The 1970 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970. Democrat Patrick J. Lucey won the election with 54.23% of the vote, winning his first term as Governor of Wisconsin and defeating incumbent lieutenant governor, Republican Jack B. Olson. Roman R. Blenski unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination. As of 2024, this is the last time the Democratic gubernatorial candidate carried Oconto County.
This was the first gubernatorial election in Wisconsin where the governor was elected to a four year term on the same ticket as the Lieutenant Governor.
The primary election was held on September 8, 1970. Nominees for Governor and Lieutenant Governor were selected in separate primaries before running on a joint ticket in the general election.
Republican party
Governor
Candidates
- Jack B. Olson, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
- Roman Richard Blenski, former Democratic State senator from the 7th district (1949–1955) and perennial candidate
Lieutenant Governor
Candidates
- David O. Martin, State representative from Winnebago County's 3rd district (1961–1971)
Democratic party
Governor
Candidates
- Patrick J. Lucey, former Lieutenant Governor and nominee for governor in 1966
- Edward Ihlenfeldt
- Donald O. Peterson, manager of Eugene McCarthy’s 1968 presidential campaign in Wisconsin
Lieutenant Governor
Candidates
- Martin J. Schreiber, State senator from the 6th district (1963–1971)
- Harry Halloway
- Frank Nikolay, Former Assembly majority leader (1965–1967) from the Clark County district (1959–1967; 1969–1971)
- John F. O'Malley
- Jay G. Sykes, educator
American party
Governor
Candidates
Lieutenant Governor
Candidates
General election
Candidates
- Patrick J. Lucey & Martin J. Schreiber, Democrat
- Jack B. Olson & David O. Martin, Republican
- Leo James McDonald & Theodore Kothe, American
- Georgia Cozzini & Denis Kitchen, Independent
- Samuel K. Hunt & Peter J. Kohlenberg, Independent
- Myrtle Kastner & Russell Chabot, Independent
Results by county
Lucey was the first Democrat since William A. Barstow in 1855 to win Dunn County.
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Barron
- Brown
- Buffalo
- Burnett
- Calumet
- Dane
- Dunn
- Eau Claire
- Florence
- Jackson
- Kewaunee
- Marinette
- Oconto
- Oneida
- Pepin
- Pierce
- Polk
- Price
- Racine
- Rock
- Sheboygan
- St. Croix
- Trempealeau
- Washburn
- Washington