1958 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election

1958 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election

November 4, 1958

Nominee Philleo Nash Warren P. Knowles Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 587,209 581,061 Percentage 50.26% 49.74%

Lieutenant Governor before election Warren P. Knowles Republican Elected Lieutenant Governor Philleo Nash Democratic

The 1958 Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1958, in order to elect the lieutenant governor of Wisconsin. Democratic nominee and former Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Philleo Nash defeated incumbent Republican lieutenant governor Warren P. Knowles.

Republican primary

The Republican primary election was held on September 9, 1958. Incumbent lieutenant governor Warren P. Knowles received a majority of the votes (73.58%) over former lieutenant governor George M. Smith and incumbent member of the Wisconsin Senate Leo P. O'Brien, and was thus elected as the nominee for the general election.

Results

1958 Republican lieutenant gubernatorial primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Warren P. Knowles (incumbent)	183,671	73.58%
	Republican	George M. Smith	37,583	15.06%
	Republican	Leo P. O'Brien	28,352	11.36%
Total votes			249,606	100.00%

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary election was held on September 9, 1958. Former Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Philleo Nash received a plurality of the votes (47.34%), and was thus elected as the nominee for the general election.

Results

1958 Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Philleo Nash	110,526	47.34%
	Democratic	Jerome D. Grant	93,091	39.88%
	Democratic	Albert Di Piazza	29,848	12.78%
Total votes			233,465	100.00%

General election

On election day, November 4, 1958, Democratic nominee Philleo Nash won the election by a margin of 6,148 votes against his opponent incumbent Republican lieutenant governor Warren P. Knowles, thereby gaining Democratic control over the office of lieutenant governor. Nash was sworn in as the 33rd lieutenant governor of Wisconsin on January 5, 1959.

Results

Wisconsin lieutenant gubernatorial election, 1958

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Philleo Nash	587,209	50.26
	Republican	Warren P. Knowles (incumbent)	581,061	49.74
		Scattering	40	0.00
Total votes			1,168,310	100.00
	Democratic gain from Republican