The 1881 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1881.

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1881 Wisconsin gubernatorial election

← 1879 November 8, 1881 1884 →

Nominee Jeremiah McLain Rusk Nicholas D. Fratt Theodore D. Kanouse Party Republican Democratic Prohibition Popular vote 81,754 69,797 13,225 Percentage 47.57% 40.61% 7.70%

County results Rusk :      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90% Fratt :      30–40%      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election William E. Smith Republican Elected Governor Jeremiah McLain Rusk Republican

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Republican nominee Jeremiah McLain Rusk defeated Democratic nominee Nicholas D. Fratt and two other nominees with 47.57% of the vote.

This was the last Wisconsin gubernatorial election held in an odd-numbered year. In 1882, a constitutional amendment was carried moving gubernatorial elections to even-numbered years.