1952 United States presidential election in Wisconsin

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1952 United States presidential election in Wisconsin

← 1948 November 4, 1952 1956 →
 
Nominee Dwight D. Eisenhower Adlai Stevenson
Party Republican Democratic
Home state New York[1] Illinois
Running mate Richard Nixon John Sparkman
Electoral vote 12 0
Popular vote 979,744 622,175
Percentage 60.95% 38.71%

County Results

President before election

Harry S. Truman
Democratic

Elected President

Dwight D. Eisenhower
Republican

The 1952 United States presidential election in Wisconsin was held on November 4, 1952 as part of the 1952 United States presidential election. State voters chose 12 electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

Politics in Wisconsin since the Populist movement had been dominated by the Republican Party.[2] The Democratic Party became uncompetitive away from the Laue Michigan coast as the upper classes, along with the majority of workers who followed them, fled from William Jennings Bryan's agrarian and free silver sympathies.[3] 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.[4] This ultimately would develop into the Wisconsin Progressive Party in the late 1930s, which was opposed to the conservative German Democrats and to the national Republican Party, and allied with Franklin D. Roosevelt at the federal level.

During the two wartime elections, the formerly Democratic German counties in the east of the state – which had been powerfully opposed to the Civil War because they saw it as a "Yankee" war and opposed the military draft instituted during it[5] – viewed Communism as a much greater threat to America than Nazism and consequently opposed President Roosevelt's war effort.[6] Consequently, these historically Democratic counties became virtually the most Republican in the entire state, and with the fall of the Progressive Party that had provided the main opposition to the Republicans in the 1930s, the state sent an all-Republican congressional delegation to the 80th Congress for the first time since the 71st, and Democratic representation in the state legislature reached the lowest level since that same date, although it improved to a quarter of the state House in 1950.

During the second term of now-unpopular President Truman, populist conservative Wisconsin Senator Joe McCarthy became notorious for his investigations into Communists inside the American government. It was thought that he would be a hindrance both to Democratic nominee Adlai Stevenson II, and to Republican nominee Dwight D. Eisenhower.[7] Stevenson would call for McCarthy's defeat during his campaign in the state because he thought Eisenhower was using unfair political tactics,[8] that Eisenhower was a "scaremonger",[9] and that the Republican Party was the "Same Old Political Hokum".[10]

Polls in the state during the third week of October showed that most voters were for Eisenhower, although it was thought Stevenson was gaining.[11] The poll however said that if Stevenson was to carry Wisconsin he would be required to win over a large majority of undecided voters.[11] The probability of Stevenson achieving this was made more remote by a poll near the end of October that showed him trailing Eisenhower amongst Wisconsin's farmers by a two-to-one margin.[12]

Results[edit]

1952 United States presidential election in Wisconsin[13]
Party Candidate Votes Percentage Electoral votes
Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower 979,744 60.95% 12
Democratic Adlai Stevenson 622,175 38.71% 0
Independent Progressive Vincent Hallinan 2,174 0.14% 0
Independent Socialist Workers Farrell Dobbs 1,350 0.08% 0
Independent Socialist Darlington Hoopes 1,157 0.07% 0
Independent Socialist Labor Eric Hass 770 0.05% 0
Totals 1,604,093 100.0% 12

Results by county[edit]

1952 United States presidential election in Wisconsin by county[14]
County Dwight David Eisenhower
Republican
Adlai Stevenson II
Democratic
Various candidates
Other parties
Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # % # %
Adams 2,259 65.35% 1,180 34.13% 18 0.52% 1,079 31.21% 3,457
Ashland 4,451 53.50% 3,828 46.01% 41 0.49% 623 7.49% 8,320
Barron 10,013 66.84% 4,902 32.72% 66 0.44% 5,111 34.12% 14,981
Bayfield 3,419 55.98% 2,616 42.84% 72 1.18% 803 13.15% 6,107
Brown 30,400 67.80% 14,342 31.99% 94 0.21% 16,058 35.81% 44,836
Buffalo 4,233 67.92% 1,988 31.90% 11 0.18% 2,245 36.02% 6,232
Burnett 2,683 60.43% 1,741 39.21% 16 0.36% 942 21.22% 4,440
Calumet 6,640 77.07% 1,970 22.87% 5 0.06% 4,670 54.21% 8,615
Chippewa 11,429 64.01% 6,380 35.73% 45 0.25% 5,049 28.28% 17,854
Clark 9,406 71.71% 3,652 27.84% 58 0.44% 5,754 43.87% 13,116
Columbia 11,133 67.78% 5,272 32.10% 20 0.12% 5,861 35.68% 16,425
Crawford 5,323 70.15% 2,256 29.73% 9 0.12% 3,067 40.42% 7,588
Dane 38,724 50.34% 37,987 49.38% 216 0.28% 737 0.96% 76,927
Dodge 19,298 73.28% 7,001 26.58% 37 0.14% 12,297 46.69% 26,336
Door 7,621 80.82% 1,790 18.98% 19 0.20% 5,831 61.83% 9,430
Douglas 9,677 45.40% 11,538 54.14% 98 0.46% -1,861 -8.73% 21,313
Dunn 7,475 67.38% 3,593 32.39% 26 0.23% 3,882 34.99% 11,094
Eau Claire 14,069 59.47% 9,554 40.38% 35 0.15% 4,515 19.08% 23,658
Florence 1,147 58.43% 809 41.21% 7 0.36% 338 17.22% 1,963
Fond du Lac 22,794 74.43% 7,724 25.22% 107 0.35% 15,070 49.21% 30,625
Forest 1,990 52.47% 1,791 47.22% 12 0.32% 199 5.25% 3,793
Grant 14,327 77.21% 4,197 22.62% 32 0.17% 10,130 54.59% 18,556
Green 7,949 70.46% 3,326 29.48% 6 0.05% 4,623 40.98% 11,281
Green Lake 6,117 79.27% 1,590 20.60% 10 0.13% 4,527 58.66% 7,717
Iowa 6,211 69.38% 2,722 30.41% 19 0.21% 3,489 38.97% 8,952
Iron 1,733 39.24% 2,662 60.28% 21 0.48% -929 -21.04% 4,416
Jackson 4,235 59.89% 2,819 39.87% 17 0.24% 1,416 20.03% 7,071
Jefferson 13,884 66.93% 6,827 32.91% 32 0.15% 7,057 34.02% 20,743
Juneau 5,978 73.22% 2,163 26.49% 23 0.28% 3,815 46.73% 8,164
Kenosha 18,917 48.72% 19,768 50.91% 142 0.37% -851 -2.19% 38,827
Kewaunee 6,482 76.42% 1,972 23.25% 28 0.33% 4,510 53.17% 8,482
La Crosse 19,271 61.90% 11,808 37.93% 53 0.17% 7,463 23.97% 31,132
Lafayette 5,731 66.23% 2,905 33.57% 17 0.20% 2,826 32.66% 8,653
Langlade 5,841 63.02% 3,371 36.37% 57 0.61% 2,470 26.65% 9,269
Lincoln 6,877 68.72% 3,092 30.90% 38 0.38% 3,785 37.82% 10,007
Manitowoc 18,950 61.32% 11,879 38.44% 72 0.23% 7,071 22.88% 30,901
Marathon 20,702 58.52% 14,541 41.11% 130 0.37% 6,161 17.42% 35,373
Marinette 9,313 61.73% 5,727 37.96% 47 0.31% 3,586 23.77% 15,087
Marquette 3,379 80.11% 835 19.80% 4 0.09% 2,544 60.31% 4,218
Milwaukee 219,477 51.52% 204,474 48.00% 2,055 0.48% 15,003 3.52% 426,006
Monroe 8,744 69.98% 3,717 29.75% 34 0.27% 5,027 40.23% 12,495
Oconto 7,807 69.58% 3,382 30.14% 31 0.28% 4,425 39.44% 11,220
Oneida 6,224 61.86% 3,808 37.85% 30 0.30% 2,416 24.01% 10,062
Outagamie 26,603 73.86% 9,373 26.02% 44 0.12% 17,230 47.83% 36,020
Ozaukee 8,665 66.97% 4,241 32.78% 33 0.26% 4,424 34.19% 12,939
Pepin 2,348 72.14% 896 27.53% 11 0.34% 1,452 44.61% 3,255
Pierce 6,763 67.49% 3,241 32.34% 17 0.17% 3,522 35.15% 10,021
Polk 6,966 61.74% 4,274 37.88% 42 0.37% 2,692 23.86% 11,282
Portage 8,499 52.83% 7,537 46.85% 51 0.32% 962 5.98% 16,087
Price 4,376 58.42% 3,048 40.69% 67 0.89% 1,328 17.73% 7,491
Racine 30,628 54.65% 25,241 45.03% 180 0.32% 5,387 9.61% 56,049
Richland 6,605 74.42% 2,260 25.46% 10 0.11% 4,345 48.96% 8,875
Rock 27,837 64.64% 15,183 35.26% 45 0.10% 12,654 29.38% 43,065
Rusk 4,134 59.36% 2,777 39.88% 53 0.76% 1,357 19.49% 6,964
Sauk 12,347 69.89% 5,267 29.81% 52 0.29% 7,080 40.08% 17,666
Sawyer 3,146 67.02% 1,527 32.53% 21 0.45% 1,619 34.49% 4,694
Shawano 11,131 76.76% 3,334 22.99% 36 0.25% 7,797 53.77% 14,501
Sheboygan 22,084 59.00% 15,136 40.44% 212 0.57% 6,948 18.56% 37,432
St. Croix 7,607 59.78% 5,094 40.03% 25 0.20% 2,513 19.75% 12,726
Taylor 4,892 63.45% 2,768 35.90% 50 0.65% 2,124 27.55% 7,710
Trempealeau 6,501 61.63% 4,021 38.12% 26 0.25% 2,480 23.51% 10,548
Vernon 7,619 65.33% 4,032 34.57% 12 0.10% 3,587 30.76% 11,663
Vilas 3,687 70.85% 1,497 28.77% 20 0.38% 2,190 42.08% 5,204
Walworth 16,906 75.57% 5,417 24.21% 49 0.22% 11,489 51.35% 22,372
Washburn 3,184 60.80% 2,039 38.93% 14 0.27% 1,145 21.86% 5,237
Washington 12,626 73.84% 4,440 25.96% 34 0.20% 8,186 47.87% 17,100
Waukesha 30,238 65.58% 15,756 34.17% 117 0.25% 14,482 31.41% 46,111
Waupaca 13,693 81.38% 3,105 18.45% 28 0.17% 10,588 62.93% 16,826
Waushara 5,447 81.14% 1,242 18.50% 24 0.36% 4,205 62.64% 6,713
Winnebago 28,172 68.17% 13,016 31.49% 140 0.34% 15,156 36.67% 41,328
Wood 14,707 67.62% 6,914 31.79% 128 0.59% 7,793 35.83% 21,749
Totals 979,744 60.95% 622,175 38.71% 5,451 0.34% 357,569 22.25% 1,607,370

Analysis[edit]

As it turned out, Eisenhower nearly matched the poll of farmers a week before the election, carrying Wisconsin by 22.25 points for the best Republican performance in the state since Warren G. Harding carried the state in 1920. Eisenhower carried all but three counties – Kenosha in the urban far south and the two Scandinavian unionized mining and industrial counties of Douglas and Iron. His large victory was due to the unpopularity of the Korean War in a traditionally isolationist state,[15] to the ongoing fear of Communist subversion in those German Catholic regions that had turned against the Democrats during the 1940s, and to solid traditional Yankee support in the southern interior.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "U.S. presidential election, 1952". Facts on File. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013. Eisenhower, born in Texas, considered a resident of New York, and headquartered at the time in Paris, finally decided to run for the Republican nomination
  2. ^ Burnham, Walter Dean; 'The System of 1896: An Analysis'; in The Evolution of American Electoral Systems, pp. 178-179 ISBN 0313213798
  3. ^ Sundquist, James; Politics and Policy: The Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson Years, p. 526 ISBN 0815719094
  4. ^ 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 ISBN 978-1-107-09509-0
  5. ^ Phillips, Kevin P.; The Emerging Republican Majority, pp. 381-382, 414 ISBN 978-0-691-16324-6
  6. ^ Phillips; The Emerging Republican Majority, pp. 387-388
  7. ^ Phillips, Cabell; 'M'Carthy POSPoses Problems for Both Parties: His Wisconsin Sweep Will Embarrass Eisenhower, Aid Foes of Stevenson'; The New York Times September 14, 1953, p. E3
  8. ^ Reston, James; 'Stevenson Scores Rival on M'Carthy in Wisconsin Talks: Calls for Defeat of Senator, Sees Eisenhower's Support Showing Lack of "Backbone"'; The New York Times, October 9, 1952, p. 1
  9. ^ Folliard, Edward T.; 'Adlai Calls Eisenhower Scaremonger On Red Issue: McCarthy Hasn't Caught a Communist, Governor Declares; Jibes at Hecklers Stevenson Goes After Eisenhower, McCarthy'; The Washington Post, October 8, 1952, p. 1
  10. ^ 'Text of Governor Stevenson's Talks at Madison and Milwaukee: Governor Criticizes G. O. P. Program as "Same Old Political Hokum"'; The New York Times, October 9, 1952, p. 26
  11. ^ a b Hagerty, James A.; 'Survey Sees Stevenson Gain With Outcome Still Uncertain: Nation-Wide'; The New York Times October 20, 1952, p. 1
  12. ^ 'Wisconsin Farm Poll Favors Eisenhower'; Special to The New York Times, October 29, 1952, p. 23
  13. ^ "1952 Presidential General Election Results – Wisconsin". Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  14. ^ "WI US President Race, November 04, 1952". Our Campaigns.
  15. ^ Phillips; The Emerging Republican Majority, p. 167