1978 Wisconsin Secretary of State election

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1978 Wisconsin Secretary of State election
Flag of Wisconsin.svg
 1974November 7, 19781982 
  Vel Phillips (WI).png 3x4.svg
Nominee Vel Phillips Frederic A. Seefeldt
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote697,945663,474
Percentage50.4%47.9%

1978 Wisconsin Secretary of State election results map by county.svg
Phillips:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     80–90%
Seefeldt:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

Secretary of State before election

Doug La Follette
Democratic

Elected Secretary of State

Vel Phillips
Democratic

The 1978 Wisconsin Secretary of State election took place on November 7, 1978, to elect the Secretary of State of Wisconsin. Incumbent Democrat Doug La Follette declined to seek re-election, instead running in the primary for Lieutenant Governor. Milwaukee Alderwoman and civil rights activist Vel Phillips was nominated in a field of 9 candidates and defeated Republican Frederic A. Seefeldt. Her election made her the first African American to be elected to a statewide office in Wisconsin.

Contents

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

  • Vel Phillips, former Milwaukee Alderwoman and civil rights activist

Eliminated in primary

  • Harvey J. Cooper
  • Ada Deer, Native American activist and scholar
  • Michael Jaliman
  • Janet Soergel Mielke, former state representative and union officer
  • Jan A. Olson
  • Thomas F. St. John
  • Benjamin Southwick
  • Rita Wlodarczyk, former staffer for Frank Zeidler's mayoral campaign

Results

Democratic primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Vel Phillips 78,797 25.58%
Democratic Ada Deer 46,69615.16%
Democratic Benjamin Southwick37,79112.27%
Democratic Harvey J. Cooper31,44410.21%
Democratic Jan A. Olson31,02710.07%
Democratic Rita Wlodarczyk30,4739.89%
Democratic Janet Soergel Mielke 25,2518.20%
Democratic Thomas F. St. John14,1824.60%
Democratic Michael Jaliman12,3153.40%
Total votes307,976 100.0%

Republican primary

Constitution primary

General election

Results

1978 Wisconsin Secretary of State election [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Vel Phillips 697,945 50.37% %
Republican Frederic A. Seefeldt663,47447.88% %
Constitution George A. Meyers24,2721.75% %
Plurality34,4712.49%-%
Total votes1,385,691 100.0% -%
Democratic hold

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References

  1. "Vote for State Officers by County - primary". University of Wisconsin Madison - Libraries.
  2. "Vote for State Officers by County - general". University of Wisconsin Madison - Libraries.