1940 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
The 1940 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Primary elections were held on September 17, 1940.
Incumbent Republican Governor Julius P. Heil defeated [Wisconsin Wisconsin Progressive Party|Progressive Party|Progressive] nominee Orland Steen Loomis and Democratic nominee Francis E. McGovern with 40.67% of the vote. This election is very similar to the 1855 Ohio Governor Election, also featured 3 candidates, one from the present, past, and future, except Loomis died before taking office. Heil and McGovern both served as governors for the state.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- James K. Robinson, dentist, unsuccessful candidate for Progressive nomination for Lieutenant Governor in 1936
Progressive primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
- Paul Alfonsi, former Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly
- Henry Gunderson, former [Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin|Governor of Wisconsin|Lieutenant Governor]
- Philip E. Nelson, incumbent State Senator
- Harold E. Stafford, attorney
Declined
- Merlin Hull, U.S. Representative
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Francis E. McGovern, former Governor
Eliminated in primary
- William R. Callahan, Democratic nominee for Secretary of State of Wisconsin in 1938
- Raymond J. Cannon, former U.S. Representative
- Gerhard A. Hagedorn, electrical salesman
Withdrawn
- William B. Rubin
Other party nominations
- Fred Basset Blair, Communist, candidate for Governor in 1932
- Louis Fisher, Socialist Labor
General election
Results by county
Barron County, Buffalo County, Grant County, Monroe County, Sauk County, Trempealeau County, and Vernon County voted for the losing candidate for the first time since 1892, while Juneau County voted for the losing candidate for the first time since 1890.Counties that flipped from Progressive to Republican
Counties that flipped from Republican to Progressive
- Barron
- Buffalo
- Columbia
- Dunn
- Eau Claire
- Grant
- Iowa
- Juneau
- Kenosha
- Lincoln
- Milwaukee
- Monroe
- Oneida
- Portage
- Sauk
- Trempealeau
- Vernon
- Wood