1978 Wisconsin Secretary of State election

The 1978 Wisconsin Secretary of State election took place on November 7, 1978, to elect the Secretary of State of Wisconsin. Incumbent Democrat Doug La Follette declined to seek re-election, instead running in the primary for Lieutenant Governor. Milwaukee Alderwoman and civil rights activist Vel Phillips was nominated in a field of 9 candidates and defeated Republican Frederic A. Seefeldt. Her election made her the first African American to be elected to a statewide office in Wisconsin.

Nominee

 * Vel Phillips, former Milwaukee Alderwoman and civil rights activist

Eliminated in primary

 * Harvey J. Cooper
 * Ada Deer, Native American activist and scholar
 * Michael Jaliman
 * Janet Soergel Mielke, former state representative and union officer
 * Jan A. Olson
 * Thomas F. St. John
 * Benjamin Southwick
 * Rita Wlodarczyk, former staffer for Frank Zeidler's mayoral campaign

Results
[[File:1978 Wisconsin secretary of state Democratic primary election results map by county.svg|thumb|Results by county:{{legend|#BDD3FF|Phillips}}

{{legend|#EBF2FF|10–20%}}

{{legend|#DFEEFF|20–30%}}

{{legend|#BDD3FF|30–40%}}{{legend|#ACF2F2|Deer}}

{{legend|#E3F7F7|10–20%}}

{{legend|#D0F9F9|20–30%}}

{{legend|#ACF2F2|30–40%}}

{{legend|#009696|70–80%}}{{legend|#87DE87|Southwick}}

{{legend|#D2F7D2|10–20%}}

{{legend|#C0F0C0|20–30%}}

{{legend|#87DE87|40–50%}}{{legend|#FFDCEC|Wlodarczyk}}

{{legend|#FFF0F5|10–20%}}

{{legend|#FFDCEC|20–30%}}{{legend|#FF9A50|Mielke}}

{{legend|#FFEFDF|10–20%}}

{{legend|#FF9A50|50–60%}}{{legend|#EFE7F5|Phillips–Deer Tie}}

{{legend|#EFE7F5|10-20%}}]]

Republican primary

 * Frederic A. Seefeldt ran unopposed in the primary

Constitution primary

 * George A. Myers ran unopposed in the primary