Wisconsin — 1988 presidential election
Akashicstate1988 presidential electionWisconsin · PresidentDukakisD+3.6
How it voted
Share of the 1988 vote
| Michael Dukakis ✓Democratic | 51.5% | 1,126,794 |
|---|---|---|
| George H. W. BushRepublican | 47.8% | 1,047,499 |
| OtherAll other candidates | 0.7% | 15,042 |
1988presidential margin
D+60R+60
72 counties, each filled by 1988 D-vs-R margin. Hover any county for its result.
Wisconsin cast 11 electoral votes this cycle.
County-level results (72 counties) — table
| County | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Adams County, WI | Democratic | D+4.9 |
| Ashland County, WI | Democratic | D+21.4 |
| Barron County, WI | Democratic | D+2.4 |
| Bayfield County, WI | Democratic | D+16.5 |
| Brown County, WI | Republican | R+2.1 |
| Buffalo County, WI | Democratic | D+11.1 |
| Burnett County, WI | Democratic | D+10.1 |
| Calumet County, WI | Republican | R+11.1 |
| Chippewa County, WI | Democratic | D+7.9 |
| Clark County, WI | Democratic | D+2.7 |
| Columbia County, WI | Republican | R+6.8 |
| Crawford County, WI | Democratic | D+5.4 |
| Dane County, WI | Democratic | D+20.6 |
| Dodge County, WI | Republican | R+14.5 |
| Door County, WI | Republican | R+11.9 |
| Douglas County, WI | Democratic | D+36.5 |
| Dunn County, WI | Democratic | D+11.6 |
| Eau Claire County, WI | Democratic | D+8.9 |
| Florence County, WI | Republican | R+4.1 |
| Fond du Lac County, WI | Republican | R+16.0 |
| Forest County, WI | Democratic | D+7.4 |
| Grant County, WI | Republican | R+3.2 |
| Green County, WI | Republican | R+12.5 |
| Green Lake County, WI | Republican | R+26.2 |
| Iowa County, WI | Democratic | D+0.3 |
| Iron County, WI | Democratic | D+13.2 |
| Jackson County, WI | Democratic | D+4.9 |
| Jefferson County, WI | Republican | R+9.5 |
| Juneau County, WI | Republican | R+13.1 |
| Kenosha County, WI | Democratic | D+16.2 |
| Kewaunee County, WI | Democratic | D+5.0 |
| La Crosse County, WI | Democratic | D+1.5 |
| Lafayette County, WI | Republican | R+2.0 |
| Langlade County, WI | Republican | R+6.9 |
| Lincoln County, WI | Democratic | D+5.0 |
| Manitowoc County, WI | Democratic | D+10.2 |
| Marathon County, WI | Democratic | D+0.4 |
| Marinette County, WI | Republican | R+9.0 |
| Marquette County, WI | Republican | R+10.7 |
| Menominee County, WI | Democratic | D+45.7 |
| Milwaukee County, WI | Democratic | D+22.7 |
| Monroe County, WI | Republican | R+4.7 |
| Oconto County, WI | Republican | R+3.9 |
| Oneida County, WI | Republican | R+4.6 |
| Outagamie County, WI | Republican | R+8.7 |
| Ozaukee County, WI | Republican | R+28.6 |
| Pepin County, WI | Democratic | D+18.3 |
| Pierce County, WI | Democratic | D+17.7 |
| Polk County, WI | Democratic | D+13.2 |
| Portage County, WI | Democratic | D+14.9 |
| Price County, WI | Democratic | D+7.2 |
| Racine County, WI | Democratic | D+4.3 |
| Richland County, WI | Republican | R+5.0 |
| Rock County, WI | Democratic | D+2.4 |
| Rusk County, WI | Democratic | D+11.8 |
| Sauk County, WI | Republican | R+10.2 |
| Sawyer County, WI | Republican | R+0.4 |
| Shawano County, WI | Republican | R+11.8 |
| Sheboygan County, WI | Republican | R+0.1 |
| St. Croix County, WI | Democratic | D+6.7 |
| Taylor County, WI | Republican | R+5.8 |
| Trempealeau County, WI | Democratic | D+11.7 |
| Vernon County, WI | Democratic | D+4.8 |
| Vilas County, WI | Republican | R+21.2 |
| Walworth County, WI | Republican | R+19.7 |
| Washburn County, WI | Democratic | D+4.9 |
| Washington County, WI | Republican | R+20.8 |
| Waukesha County, WI | Republican | R+22.1 |
| Waupaca County, WI | Republican | R+23.9 |
| Waushara County, WI | Republican | R+16.6 |
| Winnebago County, WI | Republican | R+10.3 |
| Wood County, WI | Republican | R+1.4 |
Wisconsin results by county
72 counties. Third-party and independent votes are reported by the county source as one combined figure; every named candidate is listed in the complete result below.
| Led by | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | Michael Dukakis+340 | 3,59852.3% | 3,25847.3% | 270.4% | 6,883 |
| Ashland County | Michael Dukakis+1,600 | 4,52660.5% | 2,92639.1% | 300.4% | 7,482 |
| Barron County | Michael Dukakis+424 | 8,95150.9% | 8,52748.5% | 920.5% | 17,570 |
| Bayfield County | Michael Dukakis+1,228 | 4,32358.0% | 3,09541.5% | 400.5% | 7,458 |
| Brown County | George H. W. Bush+1,837 | 41,78848.6% | 43,62550.8% | 5400.6% | 85,953 |
| Buffalo County | Michael Dukakis+698 | 3,48155.1% | 2,78344.1% | 490.8% | 6,313 |
| Burnett County | Michael Dukakis+653 | 3,53754.7% | 2,88444.6% | 440.7% | 6,465 |
| Calumet County | George H. W. Bush+1,626 | 6,48144.1% | 8,10755.1% | 1200.8% | 14,708 |
| Chippewa County | Michael Dukakis+1,690 | 11,44753.6% | 9,75745.7% | 1500.7% | 21,354 |
| Clark County | Michael Dukakis+346 | 6,64251.0% | 6,29648.3% | 980.8% | 13,036 |
| Columbia County | George H. W. Bush+1,343 | 9,13246.3% | 10,47553.1% | 1230.6% | 19,730 |
| Crawford County | Michael Dukakis+370 | 3,60852.3% | 3,23847.0% | 470.7% | 6,893 |
| Dane County | Michael Dukakis+36,271 | 105,41459.9% | 69,14339.3% | 1,3770.8% | 175,934 |
| Dodge County | George H. W. Bush+4,340 | 12,66342.3% | 17,00356.8% | 2610.9% | 29,927 |
| Door County | George H. W. Bush+1,482 | 5,42543.7% | 6,90755.6% | 900.7% | 12,422 |
| Douglas County | Michael Dukakis+7,467 | 13,90768.0% | 6,44031.5% | 1020.5% | 20,449 |
| Dunn County | Michael Dukakis+1,932 | 9,20555.5% | 7,27343.8% | 1160.7% | 16,594 |
| Eau Claire County | Michael Dukakis+3,486 | 21,15054.2% | 17,66445.3% | 2090.5% | 39,023 |
| Florence County | George H. W. Bush+88 | 1,01847.5% | 1,10651.6% | 180.8% | 2,142 |
| Fond du Lac County | George H. W. Bush+6,098 | 15,88741.6% | 21,98557.6% | 3030.8% | 38,175 |
| Forest County | Michael Dukakis+297 | 2,14253.4% | 1,84546.0% | 220.5% | 4,009 |
| Grant County | George H. W. Bush+628 | 9,42148.1% | 10,04951.3% | 1100.6% | 19,580 |
| Green County | George H. W. Bush+1,483 | 5,15343.3% | 6,63655.7% | 1191.0% | 11,908 |
| Green Lake County | George H. W. Bush+2,172 | 3,03336.5% | 5,20562.7% | 610.7% | 8,299 |
| Iowa County | Michael Dukakis+28 | 4,26849.9% | 4,24049.6% | 400.5% | 8,548 |
| Iron County | Michael Dukakis+491 | 2,09056.3% | 1,59943.0% | 260.7% | 3,715 |
| Jackson County | Michael Dukakis+369 | 3,92452.2% | 3,55547.3% | 380.5% | 7,517 |
| Jefferson County | George H. W. Bush+2,493 | 11,81644.9% | 14,30954.3% | 2170.8% | 26,342 |
| Juneau County | George H. W. Bush+1,135 | 3,73443.1% | 4,86956.2% | 590.7% | 8,662 |
| Kenosha County | Michael Dukakis+8,428 | 30,08957.7% | 21,66141.6% | 3790.7% | 52,129 |
| Kewaunee County | Michael Dukakis+456 | 4,78652.1% | 4,33047.2% | 630.7% | 9,179 |
| La Crosse County | Michael Dukakis+656 | 22,20450.4% | 21,54848.9% | 3140.7% | 44,066 |
| Lafayette County | George H. W. Bush+144 | 3,52148.7% | 3,66550.7% | 440.6% | 7,230 |
| Langlade County | George H. W. Bush+630 | 4,25446.3% | 4,88453.2% | 480.5% | 9,186 |
| Lincoln County | Michael Dukakis+562 | 5,81952.1% | 5,25747.0% | 1020.9% | 11,178 |
| Manitowoc County | Michael Dukakis+3,660 | 19,68054.7% | 16,02044.5% | 2870.8% | 35,987 |
| Marathon County | Michael Dukakis+176 | 24,65849.8% | 24,48249.4% | 3810.8% | 49,521 |
| Marinette County | George H. W. Bush+1,607 | 8,03045.2% | 9,63754.3% | 970.5% | 17,764 |
| Marquette County | George H. W. Bush+596 | 2,46344.2% | 3,05954.9% | 450.8% | 5,567 |
| Menominee County | Michael Dukakis+647 | 1,02872.5% | 38126.9% | 80.6% | 1,417 |
| Milwaukee County | Michael Dukakis+99,924 | 268,28761.0% | 168,36338.3% | 2,8950.7% | 439,545 |
| Monroe County | George H. W. Bush+636 | 6,43747.4% | 7,07352.1% | 750.6% | 13,585 |
| Oconto County | George H. W. Bush+535 | 6,54947.7% | 7,08451.6% | 830.6% | 13,716 |
| Oneida County | George H. W. Bush+716 | 7,41447.3% | 8,13051.9% | 1260.8% | 15,670 |
| Outagamie County | George H. W. Bush+5,342 | 27,77145.3% | 33,11354.0% | 3940.6% | 61,278 |
| Ozaukee County | George H. W. Bush+10,238 | 12,66135.4% | 22,89963.9% | 2520.7% | 35,812 |
| Pepin County | Michael Dukakis+595 | 1,90658.7% | 1,31140.4% | 311.0% | 3,248 |
| Pierce County | Michael Dukakis+2,614 | 8,65958.6% | 6,04540.9% | 850.6% | 14,789 |
| Polk County | Michael Dukakis+2,115 | 8,98156.2% | 6,86643.0% | 1280.8% | 15,975 |
| Portage County | Michael Dukakis+4,260 | 16,31757.2% | 12,05742.3% | 1610.6% | 28,535 |
| Price County | Michael Dukakis+537 | 3,98753.2% | 3,45046.0% | 600.8% | 7,497 |
| Racine County | Michael Dukakis+3,289 | 39,63151.7% | 36,34247.4% | 6580.9% | 76,631 |
| Richland County | George H. W. Bush+383 | 3,64347.3% | 4,02652.2% | 390.5% | 7,708 |
| Rock County | Michael Dukakis+1,398 | 29,57650.8% | 28,17848.4% | 4340.7% | 58,188 |
| Rusk County | Michael Dukakis+825 | 3,88855.5% | 3,06343.7% | 530.8% | 7,004 |
| Sauk County | George H. W. Bush+1,901 | 8,32444.5% | 10,22554.7% | 1380.7% | 18,687 |
| Sawyer County | George H. W. Bush+29 | 3,23149.4% | 3,26049.9% | 450.7% | 6,536 |
| Shawano County | George H. W. Bush+1,775 | 6,58743.8% | 8,36255.6% | 980.7% | 15,047 |
| Sheboygan County | George H. W. Bush+42 | 23,42949.7% | 23,47149.8% | 2770.6% | 47,177 |
| St. Croix County | Michael Dukakis+1,432 | 11,39252.9% | 9,96046.3% | 1810.8% | 21,533 |
| Taylor County | George H. W. Bush+469 | 3,78546.7% | 4,25452.5% | 610.8% | 8,100 |
| Trempealeau County | Michael Dukakis+1,310 | 6,21255.6% | 4,90243.9% | 610.5% | 11,175 |
| Vernon County | Michael Dukakis+528 | 5,75451.9% | 5,22647.2% | 980.9% | 11,078 |
| Vilas County | George H. W. Bush+2,061 | 3,78138.9% | 5,84260.1% | 991.0% | 9,722 |
| Walworth County | George H. W. Bush+6,056 | 12,20339.8% | 18,25959.5% | 2230.7% | 30,685 |
| Washburn County | Michael Dukakis+319 | 3,39352.2% | 3,07447.2% | 390.6% | 6,506 |
| Washington County | George H. W. Bush+8,421 | 15,90739.2% | 24,32860.0% | 3040.7% | 40,539 |
| Waukesha County | George H. W. Bush+32,869 | 57,59838.7% | 90,46760.8% | 8280.6% | 148,893 |
| Waupaca County | George H. W. Bush+4,481 | 7,07837.7% | 11,55961.6% | 1200.6% | 18,757 |
| Waushara County | George H. W. Bush+1,418 | 3,53541.3% | 4,95357.9% | 650.8% | 8,553 |
| Winnebago County | George H. W. Bush+6,577 | 28,50844.5% | 35,08554.8% | 4100.6% | 64,003 |
| Wood County | George H. W. Bush+475 | 16,07448.9% | 16,54950.4% | 2250.7% | 32,848 |
Nominees: Michael Dukakis (D) · George H. W. Bush (R)
Wisconsin's presidential margins
1892–2024, the 1988 contest in context
| Year | Margin (D minus R) |
|---|---|
| 1892 | +1.7% |
| 1896 | −22.9% |
| 1900 | −24.1% |
| 1904 | −35.2% |
| 1908 | −17.8% |
| 1912 | +8.4% |
| 1916 | −6.6% |
| 1920 | −54.9% |
| 1924 | −29.0% |
| 1928 | −9.2% |
| 1932 | +32.3% |
| 1936 | +33.5% |
| 1940 | +1.8% |
| 1944 | −1.8% |
| 1948 | +4.4% |
| 1952 | −22.2% |
| 1956 | −23.7% |
| 1960 | −3.7% |
| 1964 | +24.3% |
| 1968 | −3.6% |
| 1972 | −9.7% |
| 1976 | +1.7% |
| 1980 | −4.7% |
| 1984 | −9.2% |
| 1988 | +3.6% |
| 1992 | +4.4% |
| 1996 | +10.3% |
| 2000 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | +0.4% |
| 2008 | +13.9% |
| 2012 | +6.9% |
| 2016 | −0.8% |
| 2020 | +0.6% |
| 2024 | −0.9% |
Same ballot, 1988WI
Source. MIT Election Data + Science Lab — 1988 presidential returns · official county-level results. Real returns — nothing estimated.