Henry Huber

Henry Allen Huber (November 6, 1869 – January 31, 1933) was an American lawyer and progressive Republican politician from Stoughton, Wisconsin. He was the 25th lieutenant governor of Wisconsin, serving from 1925 through 1933. He also served 12 years in the Wisconsin Senate and two years in the Wisconsin State Assembly representing Dane County. Earlier in his career, he also served as an executive clerk to Wisconsin governor Robert M. La Follette. He is known for introducing the first form of state unemployment insurance legislation in the United States, and is the namesake of the "Huber Law" which created Wisconsin's first work release program for state prisoners.

Biography Huber was born in Evergreen, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in 1869. At age ten, he moved with his parents to Pleasant Springs, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1892 and set up a law practice in Stoughton. He was city attorney for Stoughton, Wisconsin, and served on the Dane County Board of Supervisors. He served as a Republican in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1905 until 1906, and in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1913 until 1924.

During his time as a state senator, he gained national recognition for two landmark pieces of legislation. He introduced the first unemployment insurance legislation in American history, Huber ultimately faced no opposition in the Republican primary, and went on to win the general election with 60% of the vote.

He ran for a fifth term in 1932, but was defeated in the Republican primary by conservative Republican Harry Dahl,

Electoral history Wisconsin Assembly (1904)

Wisconsin Senate (1912, 1916, 1920)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 1912 General Republican 8,140 52.86% Dem. 6,918 44.92% 15,400 1,222 Proh. 338 2.19% 1916 General Republican 9,554 61.32% Dem. 6,023 38.66% 15,580 3,531 1920 General Republican 31,345 99.94% 31,363 31,327

Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor (1924, 1926, 1928, 1930)

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 1924 General Republican 433,106 60.27% Dem. 215,327 29.96% 718,669 217,779 Soc. 46,660 6.49% Proh. 11,170 1.55% Ind.R. 8,301 1.16% Soc.Lab. 2,025 0.28% Work. 1,978 0.28% 1926 Primary Republican 200,514 49.73% Rep. 106,807 26.49% 403,206 93,707 Rep. 95,885 23.78% General Republican 395,235 78.92% Dem. 61,865 12.35% 500,831 333,370 Soc. 34,283 6.85% Proh. 9,448 1.89% 1928 Primary Republican 261,913 60.52% Rep. 101,472 23.45% 432,795 160,441 Rep. 69,410 16.04% General Republican 582,456 64.48% Dem. 277,497 30.72% 903,254 304,959 Soc. 34,162 3.78% Proh. 6,621 0.73% Work. 1,314 0.15% Ind.Lab. 1,204 0.13% 1930 Primary Republican 318,225 54.87% Rep. 261,722 45.13% 579,947 56,503 General Republican 370,075 66.04% Dem. 141,632 25.27% 560,373 228,443 Soc. 32,107 5.73% Proh. 13,404 2.39% Comm. 3,155 0.56% 1932 Primary Republican 379,060 56.74% Rep. 288,971 43.26% 668,031 90,089