have deserted with Bryan fifteen years beforehand.Crews, Kenneth D.; 'Woodrow Wilson, Wisconsin, and the Election of 1912'; Presidential Studies Quarterly, Vol. 12, No. 3: 'Presidents, Vice Presidents and Political Parties: Performance and Prospects' (Summer, 1982), pp. 369-376 Wilson would carry Wisconsin in 1912 and in fact improve upon Bryan's share of the vote from 1908.

During his term, however, Wisconsin's heavily German-American population turned against Wilson, with the result that in 1914 the Democrats lost ground in the state legislature, and with the outbreak of war in Europe this opposition increased, because the concurrent Irish rebellion was believed to lie in the interests of the Central Powers, and Wilson was viewed as strongly pro-British.Leary, William M. (jr.); 'Woodrow Wilson, Irish Americans, and the Election of 1916'; The Journal of American History, Vol. 54, No. 1 (June 1967), pp. 57-72 The position of President Wilson as strongly pro-British was intensified when he failed to accept clemency for Roger Casement.

Republican nominee Charles Evans Hughes campaigned in the state during September,'The Barometer of Public Opinion'; The Watertown News (Watertown, Wisconsin), September 27, 1916, p. 4 but President Wilson did not campaign in the state, although it was viewed as doubtful in September despite strong feelings that German-American opposition would eliminate Wilson's chance.'Hughes or Wilson in Wisconsin?'; The La Crosse Tribunal, September 15, 1916, p. 3 Near the end of October, a Tennessean polls suggested that Wilson would carry the state due to his anti-war sentiment,'Drift Continues Unmistakably to Wilson; Republicans Are Still Striving to Stem the Swelling Tide of Defeat'; The Tennessean, October 29, 1916, p. 11 but the Los Angeles Times said Hughes would carry the state by a "moderate margin" despite a straw poll in favour of Wilson.Tribunes Poll'; Los Angeles Times, October 29, 1916, p. 4 The Oshkosh Northwestern on October 26 viewed the state as "doubtful", but said their polls indicated Hughes would win by around fifteen thousand votes.'Wisconsin Is Doubtful: One Summary of State'; Oshkosh Northwestern, October 26, 1916, p. 11

Results + General election resultsWisconsin Historical Society, Certificate of Board of Canvassers of the State of Wisconsin - Presidential ElectorsParty Pledged to Elector Votes Republican Party Charles Evans Hughes L. K. Baker221,323 Republican Party Charles Evans Hughes William W. Storms221,215 Republican Party Charles Evans Hughes Frank Smith221,181 Republican Party Charles Evans Hughes Walter J. Kohler221,026 Republican Party Charles Evans Hughes Fred C. Pritzlaff221,011 Republican Party Charles Evans Hughes O. G. Munson220,979 Republican Party Charles Evans Hughes L. M. Alexander220,968 Republican Party Charles Evans Hughes H. D. Lauson220,952 Republican Party Charles Evans Hughes G. A. Walter Jr.220,923 Republican Party Charles Evans Hughes John S. Medary220,897 Republican Party Charles Evans Hughes O. K. Hawley220,866 Republican Party Charles Evans Hughes A. H. Stange220,866 Republican Party Charles Evans Hughes James T. Drought220,857 Democratic Party Woodrow Wilson John C. Karel193,042 Democratic Party Woodrow Wilson Charles W. Wiesse191,857 Democratic Party Woodrow Wilson J. E. Dodge191,834 Democratic Party Woodrow Wilson Vincent J. Schoenecker191,692 Democratic Party Woodrow Wilson W. J. Kershaw191,665 Democratic Party Woodrow Wilson Aldro Jenks191,562 Democratic Party Woodrow Wilson Andrew R. McDonald191,548 Democratic Party Woodrow Wilson Henry Moehlenpah191,491 Democratic Party Woodrow Wilson John R. Matthews191,488 Democratic Party Woodrow Wilson L. J. Pasternecki191,483 Democratic Party Woodrow Wilson Otto C. Wernecke191,469 Democratic Party Woodrow Wilson J. H. Cernahan191,450 Democratic Party Woodrow Wilson J. A. Hobe191,245 Socialist Party Allan L. Benson A. J. Melms27,846 Socialist Party Allan L. Benson Oscar Ameringer27,802 Socialist Party Allan L. Benson Edward Ziegler27,739 Socialist Party Allan L. Benson James Vint27,703 Socialist Party Allan L. Benson Charles H. Olson27,692 Socialist Party Allan L. Benson John Doerfler Sr.27,678 Socialist Party Allan L. Benson John Chilson27,665 Socialist Party Allan L. Benson Edward D. Deuss27,656 Socialist Party Allan L. Benson Robert Schuttler27,656 Socialist Party Allan L. Benson Curtis A. Boorman27,637 Socialist Party Allan L. Benson G. M. Schmitz27,631 Socialist Party Allan L. Benson D. V. Lawell27,621 Socialist Party Allan L. Benson Otto F. Eick27,600 Prohibition Party Frank Hanly Anthony J. Benjamin7,166 Prohibition Party Frank Hanly Frank R. Derrick7,130 Prohibition Party Frank Hanly Charles Schlafer7,117 Prohibition Party Frank Hanly Louis M. Sagen7,110 Prohibition Party Frank Hanly Jasper Dexter7,108 Prohibition Party Frank Hanly Herbert S. Siggelko7,104 Prohibition Party Frank Hanly Almon I. Collins7,096 Prohibition Party Frank Hanly Pliny F. Meyers7,093 Prohibition Party Frank Hanly William R. Nethercut7,084 Prohibition Party Frank Hanly Oliver Needham7,076 Prohibition Party Frank Hanly Charles E. Badger7,068 Prohibition Party Frank Hanly David W. Emerson7,047 Prohibition Party Frank Hanly Waldemar Ager7,025 Write-in Scattering25Votes cast 449,402

Results by county County Charles Evans HughesRepublican Woodrow WilsonDemocratic Allan L. BensonSocialist Frank HanlyProhibition Margin Total votescast # % # % # % # % # %Adams95751.15%82444.04%482.57%422.24%1337.11%1,871Ashland2,01751.94%1,59941.18%1894.87%782.01%41810.76%3,883Barron2,77254.91%1,89037.44%1362.69%2504.95%88217.47%5,048Bayfield1,32151.12%99738.58%2258.71%411.59%32412.54%2,584Brown4,13240.01%5,77155.88%2232.16%2011.95%-1,639-15.87%10,327Buffalo1,49256.56%1,04439.58%632.39%391.48%44816.98%2,638Burnett1,00753.97%63834.19%1699.06%522.79%36919.77%1,866Calumet1,98157.20%1,38439.97%742.14%240.69%59717.24%3,463Chippewa3,32758.15%2,23439.05%721.26%881.54%1,09319.11%5,721Clark3,41364.95%1,62931.00%1292.45%841.60%1,78433.95%5,255Columbia3,43257.66%2,31438.88%801.34%1262.12%1,11818.78%5,952Crawford1,88350.66%1,76447.46%320.86%381.02%1193.20%3,717Dane6,94740.04%9,92357.19%1901.10%2911.68%-2,976-17.15%17,351Dodge4,91650.73%4,53546.80%1111.15%1281.32%3813.93%9,690Door1,65656.27%1,20440.91%381.29%451.53%45215.36%2,943Douglas3,06043.82%2,97142.55%79811.43%1542.21%891.27%6,983Dunn2,58960.20%1,45733.88%1724.00%831.93%1,13226.32%4,301Eau Claire2,96153.19%2,30241.35%1873.36%1172.10%65911.84%5,567Florence41269.36%16227.27%91.52%111.85%25042.09%594Fond du Lac5,82051.86%5,11845.61%1301.16%1541.37%7026.26%11,222Forest73952.15%63845.02%181.27%221.55%1017.13%1,417Grant4,72056.30%3,46041.27%700.84%1331.59%1,26015.03%8,383Green2,44655.84%1,69938.79%651.48%1703.88%74717.05%4,380Green Lake1,65053.07%1,35343.52%341.09%471.51%2979.55%3,109Iowa2,27148.79%2,23047.91%190.41%1352.90%410.88%4,655Iron67254.63%47538.62%433.50%403.25%19716.02%1,230Jackson1,86664.10%96633.18%501.72%291.00%90030.92%2,911Jefferson3,80949.54%3,67647.81%841.09%1201.56%1331.73%7,689Juneau2,33558.99%1,44936.61%1092.75%651.64%88622.39%3,958Kenosha3,53750.99%2,81740.61%4977.16%861.24%72010.38%6,937Kewaunee1,10435.04%2,01163.82%200.63%160.51%-907-28.78%3,151La Crosse3,65944.57%4,16050.68%2813.42%1091.33%-501-6.10%8,209Lafayette2,54554.09%2,05943.76%180.38%831.76%48610.33%4,705Langlade1,54045.10%1,75751.45%812.37%371.08%-217-6.35%3,415Lincoln2,19160.74%1,28235.54%982.72%361.00%90925.20%3,607Manitowoc4,23646.43%4,36447.84%4534.97%700.77%-128-1.40%9,123Marathon5,86857.13%3,70236.04%6075.91%950.92%2,16621.09%10,272Marinette2,80753.40%2,21242.08%1462.78%921.75%59511.32%5,257Marquette1,38558.86%92439.27%150.64%291.23%46119.59%2,353Milwaukee27,95734.73%35,04143.53%17,07621.21%4270.53%-7,084-8.80%80,501Monroe3,06857.81%2,01237.91%1212.28%1062.00%1,05619.90%5,307Oconto2,61456.45%1,90741.18%701.51%400.86%70715.27%4,631Oneida1,10345.02%1,08544.29%24910.16%130.53%180.73%2,450Outagamie5,34652.84%4,50544.52%1661.64%1011.00%8418.31%10,118Ozaukee1,61049.39%1,57948.44%511.56%200.61%310.95%3,260Pepin76653.19%62343.26%251.74%261.81%1439.93%1,440Pierce1,94651.88%1,65244.04%721.92%812.16%2947.84%3,751Polk2,08051.19%1,71442.19%1954.80%741.82%3669.01%4,063Portage2,52344.54%3,00152.98%711.25%691.22%-478-8.44%5,664Price1,62156.36%1,05136.54%1475.11%571.98%57019.82%2,876Racine4,49642.26%5,08347.78%6055.69%4554.28%-587-5.52%10,639Richland2,05348.55%1,84843.70%892.10%2395.65%2054.85%4,229Rock7,04261.11%4,03234.99%2231.94%2271.97%3,01026.12%11,524Rusk98947.62%92644.58%1145.49%482.31%633.03%2,077Sauk3,78659.53%2,27635.79%430.68%2554.01%1,51023.74%6,360Sawyer55146.62%56247.55%514.31%181.52%-11-0.93%1,182Shawano3,41768.72%1,36827.51%1302.61%571.15%2,04941.21%4,972Sheboygan5,57352.89%3,90337.04%9769.26%850.81%1,67015.85%10,537St. Croix2,73950.99%2,37344.17%1763.28%841.56%3666.81%5,372Taylor1,54460.17%84632.97%1365.30%401.56%69827.20%2,566Trempealeau2,13956.05%1,57841.35%290.76%701.83%56114.70%3,816Vernon2,92858.64%1,83936.83%490.98%1773.54%1,08921.81%4,993Vilas53148.49%46742.65%817.40%161.46%645.84%1,095Walworth4,00459.60%2,45836.59%570.85%1992.96%1,54623.01%6,718Washburn93855.31%64738.15%774.54%342.00%29117.16%1,696Washington2,89650.31%2,73647.53%751.30%490.85%1602.78%5,756Waukesha3,77845.15%4,21950.42%1461.74%2252.69%-441-5.27%8,368Waupaca4,49369.85%1,72126.76%981.52%1201.87%2,77243.10%6,432Waushara2,34567.31%1,01529.13%782.24%461.32%1,33038.17%3,484Winnebago5,99350.51%5,32844.90%3833.23%1621.37%6655.60%11,866Wood2,97950.30%2,65344.80%2043.44%861.45%3265.50%5,922Total221,32349.25%193,04242.96%27,8466.20%7,1661.59%28,2816.29%449,402

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Ashland Calumet Chippewa Columbia Crawford Dodge Fond du Lac Forest Grant Green Green Lake Iowa Jefferson Kenosha Lafayette Lincoln Marathon Marquette Monroe Outagamie Ozaukee Sauk Shawano Sheboygan St. Croix Taylor Vilas Walworth Washington Winnebago Wood

Counties that flipped from Progressive to Republican Bayfield Burnett Douglas Pierce Polk Washburn

Analysis