The 1881 Wisconsin gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1881.
Republican nominee Jeremiah McLain Rusk defeated Democratic nominee Nicholas D. Fratt and two other nominees with 47.57% of the vote.
This was the last Wisconsin gubernatorial election held in an odd-numbered year. In 1882, a constitutional amendment was carried moving gubernatorial elections to even-numbered years.
Major party candidates
Other candidates
Douglas County would note vote for a Democrat again until 1944 nor would St. Croix County until 1932. This was the last election until 1916 in which Iowa County would not back the winning candidate.