1907 United States Senate special election in Wisconsin

The 1907 United States Senate special election in Wisconsin was held in the 48th Wisconsin Legislature between , and . The special election was necessary to complete the unexpired term of U.S. Senator John Coit Spooner, who announced his resignation in March 1907 and left office April 30. Republican former U.S. representative Isaac Stephenson was elected on the 22nd ballot after a month of voting and negotiation.

In the 1907 term, Republicans held overwhelming majorities in both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature, so had more than enough votes to elect a Republican The main contest was in the Republican legislative caucus, where multiple progressive and conservative factions failed to reach consensus for nearly a month. Progressives ultimately coalesced around 77-year-old former U.S. representative Isaac Stephenson—who had made several previous bids for —and secured his nomination.

Major candidates Democratic George W. Bird, prominent lawyer from Madison, Wisconsin.

Republican Henry Allen Cooper, incumbent U.S. representative of Wisconsin's 1st congressional district, from Racine County. John J. Esch, incumbent U.S. representative of Wisconsin's 7th congressional district, from La Crosse, Wisconsin. William H. Hatton, former state senator from Outagamie County. Irvine Lenroot, former Wisconsin Assembly speaker from Superior, Wisconsin. Isaac Stephenson, former U.S. representative of Wisconsin's 9th congressional district, from Marinette, Wisconsin.

Socialist Jacob Rummel, incumbent state senator from Milwaukee.

Results Vote on April 17, 1907

Votes from April 18 to April 26 +2nd–7th Votes of the 48th Wisconsin Legislature, April 18April 26, 1907PartyCandidateBallotsApr. 18Apr. 19Apr. 23Apr. 24Apr. 25Apr. 26 Democratic George W. Bird 24 18 18 21 22 17 Republican Isaac Stephenson 19 19 20 20 20 18 Republican John J. Esch 19 18 20 20 19 17 Republican Henry Allen Cooper 18 19 18 18 19 18 Republican Irvine Lenroot 18 18 17 17 17 17 Republican William H. Hatton 16 16 16 16 16 15 Republican Emil Baensch 6 6 5 5 5 4 Socialist Jacob Rummel 5 4 5 5 5 4 Republican Frederick C. Winkler 3 3 3 3 3 1 Republican George Hudnall 1 1 1 1 1 Republican Albert W. Sanborn 1 Socialist Carl D. Thompson 1 1 1 1 1 1 Republican John Meek Whitehead 1 Republican John A. Hazelwood 1 1 1 Republican Walter C. Owen 1 1 Republican Walter D. Tarrant 1 Absent 1 10 7 4 4 20 Needed for majority 67 62 64 65 65 57 Total votes 132 123 126 129 129 113

Vote on April 29, 1907 On April 29, by agreement between the various candidates, most legislators were allowed to be absent, with each declared candidate designating one trusted supporter to arrive and cast a placeholder vote.

Votes from April 30 to May 10 +9th–16th Votes of the 48th Wisconsin Legislature, April 30May 10, 1907PartyCandidateBallotsApr. 30May 1May 2May 3May 7May 8May 9May 10 Republican Isaac Stephenson 19 18 19 19 17 26 28 32 Republican John J. Esch 19 20 19 16 19 21 21 19 Republican Irvine Lenroot 19 18 18 13 17 Democratic George W. Bird 18 18 19 10 14 16 19 14 Republican Henry Allen Cooper 18 18 17 17 14 18 Republican William H. Hatton 16 16 16 15 12 16 22 23 Republican Emil Baensch 5 5 5 5 5 4 1 1 Socialist Jacob Rummel 5 5 3 4 4 5 5 5 Republican Frederick C. Winkler 3 4 3 2 4 Socialist Carl D. Thompson 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Republican John A. Hazelwood 1 1 1 1 1 Republican Philo A. Orton 1 Republican James A. Frear 1 3 2 3 Republican W. A. Gordon 1 Democratic Barnabas S. Potter 1 Democratic Charles H. Weisse 1 Republican Thomas H. Gill 1 Republican William D. Hoard 1 1 Republican John C. Spooner 1 Republican George H. Benzenberg 1 Republican Duncan McGregor 5 10 20 Republican George Hudnall 3 Republican James Huff Stout 2 1 Republican Albert W. Sanborn 6 1 Republican Charles E. Estabrook 4 1 Republican Harry C. Martin 3 1 Republican Albert M. Stondall 1 Republican C. G. Pearse 1 Republican Otis Wells Johnson 1 Republican David F. Mains 1 Absent 8 5 11 26 28 10 6 12 Needed for majority 63 65 62 54 53 62 64 61 Total votes 125 128 122 107 105 123 127 121

Vote on May 13, 1907 On May 13, by agreement between the various candidates, most legislators were allowed to be absent, with each declared candidate designating one trusted supporter to arrive and cast a placeholder vote.

Votes from May 14 to May 16 +18th–21st Votes of the 48th Wisconsin Legislature, May 14May 16, 1907PartyCandidateBallotsMay 14May 15May 16(9am)May 16(noon) Republican Isaac Stephenson 31 44 46 48 Republican William H. Hatton 25 26 52 53 Republican Duncan McGregor 23 3 1 2 Republican John J. Esch 20 28 2 Democratic George W. Bird 15 11 14 16 Socialist Jacob Rummel 4 4 4 4 Republican James A. Frear 1 Republican John A. Hazelwood 1 Democratic Henry L. Palmer 1 Socialist Carl D. Thompson 1 1 1 1 Democratic Charles H. Weisse 2 Republican George Brumder 1 Democratic Joseph E. Davies 1 1 Democratic David L. Douglas 1 1 Republican George Hudnall 1 1 Democratic D. S. Rose 1 1 Republican Albert W. Sanborn 1 Republican Samuel A. Cook 1 Republican Irvine Lenroot 1 Democratic George Wilbur Peck 1 Absent 11 8 8 7 Needed for majority 62 63 63 64 Total votes 122 125 125 126

Republican caucus on May 16, 1907 On the evening of May 16, 1907, William H. Hatton expected to secure the nomination after coming within two votes of the caucus majority earlier that day. Lieutenant Governor William D. Connor was credited with denying Hatton the nomination after he managed to convince representatives Clifford R. Goldsworthy and Elwyn F. Nelson to withhold their support. Hatton's support collapsed during the roll call vote, with Goldsworthy, Nelson, and Duncan McGregor leading the rout. Instead Isaac Stephenson achieved a majority with 55 of 98 votes cast, and the caucus then moved to make him their unanimous nominee.

Vote on May 17, 1907 The legislature re-convened in joint session on May 17. Voting proceeded exactly along party lines, with 26 members absent. Stephenson received the support of all the Republicans present and voting and was elected U.S. senator.

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