# 1966 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

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The 1966 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1966. Republican Warren P. Knowles won the election with 53.50% of the vote, winning his second term as Governor of Wisconsin and defeating Democratic incumbent lieutenant governor and future governor Patrick J. Lucey.

## Primary election

The primary election was held on September 13, 1966.

### Republican party
#### Candidates

* Warren P. Knowles, incumbent governor

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Warren P. Knowles (incumbent) | 217,199 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 217,199 | 100.00% |

### Democratic party
#### Candidates

* David Carley, nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin in 1962
* Dominic H. Frinzi, candidate for Democratic nomination in 1964
* Patrick J. Lucey, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
* Abe L. Swed

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Patrick J. Lucey | 128,359 | 45.22% |
| | Democratic | David Carley | 95,803 | 33.75% |
| | Democratic | Dominic H. Frinzi | 44,344 | 15.62% |
| | Democratic | Abe L. Swed | 15,362 | 5.41% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 283,868 | 100.00% |

## General election
### Candidates

* Warren P. Knowles, Republican
* Patrick J. Lucey, Democrat
* Adolf Wiggert, Independent

### Results

1966 Wisconsin gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Warren P. Knowles (incumbent) | 626,041 | 53.50% | +2.95% |
| | Democratic | Patrick J. Lucey | 539,258 | 46.08% | −3.35% |
| | Independent | Adolf Wiggert | 4,745 | 0.41% | |
| | | Scattering | 129 | 0.01% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 86,783 | 7.42% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,170,173 | 100.00% | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | +6.30% | |

### Results by county

This was the only time between 1952 and 1990 that Bayfield County voted for the Republican candidate.
| County | Warren P. Knowles Republican | Warren P. Knowles Republican | Patrick J. Lucey Democratic | Patrick J. Lucey Democratic | Adolf Wiggert Independent | Adolf Wiggert Independent | Scattering Write-in | Scattering Write-in | Margin | Margin | Total votes cast |
| County | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | Total votes cast |
| Adams | 1,234 | 48.49% | 1,291 | 50.73% | 20 | 0.79% | 0 | 0.00% | -57 | -2.24% | 2,545 |
| Ashland | 2,490 | 44.16% | 3,135 | 55.60% | 13 | 0.23% | 0 | 0.00% | -645 | -11.44% | 5,638 |
| Barron | 5,659 | 65.11% | 3,007 | 34.60% | 24 | 0.28% | 1 | 0.01% | 2,652 | 30.51% | 8,691 |
| Bayfield | 2,275 | 51.66% | 2,104 | 47.77% | 23 | 0.52% | 2 | 0.05% | 171 | 3.88% | 4,404 |
| Brown | 20,071 | 51.93% | 18,341 | 47.45% | 238 | 0.62% | 2 | 0.01% | 1,730 | 4.48% | 38,652 |
| Buffalo | 1,770 | 58.28% | 1,264 | 41.62% | 3 | 0.10% | 0 | 0.00% | 506 | 16.66% | 3,037 |
| Burnett | 1,912 | 61.94% | 1,169 | 37.87% | 0 | 0.00% | 6 | 0.19% | 743 | 24.07% | 3,087 |
| Calumet | 4,272 | 56.37% | 3,274 | 43.20% | 33 | 0.44% | 0 | 0.00% | 998 | 13.17% | 7,579 |
| Chippewa | 5,558 | 50.73% | 5,358 | 48.90% | 41 | 0.37% | 0 | 0.00% | 200 | 1.83% | 10,957 |
| Clark | 4,908 | 58.84% | 3,403 | 40.80% | 30 | 0.36% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,505 | 18.04% | 8,341 |
| Columbia | 7,017 | 62.56% | 4,139 | 36.90% | 58 | 0.52% | 2 | 0.02% | 2,878 | 25.66% | 11,216 |
| Crawford | 2,795 | 52.03% | 2,566 | 47.77% | 9 | 0.17% | 2 | 0.04% | 229 | 4.26% | 5,372 |
| Dane | 43,249 | 59.66% | 28,214 | 38.92% | 989 | 1.36% | 46 | 0.06% | 15,035 | 20.74% | 72,498 |
| Dodge | 10,109 | 60.44% | 6,569 | 39.27% | 48 | 0.29% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,540 | 21.16% | 16,726 |
| Door | 4,351 | 61.84% | 2,670 | 37.95% | 15 | 0.21% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,681 | 23.89% | 7,036 |
| Douglas | 6,520 | 43.93% | 8,305 | 55.96% | 16 | 0.11% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,785 | -12.03% | 14,841 |
| Dunn | 4,106 | 58.91% | 2,840 | 40.75% | 22 | 0.32% | 2 | 0.03% | 1,266 | 18.16% | 6,970 |
| Eau Claire | 9,375 | 53.31% | 8,166 | 46.43% | 46 | 0.26% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,209 | 6.87% | 17,587 |
| Florence | 520 | 52.90% | 462 | 47.00% | 1 | 0.10% | 0 | 0.00% | 58 | 5.90% | 983 |
| Fond du Lac | 13,466 | 55.94% | 10,538 | 43.78% | 68 | 0.28% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,928 | 12.16% | 24,072 |
| Forest | 1,123 | 42.75% | 1,492 | 56.79% | 12 | 0.46% | 0 | 0.00% | -369 | -14.05% | 2,627 |
| Grant | 6,892 | 68.58% | 3,132 | 31.17% | 25 | 0.25% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,760 | 37.42% | 10,049 |
| Green | 4,807 | 74.07% | 1,654 | 25.49% | 29 | 0.45% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,153 | 48.58% | 6,490 |
| Green Lake | 3,305 | 63.14% | 1,920 | 36.68% | 9 | 0.17% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,385 | 26.46% | 5,234 |
| Iowa | 3,519 | 66.58% | 1,740 | 32.92% | 26 | 0.49% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,779 | 33.66% | 5,285 |
| Iron | 1,218 | 47.86% | 1,321 | 51.91% | 5 | 0.20% | 1 | 0.04% | -103 | -4.05% | 2,545 |
| Jackson | 2,458 | 53.50% | 2,124 | 46.23% | 11 | 0.24% | 1 | 0.02% | 334 | 7.27% | 4,594 |
| Jefferson | 8,969 | 60.82% | 5,720 | 38.79% | 53 | 0.36% | 4 | 0.03% | 3,249 | 22.03% | 14,746 |
| Juneau | 3,459 | 60.20% | 2,264 | 39.40% | 22 | 0.38% | 1 | 0.02% | 1,195 | 20.80% | 5,746 |
| Kenosha | 14,282 | 43.79% | 18,273 | 56.02% | 59 | 0.18% | 2 | 0.01% | -3,991 | -12.24% | 32,616 |
| Kewaunee | 3,029 | 53.51% | 2,619 | 46.26% | 13 | 0.23% | 0 | 0.00% | 410 | 7.24% | 5,661 |
| La Crosse | 12,172 | 52.56% | 10,854 | 46.87% | 126 | 0.54% | 8 | 0.03% | 1,318 | 5.69% | 23,160 |
| Lafayette | 3,366 | 64.15% | 1,875 | 35.73% | 6 | 0.11% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,491 | 28.42% | 5,247 |
| Langlade | 3,217 | 53.34% | 2,800 | 46.43% | 14 | 0.23% | 0 | 0.00% | 417 | 6.91% | 6,031 |
| Lincoln | 3,896 | 54.82% | 3,194 | 44.94% | 17 | 0.24% | 0 | 0.00% | 702 | 9.88% | 7,107 |
| Manitowoc | 11,096 | 44.86% | 13,514 | 54.63% | 124 | 0.50% | 2 | 0.01% | -2,418 | -9.78% | 24,736 |
| Marathon | 14,738 | 51.02% | 14,031 | 48.57% | 119 | 0.41% | 0 | 0.00% | 707 | 2.45% | 28,888 |
| Marinette | 5,376 | 47.16% | 6,005 | 52.68% | 16 | 0.14% | 2 | 0.02% | -629 | -5.52% | 11,399 |
| Marquette | 1,824 | 66.06% | 929 | 33.65% | 7 | 0.25% | 1 | 0.04% | 895 | 32.42% | 2,761 |
| Menominee | 176 | 32.59% | 361 | 66.85% | 3 | 0.56% | 0 | 0.00% | -185 | -34.26% | 540 |
| Milwaukee | 120,244 | 45.81% | 141,308 | 53.83% | 937 | 0.36% | 12 | 0.00% | -21,064 | -8.02% | 262,501 |
| Monroe | 4,887 | 60.51% | 3,157 | 39.09% | 32 | 0.40% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,730 | 21.42% | 8,076 |
| Oconto | 4,007 | 52.00% | 3,687 | 47.85% | 10 | 0.13% | 2 | 0.03% | 320 | 4.15% | 7,706 |
| Oneida | 3,880 | 50.03% | 3,854 | 49.69% | 20 | 0.26% | 2 | 0.03% | 26 | 0.34% | 7,756 |
| Outagamie | 16,242 | 52.61% | 14,451 | 46.81% | 177 | 0.57% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,791 | 5.80% | 30,870 |
| Ozaukee | 8,404 | 62.02% | 5,125 | 37.82% | 20 | 0.15% | 1 | 0.01% | 3,279 | 24.20% | 13,550 |
| Pepin | 1,095 | 53.60% | 944 | 46.21% | 4 | 0.20% | 0 | 0.00% | 151 | 7.39% | 2,043 |
| Pierce | 3,901 | 61.56% | 2,431 | 38.36% | 4 | 0.06% | 1 | 0.02% | 1,470 | 23.20% | 6,337 |
| Polk | 4,963 | 65.16% | 2,640 | 34.66% | 14 | 0.18% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,323 | 30.50% | 7,617 |
| Portage | 5,183 | 43.75% | 6,586 | 55.60% | 76 | 0.64% | 1 | 0.01% | -1,403 | -11.84% | 11,846 |
| Price | 2,604 | 53.71% | 2,221 | 45.81% | 21 | 0.43% | 2 | 0.04% | 383 | 7.90% | 4,848 |
| Racine | 23,104 | 51.20% | 21,894 | 48.52% | 122 | 0.27% | 1 | 0.00% | 1,210 | 2.68% | 45,121 |
| Richland | 2,991 | 64.99% | 1,591 | 34.57% | 18 | 0.39% | 2 | 0.04% | 1,400 | 30.42% | 4,602 |
| Rock | 20,419 | 60.16% | 13,418 | 39.53% | 102 | 0.30% | 4 | 0.01% | 7,001 | 20.63% | 33,943 |
| Rusk | 2,255 | 48.14% | 2,415 | 51.56% | 13 | 0.28% | 1 | 0.02% | -160 | -3.42% | 4,684 |
| Sauk | 6,850 | 63.19% | 3,928 | 36.23% | 63 | 0.58% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,922 | 26.95% | 10,841 |
| Sawyer | 2,493 | 65.16% | 1,313 | 34.32% | 19 | 0.50% | 1 | 0.03% | 1,180 | 30.84% | 3,826 |
| Shawano | 5,745 | 62.90% | 3,380 | 37.01% | 8 | 0.09% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,365 | 25.90% | 9,133 |
| Sheboygan | 15,925 | 49.87% | 15,882 | 49.74% | 123 | 0.39% | 1 | 0.00% | 43 | 0.13% | 31,931 |
| St. Croix | 5,569 | 61.00% | 3,546 | 38.84% | 14 | 0.15% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,023 | 22.16% | 9,129 |
| Taylor | 2,323 | 47.35% | 2,562 | 52.22% | 21 | 0.43% | 0 | 0.00% | -239 | -4.87% | 4,906 |
| Trempealeau | 3,024 | 51.16% | 2,878 | 48.69% | 9 | 0.15% | 0 | 0.00% | 146 | 2.47% | 5,911 |
| Vernon | 4,187 | 57.21% | 3,092 | 42.25% | 38 | 0.52% | 2 | 0.03% | 1,095 | 14.96% | 7,319 |
| Vilas | 2,713 | 59.56% | 1,831 | 40.20% | 10 | 0.22% | 1 | 0.02% | 882 | 19.36% | 4,555 |
| Walworth | 11,169 | 67.13% | 5,447 | 32.74% | 22 | 0.13% | 1 | 0.01% | 5,722 | 34.39% | 16,639 |
| Washburn | 2,353 | 57.77% | 1,707 | 41.91% | 12 | 0.29% | 1 | 0.02% | 646 | 15.86% | 4,073 |
| Washington | 8,390 | 57.86% | 6,098 | 42.05% | 13 | 0.09% | 0 | 0.00% | 2,292 | 15.81% | 14,501 |
| Waukesha | 33,157 | 60.07% | 21,868 | 39.62% | 170 | 0.31% | 2 | 0.00% | 11,289 | 20.45% | 55,197 |
| Waupaca | 7,175 | 68.44% | 3,285 | 31.34% | 23 | 0.22% | 0 | 0.00% | 3,890 | 37.11% | 10,483 |
| Waushara | 2,503 | 67.10% | 1,216 | 32.60% | 11 | 0.29% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,287 | 34.50% | 3,730 |
| Winnebago | 18,891 | 54.98% | 15,300 | 44.53% | 166 | 0.48% | 5 | 0.01% | 3,591 | 10.45% | 34,362 |
| Wood | 8,816 | 53.62% | 7,566 | 46.01% | 60 | 0.36% | 1 | 0.01% | 1,250 | 7.60% | 16,443 |
| Total | 626,041 | 53.50% | 539,258 | 46.08% | 4,745 | 0.41% | 129 | 0.01% | 86,783 | 7.42% | 1,170,173 |

#### Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

* Bayfield
* Burnett
* Dane
* Eau Claire
* Florence
* Polk
* Racine
* Sheboygan

#### Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

* Adams
* Marinette