Richard Elsner
Socialist attorney, judge, and one-term Wisconsin Assembly member.
Richard Elsner (May 29, 1859 – January 18, 1938) was an American attorney and judge based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who served a single term as a Socialist in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
Born in Silesia, Elsner completed public school, gymnasium, and technical college in Germany before moving to Milwaukee in 1880. By 1886, he had become a leader in the Brewery Workers Union. He later attended Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin Law School, graduating in 1894, and described himself as a "practicing lawyer by profession."
Elsner ran for office multiple times as a Socialist. In 1898, he was the party’s nominee for Wisconsin Attorney General, finishing fifth in a six-candidate field. He ran again in 1900 (fourth in a five-way race), 1902 (third in a five-way race), and 1906 (again third in a five-way race). He served as Milwaukee County judge from 1910 to 1916. In 1916, he was the Socialist nominee for the U.S. Senate, placing third in a four-way contest won by incumbent Republican Robert M. La Follette, Sr. In 1919, he was elected Milwaukee County register of deeds, serving two terms. In November 1922, he won a seat in the state assembly in a tight race, receiving 1,679 votes to Republican incumbent Leander J. Pierson’s 1,663 votes. (Victor Berger reportedly said of Pierson, “Mr. Leander Pierson belongs in the legislature of Pennsylvania, or New York, or Hell—but not in Wisconsin!”) Elsner was assigned to the committees on judiciary and on insurance and banking. He did not seek reelection in 1924 and was succeeded by Republican Ernst F. Pahl.
His papers are held in the Special Collections of the Golda Meir Library at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
- Born
- May 29, 1859
- Died
- January 18, 1938
- Birthplace
- Silesia
- Profession
- attorney and judge
- Party
- Socialist
- Assembly term
- 1922
- Votes received
- 1,679
Lore & Background
Elsner was born in Silesia in 1859 and attended public school, gymnasium, and technical college in Germany before immigrating to Milwaukee in 1880. By 1886 he had become a leader of the Brewery Workers Union. He later studied at Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin Law School, graduating in 1894, and described himself as a 'practicing lawyer by profession.'
His political career began with multiple runs for Wisconsin Attorney General as a Socialist nominee: in 1898 he came fifth in a six-way race, in 1900 fourth in a five-way race, and in 1902 and 1906 third in five-way races. He served as county judge of Milwaukee County from 1910 to 1916. In 1916 he was the Socialist nominee for the U.S. Senate, coming third in a four-way race won by Republican Robert M. La Follette, Sr. In 1919 he was elected register of deeds for Milwaukee County for the first of two terms.
In November 1922, Elsner was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in a fierce contest, receiving 1,679 votes to incumbent Republican Leander J. Pierson's 1,663 votes. Victor Berger was reported to have said, 'Mr. Leander Pierson belongs in the legislature of Pennsylvania, or New York, or Hell-- but not in Wisconsin!' Elsner was appointed to the standing committees on the judiciary and on insurance and banking. He did not seek re-election in 1924 and was succeeded by Republican Ernst F. Pahl.
Reader's Guide
Elsner's significance lies in his persistent candidacy as a Socialist for multiple offices over nearly three decades, reflecting the strength of the Socialist movement in Milwaukee during that era. His narrow 1922 Assembly victory by just 16 votes, in a contest marked by a reported harsh remark from Victor Berger, illustrates the intense political competition of the time. His career as a Brewery Workers Union leader, county judge, register of deeds, and assemblyman shows a trajectory from labor activism to multiple elected positions. His papers are preserved in the Special Collections of the Golda Meir Library of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, providing a resource for studying early 20th-century Wisconsin politics and the Socialist Party's role in the state.
Did You Know?
- Elsner was a leader of the Brewery Workers Union by 1886.
- He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1894.
- His 1922 Assembly victory margin was only 16 votes.
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