Republican Lee S. Dreyfus won the election with 54% of the vote, winning his first term as Governor of Wisconsin and defeating incumbent Democrat Martin J.

[1] Bob Kasten unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination.

As of 2024, this is the most occasion that Florence County has voted Democratic in a gubernatorial election.

Nominees for Governor and Lieutenant Governor were selected in separate primaries before running on a joint ticket in the general election.

St. Croix County backed the losing candidate for the first time since 1892, breaking a bellwether streak of 40 consecutive gubernatorial elections.