The 1944 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1944. Primary elections were held on August 15, 1944.
Incumbent Republican Governor Walter Samuel Goodland defeated Democratic nominee Daniel Hoan with 52.84% of the vote.
Progressive primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Alexander O. Benz, president of the Aid Association for Lutherans
Eliminated in primary
- Ralph F. Amoth
- John H. Kaiser, Progressive candidate for Secretary of State in 1942
- Leo E. Vaudreuil, former Deputy Attorney General of Wisconsin
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Walter S. Goodland, incumbent lieutenant governor and acting governor
Eliminated in primary
- Roland E. Kannenberg, former State Senator
- Delbert J. Kenny, businessman
- Milton T. Murray, State Senator and unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for governor in 1942
- Christian J. Otjen, lawyer and soldier
Results
Democratic party
Candidates
Nominee
- Daniel Hoan, former mayor of Milwaukee
Eliminated in primary
- John N. Zimmermann, purchasing agent
Results
General election
Candidates
Major party candidates
- Walter Samuel Goodland, Democratic
- Daniel Hoan, Republican
- Alexander O. Benz, Progressive
Other candidates
- Georgia Cozzini, Socialist Labor, candidate for governor in 1942
- George A. Nelson, Socialist, candidate for governor in 1934
Results
Results by county
Counties that flipped from Progressive to Republican
- Adams
- Ashland
- Barron
- Bayfield
- Buffalo
- Burnett
- Chippewa
- Clark
- Columbia
- Dane
- Dodge
- Door
- Dunn
- Eau Claire
- Grant
- Green
- Iowa
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Juneau
- La Crosse
- Lincoln
- Manitowoc
- Marathon
- Monroe
- Oconto
- Oneida
- Ozaukee
- Pierce
- Polk
- Richland
- Rock
- Rusk
- Sauk
- St. Croix
- Taylor
- Trempealeau
- Vernon
- Washburn
- Waukesha
- Waupaca
- Wooda
Counties that flipped from Progressive to Democratic
- Brown
- Douglas
- Forest
- Iron
- Langlade
- Milwaukee
- Portage
- Racine
- Vilas
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Kenosha
Notes
References
Bibliography
- Gubernatorial Elections, 1787–1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
- Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1946). The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1946. State of Wisconsin.
