# Wisconsin Progressive Party

The Wisconsin Progressive Party (1934–1946) was a political party that briefly held a dominant role in Wisconsin politics.

## History

The Party was the brainchild of Philip La Follette and Robert M. La Follette, Jr., the sons of the famous Wisconsin Governor and Senator Robert M. La Follette, Sr. The party was established in 1934 as an alliance between the longstanding "Progressive" faction of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, led by the La Follette family and their political allies, and certain radical farm and labor groups active in Wisconsin at the time. Buoying off of popular discontent with both major parties, the La Follette brothers were both successful in their bids, and the party saw a number of other victories as well in the 1934 and 1936 elections, notably winning several U.S. House seats and a majority of the Wisconsin State Senate and Wisconsin State Assembly in 1936. In 1936 it was informally allied with the New Deal coalition and supported the reelection of President Franklin Roosevelt.
Their grip on power proved short-lived: they succumbed to a united Democratic and Republican front in 1938 which swept most of them out of office, including Philip La Follette. The party effectively collapsed when Philip went off to serve in the Pacific War during World War II. During La Follette's absence, the party failed to formulate a coherent party platform and instead opted to criticize the governor at the time, Julius P. Heil.
Orland Steen Loomis was the last Progressive to be elected Governor of Wisconsin, in the 1942 election. He died, however, before his inauguration as governor. Robert La Follette Jr. held on to his Senate seat until 1946, when the party decided to disband itself. Robert La Follette ran for re-election that year as a Republican rather than a Progressive, but was defeated in the Republican primary by Joe McCarthy.

### Cooperation with the Socialists

During its heyday, the Progressive Party usually did not run candidates in the Socialists (known as the "sewer socialists") stronghold of Milwaukee. There were strong ideological differences between the two movements as the two aligned with differing national parties. (Socialist State Representative George L. Tews said during a 1932 debate on unemployment compensation and how to fund it argued for the Socialist bill and against the Progressive substitute, stating that a Progressive was "a Socialist with the brains knocked out"), when both faced opposition from the conservative major parties. During the period from 1939 on, the Progressives and the Socialists of Milwaukee sometimes made common cause, with Socialist legislators caucusing with the minority Progressives. In 1942, Socialist Frank P. Zeidler, later to be elected mayor of Milwaukee, was the nominee on the Progressive party line for State Treasurer of Wisconsin.
The last politician to hold office from the Wisconsin Progressive Party nationally was Merlin Hull, a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin, elected as a Progressive in 1944. (Hull continued to be re-elected on the Republican ticket, and served until his death in 1953.)

## Officeholders from the Wisconsin Progressive Party
### Federal office
#### U.S. Senators

* Robert M. La Follette, Jr., Senator, 1935–1946 (served as a Republican 1925–1935)

#### U.S. Representatives

* Thomas Ryum Amlie, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 1st congressional district (1935–1939)
* Gerald J. Boileau, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 7th congressional district (1933–1939)
* Bernard J. Gehrmann, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 10th congressional district (1935–1943)
* Merlin Hull, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 9th congressional district (1935–1946)
* Harry Sauthoff, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district (1935–1939, 1941–1945)
* George J. Schneider, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 8th congressional district (1935–1939)
* Gardner R. Withrow, U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 3rd congressional district (1931–1939)

### State office
#### Executive branch officials

* Theodore Dammann, Secretary of State of Wisconsin, (1935–1938) (served as a Republican 1927–1935)
* Herman Ekern, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, (1937–1938)
* Henry Gunderson, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, (1936–1937)
* Ralph Immell, Adjutant General of Wisconsin (1923–1946)
* Philip La Follette, Governor of Wisconsin, (1934–1938)
* Solomon Levitan, State Treasurer of Wisconsin, 1937–1938 (served as a Republican 1923–1932)
* Orland Steen Loomis, Attorney General of Wisconsin, 1937–1938; elected Governor in 1942 but died before taking office

#### County officials

* Herbert J. Steffes, Milwaukee County District Attorney (1936–1940)

#### State Senators

* George Engebretson, state senator from the 2nd district (1937–1939)
* Harold Groves, state senator from the 26th district (1935–1937)
* George Hampel, state senator from the 6th district (1937–1945)
* Michael F. Kresky, Jr., state senator from the 2nd district (1937–1939)
* Joseph E. McDermid, Wisconsin State Senate, 1935–1941
* Oscar S. Paulson, Wisconsin State Senate, 1937–1940
* Elmer Peterson, Wisconsin State Senate, 1943–1947
* Edwin Myrwyn Rowlands, Wisconsin State Senate, 1935–1937
* Herman J. Severson 1934–1938 (also served as a Republican
* Fred W. Zantow, Wisconsin State Senate, reelected on the Progressive ticket, 1934; died before he took office (served as a Republican 1931–1934

#### State Assemblymen

* William H. Barnes, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1935–1940
* Lyall T. Beggs, Wisconsin State Assembly 1941–1947
* Bernard E. Brandt, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1935–1936
* Laurie E. Carlson, Wisconsin State Assembly 1937–1942
* John F. Dittbrender, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1939–1940
* George Engebretson, Wisconsin State Senate, 1938 (served as a Republican 1933–1937)
* William R. Foley, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1943–1944
* Oliver H. Fritz, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1937–1939
* John R. Fronek, 1934–1933 (served as a Republican
* William P. Groves, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1935–1937
* Hjalmer S. Halvorsen, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1934–1937
* James C. Hanson, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1934–1940 (served as a Republican 1917–1934)
* Peter A. Hemmy, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1935–1940
* Martin H. Herzog, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1939–1940
* Arthur A. Hitt, 1934–1939
* Ernst J. Hoesly, 1934–1939
* John E. Johnson, Wisconsin State Assembly
* Arthur D. Kelly, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1934–1939 (served as a Republican 1933–1934)
* Dougald D. Kennedy, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1937–1941
* Edward H. Kiefer, Wisconsin State Assembly 1937–1940 (served as a Socialist 1911–1914, 1931–1936)
* Felix A. Kremer, (Wisconsin State Assembly) 1937–1938
* Chester A. Krohn, Wisconsin State Assembly 1941–1942
* Claud H. Larsen, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1939–1940
* Tom Lomsdahl, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1935–1937
* James S. Mace, Wisconsin State Assembly 1939–1940
* Robert McCutchin, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1943–1944 (served as a Republican 1947–1951)
* Earl Mullen, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1943–1946 (served as a Republican 1947 –1949)
* Carl J. Peik, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1939–1940
* Adam F. Poltl, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1935–1936
* Ben Rubin, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1937–1942 (served as a Socialist 1931–1932)
* Herbert C. Schenck, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1935–1940
* Harry W. Schilling, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1935–1937 (served as a Republican 1947–1951)
* Frank D. Sheahan, Wisconsin State Assembly 1941–1942, 1945–1946
* Reno W. Trego, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1937–1940
* Harry P. Van Guilder, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1937–1942
* Otto A. Vogel, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1935–1936 1939–1940 1943–1948
* Casper D. Waller, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1943–1946
* Frank Weinheimer, Wisconsin State Assembly 1941–1942
* Herman B. Wegner, Wisconsin State Assembly, 1934–1944 (served as a Socialist 1933–1934)
* George J. Woerth, Wisconsin State Assembly 1935–1939

## Electoral history
### Wisconsin state offices

| Governor | Governor | Governor | Governor | Governor | Governor | Lieutenant governor | Lieutenant governor | Lieutenant governor | Lieutenant governor | Lieutenant governor | Lieutenant governor | Attorney general | Attorney general | Attorney general | Attorney general | Attorney general | Attorney general |
| Year | Nominee | # votes | % votes | Place | Notes | Year | Nominee | # votes | % votes | Place | Notes | Year | Nominee | # votes | % votes | Place | Notes |
| 1934 | Philip La Follette | 373,093 | 39.12 / 100 | Elected | | 1934 | Henry Gunderson | 313,682 | 35.25 / 100 | 2nd of 7 | | 1934 | Fred M. Wylie | 303,387 | 35.06 / 100 | 2nd of 7 | |
| 1936 | Philip La Follette | 573,724 | 46.38 / 100 | Re-elected | | 1936 | Henry Gunderson | 465,918 | 41.69 / 100 | Elected | | 1936 | Orland Steen Loomis | 394,252 | 36.10 / 100 | Elected | |
| 1938 | Philip La Follette | 353,381 | 36.00 / 100 | 2nd of 5 | | 1938 | George A. Nelson | 313,066 | 34.36 / 100 | 2nd of 5 | | 1938 | Orland Steen Loomis | 316,657 | 35.24 / 100 | 2nd of 4 | |
| 1940 | Orland Steen Loomis | 546,436 | 39.78 / 100 | 2nd of 5 | | 1940 | Anton M. Miller | 411,055 | 32.53 / 100 | 2nd of 4 | | 1940 | Otto F. Christenson | 367,009 | 29.76 / 100 | 2nd of 4 | |
| 1942 | Orland Steen Loomis | 397,664 | 49.65 / 100 | Elected | | 1942 | Henry J. Berquist | 256,851 | 34.82 / 100 | 2nd of 5 | | 1942 | William H. Dieterich | 205,730 | 21.41 / 100 | 2nd of 5 | |
| 1944 | Alexander Otto Benz | 76,028 | 5.76 / 100 | 3rd of 5 | | 1944 | Clough Gates | 79,068 | 6.38 / 100 | 3rd of 4 | | 1944 | William H. Dieterich | 84,989 | 7.00 / 100 | 3rd of 4 | |
| Secretary of state | Secretary of state | Secretary of state | Secretary of state | Secretary of state | Secretary of state | Treasurer | Treasurer | Treasurer | Treasurer | Treasurer | Treasurer |
| Year | Nominee | # votes | % votes | Place | Notes | Year | Nominee | # votes | % votes | Place | Notes |
| 1934 | Theodore Dammann | 419,249 | 46.66 / 100 | Re-elected | | 1934 | Albert C. Johnson | 302,639 | 34.41 / 100 | 2nd of 6 | |
| 1936 | Theodore Dammann | 601,638 | 52.12 / 100 | Re-elected | | 1936 | Solomon Levitan | 457,942 | 40.03 / 100 | Elected | |
| 1938 | Theodore Dammann | 391,150 | 41.61 / 100 | 2nd of 5 | | 1938 | Solomon Levitan | 368,707 | 40.28 / 100 | 2nd of 5 | |
| 1940 | Adolph W. Larsen | 332,505 | 26.03 / 100 | 2nd of 4 | | 1940 | Frank Zeidler | 382,237 | 30.65 / 100 | 2nd of 4 | |
| 1942 | John H. Kaiser | 196,287 | 26.19 / 100 | 2nd of 5 | | 1942 | Albert C. Johnson | 215,995 | 29.63 / 100 | 2nd of 5 | |
| 1944 | Adelaide Woelfel | 12,681 | 1.04 / 100 | 4th of 4 | | 1944 | Albert C. Johnson | 73,451 | 5.98 / 100 | 3rd of 4 | |
| Wisconsin Senate | Wisconsin Senate | Wisconsin Senate | Wisconsin Senate | Wisconsin Senate | Wisconsin Senate | Wisconsin Senate | Wisconsin Senate | Wisconsin Assembly | Wisconsin Assembly | Wisconsin Assembly | Wisconsin Assembly | Wisconsin Assembly | Wisconsin Assembly | Wisconsin Assembly | Wisconsin Assembly |
| Election | Leader | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Position | Control | Election | Leader | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Position | Control |
| Election | Leader | No. | Share | No. | ± | Position | Control | Election | Leader | No. | Share | No. | ± | Position | Control |
| 1934 | N/A | 137,544 | 32.10% | 11 / 33 | 11 | 2nd | Democratic–Republican | 1934 | Jorge W. Carow | 304,804 | 34.09% | 45 / 100 | 45 | 1st | Progressive minority |
| 1936 | Walter J. Rush | 242,631 | 42.00% | 16 / 33 | 5 | 1st | Progressive minority | 1936 | Jorge W. Carow | 437,916 | 38.73% | 46 / 100 | 1 | 1st | Progressive minority |
| 1938 | | 154,891 | 35.00% | 11 / 33 | 5 | 2nd | Republican minority | 1938 | Paul Alfonsi | | | 32 / 100 | 12 | 2nd | Republican |
| 1940 | | 212,631 | 32.09% | 6 / 33 | 5 | 2nd | Republican | 1940 | N/A | | | 25 / 100 | 7 | 2nd | Republican |
| 1942 | | 85,806 | 25.18% | 6 / 33 | | 2nd | Republican | 1942 | N/A | | | 13 / 100 | 12 | 3rd | Republican |
| 1944 | | 47,895 | 8.81% | 5 / 33 | 1 | 3rd | Republican | 1944 | N/A | | | 6 / 100 | 7 | 3rd | Republican |

### Wisconsin federal offices

| U.S. Senate | U.S. Senate | U.S. Senate | U.S. Senate | U.S. Senate | U.S. Senate | U.S. House of Representatives | U.S. House of Representatives | U.S. House of Representatives | U.S. House of Representatives | U.S. House of Representatives | U.S. House of Representatives | U.S. House of Representatives | U.S. House of Representatives |
| Year | Nominee | # votes | % votes | Place | Notes | Election | Leader | Votes | Votes | Seats | Seats | Position | Control |
| 1934 | Robert M. La Follette Jr. | 440,513 | 47.78 / 100 | Re-elected | | 1934 | George J. Schneider | 334,345 | 37.76% | 7 / 10 | 7 | 1st | Progressive |
| 1936 | No seat up | No seat up | No seat up | No seat up | | 1936 | George J. Schneider | 479,263 | 42.69% | 7 / 10 | | 1st | Progressive |
| 1938 | Herman Ekern | 249,209 | 26.58 / 100 | 2nd of 6 | | 1938 | George J. Schneider | 330,823 | 36.26% | 2 / 10 | 5 | 2nd | Republican |
| 1940 | Robert M. La Follette Jr. | 605,609 | 45.26 / 100 | Re-elected | | 1940 | N/A | 469,063 | 36.96% | 3 / 10 | 1 | 2nd | Republican |
| 1942 | No seat up | No seat up | No seat up | No seat up | | 1942 | N/A | 185,114 | 24.72% | 2 / 10 | 1 | 3rd | Republican |
| 1944 | Harry Sauthoff | 73,089 | 5.82 / 100 | 3rd of 5 | | 1944 | N/A | 104,377 | 9.01% | 1 / 10 | 1 | 3rd | Republican |