Wisconsin electoral history for Nov. 5, 1912: Woodrow Wilson wins Wisconsin en route to the Presidency

On November 5, 1912, then-New Jersey Gov. Woodrow Wilson (D) won the state of Wisconsin in the Presidential Election on the way to a national victory and the U.S. Presidency. 

Wilson’s main competition in the 1912 election came from three other candidates: incumbent President William Howard Taft (R); former President Theodore Roosevelt, who ran as the Progressive Party’s nominee after a split from the Republicans; and Eugene V. Debs of the Socialist Party. 

The split between Taft and Roosevelt supporters led to a divided vote, allowing Wilson to capitalize on the rift and secure his place in the White House.

The final results saw Wilson winning 164,230 votes Wisconsin, which amounted to 41.06% of the total votes cast. Roosevelt trailed with 130,596 votes (32.65%), while Taft won 62,448 votes (15.61%). Debs, representing the Socialist Party, won 33,476 votes (8.37%).

Nationally, Wilson won with 41.8% of the vote, Roosevelt won 27.4%, Taft won 23.2% , and Debs won 6%.  

Born on December 28, 1856, in Staunton, Va., Wilson served as the 28th President of the United States from 1913 to 1921. He previously was the governor of New Jersey from 1910 to 1912, after working as the president of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910.  Wilson had a Ph.D. in history and political science from Johns Hopkins University. 

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How did Wisconsin vote in the 1912 Presidential Election?

Note: The percentages are rounded to two decimal places.