1925 Wisconsin elections

* * *

| <- 1924 | April 7, 1925 | 1926 ->

|
|

Elections in Wisconsin

Federal government

|  Presidential elections

* 1848
* 1852
* 1856
* 1860
* 1864
* 1868
* 1872
* 1876
* 1880
* 1884
* 1888
* 1892
* 1896
* 1900
* 1904
* 1908
* 1912
* 1916
* 1920
* 1924
* 1928
* 1932
* 1936
* 1940
* 1944
* 1948
* 1952
* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

Presidential primaries

Democratic
2000
2004
2008
2016
2020
2024

Republican
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
U.S. Senate elections

Class 1

* 1848
* 1851
* 1857
* 1863
* 1869
* 1875
* 1881
* 1887
* 1893
* 1899
* 1905
* 1911
* 1916
* 1922
* 1925 sp
* 1928
* 1934
* 1940
* 1946
* 1952
* 1957 sp
* 1958
* 1964
* 1970
* 1976
* 1982
* 1988
* 1994
* 2000
* 2006
* 2012
* 2018
* 2024

Class 3

* 1848
* 1849
* 1855
* 1861
* 1867
* 1872
* 1879
* 1881 sp
* 1885
* 1890
* 1891
* 1897
* 1903
* 1907 sp
* 1909
* 1914
* 1918 sp
* 1920
* 1926
* 1932
* 1938
* 1944
* 1950
* 1956
* 1962
* 1968
* 1974
* 1980
* 1982
* 1986
* 1992
* 1998
* 2004
* 2010
* 2016
* 2022
* 2028

U.S. House of Representatives elections

* 1848
* 1850
* 1852
* 1854
* 1856
* 1858
* 1860
* 1862
* 1863
* 2nd sp
* 1864
* 1866
* 1868
* 1870
* 2nd sp
* 1872
* 1874
* 1876
* 1878
* 1880
* 1882
* 1884
* 1886
* 5th sp
* 1887
* 8th sp
* 1888
* 1890
* 1892
* 1893
* 4th sp
* 1894
* 7th sp
* 1896
* 1898
* 1900
* 1902
* 1904
* 1906
* 2nd sp
* 1908
* 1910
* 1912
* 1914
* 1916
* 1918
* 6th sp
* 11th sp
* 1920
* 1922
* 1924
* 1926
* 1928
* 1930
* 6th sp
* 1931
* 1st sp
* 1932
* 1934
* 1936
* 1938
* 1940
* 1941
* 1st sp
* 1942
* 1944
* 1946
* 1947
* 2nd sp
* 1948
* 1950
* 1952
* 1953
* 9th sp
* 1954
* 1956
* 1958
* 1960
* 1962
* 1964
* 1966
* 1968
* 1969
* 7th sp
* 1970
* 1972
* 1974
* 1976
* 1978
* 1979
* 6th sp
* 1980
* 1982
* 1984
* 4th sp
* 1986
* 1988
* 1990
* 1992
* 1993
* 1st sp
* 1994
* 1996
* 1998
* 2000
* 2002
* 2004
* 2006
* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 7th sp
* 2022
* 2024
* 8th sp
* 2026

State government

|  General elections

* 1925
* 1995
* 2000
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025
* 2026

Gubernatorial elections

* 1848
* 1849
* 1851
* 1853
* 1855
* 1857
* 1859
* 1861
* 1863
* 1865
* 1867
* 1869
* 1871
* 1873
* 1875
* 1877
* 1879
* 1881
* 1884
* 1886
* 1888
* 1890
* 1892
* 1894
* 1896
* 1898
* 1900
* 1902
* 1904
* 1906
* 1908
* 1910
* 1912
* 1914
* 1916
* 1918
* 1920
* 1922
* 1924
* 1926
* 1928
* 1930
* 1932
* 1934
* 1936
* 1938
* 1940
* 1942
* 1944
* 1946
* 1948
* 1950
* 1952
* 1954
* 1956
* 1958
* 1960
* 1962
* 1964
* 1966
* 1968
* 1970
* 1974
* 1978
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2012 (recall)
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2026

Lieutenant Gubernatorial elections

* 1942
* 1968
* 2012 (recall)

Secretary of State elections

* 1978
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2026

Attorney General elections

* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2026

Treasurer elections

* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2026

Superintendent elections

* 1925
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2021
* 2025

State Senate elections

* 1934
* 1996
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011 (recall)
* 2012 (recall)
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024
* 2026

State Assembly elections

* 2008
* 2010
* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2018
* 2020
* 2022
* 2024
* 2026

Supreme Court elections

* 1852 (3)
* 1855
* 1859
* 1860 sp.
* 1861
* 1863
* 1865
* 1867
* 1868 sp. (2)
* 1869
* 1871
* 1873
* 1875
* 1877 (2)
* 1878
* 1879
* 1881 (2)
* 1883
* 1885
* 1887
* 1889
* 1891
* 1892 sp.
* 1893
* 1895
* 1896 sp.
* 1897
* 1898 sp.
* 1899 (2)
* 1901
* 1903
* 1904
* 1905
* 1906
* 1907
* 1908 sp.
* 1909
* 1911
* 1913
* 1914
* 1915
* 1916
* 1917
* 1918 sp.
* 1919
* 1921
* 1922 sp.
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* 1926
* 1927
* 1929
* 1930 sp.
* 1931
* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1939
* 1941
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1949
* 1950 sp.
* 1951
* 1952 sp.
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1961
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1989
* 1990
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2003
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2011
* 2013
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2023
* 2025
* 2026
* 2027
* 2028
* 2029
* 2030
* 2033

Ballot measures

2006
Referendum 1
2025
Question 1

Brown County

|  County Executive elections

* 1995
* 1995 (special)
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Green Bay Mayoral elections

* 1995
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Dane County

|  County Executive elections

* 2001
* 2005
* 2009
* 2011 (special)
* 2013
* 2017
* 2021
* 2024 (special)
* 2025

Madison Mayoral elections

* 1874
* 1875
* 1876
* 1973
* 1997 sp.
* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Kenosha

|  County Executive elections

* 2022

Mayoral elections

* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

Milwaukee

|  County Executive elections

* 2000
* 2002 (special)
* 2004
* 2008
* 2011 (special)
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

Milwaukee Mayoral elections

* 1898
* 1900
* 1902
* 1904
* 1906
* 1908
* 1910
* 1912
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2008
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2022 sp
* 2024

Outagamie County

|  County Executive elections

* 1999
* 2003
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Winnebago County

|  County Executive elections

* 2021
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

The 1925 Wisconsin elections were held April 7, 1925. Statewide contests on the ballot included a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and an election for superintendent of public instruction. The election also featured Wisconsin circuit courts and local elections. In addition to the state and local elections held in April, a special election for U.S. Senate was held in Wisconsin on September 29.

## Federal offices

[edit]

### U.S. Senate

[edit]

Main article: 1925 United States Senate special election in Wisconsin

A special United States Senate election was held for Wisconsin's Class 1 United States Senate seat on September 29, 1925, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Republican senator Robert M. La Follette. Robert M. La Follette Jr. was elected to a full six-year term. La Follette defeated Independent (and fellow Republican) former lieutenant governor of Wisconsin Edward Dithmar. Three other candidates also appeared on the general election ballot: John M. Work (Socialist), William G. Bruce (Independent/Democratic), and George Bauman (Socialist Labor).

There were three other candidates in the Republican primary, former state senator from Eau Claire Roy P. Wilcox, Daniel C. Woodward, and former Governor of Wisconsin Francis E. McGovern.

1925 U.S. Senate election in Wisconsin[1] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Republican | Robert La Follette Jr. | 237,719  | 67.51%  | 13.16
| Independent Republican | Edward F. Dithmar | 91,318  | 25.93%  | N/A
| Socialist | John M. Work | 11,130  | 3.16%  | N/A
| Independent Democratic | William G. Bruce  | 10,743  | 3.05%  | 0.18
| Socialist Labor | George Bauman  | 795  | 0.23%  | 0.12
| Write-in | 430  | 0.12%  |
Total votes | 352,135  | 100.00%
| Republican hold

## State offices

[edit]

### Executive

[edit]

#### Superintendent of public instruction

[edit]

1921 Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction election

* * *

| <- 1921 | April 7, 1925 | 1929 ->

|
|

|  |  |

|
|

Candidate  | John Callahan |
Popular vote  | 342,691 |
Percentage  | 99.88% |

* * *

| Justice before election

John Callahan

| Elected Justice

John Callahan

|

A regularly scheduled election for Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin was held on April 7, 1925. The incumbent superintendent John Callahan, first elected in 1921, was re-elected without opposition.[2][3]

1925 Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction election[3] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

General election, April 7, 1925
| Nonpartisan | John Callahan (incumbent)  | 342,691  | 99.88
|  | Scattering | 403  | 0.12
Plurality  | 342,691  | 99.88
Total votes | 343,094  | 100

### Judicial

[edit]

#### State Supreme Court

[edit]

1925 Wisconsin Supreme Court election

* * *

| <- 1924 | April 7, 1925 | 1926 ->

|
|

<- 1922 (special)

1935 ->

|  |  |

|
|

Candidate  | E. Ray Stevens | John C. Kleist
Popular vote  | 256,431 | 133,164
Percentage  | 65.81% | 34.17%

* * *

| Justice before election

Burr W. Jones

| Elected Justice

E. Ray Stevens

|

The 1925 Wisconsin Supreme Court election was held on Tuesday, April 7, 1925, to elect a justice to the Wisconsin Supreme Court for a ten-year term. The incumbent justice, Burr W. Jones, declined to seek re-election.

A regularly scheduled Wisconsin Supreme Court election was on the ballot for the general election on April 7, 1925, for a ten-year term on the court. The incumbent judge, Burr W. Jones, first appointed in 1920, declined to seek re-election. E. Ray Stevens (judge of the Wisconsin circuit court for the 9th circuit) defeated John C. Kleist (former district attorney of Calumet County).

Newspaper advertisement for Stevens' candidacy

Prior to both of their judicial careers, from 1896 to 1903, Jones and Stevens had been law partners in Madison, running the law firm Jones & Stevens.[4] Stevens' campaign advertised endorsements from both of the state's incumbent U.S. senators (Robert M. La Follette Sr. and Irvine Lenroot); incumbent governor John J. Blaine and former governors Emanuel L. Philipp and Francis E. McGovern. In addition to these Republican state leaders, the endorsement of Martin L. Lueck's (a priminent Democratic politician in the state) was also touted. The campaign's advertisements also claimed that each Republican and Democrat in the 57th Wisconsin Legislature had endorsed his candidacy, and also touted supported from "farm and labor, women and soldier organizations."[5]

Kleist, then a lawyer who resided in Milwaukee,[6] had previously served for two-terms as the elected district attorney of Calumet County in the 1880s.[7] He had since his tenure as district attorney run for various judicial and political offices, losing each campaign.[8] He ran several times for seats on the Wisconsin circuit courts in Milwaukee County, but lost all of them.[7] He first ran in 1910 for a seat on the Wisconsin Circuit Courts but lost to Franz C. Eschweiler. He later was the nominee of the Social-Democratic Party of Wisconsin in the 1911 United States Senate election in Wisconsin. Prior to his 1925 campaign, he had run for the same seat on Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1922, losing to Jones.[9]

During the campaign, The Capital Times described Kleist as being the "candidate of the Ku Klux Klan". In 1924, he had been expelled from the Social–Democratic Party over his alleged ties to the Klan.[8] During his campaign, he was supported by the Anti-Saloon League, which promoted his candidacy in the Wisconsin edition of the The American Issue.[10]

1925 Wisconsin Supreme Court election[11] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

General election, April 7, 1925
| Nonpartisan | E. Ray Stevens | 256,431  | 65.81
| Nonpartisan | John C. Kleist  | 133,164  | 34.17
|  | Scattering | 73  | 0.02
Plurality  | 123,267  | 31.63
Total votes | 389,668  | 100

#### Circuit courts

[edit]

Several elections to the Wisconsin circuit courts were contested in 1925, including elections for judgeships on newly created branches of the court in Milwaukee County, Dane County, and Sauk County[12]

Among the notable results in circuit court races was the election of Charles L. Aarons over Henry Cummings for branch number 8 in Milwaukee County.[12]

## Local offices

[edit]

Many local elections were also held coinciding with state elections.[12]

### Milwaukee County

[edit]

#### Milwaukee ballot propositions

[edit]

Milwaukee voted on local propositions (defeating a proposal for a civic center; defeating a proposal to fund the streetcar services of The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company at-cost, approving a $1 million bond issue for improvements to public schools, and approving a $500,000 bond issue to construct a garbage disposal plant).

#### Milwaukee municipal court

[edit]

The city also elected three judges to its municipal court.[12]

### Manitowoc County

[edit]

#### Manitowoc mayor

[edit]

Manitowoc re-elected incumbent mayor Martin Georgenson (Socialist Labor Party) over challenger Frank E. Diebert.

#### Manitowoc city council

[edit]

Socialists also increased their representation on its city council by two seats.[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1927" (PDF). p. 579. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
2. ^ "Callahan Files Papers; Will Be Unopposed". Newspapers.com. March 16, 1925. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
3. ^ a b "Statement of Board of State Canvassers Relating to Votes Cast for Justice of the Supreme Court and State Superintendent of Public Instruction". The Capital Times. May 6, 1925. p. 13. Retrieved February 22, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ Berryman, John R., ed. (1898). History of the Bench and Bar of Wisconsin. Vol. 2\. Chicago: H. C. Cooper, Jr. pp. 362-365. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
5. ^ "advertisement". La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press. April 2, 1925. p. 12. Retrieved March 29, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ Ostermeier, Dr Eric (January 13, 2025). "Wisconsin Supreme Court 2025 Election by the Numbers". Smart Politics (University of Minnesota). Retrieved July 5, 2025.
7. ^ a b "J.C. Kleist, Loyal Santa Cruzan, Dies". Santa Cruz Evening News. July 31, 1931. Retrieved March 28, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ a b "John C. Kleist Dies In West". The La Crosse Tribune at Newspapers.com. The Associated Press. July 31, 1931. Retrieved March 28, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Record Ballot Forecasted In City Election". Wisconsin State Journal. April 2, 1922. Retrieved March 28, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "Anti-Saloon Publication Aided Kleist". The Capital Times. April 9, 1925. Retrieved March 28, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ "Judge Stevens Received Majority of 123,267 Votes". Iron County Miner. May 8, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved December 22, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ a b c d e "Setevens Elected Over Kleist to Supreme Court". Wasau Daily Record–Herald. April 8, 1925. Retrieved March 28, 2025 - via Newspapers.com.

* v
* t
* e

(1924<-)  1925 United States elections (->1926)

U.S.
Senate|

* Wisconsin (Special)

U.S.
House|

* California
* 4th sp
* Kentucky
* 3rd sp
* Massachusetts
* 2nd sp
* 5th sp
* Michigan
* 3rd sp
* New Jersey
* 3rd sp

Governors|

* New Jersey
* Virginia

Other state elections|

* Wisconsin

Mayors|

* Boston, MA
* Dallas, TX
* Indianapolis, IN
* Los Angeles, CA
* Manchester, NH
* New York, NY
* Pittsburgh, PA
* San Diego, CA

* v
* t
* e

Wisconsin Supreme Court elections

Seat currently held by Janet Protasiewicz|

* 1852
* 1859
* 1865
* 1868 sp.
* 1871
* 1877
* 1883
* 1893
* 1898 sp.
* 1903
* 1913
* 1923
* 1933
* 1943
* 1953
* 1963
* 1973
* 1983
* 1993
* 2003
* 2013
* 2023
* 2033

Seat currently held by Susan M. Crawford|

* 1852
* 1855
* 1861
* 1867
* 1873
* 1879
* 1881 sp.
* 1889
* 1899
* 1908 sp.
* 1909
* 1918 sp.
* 1919
* 1929
* 1939
* 1949
* 1958
* 1965
* 1975
* 1985
* 1995
* 2005
* 2015
* 2025
* 2035

Seat currently held by Rebecca Dallet|

* 1852 CJ
* 1860 CJ sp.
* 1863 CJ
* 1868 CJ sp.
* 1869 CJ
* 1875 CJ
* 1881 CJ
* 1891
* 1899 sp.
* 1901
* 1911
* 1921
* 1930 sp.
* 1931
* 1941
* 1950 sp.
* 1951
* 1961
* 1970
* 1980
* 1990
* 2000
* 2008
* 2018
* 2028

Seat currently held by Annette Ziegler|

* 1877
* 1887
* 1896 sp.
* 1897
* 1907
* 1917
* 1927
* 1937
* 1947
* 1957
* 1967
* 1977
* 1987
* 1997
* 2007
* 2017
* 2027

Seat currently held by Brian Hagedorn|

* 1878
* 1885
* 1892 sp.
* 1895
* 1905
* 1915
* 1922 sp.
* 1925
* 1935
* 1945
* 1952 sp.
* 1955
* 1964
* 1974
* 1979
* 1989
* 1999
* 2009
* 2019
* 2029

Seat currently held by Rebecca Bradley|

* 1904
* 1914
* 1924
* 1934
* 1944
* 1954
* 1959
* 1969
* 1976
* 1986
* 1996
* 2006
* 2016
* 2026

Seat currently held by Jill Karofsky|

* 1906
* 1916
* 1926
* 1936
* 1946
* 1956
* 1966
* 1968
* 1978
* 1984
* 1994
* 2001
* 2011
* 2020
* 2030

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