In the aftermath of the 1902 election, the state legislature enacted the direct primary (subject to a statewide referendum) and La Follette's tax reform bill.

[4] The Wisconsin Republican party split in the run up to the election due to the incumbent governor Robert La Follette's embrace of progressive ideas such as a state income tax and greater regulation of the railroads.

[5] He also earned the attention of muckraker journalists like Ray Stannard Baker and Lincoln Steffens, many of whom supported La Follette's progressive agenda.

[15] La Follette was formally nominated by the Republican caucus on January 23, 1905, and the state legislature chose him the following day.

The state legislature passed a relatively weak regulation bill that La Follette considered vetoing, but he ultimately signed the law.