The 1982 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Democrat Anthony S. Earl won the election with 56.75% of the vote, defeating Republican Terry J. Kohler.
As of 2026, this is the most recent Wisconsin gubernatorial election where the Democratic candidate won by a double-digit margin. Additionally, this is the most recent gubernatorial election in which a Democrat has carried Fond Du Lac County, Jefferson County, Kewaunee County, and Sheboygan County.
Primary election
The primary election was held on September 14, 1982. Nominees for Governor and Lieutenant Governor were selected in separate primaries before running on a joint ticket in the general election.
Republican party
Governor
- Lowell B. Jackson, Secretary of Wisconsin Department of Transportation
- Terry J. Kohler, businessman
Lieutenant Governor
- Russell A. Olson, incumbent lieutenant governor
Democratic party
Governor
- Anthony S. Earl, former Secretary of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Martin J. Schreiber, former governor
- James B. Wood
Lieutenant Governor
- James T. Flynn, member of Wisconsin Senate
- Wayne P. Frank
- Jack H. Gleason
Libertarian party
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Constitution party
Governor
- James P. Wickstrom, Constitution nominee for United States Senate in 1980
Lieutenant Governor
Independent nominations
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
General election
Candidates
- Anthony S. Earl & James T. Flynn, Democrat
- Terry J. Kohler & Russell A. Olson, Republican
- Larry Smiley & Gerald Shidell, Libertarian
- James P. Wickstrom & Diana K. Simonson, Constitution
- Peter Seidman & Margo Storsteen, Independent
Results by county
Earl was the first Democrat since Albert G. Schmedeman in 1934 to win Fond du Lac County and Winnebago County and no Democrat has won the former since this election. Grant County and Richland County would not vote for the losing candidate again until 2022.
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Adams
- Brown
- Chippewa
- Dane
- Eau Claire
- Fond du Lac
- Forest
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Kewaunee
- La Crosse
- Langlade
- Marathon
- Oneida
- Outagamie
- Portage
- Racine
- Rock
- Rusk
- Sheboygan
- Trempealeau
- Winnebago
- Wood
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican