1963 Wisconsin Supreme Court election

1963 Wisconsin Supreme Court election
April 2, 1963
 
Candidate Bruce F. Beilfuss Harry E. Larsen
Popular vote 411,428 224,022
Percentage 64.75% 35.25%
Justice before election

Timothy Brown

 Elected Justice

Bruce F. Beilfuss

The 1963 Wisconsin Supreme Court election was held on Tuesday, April 2, 1963 to elect a justice to a full ten-year seat the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Bruce F. Beilfuss won an open race to succeed retiring justice Timothy Brown.

Background

As a result of the mandatory retirement age for state judges of 70 that was in effect at the time of the election, incumbent justice Timothy Brown was precluded from seeking re-election in 1963.[1] This made the election an open-seat race. The 1961 and 1963 elections were the first instance in the court's history in which multiple consecutive elections were for open seats (without an incumbent running).[2] As of 2026, this has only occurred in five further instances.[a]

Candidates

Advanced to the general election
Eliminated in the primary
  • Christ Alexopoulos, Milwaukee-based attorney and perennial judicial candidate[b]
  • Davis Donnelly
  • William H. Evans

Results

Wisconsin Supreme Court Election, 1963
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Primary, March 5, 1963[5]
Nonpartisan Bruce F. Beilfuss 126,765 53.36
Nonpartisan Harry E. Larsen 38,374 16.15
Nonpartisan William H. Evans 31,071 13.08
Nonpartisan Davis Donnelly 25,241 10.63
Nonpartisan Christ Alexopoulos 16,095 6.78
Total votes 237,546 100
General Election, April 2, 1963[6]
Nonpartisan Bruce F. Beilfuss 411,428 64.75
Nonpartisan Harry E. Larsen 224,022 35.25
Plurality 187,406 29.49
Total votes 635,450 100

Notes

  1. ↑ The five subsequent instances of this have been:[2]
  2. ↑ Alexopolous had unsuccessfully run For Wisconsin Supreme Court in 1959 and 1961; had unsuccessfully run for Circuit Court in 1960 and 1962; and had run other civil court campaigns as far back as 1954. He would later unsuccessfully run again for Supreme Court in 1974, 1975, and 1976[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Timothy Brown". Racine Journal Times. May 24, 1962. p. 10. Retrieved January 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 Ostermeier, Dr Eric (January 13, 2025). "Wisconsin Supreme Court 2025 Election by the Numbers". Smart Politics (University of Minnesota). Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  3. ↑ "40-Hour Week for State Judges Urged by Larsen". Wisconsin State Journal. United Press International. February 22, 1964. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "For State Supreme Court; Alexopoulos Tries Again". Herald-Times-Reporter. The Associated Press. February 5, 1976. p. 8. Retrieved April 10, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Veteran Jurist Favored to Win". Oshkosh Northwestern. March 6, 1963. p. 1. Retrieved January 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Theobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1964). "Elections in Wisconsin". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1964 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 769. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
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