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1911 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

1911 United States Senate election in Wisconsin

← 1905 January 25, 1911 1916 →
 
Nominee Robert M. La Follette Charles H. Weisse John C. Kleist
Party Republican Democratic Social-Democratic
Legislative vote 83 31 14
Percentage 64.34% 24.03% 10.85%

U.S. senator before election

Robert M. La Follette
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Robert M. La Follette
Republican

The 1911 United States Senate election in Wisconsin was held in the 50th Wisconsin Legislature on January 25, 1911. Incumbent Republican U.S. senator Robert M. La Follette was re-elected on the first ballot.[1]

In the 1911 term, Republicans held overwhelming majorities in both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature, so had more than enough votes to elect a Republican United States senator. This was the second U.S. Senate election in Wisconsin carried out after the implementation of partisan primary elections. La Follette won the Republican primary by a wide margin over challenger Samuel A. Cook. U.S. representative Charles H. Weisse won the nomination for Democrats, although the Democratic state convention had voted to support Burt Williams of Ashland.

Democratic primary

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On the ballot

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Primary result

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Democratic Primary, September 6, 1910[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles H. Weisse 30,579 65.52%
Democratic Burt Williams 16,089 34.48%
Plurality 14,490 31.05%
Total votes 46,668 100.0%

Republican primary

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On the ballot

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Primary result

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Republican Primary, September 6, 1910[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert M. La Follette (incumbent) 142,978 77.80%
Republican Samuel A. Cook 40,791 22.20%
Plurality 102,187 55.61%
Total votes 183,769 100.0%

Social-Democratic primary

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On the ballot

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  • John C. Kleist, lawyer from Milwaukee.

Primary result

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Social-Democratic Primary, September 6, 1910[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Social-Democratic John C. Kleist 11,435 100.0%
Total votes 11,435 100.0%

Prohibition primary

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On the ballot

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  • John V. Collins

Primary result

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Prohibition Primary, September 6, 1910[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Prohibition John V. Collins 1,832 100.0%
Total votes 1,832 100.0%

Election

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The two legislative chambers voted separately on January 24, 1911, then convened in joint session on January 25, reading their respective tallies and announcing La Follette as the winner.

1st Vote of the 50th Wisconsin Legislature, January 25, 1911[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert M. La Follette (incumbent) 83[a] 64.34%
Democratic Charles H. Weisse 31[b] 24.03%
Social-Democratic John C. Kleist 14[c] 10.85%
Republican Frederick C. Winkler 1[d] 0.78%
Prohibition John V. Collins 0 0.0%
Absent or not voting 4
Majority 65 50.39%
Total votes 129 96.99%
Republican hold

Notes

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  1. ^ La Follette received the votes of all Republicans except senator John Meek Whitehead (who voted for Winkler), and senators Edward E. Browne and James A. Wright (who were absent).
  2. ^ Weisse received the votes of all Democrats except representatives Mathias J. Scholey and William E. Wheelan (who were absent).
  3. ^ Kleist received the votes of all Social-Democrats.
  4. ^ Republican senator John Meek Whitehead voted for Winkler.

References

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  1. ^ a b State of Wisconsin Assembly Journal (Report). Wisconsin Legislature. 1911. pp. 109–110, 116–117. Retrieved July 28, 2025 – via HathiTrust.
  2. ^ a b c d "Official Figures on Major Places". Eau Claire Leader-Tribune. September 21, 1910. p. 4. Retrieved July 28, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.