The 1968 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1968. Republican Warren P. Knowles won the election with 53% of the vote, winning his third term as Governor of Wisconsin and defeating Democrat Bronson C. La Follette. This was the last gubernatorial election in Wisconsin where the governor was elected to a two-year term separately from the Lieutenant Governor.

Primary election The primary election was held on September 10, 1968.

Republican party Candidates Warren P. Knowles, incumbent governor

Results

Democratic party Candidates Bronson C. La Follette, Attorney General of Wisconsin Floyd L. Wille

Results

General election Candidates Warren P. Knowles, Republican Bronson C. La Follete, Democrat Adolf Wiggert, Independent Robert Wilkinson, Independent

Results

Results by county Knowles was the first Republican to win without carrying Clark County since William E. Smith in 1877. Forest County, Marathon County, Rusk County, and Wood County would not vote for the losing candidate again until 2018. County Warren P. KnowlesRepublican Bronson C. La FolletteDemocratic All OthersVarious Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # %Adams1,61344.63%1,99055.06%110.30%-377-10.43%3,614Ashland2,83540.96%4,05658.60%300.43%-1,221-17.64%6,921Barron7,81958.05%5,63741.85%130.10%2,18216.20%13,469Bayfield2,43943.57%3,14656.20%130.23%-707-12.63%5,598Brown32,16157.38%23,60842.12%2780.50%8,55315.26%56,047Buffalo3,06257.63%2,24642.27%50.09%81615.36%5,313Burnett2,38055.16%1,92944.70%60.14%45110.45%4,315Calumet5,07550.53%4,95449.32%150.15%1211.20%10,044Chippewa7,75747.31%8,62552.60%140.09%-868-5.29%16,396Clark6,00349.26%6,16250.56%220.18%-159-1.30%12,187Columbia9,06556.32%7,00143.50%300.19%2,06412.82%16,096Crawford3,74461.74%2,31338.14%70.12%1,43123.60%6,064Dane56,26052.75%49,75846.65%6400.60%6,5026.10%106,658Dodge14,49256.29%11,23443.64%180.07%3,25812.66%25,744Door5,50462.26%3,32137.57%150.17%2,18324.69%8,840Douglas7,57241.98%10,41457.73%530.29%-2,842-15.75%18,039Dunn5,48353.65%4,72246.21%140.14%7617.45%10,219Eau Claire13,00751.87%12,02047.93%510.20%9873.94%25,078Florence85251.45%79848.19%60.36%543.26%1,656Fond du Lac17,91655.24%14,43244.50%860.27%3,48410.74%32,434Forest1,29242.71%1,72757.09%60.20%-435-14.38%3,025Grant11,26567.07%5,51532.83%170.10%5,75034.23%16,797Green6,78764.08%3,79935.87%50.05%2,98828.21%10,591Green Lake4,66161.20%2,94238.63%130.17%1,71922.57%7,616Iowa3,92055.73%3,10244.10%120.17%81811.63%7,034Iron1,46245.63%1,73554.15%70.22%-273-8.52%3,204Jackson3,26154.83%2,67244.93%140.24%5899.90%5,947Jefferson12,74956.64%9,72243.20%360.16%3,02713.45%22,507Juneau3,95756.39%3,04543.39%150.21%91213.00%7,017Kenosha19,24345.75%22,70153.97%1210.29%-3,458-8.22%42,065Kewaunee4,32656.95%3,26242.94%80.11%1,06414.01%7,596La Crosse20,41664.62%11,07335.05%1060.34%9,34329.57%31,595Lafayette3,98654.63%3,30545.30%50.07%6819.33%7,296Langlade3,52349.82%3,53549.99%130.18%-12-0.17%7,071Lincoln4,60349.83%4,61950.00%160.17%-16-0.17%9,238Manitowoc13,61143.78%17,34455.79%1330.43%-3,733-12.01%31,088Marathon16,43043.41%21,29756.27%1180.31%-4,867-12.86%37,845Marinette7,47750.96%7,16748.84%290.20%3102.11%14,673Marquette2,29060.39%1,49539.43%70.18%79520.97%3,792Menominee23934.44%45265.13%30.43%-213-30.69%694Milwaukee195,50247.35%214,71752.28%1,5180.37%-20,515-4.92%410,737Monroe7,23762.53%4,32337.35%130.11%2,91425.18%11,573Oconto5,46952.41%4,95147.45%150.14%5184.96%10,435Oneida5,24750.69%5,09449.21%100.10%1531.48%10,351Outagamie22,74853.72%19,46945.97%1300.31%3,2797.74%42,347Ozaukee13,43764.99%7,18534.75%550.27%6,25230.24%20,677Pepin1,53653.73%1,32146.20%20.07%2157.52%2,859Pierce6,04560.35%3,95539.48%170.17%2,09020.86%10,017Polk6,46757.58%4,75742.36%70.06%1,71015.23%11,231Portage6,92140.29%10,19459.34%640.37%-3,273-19.05%17,179Price3,26150.86%3,13948.96%120.19%1221.90%6,412Racine32,34851.38%30,33548.18%2790.44%2,0133.20%62,962Richland4,01058.35%2,85641.56%60.09%1,15416.79%6,872Rock28,19057.06%21,12542.76%890.18%7,06514.30%49,404Rusk2,73146.76%3,09552.99%150.26%-364-6.23%5,841Sauk8,65754.29%7,24445.43%440.28%1,4138.86%15,945Sawyer2,75160.18%1,81539.71%50.11%93620.48%4,571Shawano7,62558.13%5,47941.77%140.11%2,14616.36%13,118Sheboygan20,01950.68%19,26048.76%2180.55%7591.92%39,497St. Croix7,75255.77%6,13744.15%110.08%1,61511.62%13,900Taylor2,64239.15%4,09160.63%150.22%-1,449-21.47%6,748Trempealeau4,86252.62%4,36847.27%100.11%4945.35%9,240Vernon6,13660.23%4,04539.71%60.06%2,09120.53%10,187Vilas3,41059.92%2,26739.83%140.25%1,14320.08%5,691Walworth15,94166.06%8,15533.79%350.15%7,78632.27%24,131Washburn2,60652.35%2,36547.51%70.14%2414.84%4,978Washington13,07558.44%9,24941.34%480.21%3,82617.10%22,372Waukesha55,21963.53%31,49836.24%1950.22%23,72127.29%86,912Waupaca10,13064.40%5,57735.45%240.15%4,55328.94%15,731Waushara4,26667.88%2,01932.12%00.00%2,24735.75%6,285Winnebago25,71356.25%19,77643.26%2240.49%5,93712.99%45,713Wood11,97349.07%12,36450.67%620.25%-391-1.60%24,399Total893,46352.88%791,10046.82%5,1750.31%102,3636.06%1,689,738

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Marinette

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Bayfield Chippewa Clark Langlade Lincoln Marathon Wood

Notes

References