1978 Wisconsin Secretary of State election

1978 Wisconsin Secretary of State election

← 1974 November 7, 1978 1982 →
 
Nominee Vel Phillips Frederic A. Seefeldt
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 697,945 663,474
Percentage 50.4% 47.9%

Phillips:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      80–90%
Seefeldt:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Secretary of State before election

Doug La Follette
Democratic

Elected Secretary of State

Vel Phillips
Democratic

The 1978 Wisconsin Secretary of State election took place on November 7, 1978, to elect the Secretary of State of Wisconsin. Incumbent Democrat Doug La Follette declined to seek re-election, instead running in the primary for Lieutenant Governor. Milwaukee Alderwoman and civil rights activist Vel Phillips was nominated in a field of 9 candidates and defeated Republican Frederic A. Seefeldt. Her election made her the first African American to be elected to a statewide office in Wisconsin.