1934 Wisconsin Senate election
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17 of 33 seats in the Wisconsin State Senate 17 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Wisconsin |
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The 1934 Wisconsin Senate election was held on Tuesday, November 6, 1934. Seventeen of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin State Senate were up for election—the odd-numbered districts. Prior to the election 22 seats were held by Republicans, 9 were held by Democrats, one seat was held by a Socialist, and one seat was vacant.
The primary election was held on September 18, 1934.
Background
[edit]Results summary
[edit]| Seats | Party (majority caucus shading)
|
Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Socialist | Progressive | Republican | |||
| Last election (1932) | 7 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 16 | |
| Total after last election (1932) | 9 | 19 | 33 | |||
| Total before this election | 9 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 33 | |
| Up for election | 2 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 17 | |
| of which: | Incumbent retiring | 1 | 4 | 4 | ||
| Vacated | 1 | 1 | ||||
| This election | 7 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 17 | |
| Change from last election | 
|
 1
|
 8
|
1
|
1
| |
| Total after this election | 14 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 33 | |
| Change in total | 5
|
1
|
13
|
17
|
| |
Close races
[edit]- State Senate district 25, 1.42% (gain)
- State Senate district 13, 1.72% (gain)
- State Senate district 19, 1.91% (gain)
- State Senate district 15, 3.33% (gain)
- State Senate district 11, 7.17%
- State Senate district 9, 8.92% (gain)
- State Senate district 17, 9.30% (gain)
- State Senate district 27, 9.39% (gain)
Outgoing incumbents
[edit]Retiring
[edit]- Walter S. Goodland (R–Racine), representing district 21 since 1926, declined to seek re-election
- Leonard Fons (R–Milwaukee), representing District 7 since 1930, declined to seek re-election.
- William H. Edwards (R–Sussex), representing District 33 since 1930, declined to seek re-election.
Seeking other office
[edit]- Eugene A. Clifford (D–Juneau), representing District 13 since 1930, instead ran for Congress from Wisconsin's 8th congressional district.
- Orland Steen Loomis (R–Mauston) representing District 31 since 1930, instead ran for Wisconsin Attorney General as a Progressive.
Vacated office
[edit]- Merritt F. White (R–Winneconne), representing District 19 since 1922, died on July 28, 1934.[1]
Special elections
[edit]There was one special election scheduled in 1934 for the Wisconsin state Senate.
| Dist. | Previous Incumbent | This Election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senator | Party | First
elected |
Status | Candidate(s) | Results | |
| 26 | Alvin C. Reis | Rep. | 1932 | Incumbent resigned in July, 1934.
New member elected on November 6, 1934. |
|
New member elected Progressive gain |
Candidates and results
[edit]| Dist. | Incumbent | This race[2] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Party | First elected | Status | General | |
| 01 | John E. Cashman | Republican | 1922 | Incumbent re-elected. Progressive gain. |
|
| 03 | None (open seat) | No incumbent New member elected. Democratic gain. |
| ||
| 05 | Bernhard Gettelman | Republican | 1922 | Incumbent lost re-election New member elected. Democratic gain. |
|
| 07 | Leonard Fons | Republican | 1930 | Incumbent retired New member elected. Democratic gain. |
|
| Walter Polakowski (Redistricted from the 3rd district) | Socialist | 1922 | Incumbent defeated. Socialist loss | ||
| 09 | Irving P. Mehigan | Republican | 1924 | Incumbent lost re-election New member elected. Democratic gain. |
|
| 11 | Philip Nelson | Republican | 1930 | Incumbent re-elected |
|
| 13 | Eugene A. Clifford | Democratic | 1930 | Ran for U.S. House New member elected. Progressive gain. |
|
| 15 | Alexander Paul | Democratic | 1933 (special) | Incumbent lost re-election New member elected. Republican gain. |
|
| 17 | George Engebretson | Republican | 1932 (special) | Incumbent re-elected. Progressive gain. |
|
| 19 | --Vacant[b]-- | Previous incumbent died July 28, 1934 New member elected. Democratic gain. |
| ||
| 21 | Walter S. Goodland | Republican | 1926 | Incumbent retired New member elected. Democratic gain. |
|
| 23 | Herman J. Severson | Republican | 1918 | Incumbent re-elected. Progressive gain. |
|
| 25 | Otto Mueller | Republican | 1926 | Incumbent lost re-election New member elected. Progressive gain. |
|
| 27 | Fred W. Zantow | Republican | 1930 | Incumbent re-elected. Progressive gain. |
|
| 29 | John A. Anderson | Republican | 1930 | Incumbent re-elected. Progressive gain. |
|
| 31 | Orland S. Loomis | Republican | 1930 | Incumbent ran for Attorney General New member elected. Progressive gain. |
|
| 33 | William Edwards | Republican | 1930 | Incumbent retired New member elected. Democratic gain. |
|
Detailed results
[edit]District 1
[edit]Incumbent Republican John E. Cashman ran for re-election as a Progressive. He defeated Democrat Ray J. Scheuer and Republican Alvin O'Konski in the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | John E. Cashman (incumbent) | 14,072 | 50.20 | |
| Democratic | Ray J. Scheuer | 8,552 | 30.51 | |
| Republican | Alvin O'Konski | 5,410 | 19.29 | |
| Total votes | 28,034 | 100.0 | ||
District 3
[edit]Incumbent Socialist Walter Polakowski was moved into the 7th district due to redistricting, leaving this district open. Democrat Arthur L. Zimny defeated Socialist George L. Tews, Progressive H. C. Schultz, Independent Carl Lester, and Republican William B. Manning.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Arthur L. Zimny | 8,277 | 40.83 | |
| Socialist | George L. Tews | 5,415 | 26.71 | |
| Progressive | H. C.Schultz | 4,241 | 20.92 | |
| Independent | Carl Lester | 1,210 | 5.97 | |
| Republican | William B. Manning | 1,130 | 5.57 | |
| Total votes | 20,273 | 100.0 | ||
District 5
[edit]Incumbent Republican Bernhard Gettelman ran for re-election. He was defeated by Democrat Harold V. Schoenecker.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Harold V. Schoenecker | 10,435 | 35.39 | |
| Republican | Bernhard Gettelman (incumbent) | 6,916 | 23.46 | |
| Socialist | Carl Minkley | 6,458 | 21.91 | |
| Progressive | Gustave A. Dick | 5,674 | 19.24 | |
| Total votes | 29,483 | 100.0 | ||
District 7
[edit]Incumbent Republican Leonard Fons declined to seek re-election, leaving the district open. Democrat Max Galasinski defeated Socialist Walter Polakowski – who had been moved into this district due to redistricting – as well as Progressive Edwarf R. Buer and Republican Herbert W. Koch.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Max Galasinski | 11,444 | 43.59 | |
| Socialist | Walter Polakowski | 7,292 | 27.78 | |
| Progressive | Edwarf R. Buer | 4,416 | 16.82 | |
| Republican | Herbert W. Koch | 3,100 | 11.81 | |
| Total votes | 26,252 | 100.0 | ||
District 9
[edit]Incumbent Republican Irving P. Mehigan ran for re-election. He was defeated by Democrat James L. Callan.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | James L. Callan | 6,501 | 38.76 | |
| Republican | Irving P. Mehigan (incumbent) | 5,005 | 29.84 | |
| Progressive | Robert McCarthy | 2,805 | 16.73 | |
| Socialist | Gustave A. Dick | 2,311 | 13.78 | |
| Independent | Mary Allen | 149 | 0.89 | |
| Total votes | 16,771 | 100.0 | ||
District 11
[edit]Incumbent Republican Philip Nelson ran for re-election. He defeated Progressive Albert N. Young, Democrat Laverne A. Sutfin, and Socialist Carrol T. Hodsdon.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Philip Nelson (incumbent) | 12,125 | 42.79 | |
| Progressive | Albert N. Young | 10,094 | 35.62 | |
| Democratic | Laverne A. Sutfin | 5,667 | 20.00 | |
| Socialist | Carrol T. Hodsdon | 449 | 1.59 | |
| Total votes | 28,335 | 100.0 | ||
District 13
[edit]Incumbent Democrat Eugene A. Clifford declined to seek re-election, instead unsuccessfully running for Congress from Wisconsin's 8th congressional district. Progressive Frank E. Panzer defeated Democrat Paul A. Hemmy Jr., Republican Jesse M. Peters, and Socialist Alfred A. Naber.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | Frank E. Panzer | 10,545 | 39.83 | |
| Democratic | Paul A. Hemmy Jr. | 10,089 | 38.11 | |
| Republican | Jesse M. Peters | 5,313 | 20.07 | |
| Socialist | Alfred A. Naber | 528 | 1.99 | |
| Total votes | 26,475 | 100.0 | ||
District 15
[edit]Incumbent Democrat Alexander Paul ran for re-election. He was defeated by Republican Maurice Coakley.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Maurice Coakley | 8,847 | 38.31 | |
| Democratic | Alexander Paul (incumbent) | 8,076 | 34.98 | |
| Progressive | George S. Geffs | 6,168 | 26.71 | |
| Total votes | 23,091 | 100.0 | ||
District 17
[edit]Incumbent Republican George Engebretson ran for re-election as a Progressive. He defeated Republican Floyd E. Olson and Democrat Leland C. White.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | George Engebretson (incumbent) | 9,292 | 44.74 | |
| Republican | Floyd E. Olson | 7,360 | 35.44 | |
| Democratic | Leland C. White | 4,111 | 19.80 | |
| Write-in | 4 | 0.02 | ||
| Total votes | 20,767 | 100.0 | ||
District 19
[edit]Incumbent Republican Merritt F. White died on July 28, 1934, leaving the district open. Democrat Pierce A. Morrissey defeated Republican Norton J. Williams and Progressive Charles P. Potratz.
District 21
[edit]Incumbent Republican Walter S. Goodland declined to seek re-election, leaving the district open. Democrat Joseph Clancy defeated Republican Thorwald M. Beck, Progressive Peden Back, and Socialist Lars P. Christiansen.
District 23
[edit]Incumbent Republican Herman J. Severson ran for re-election as a Progressive. He defeated Democrat Michael J. Mersch and Republican John S. Hensel.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | Herman J. Severson (incumbent) | 8,583 | 38.33 | |
| Democratic | Michael J. Mersch | 8,267 | 36.91 | |
| Republican | John S. Hensel | 5,537 | 24.72 | |
| Write-in | 10 | 0.04 | ||
| Total votes | 22,397 | 100.0 | ||
District 25
[edit]Incumbent Republican Otto Mueller ran for re-election. He was defeated by Progressive Roland E. Kannenberg.
District 27
[edit]Incumbent Republican Fred W. Zantow ran for re-election as a Progressive. He defeated Republican Harry Pauls and Democrat Isaac C. Evans.
District 29
[edit]Republican John A. Anderson ran for re-election as a Progressive. He defeated Republican Herschel Shipley, Democrat Joseph H. Wallis, and Socialist Olaf A. Bloom.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Progressive | John Anderson (incumbent) | 11,431 | 46.13 | |
| Republican | Herschel Shipley | 5,617 | 22.67 | |
| Democratic | Joseph H. Wallis | 4,832 | 19.50 | |
| Socialist | Olaf A. Bloom | 2,898 | 11.69 | |
| Write-in | 2 | 0.01 | ||
| Total votes | 24,780 | 100.0 | ||
District 31
[edit]Republican Orland S. Loomis declined to seek re-election, instead unsuccessfully running for Wisconsin Attorney General as a Progressive, leaving this district open. Progressive J. Earl Leverich defeated Republican Kevin J. Callahan, Democrat Timothy P. Donovan, and Socialist Glen C. Felker.
District 33
[edit]Incumbent Republican William Edwards declined to seek re-election, leaving this seat open. Democrat Chester Dempsey defeated Republican Evan G. Davies and Progressive John C. Schumann.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Walter Polakowski was not up for election in 1932
- ^ Merritt F. White (R) died on July 28, 1934
References
[edit]- ^ "Merritt F White". Find A Grave. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
- ^ "The Wisconsin Blue Book 1935". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Ohm, Howard F.; Bryhan, Leone G., eds. (1935). "Parties and Elections". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1935 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. p. 622, 623. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
