1954 Wyoming state elections

none February 2026 September 2023 1954 Wyoming state elections Wyoming presidential no 1952 Wyoming state elections 1952 1958 Wyoming state elections 1958 A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on Tuesday, November 2, 1954. All of the state's executive officers—the governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction—were up for election. The result was largely a continuation of Republican rule, though Democrat Velma Linford won the election for Superintendent and the margins in most of the other races shrank considerably from 1950. Governor 1954 Wyoming gubernatorial election Following Governor Frank A. Barrett's election to the U.S. Senate in 1952, Republican secretary of state Doc Rogers became acting governor. He ran for re-election, but was defeated by former state representative Milward Simpson in the Republican primary. In the general election, Simpson then narrowly defeated William M. Jack, the former secretary of state and state auditor. 1954 Wyoming gubernatorial electionCopenhaver Everett T. 1955 Wyoming Official Directory and 1954 Election Returns 50–52 1955 Republican Party (United States) Milward Simpson 56,275 50.50% -5.65% Democratic Party (United States) William M. Jack 55,163 49.50% +5.65% 1,112 1.00% -11.30% 111,438 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) Secretary of state Incumbent Republican secretary of state Doc Rogers simultaneously served as acting Governor following Governor Frank A. Barrett's election to the U.S. Senate in 1952, and opted to run for re-election as Governor rather than for re-election as secretary of state. State Auditor Everett T. Copenhaver ran for secretary of state, and won the Republican primary unopposed. In the general election, he faced Zan Lewis, a former aide to Senator Lester C. Hunt and the longtime chief clerk in the secretary of state's office. Copenhaver was able to build on his record of electoral victories and defeated Lewis in a landslide, and was the strongest performing statewide candidate that year. Democratic primary Candidates Zan Lewis, former legislative aide to U.S. Senator Lester C. Hunt, chief clerk in the secretary of state's officeMay 6, 1954 Lewis to Run for Sec. Post Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 17 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348107194/ June 4, 2021 Archie Ewoldsen, Secretary of the Sheridan Chamber of Commerce, former Public Service CommissionerApril 21, 1954 Lewis to Run for Sec. Post Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 22 https://www.newspapers.com/image/411419728/ June 4, 2021 Results Democratic Party primary results Zan Lewis Democratic Party (United States) 17,845 61.22% Archie Ewoldsen Democratic Party (United States) 11,306 38.78% 29,151 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Everett T. Copenhaver, Wyoming State Auditor Results Republican Primary results Everett T. Copenhaver Republican Party (United States) 39,766 100.00% 39,766 100.00% General election Results 1954 Wyoming Secretary of State election Republican Party (United States) Everett T. Copenhaver 61,130 57.05% +5.07% Democratic Party (United States) Zan Lewis 46,018 42.95% -5.07% 15,112 14.10% +10.14% 107,148 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) Auditor Incumbent Republican state auditor Everett T. Copenhaver opted against seeking a third term, instead running for secretary of state. Accordingly, State Treasurer Minnie A. Mitchell, barred from seeking a second term as treasurer, ran for auditor. She defeated Rusty Rothwell, secretary to the State Board of Charities and Reform, in the Republican primary and then faced Democratic nominee Bob Adams, a real estate broker, in the general election. Democratic primary Candidates Bob Adams, Cheyenne real estate brokerMay 9, 1954 Bob Adams Will Seek Auditor Job Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 7 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348020886/ June 4, 2021 Adam Roney, former Mayor of PowellJuly 15, 1954 Roney Announces for State Auditor on Democratic Ticket Big Piney Examiner Big Piney, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/68694051/ June 4, 2021 Results Democratic Party primary results Bob Adams Democratic Party (United States) 20,601 67.29% Adam Roney Democratic Party (United States) 10,015 32.71% 30,616 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Minnie A. Mitchell, Wyoming State Treasurer E. C. "Rusty" Rothwell, secretary to the State Board of Charities and ReformFebruary 11, 1954 Rothwell to Run For State Auditor Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 3 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348120113/ June 4, 2021 Results Republican Primary results Minnie A. Mitchell Republican Party (United States) 28,917 69.34% E. C. "Rusty" Rothwell Republican Party (United States) 12,784 30.66% 41,701 100.00% General election Results 1954 Wyoming Auditor election Republican Party (United States) Minnie A. Mitchell 57,912 53.39% -6.61% Democratic Party (United States) Bob Adams 50,566 46.61% +6.61% 7,346 6.77% -13.21% 92,317 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) Treasurer Incumbent Republican state treasurer Minnie A. Mitchell, appointed to the post following the death of her husband in 1952, was barred from seeking re-election due to term limits. Charles B. Morgan, who served as deputy state treasurer for 41 years and to 12 different state treasurers, won the Republican primary over Insurance Commissioner Ford S. Taft. In the general election, he faced former state representative W. D. "Jud" Witherspoon, the Democratic nominee, whom he narrowly defeated. Democratic primary Candidates W. D. "Jud" Witherspoon, former state representative from Lincoln CountyJune 23, 1954 Morris Files for State Treasurer Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 10 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348267751/ June 4, 2021 Results Democratic Party primary results W. D. "Jud" Witherspoon Democratic Party (United States) 28,156 100.00% 28,156 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Charles B. Morgan, deputy state treasurerFebruary 4, 1954 Morgan To Be Candidate For State Treasurer Big Piney Examiner Big Piney, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/68690624/ June 4, 2021 Ford S. Taft, state insurance commissionerJanuary 27, 1954 FordTaft to Seek Bid for Treasurer Job Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 10 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348077300/ June 4, 2021 Results Republican Primary results Charles B. Morgan Republican Party (United States) 23,549 58.40% Ford S. Taft Republican Party (United States) 16,772 41.60% 40,321 100.00% General election Results 1954 Wyoming Treasurer election Republican Party (United States) Charles B. Morgan 56,592 53.41% -5.27% Democratic Party (United States) W. D. "Jud" Witherspoon 49,357 46.59% +1.16% 7,235 6.83% -2.32% 105,949 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) Superintendent of public instruction Incumbent Republican superintendent of public instruction Edna B. Stolt declined to run for re-election to a third term.May 13, 1954 Miss Linford To Announce Soon Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 3 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348021647/ June 4, 2021 State Education Commissioner Ray Robertson won the Republican nomination to succeed Stolt unopposed and faced Velma Linford, the 1946 nominee for superintendent. In the Democratic Party's only pickup of a state executive office, Linford narrowly defeated Robertson to win her first term. Democratic primary Candidates Velma Linford, Laramie High School teacher, 1946 Democratic nominee for Superintendent Results Democratic Party primary results Velma Linford Democratic Party (United States) 28,226 100.00% 28,226 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Ray E. Robertson, State Education CommissionerFebruary 18, 1954 Mrs. Mitchell Seeks Post of State Auditor Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348205208/ June 4, 2021 Results Republican Party primary results Ray E. Robertson Republican Party (United States) 38,071 100.00% 38,071 100.00% General election Results 1954 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election Democratic Party (United States) Velma Linford 54,438 50.88% +8.10% Republican Party (United States) Ray E. Robertson 52,558 49.12% -8.10% 1,880 1.76% -12.69% 106,996 100.00% Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) References Wyoming