1958 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

1958 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

November 4, 1958

x150px x150px Nominee Gaylord Nelson Vernon W. Thomson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 644,296 556,391 Percentage 53.59% 46.28%

225px County results Nelson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Thomson:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Vernon Wallace Thomson Republican Elected Governor Gaylord Nelson Democratic

The 1958 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1958. Republican incumbent Vernon Wallace Thomson was defeated by Democratic nominee Gaylord Nelson with 53.59% of the vote.

General election

Candidates

• Vernon Wallace Thomson (Republican), Attorney General of Wisconsin from 1951 to 1953, Governor of Wisconsin since 1953.
• Gaylord Nelson (Democrat), member of the Wisconsin State Senate since 1948.
• Wayne Leverenz (Socialist Workers Party)

Results

1958 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Gaylord Nelson	644,296	53.59%
	Republican	Vernon Wallace Thomson (incumbent)	556,391	46.28%
	Socialist Workers	Wayne Leverenz	1,485	0.12%
	Independent	Write-ins	47	0.00%
Majority			87,905	7.31%
Turnout			1,202,219
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing