# 1861 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

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
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
2014
2018
2022
2026
Attorney General elections
2014
2018
2022
Treasurer elections
2014
2022
Superintendent elections
2013
2017
2021
2025
State Senate elections
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
2008
2009
2011
2013
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2023
2025 :
Ballot measures
2006Referendum 1 :
Green Bay
Mayoral elections
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
Madison
Mayoral elections
1997 sp
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
Milwaukee
Mayoral elections
1910
1912
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2022 sp
2024 :
Kenosha
Mayoral elections
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024 :
vte :
The 1861 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1861. Republican Party candidate Louis P. Harvey won the election with 54% of the vote, defeating Democratic candidate Benjamin Ferguson.
This was the first Wisconsin gubernatorial election to take place after the outbreak of the American Civil War, and Wisconsin Republicans joined War Democrats to form the Union Party during the war. Democrats accused them of using patriotism to paper over the state's economic troubles.
Harvey won Calumet County and Kewaunee County; these counties would not vote for a Republican again until 1916 and 1896, respectively.

## Background

Wisconsin was experiencing economic depression, the results of the Panic of 1857. The secession of the southern states was further damage to the economy, exacerbating problems in the state's banks, which had invested a great deal of capital in southern bonds. The bonds were essentially worthless after secession, and thirty eight banks had failed by June 1861, with another forty on the brink. Riots broke out over invalidated bank notes and soldiers had to be called in to restore order.
The farm economy was also depressed, as prices for agricultural products fell due to the Confederate blockade on the Mississippi River. Railroad companies took advantage of their new monopoly on transportation and raised their freight prices. The combination of low incomes and higher expenses pushed many farms toward foreclosure.
All of these problems weighed heavily on the government, and the Republicans, who held power in the state at the time, took much of the blame for bringing depression and war. It was in this environment that incumbent Republican Governor Alexander Randall chose not to seek re-election to a third term.

## Nominations
### Union party

Louis P. Harvey was the incumbent Wisconsin Secretary of State at the time of the 1861 election, having been elected in the 1859 election. He had previously served two terms in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing Rock County. Harvey was a former Whig who had participated in the founding and organization of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

### Democratic party

Benjamin Ferguson was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate at the time of the election, representing Dodge County. Ferguson was a farmer and had previously been elected Sheriff of Dodge County and served on the County Board of Supervisors.

## Results

1861 Wisconsin gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National Union | Louis P. Harvey | 53,777 | 54.18% | +0.97% |
| | Democratic | Benjamin Ferguson | 45,456 | 45.80% | −0.80% |
| | | Scattering | 25 | 0.03% | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,321 | 8.38% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 99,258 | 100.00% | |
| | National Union hold | National Union hold | Swing | +1.77% | |

### Results by county

| County | Louis P. Harvey National Union | Louis P. Harvey National Union | Benjamin Ferguson Democratic | Benjamin Ferguson Democratic | Scattering Write-in | Scattering Write-in | Margin | Margin | Total votes cast |
| County | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | Total votes cast |
| Adams | 678 | 79.95% | 170 | 20.05% | 0 | 0.00% | 508 | 59.91% | 848 |
| Ashland | 29 | 43.28% | 38 | 56.72% | 0 | 0.00% | -9 | -13.43% | 67 |
| Bad Ax | 966 | 77.09% | 287 | 22.91% | 0 | 0.00% | 679 | 54.19% | 1,253 |
| Brown | 601 | 45.12% | 731 | 54.88% | 0 | 0.00% | -130 | -9.76% | 1,332 |
| Buffalo | 567 | 70.61% | 236 | 29.39% | 0 | 0.00% | 331 | 41.22% | 803 |
| Calumet | 394 | 54.72% | 326 | 45.28% | 0 | 0.00% | 68 | 9.44% | 720 |
| Chippewa | 155 | 44.80% | 191 | 55.20% | 0 | 0.00% | -36 | -10.40% | 346 |
| Clark | 175 | 87.06% | 26 | 12.94% | 0 | 0.00% | 149 | 74.13% | 201 |
| Columbia | 1,925 | 72.18% | 741 | 27.78% | 1 | 0.04% | 1,184 | 44.39% | 2,667 |
| Crawford | 582 | 46.41% | 672 | 53.59% | 0 | 0.00% | -90 | -7.18% | 1,254 |
| Dane | 3,113 | 53.76% | 2,675 | 46.19% | 3 | 0.05% | 438 | 7.56% | 5,791 |
| Dodge | 2,645 | 40.11% | 3,950 | 59.89% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,305 | -19.79% | 6,595 |
| Door | 196 | 77.47% | 56 | 22.13% | 1 | 0.40% | 140 | 55.34% | 253 |
| Douglas | 51 | 55.43% | 41 | 44.57% | 0 | 0.00% | 10 | 10.87% | 92 |
| Dunn | 490 | 98.59% | 7 | 1.41% | 0 | 0.00% | 483 | 97.18% | 497 |
| Eau Claire | 404 | 67.56% | 194 | 32.44% | 0 | 0.00% | 210 | 35.12% | 598 |
| Fond du Lac | 2,440 | 51.53% | 2,295 | 48.47% | 0 | 0.00% | 145 | 3.06% | 4,735 |
| Grant | 2,009 | 65.76% | 1,046 | 34.24% | 0 | 0.00% | 963 | 31.52% | 3,055 |
| Green | 1,461 | 68.85% | 661 | 31.15% | 0 | 0.00% | 800 | 37.70% | 2,122 |
| Green Lake | 811 | 65.35% | 428 | 34.49% | 2 | 0.16% | 383 | 30.86% | 1,241 |
| Iowa | 988 | 55.01% | 808 | 44.99% | 0 | 0.00% | 180 | 10.02% | 1,796 |
| Jackson | 605 | 85.94% | 99 | 14.06% | 0 | 0.00% | 506 | 71.88% | 704 |
| Jefferson | 1,838 | 46.94% | 2,076 | 53.01% | 2 | 0.05% | -238 | -6.08% | 3,916 |
| Juneau | 669 | 51.03% | 640 | 48.82% | 2 | 0.15% | 29 | 2.21% | 1,311 |
| Kenosha | 1,054 | 68.26% | 490 | 31.74% | 0 | 0.00% | 564 | 36.53% | 1,544 |
| Kewaunee | 307 | 60.08% | 204 | 39.92% | 0 | 0.00% | 103 | 20.16% | 511 |
| La Crosse | 1,166 | 60.01% | 777 | 39.99% | 0 | 0.00% | 389 | 20.02% | 1,943 |
| La Pointe | 57 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 57 | 100.00% | 57 |
| Lafayette | 1,464 | 44.16% | 1,851 | 55.84% | 0 | 0.00% | -387 | -11.67% | 3,315 |
| Manitowoc | 1,103 | 44.75% | 1,361 | 55.21% | 1 | 0.04% | -258 | -10.47% | 2,465 |
| Marathon | 100 | 19.88% | 403 | 80.12% | 0 | 0.00% | -303 | -60.24% | 503 |
| Marquette | 515 | 45.25% | 623 | 54.75% | 0 | 0.00% | -108 | -9.49% | 1,138 |
| Milwaukee | 1,840 | 25.52% | 5,370 | 74.48% | 0 | 0.00% | -3,530 | -48.96% | 7,210 |
| Monroe | 931 | 69.22% | 414 | 30.78% | 0 | 0.00% | 517 | 38.44% | 1,345 |
| Oconto | 542 | 93.93% | 33 | 5.72% | 2 | 0.35% | 509 | 88.21% | 577 |
| Outagamie | 449 | 33.66% | 884 | 66.27% | 1 | 0.07% | -435 | -32.61% | 1,334 |
| Ozaukee | 345 | 19.60% | 1,415 | 80.40% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,070 | -60.80% | 1,760 |
| Pepin | 467 | 77.32% | 137 | 22.68% | 0 | 0.00% | 330 | 54.64% | 604 |
| Pierce | 756 | 90.87% | 76 | 9.13% | 0 | 0.00% | 680 | 81.73% | 832 |
| Polk | 257 | 95.90% | 11 | 4.10% | 0 | 0.00% | 246 | 91.79% | 268 |
| Portage | 619 | 69.24% | 275 | 30.76% | 0 | 0.00% | 344 | 38.48% | 894 |
| Racine | 1,582 | 55.05% | 1,292 | 44.95% | 0 | 0.00% | 290 | 10.09% | 2,874 |
| Richland | 714 | 58.10% | 515 | 41.90% | 0 | 0.00% | 199 | 16.19% | 1,229 |
| Rock | 2,796 | 74.20% | 969 | 25.72% | 3 | 0.08% | 1,827 | 48.49% | 3,768 |
| Sauk | 1,627 | 73.79% | 578 | 26.21% | 0 | 0.00% | 1,049 | 47.57% | 2,205 |
| Shawano | 125 | 60.68% | 81 | 39.32% | 0 | 0.00% | 44 | 21.36% | 206 |
| Sheboygan | 1,258 | 50.71% | 1,223 | 49.29% | 0 | 0.00% | 35 | 1.41% | 2,481 |
| St. Croix | 635 | 66.15% | 325 | 33.85% | 0 | 0.00% | 310 | 32.29% | 960 |
| Trempealeau | 469 | 94.94% | 25 | 5.06% | 0 | 0.00% | 444 | 89.88% | 494 |
| Walworth | 2,133 | 65.27% | 1,135 | 34.73% | 0 | 0.00% | 998 | 30.54% | 3,268 |
| Washington | 383 | 15.13% | 2,146 | 84.79% | 2 | 0.08% | -1,763 | -69.66% | 2,531 |
| Waukesha | 1,950 | 46.84% | 2,212 | 53.13% | 1 | 0.02% | -262 | -6.29% | 4,163 |
| Waupaca | 1,071 | 69.32% | 471 | 30.49% | 3 | 0.19% | 600 | 38.83% | 1,545 |
| Waushara | 996 | 84.05% | 189 | 15.95% | 0 | 0.00% | 807 | 68.10% | 1,185 |
| Winnebago | 2,071 | 60.63% | 1,345 | 39.37% | 0 | 0.00% | 726 | 21.25% | 3,416 |
| Wood | 203 | 46.67% | 232 | 53.33% | 0 | 0.00% | -29 | -6.67% | 435 |
| Total | 53,777 | 54.18% | 45,456 | 45.80% | 25 | 0.03% | 8,321 | 8.38% | 99,258 |

#### Counties that flipped from Democratic to National Union

* Buffalo
* Calumet
* Dane
* Door
* Douglas
* Kewaunee
* La Pointe
* Oconto
* Sheboygan
* St. Croix

#### Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

* Waukesha