1942 Wyoming state elections

none February 2026 September 2023 1942 Wyoming state elections Wyoming presidential no 1938 Wyoming state elections 1938 1946 Wyoming state elections 1946 A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on Tuesday, November 3, 1942. All of the state's executive officers—the governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction—were up for election. Like the 1938 elections, this year's elections were something of a mixed bag for both parties. Democratic secretary of state Lester C. Hunt defeated Republican governor Nels H. Smith for re-election, but Republicans flipped the secretary of state's office in Hunt's absence. The other incumbents—State Auditor William M. Jack, a Democrat, and Superintendent Esther L. Anderson, a Republican—were re-elected, and Republicans held onto the state treasurer's office. Governor 1942 Wyoming gubernatorial election After defeating his predecessor, Democrat Leslie A. Miller, by a wide margin in 1938, Republican governor Nels H. Smith faced a tough challenge to his re-election in Secretary of State Lester C. Hunt, the Democratic nominee. Ultimately, Hunt narrowly defeated Smith, winning the first of his two terms as governor. 1942 Wyoming gubernatorial electionChristensen Mart T. 1943 Wyoming Official Directory and 1942 Election Returns 78–83 1939 Democratic Party (United States) Lester C. Hunt 39,599 51.32% +11.12% Republican Party (United States) Nels H. Smith (inc.) 37,568 48.68% -11.12% 2,031 2.63% -16.98% 77,167 Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) Secretary of State Secretary of State Lester C. Hunt opted to challenge Republican governor Nels H. Smith for re-election rather than seek a third term as secretary of state, thereby creating an open seat. Susan J. Quealey, a leader in the state Democratic Party, narrowly won the primary over State Representative Raymond E. Morris. In the general election, she faced State Treasurer Mart T. Christensen, and lost to him in a landslide. Fewer than two years into Christensen's term, however, he would die in office; Governor Hunt appointed State Auditor William M. Jack as his replacement. Democratic primary Candidates Susan J. Quealy, Wyoming Democratic Party activistJuly 2, 1942 Mrs. Quealy Candidate For Secretary of State Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 4 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348950782/ June 3, 2021 Raymond E. Morris, State Representative from Laramie CountyAugust 9, 1942 Party Leaders Predict Light Vote at Primaries This Month Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 5 https://www.newspapers.com/image/349940597/ June 3, 2021 Results Democratic Party primary results Susan J. Quealy Democratic Party (United States) 10,344 50.98% Raymond E. Morris Democratic Party (United States) 9,947 49.02% 20,291 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Mart T. Christensen, State Treasurer Results Republican Primary results Mart T. Christensen Republican Party (United States) 25,560 100.00% 25,560 100.00% General election Results 1942 Wyoming Secretary of State election Republican Party (United States) Mart T. Christensen 43,437 58.86% +13.47% Democratic Party (United States) Susan J. Quealy 30,361 41.14% -13.47% 13,076 17.72% +8.49% 73,798 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) Auditor Incumbent Democratic Auditor William M. Jack ran for re-election to a third term. After winning a contested Democratic primary against C. A. Johnson, a former state employee, he faced State Representative Everett T. Copenhaver in the general election. Building on his track record of decisive victories, Jack defeated Copenhaver relatively easily, winning 55% of the vote to Copenhaver's 45%. During Jack's third term, he was appointed by Governor Hunt as the successor to the late Secretary of State Mart T. Christensen, who died in office. Governor Hunt would, in turn, appoint Carl Robinson as Jack's successor. Democratic primary Candidates William M. Jack, incumbent state auditor C. A. Johnson, former sales tax department employeeAugust 2, 1942 'Scotty' Jack Will Not Make Personal Campaign Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 10 https://www.newspapers.com/image/349940308/ June 3, 2021 Results Democratic Party primary results William M. Jack (inc.) Democratic Party (United States) 17,120 79.37% C. A. Johnson Democratic Party (United States) 4,451 20.63% 21,571 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Everett T. Copenhaver, State Representative from Converse County Results Republican Primary results Everett T. Copenhaver Republican Party (United States) 23,400 100.00% 23,400 100.00% General election Results 1942 Wyoming Auditor election Democratic Party (United States) William M. Jack (inc.) 40,768 54.79% +0.48% Republican Party (United States) Everett T. Copenhaver 33,638 45.21% -0.48% 7,130 9.58% +0.96% 74,406 Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) Treasurer Incumbent Republican state treasurer Mart T. Christensen was unable to seek re-election due to term limits, and instead successfully ran for secretary of state. The open seat became a contest between two former presiding officers of the state legislature: Democratic nominee Henry D. Watenpaugh, the Director of the State Office of Government Reports and the Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1935 to 1937, and Republican nominee Earl Wright, the President of the Wyoming State Senate. Despite the strength of both candidates, Wright ended up defeating Watenpaugh comfortably, holding the office for the Republican Party. Democratic primary Candidates Henry D. Watenpaugh, Director of the State Office of Government Reports, former Speaker of the Wyoming House of RepresentativesJuly 15, 1942 Watenpaugh in Treasurer Race Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348954393/ June 3, 2021 Results Democratic Party primary results Henry D. Watenpaugh Democratic Party (United States) 17,433 100.00% 17,433 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Earl Wright, President of the Wyoming State SenateMay 14, 1942 Earl Wright to Seek Office as State Treasurer Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348212181/ June 3, 2021 Doc Rogers, former deputy secretary of state, 1938 Republican nominee for auditorApril 8, 1942 C. J. Rogers Is Candidate: Enters Campaign for State Treasurer Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348392424/ June 3, 2021 Results Republican Primary results Earl Wright Republican Party (United States) 14,221 54.99% Doc Rogers Republican Party (United States) 11,639 45.01% 25,860 100.00% General election Results 1942 Wyoming Treasurer election Republican Party (United States) Earl Wright 42,460 59.23% +7.21% Democratic Party (United States) Henry D. Watenpaugh 29,231 40.77% -7.21% 13,229 18.45% +14.42% 71,691 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) Superintendent of Public Instruction Incumbent Republican superintendent of public instruction Esther L. Anderson ran for re-election to a second term. She was opposed by Democratic nominee Albert L. Keeney, the superintendent of schools in the town of Superior. Keeney proved little challenge to Anderson, who overwhelmingly defeated him for re-election and won the highest percentage of the vote of any statewide candidate in Wyoming that year. Democratic primary Candidates Albert L. Keeney, Superintendent of Superior SchoolsMay 15, 1942 Four Democrats Seek Nominations For State Posts Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 10 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348212524/ June 3, 2021 Results Democratic Party primary results Albert L. Keeney Democratic Party (United States) 17,391 100.00% 17,391 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Esther L. Anderson, incumbent superintendent of public instruction Results Republican Party primary results Esther L. Anderson (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 26,079 100.00% 26,079 100.00% General election Results 1942 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election Republican Party (United States) Esther L. Anderson (inc.) 44,899 60.83% +8.20% Democratic Party (United States) Albert L. Keeney 28,914 39.17% -8.20% 15,985 21.66% +16.40% 73,813 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) References Wyoming