1956 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

1956 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

← 1954 November 6, 1956 1958 →
 
Nominee Vernon W. Thomson William Proxmire
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 808,273 749,421
Percentage 51.89% 48.11%

County results
Thomson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Proxmire:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Walter J. Kohler Jr.
Republican

Elected Governor

Vernon Wallace Thomson
Republican

The 1956 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1956. Republican nominee Vernon W. Thomson defeated Democratic nominee William Proxmire with 51.89% of the vote. Proxmire was defeated for the third consecutive gubernatorial election; he would subsequently win a special election for the United States Senate the following year after the death of Joseph McCarthy.