1946 Wyoming state elections

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on Tuesday, November 5, 1946. All of the state's executive officers—the governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction—were up for election. The election was largely a rout for the Republican Party. Though Democratic governor Lester C. Hunt was narrowly re-elected, Democrats lost their two other state offices: auditor and secretary of State (which they picked up following a vacancy). Moreover, they were unable to win back any other state offices.

Governor

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Incumbent Democratic governor Lester C. Hunt ran for re-election to a second term. Though his predecessor, former governor Nels H. Smith, planned a rematch against Hunt, he lost the Republican primary to State Treasurer Earl Wright. In the general election, Hunt defeated Wright by a narrow margin, but improved from his 1942 election. During Hunt's second term, he would be elected to the U.S. Senate in 1948, vacating his office. Secretary of State Arthur G. Crane ascended to the governorship, while still acting as secretary of state.

1946 Wyoming gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Lester C. Hunt (inc.) 43,020 52.88% +1.56%
Republican Earl Wright 38,333 47.12% −1.56%
Majority 4,687 5.76% +3.13%
Turnout 81,353 100.00%
Democratic hold

Secretary of State

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In 1944, Republican secretary of state Mart Christensen died while in office. Governor Hunt appointed longtime State Auditor William M. Jack as Christensen's replacement. Jack declined to run for re-election or for any other office,[2] creating an open seat. Earl R. Burns, the Chairman of the Wyoming Public Service Commission, won the Democratic nomination unopposed and advanced to the general election against Arthur G. Crane, the former President of the University of Wyoming. The general election was not close, and Crane was elected secretary of state over Burns by a landslide. During Crane's term, Governor Hunt would be elected to the U.S. Senate, and Crane would serve as both acting governor and secretary of state.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Earl R. Burns 15,272 100.00%
Total votes 15,272 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Arthur G. Crane 14,964 59.09%
Republican Thomas A. Nicholas 10,365 40.92%
Total votes 25,329 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1946 Wyoming Secretary of State election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Arthur G. Crane 45,502 58.48% −0.38%
Democratic Earl R. Burns 32,304 41.52% +0.38%
Majority 13,198 16.96% −0.76%
Turnout 77,806
Republican gain from Democratic

Auditor

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Following the death of Secretary of State Mart T. Christensen, Democratic state auditor William M. Jack was appointed as his replacement by governor, who, in turn, appointed Carl Robinson as Jack's successor. In 1945, Robinson resigned from office and Governor Hunt appointed former Congressman John J. McIntyre as his replacement.[5] McIntyre opted to run for Congress rather than seek re-election, and no other Democratic candidates filed for the election. In early July, however, Major Alvin C. Wade of the United States Army announced a write-in campaign,[6] and won enough votes to receive the Democratic nomination.[1] In the general election, Copenhaver defeated Wade by a decisive margin.

Democratic primary

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No Democratic candidates filed to run for auditor. However, on July 8, Major Alvin C. Wade of the U.S. Army announced that he would run as a write-in candidate for the party's nomination.[6] He accepted the nomination upon receiving the requisite number of write-in votes.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Everett T. Copenhaver, assistant state examiner, former deputy secretary of state, former state representative from Converse County, 1942 Republican nominee for auditor[7]

Results

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Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Everett T. Copenhaver 22,133 100.00%
Total votes 22,133 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1946 Wyoming Auditor election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Everett T. Copenhaver 42,819 55.60% +10.39%
Democratic Alvin C. Wade 34,196 44.40% −10.39%
Majority 8,623 11.20% +1.61%
Turnout 77,015
Republican gain from Democratic

Treasurer

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Incumbent Republican state treasurer Earl Wright, unable to seek re-election, instead opted to run for Governor. Doc Rogers, who had unsuccessfully run for Auditor in 1938 and Treasurer in 1942, ran against State Senator Thomas Stirling and former state representative Carl Dallam in a close Republican primary. Rogers was narrowly leading Stirling as votes were tallied on election night,[8] with the final tally putting him ahead of Stirling by 99 votes. However, alleged irregularities with how the primary was conducted in Natrona County were raised, namely that "candidate names had not been properly placed on ballots and that ballots had been opened before being placed in ballot boxes." However, the secretary of state's office concluded that it was without jurisdiction to evaluate the allegations and certified Rogers's nomination.[9]

In the general election, Rogers faced Democratic nominee David B. Gilfillan, the State Commissioner of Labor. Despite the closeness of the Republican primary and allegations of impropriety, the general election was not close, and Rogers defeated Gilfillan in a landslide.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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  • David B. Gilfillan[10]

Results

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Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David B. Gilfillan 14,163 100.00%
Total votes 14,163 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Doc Rogers, former Deputy Secretary of State, 1942 Republican candidate for treasurer, 1938 Republican nominee for Auditor
  • Thomas Stirling, state senator from Weston County[11]
  • Carl A. Dallam, former state representative[12]

Results

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Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Doc Rogers 8,861 37.69%
Republican Thomas Stirling 8,762 37.27%
Republican Carl A. Dallam 5,885 25.03%
Total votes 23,508 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1946 Wyoming Treasurer election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Doc Rogers 43,903 57.49% −1.73%
Democratic David B. Gilfillan 32,459 42.51% +1.73%
Majority 11,444 14.99% −3.47%
Turnout 76,362
Republican hold

Superintendent of public instruction

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Incumbent Republican superintendent of public instruction Esther Anderson declined to run for a third term, instead endorsing Edna B. Stolt, the Supervisor of Elementary and Special Education the State Department of Education, as her successor.[13] Stolt faced high school teacher Nancy L. Jones and former governor Alonzo M. Clark in the Republican primary, whom she narrowly defeated to advance to the general election. Velma Linford, a high school teacher, won the Democratic primary unopposed and opposed Stolt in the general election. Despite the broad support for Republican candidates around the state, the race between Stolt and Linford was close, with Stolt only beating her opponent by 2,545 votes.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Velma Linford 14,168 100.00%
Total votes 14,168 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Edna B. Stolt 8,837 37.29%
Republican Nancy L. Jones 8,134 34.33%
Republican Alonzo M. Clark 6,725 28.38%
Total votes 23,696 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1946 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Edna B. Stolt 39,638 51.66% −9.17%
Democratic Velma Linford 37,093 48.34% +9.17%
Majority 2,545 3.32% −18.34%
Turnout 76,731
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Crane, A. G. (1947). 1947 Wyoming Official Directory and 1946 Election Returns. pp. 76–77, 296–97.
  2. ^ "'Scotty' Jack Declares Will Not Be Candidate: Announcement Sets at Rest Statewide Speculation on Political Plans of Secretary of State, Former Casperite". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. January 10, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  3. ^ "PSC Completes Rate Hearings". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. April 19, 1946. p. 2. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  4. ^ "Nicholas Seeks Secretary Post: Casper Attorney Is Candidate for G.O.P. Selection". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. May 2, 1946. pp. 1–2. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  5. ^ "John J. McIntyre Is Named State Auditor: Appointed to Post Following Resignation of Carl Robinson". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. September 11, 1945. p. 1. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Major Wade Write-In Democratic Candidate For State Auditor Job". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 8, 1946. p. 2. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  7. ^ "Copenhaver Candidate for State Auditor". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. April 23, 1946. p. 2. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  8. ^ "Result in Republican Race For Treasurer Is in Doubt: Rogers Holds Slim Lead Over Stirling As Count Awaited in Outlying Precincts". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 18, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  9. ^ "Official Canvass Shows 'Doc' Rogers Nominated: State Board Said Lacking Authority to Act on Natrona County Procedure". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. August 4, 1946. p. 2. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  10. ^ "Cheyenne Man Elected Head of Hotel Group". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. April 28, 1946. pp. 1–2. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  11. ^ "Senator Stirling Files For State Treasurer". Jackson's Hole Courier. Jackson, Wyo. May 2, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  12. ^ "Carl Dallam Candidate for State Treasurer". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. June 17, 1946. p. 3. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Miss Anderson Not Candidate: Gives Support to Miss Stolt for Job". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. May 1, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  14. ^ "Miss Linford Files For State School Job". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. June 12, 1946. p. 2. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  15. ^ a b "31 Petitions Are Filed at Deadline". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. June 17, 1946. p. 2. Retrieved June 4, 2021.