1982 Wisconsin gubernatorial election|
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County results Earl: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Kohler: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% |
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The 1982 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Democrat Anthony S. Earl won the election with 56.75% of the vote, defeating Republican Terry J. Kohler.[1]
As of 2024, this is the most recent Wisconsin gubernatorial election where the Democratic candidate won by a double-digit margin. Additionally, this is the most recent gubernatorial election in which a Democrat has carried Brown County, Fond Du Lac County, Jefferson County, Kewaunee County, and Sheboygan County.
Primary election
The primary election was held on September 14, 1982. Nominees for Governor and Lieutenant Governor were selected in separate primaries before running on a joint ticket in the general election.
Democratic party
Governor
Candidates
Results
Lieutenant Governor
Candidates
Results
Republican party
Governor
Candidates
Results
Lieutenant Governor
Candidates
Results
Libertarian party
Governor
Candidates
Results
Lieutenant Governor
Candidates
Results
Constitution party
Governor
Candidates
- James P. Wickstrom, Constitution nominee for United States Senate in 1980
Results
Lieutenant Governor
Candidates
Results
Independent nominations
Governor
Candidates
Results
Lieutenant Governor
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- Anthony S. Earl & James T. Flynn, Democrat
- Terry J. Kohler & Russell A. Olson, Republican
- Larry Smiley & Gerald Shidell, Libertarian
- James P. Wickstrom & Diana K. Simonson, Constitution
- Peter Seidman & Margo Storsteen, Independent
Results
Results by county
Earl was the first Democrat since Albert G. Schmedeman in 1934 to win Fond du Lac County and Winnebago County and no Democrat has won the former since this election. Grant County and Richland County would not vote for the losing candidate again until 2022.
County[4][5]
|
Anthony S. Earl Democratic
|
Terry J. Kohler Republican
|
All Others Various
|
Margin
|
Total votes cast
|
#
|
%
|
#
|
%
|
#
|
%
|
#
|
%
|
Adams
|
2,514
|
51.82%
|
2,249
|
46.36%
|
88
|
1.81%
|
265
|
5.46%
|
4,851
|
Ashland
|
3,949
|
59.84%
|
2,558
|
38.76%
|
92
|
1.39%
|
1,391
|
21.08%
|
6,599
|
Barron
|
6,355
|
50.56%
|
6,136
|
48.81%
|
79
|
0.63%
|
219
|
1.74%
|
12,570
|
Bayfield
|
3,761
|
60.01%
|
2,448
|
39.06%
|
58
|
0.93%
|
1,313
|
20.95%
|
6,267
|
Brown
|
31,375
|
53.46%
|
26,605
|
45.33%
|
706
|
1.20%
|
4,770
|
8.13%
|
58,686
|
Buffalo
|
2,772
|
53.99%
|
2,314
|
45.07%
|
48
|
0.93%
|
458
|
8.92%
|
5,134
|
Burnett
|
4,179
|
60.03%
|
2,660
|
38.21%
|
122
|
1.75%
|
1,519
|
21.82%
|
6,961
|
Calumet
|
4,953
|
47.36%
|
5,246
|
50.16%
|
260
|
2.49%
|
-293
|
-2.80%
|
10,459
|
Chippewa
|
9,128
|
59.35%
|
6,021
|
39.15%
|
232
|
1.51%
|
3,107
|
20.20%
|
15,381
|
Clark
|
5,056
|
46.54%
|
5,610
|
51.64%
|
198
|
1.82%
|
-554
|
-5.10%
|
10,864
|
Columbia
|
7,056
|
48.98%
|
7,158
|
49.69%
|
192
|
1.33%
|
-102
|
-0.71%
|
14,406
|
Crawford
|
2,913
|
44.70%
|
3,543
|
54.37%
|
61
|
0.94%
|
-630
|
-9.67%
|
6,517
|
Dane
|
86,288
|
70.48%
|
34,631
|
28.29%
|
1,513
|
1.24%
|
51,657
|
42.19%
|
122,432
|
Dodge
|
10,425
|
46.38%
|
11,745
|
52.25%
|
309
|
1.37%
|
-1,320
|
-5.87%
|
22,479
|
Door
|
4,292
|
42.29%
|
5,790
|
57.06%
|
66
|
0.65%
|
-1,498
|
-14.76%
|
10,148
|
Douglas
|
11,160
|
73.24%
|
3,961
|
26.00%
|
116
|
0.76%
|
7,199
|
47.25%
|
15,237
|
Dunn
|
6,588
|
57.09%
|
4,778
|
41.41%
|
173
|
1.50%
|
1,810
|
15.69%
|
11,539
|
Eau Claire
|
16,520
|
61.41%
|
10,025
|
37.26%
|
358
|
1.33%
|
6,495
|
24.14%
|
26,903
|
Florence
|
667
|
45.59%
|
766
|
52.36%
|
30
|
2.05%
|
-99
|
-6.77%
|
1,463
|
Fond du Lac
|
16,302
|
51.34%
|
14,921
|
46.99%
|
532
|
1.68%
|
1,381
|
4.35%
|
31,755
|
Forest
|
1,998
|
55.47%
|
1,509
|
41.89%
|
95
|
2.64%
|
489
|
13.58%
|
3,602
|
Grant
|
5,960
|
41.59%
|
8,268
|
57.69%
|
103
|
0.72%
|
-2,308
|
-16.10%
|
14,331
|
Green
|
4,423
|
45.90%
|
5,118
|
53.11%
|
96
|
1.00%
|
-695
|
-7.21%
|
9,637
|
Green Lake
|
2,292
|
35.32%
|
4,099
|
63.16%
|
99
|
1.53%
|
-1,807
|
-27.84%
|
6,490
|
Iowa
|
2,759
|
44.59%
|
3,361
|
54.31%
|
68
|
1.10%
|
-602
|
-9.73%
|
6,188
|
Iron
|
2,105
|
63.87%
|
1,136
|
34.47%
|
55
|
1.67%
|
969
|
29.40%
|
3,296
|
Jackson
|
3,710
|
51.24%
|
3,426
|
47.31%
|
105
|
1.45%
|
284
|
3.92%
|
7,241
|
Jefferson
|
9,862
|
49.81%
|
9,629
|
48.63%
|
309
|
1.56%
|
233
|
1.18%
|
19,800
|
Juneau
|
2,954
|
40.44%
|
4,230
|
57.91%
|
121
|
1.66%
|
-1,276
|
-17.47%
|
7,305
|
Kenosha
|
24,315
|
68.30%
|
11,015
|
30.94%
|
271
|
0.76%
|
13,300
|
37.36%
|
35,601
|
Kewaunee
|
3,695
|
49.83%
|
3,640
|
49.09%
|
80
|
1.08%
|
55
|
0.74%
|
7,415
|
La Crosse
|
17,962
|
56.89%
|
13,191
|
41.78%
|
420
|
1.33%
|
4,771
|
15.11%
|
31,573
|
Lafayette
|
2,889
|
41.80%
|
3,987
|
57.69%
|
35
|
0.51%
|
-1,098
|
-15.89%
|
6,911
|
Langlade
|
3,667
|
52.67%
|
3,199
|
45.95%
|
96
|
1.38%
|
468
|
6.72%
|
6,962
|
Lincoln
|
4,768
|
48.08%
|
4,932
|
49.73%
|
217
|
2.19%
|
-164
|
-1.65%
|
9,917
|
Manitowoc
|
17,069
|
59.78%
|
10,447
|
36.59%
|
1,038
|
3.64%
|
6,622
|
23.19%
|
28,554
|
Marathon
|
19,451
|
49.87%
|
18,602
|
47.69%
|
950
|
2.44%
|
849
|
2.18%
|
39,003
|
Marinette
|
6,757
|
48.70%
|
6,985
|
50.34%
|
134
|
0.97%
|
-228
|
-1.64%
|
13,876
|
Marquette
|
1,868
|
44.71%
|
2,215
|
53.02%
|
95
|
2.27%
|
-347
|
-8.31%
|
4,178
|
Menominee
|
439
|
78.96%
|
113
|
20.32%
|
4
|
0.72%
|
326
|
58.63%
|
556
|
Milwaukee
|
210,142
|
67.34%
|
98,925
|
31.70%
|
2,988
|
0.96%
|
111,217
|
35.64%
|
312,055
|
Monroe
|
4,156
|
41.42%
|
5,752
|
57.32%
|
127
|
1.27%
|
-1,596
|
-15.90%
|
10,035
|
Oconto
|
4,991
|
43.67%
|
6,305
|
55.17%
|
133
|
1.16%
|
-1,314
|
-11.50%
|
11,429
|
Oneida
|
6,525
|
50.82%
|
5,996
|
46.70%
|
319
|
2.48%
|
529
|
4.12%
|
12,840
|
Outagamie
|
21,655
|
52.84%
|
18,741
|
45.73%
|
588
|
1.43%
|
2,914
|
7.11%
|
40,984
|
Ozaukee
|
9,852
|
42.54%
|
13,147
|
56.77%
|
161
|
0.70%
|
-3,295
|
-14.23%
|
23,160
|
Pepin
|
1,297
|
59.04%
|
885
|
40.28%
|
15
|
0.68%
|
412
|
18.75%
|
2,197
|
Pierce
|
5,768
|
57.88%
|
4,118
|
41.32%
|
79
|
0.79%
|
1,650
|
16.56%
|
9,965
|
Polk
|
5,933
|
57.03%
|
4,344
|
41.76%
|
126
|
1.21%
|
1,589
|
15.27%
|
10,403
|
Portage
|
12,704
|
67.79%
|
5,690
|
30.36%
|
347
|
1.85%
|
7,014
|
37.43%
|
18,741
|
Price
|
2,764
|
46.49%
|
3,033
|
51.01%
|
149
|
2.51%
|
-269
|
-4.52%
|
5,946
|
Racine
|
33,079
|
60.48%
|
20,914
|
38.24%
|
700
|
1.28%
|
12,165
|
22.24%
|
54,693
|
Richland
|
2,250
|
35.75%
|
3,971
|
63.10%
|
72
|
1.14%
|
-1,721
|
-27.35%
|
6,293
|
Rock
|
26,130
|
62.10%
|
15,432
|
36.68%
|
515
|
1.22%
|
10,698
|
25.42%
|
42,077
|
Rusk
|
2,875
|
51.41%
|
2,598
|
46.46%
|
119
|
2.13%
|
277
|
4.95%
|
5,592
|
Sauk
|
6,430
|
46.10%
|
7,403
|
53.08%
|
115
|
0.82%
|
-973
|
-6.98%
|
13,948
|
Sawyer
|
2,286
|
49.03%
|
2,321
|
49.79%
|
55
|
1.18%
|
-35
|
-0.75%
|
4,662
|
Shawano
|
4,863
|
40.99%
|
6,708
|
56.54%
|
294
|
2.48%
|
-1,845
|
-15.55%
|
11,865
|
Sheboygan
|
21,211
|
56.62%
|
15,769
|
42.09%
|
482
|
1.29%
|
5,442
|
14.53%
|
37,462
|
St. Croix
|
8,557
|
58.00%
|
6,097
|
41.32%
|
100
|
0.68%
|
2,460
|
16.67%
|
14,754
|
Taylor
|
3,237
|
48.85%
|
3,255
|
49.12%
|
134
|
2.02%
|
-18
|
-0.27%
|
6,626
|
Trempealeau
|
4,959
|
56.41%
|
3,753
|
42.69%
|
79
|
0.90%
|
1,206
|
13.72%
|
8,791
|
Vernon
|
4,124
|
42.98%
|
5,328
|
55.52%
|
144
|
1.50%
|
-1,204
|
-12.55%
|
9,596
|
Vilas
|
3,028
|
41.48%
|
4,054
|
55.53%
|
218
|
2.99%
|
-1,026
|
-14.05%
|
7,300
|
Walworth
|
9,603
|
43.66%
|
12,229
|
55.59%
|
165
|
0.75%
|
-2,626
|
-11.94%
|
21,997
|
Washburn
|
2,817
|
52.22%
|
2,528
|
46.86%
|
50
|
0.93%
|
289
|
5.36%
|
5,395
|
Washington
|
12,114
|
46.59%
|
13,505
|
51.93%
|
385
|
1.48%
|
-1,391
|
-5.35%
|
26,004
|
Waukesha
|
43,128
|
46.82%
|
47,860
|
51.96%
|
1,119
|
1.21%
|
-4,732
|
-5.14%
|
92,107
|
Waupaca
|
5,307
|
40.90%
|
7,497
|
57.78%
|
171
|
1.32%
|
-2,190
|
-16.88%
|
12,975
|
Waushara
|
2,432
|
41.42%
|
3,360
|
57.23%
|
79
|
1.35%
|
-928
|
-15.81%
|
5,871
|
Winnebago
|
24,375
|
52.23%
|
21,649
|
46.39%
|
641
|
1.37%
|
2,726
|
5.84%
|
46,665
|
Wood
|
13,084
|
52.78%
|
11,304
|
45.60%
|
401
|
1.62%
|
1,780
|
7.18%
|
24,789
|
Total |
896,872 |
56.75% |
662,738 |
41.94% |
20,694 |
1.31% |
234,134 |
14.82% |
1,580,304
|
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
References
- ^ Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, Wisconsin Legislature (2015). Wisconsin Blue Book 2015-2016. Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Department of Administration. pp. 699–701. ISBN 978-0-9752820-7-6.
- ^ a b c d e f Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1983). "Vote For State Officers. By County". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1983-1984. Madison, Wisconsin. p. 876.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
- ^ a b c d Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1983). "Vote For State Officers, By County". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1983-1984. Madison, Wisconsin. p. 877.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
- ^ a b Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1983). "Vote For State Officers, By County". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1983-1984. Madison, Wisconsin. p. 900.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
- ^ a b Richard M. Scammon; Alice V. McGillivray, eds. (1983). America Votes 15, A Handbook of Contemporary American Election Statistics. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly. p. 379.