1932 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

1932 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

← 1930 November 8, 1932 1934 →
 
Nominee Albert G. Schmedeman Walter J. Kohler Sr. Frank Metcalfe
Party Democratic Republican Socialist
Popular vote 590,114 470,805 56,965
Percentage 52.48% 41.87% 5.07%

County results
Schmedeman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Kohler:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Philip La Follette
Republican

Elected Governor

Albert G. Schmedeman
Democratic

The 1932 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1932. Incumbent Republican Governor Philip La Follette was defeated in the Republican primary, and in the midst of the Great Depression and nationwide voter dissatisfaction with the Republican Party, Democratic nominee Albert G. Schmedeman defeated Republican nominee Walter J. Kohler Sr. and Socialist nominee Frank Metcalfe with 52.48% of the vote. Schmedeman became the first Democrat to win a gubernatorial election in Wisconsin since George Wilbur Peck in 1892. Two years later, in 1934, La Follette would run for governor again and defeated Schmedeman, this time running with the Progressive Party.

This was the only Democratic victory in a Wisconsin gubernatorial election between 1892 and 1958. As of 2022, this is the most recent gubernatorial election in which Juneau, Shawano, and Waupaca have voted for a Democratic candidate.