Chester E. Dempsey (July 20, 1896 – October 4, 1969) was an American farmer and politician.
Born in the town of Merton, Wisconsin, Dempsey owned and operated a dairy farm. He served on the Waukesha County, Wisconsin Board of Supervisors and in town government. He served in the Wisconsin State Senate as a Democrat from 1935 to 1939, but was defeated in 1938 by Republican William A. Freehoff.
He left the Democratic Party in 1940, stating that he was against a third term for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and that as a farmer, "The Republican party is the only party left for me to join."[1]
He ran against Freehoff in the 1942 primary election, losing with 4,260 votes to 4,575 for Freehoff and 1020 for a third candidate.[2] In 1946, he defeated Freehoff in the primary, with 10,075 votes to 8,798. He won the general election,[3] and would serve as a Republican from 1947 until his death on October 4, 1969.[4][5] He was succeeded by fellow Republican Roger P. Murphy.
Notes
edit- ^ "Chester Dempsey Quits Democrats to Support Wilkie". Wisconsin State Journal July 12, 1940; p. 20, col. 4
- ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., ed. The Wisconsin Blue Book 1944 Madison: State of Wisconsin, 1944; p. 413
- ^ Ohm, Howard F.; Kuehn, Hazel L., ed. The Wisconsin Blue Book 1948 Madison: State of Wisconsin, 1948; pp. 609, 680
- ^ Wisconsin Historical Society-Chester E. Dempsey
- ^ WISCONSIN SESSION LAWS VOLUME I
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