1966 Wyoming state elections

none February 2026 September 2023 1966 Wyoming state elections Wyoming presidential no 1962 Wyoming state elections 1962 1970 Wyoming state elections 1970 A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on Tuesday, November 8, 1966. All of the state's executive officers—the Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction—were up for election. After winning all of the statewide executive offices in 1962, Republicans did even better in 1966, improving their margins of victory in each race and holding all the offices. Governor 1966 Wyoming gubernatorial election Incumbent Republican Governor Clifford Hansen opted to run for the U.S. Senate rather than seek re-election. Former Goshen County Prosecuting Attorney Stanley Hathaway emerged as the Republican nominee, while attorney Ernest Wilkerson won a crowded and close Democratic primary. Hathaway largely duplicated Hansen's performance from four years prior, winning by a slightly smaller margin. 1966 Wyoming gubernatorial electionThomson Thyra 1967 Wyoming Official Directory and 1966 Election Returns 72–74 1967 Republican Party (United States) Stanley Hathaway 65,624 54.29% -0.18% Democratic Party (United States) Ernest Wilkerson 54,298 45.53% +0.18% 10,375 8.58% -0.36% 120,873 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) Secretary of State Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Thyra Thomson ran for re-election to a second term. No Democratic candidates initially filed to run against her, but a successful write-in campaign by L. W. "Jack" Jones, a member of the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees, allowed him to claim the Democratic nomination. However, Thomson retained a considerable amount of popularity and easily defeated Jones to win a second term. Democratic primary Candidates No Democratic candidates filed to oppose Thomson prior to the end of qualifying. However, the Wyoming Democratic Party selected L. W. "Jack" Jones, a member of the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees, to run a write-in campaign in the hopes of winning the nomination by that method.July 25, 1966 Democrats Name Candidate for State Secretary Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 9 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348085810/ June 5, 2021 Jones won 3,879 votes as a write-in candidate in the primary, thereby enabling him to receive the Democratic Party's nomination, which he accepted.August 18, 1966 Recount Demands Likely In Congressional Primaries: Miller Refuses To Concede, Peck May Challenge Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348090774/ June 5, 2021 Republican primary Candidates Thyra Thomson, incumbent Secretary of State Results Republican Primary results Thyra Thomson (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 45,151 100.00% 45,151 100.00% General election Results 1966 Wyoming Secretary of State election Republican Party (United States) Thyra Thomson (inc.) 77,488 64.30% +4.38% Democratic Party (United States) L. W. "Jack" Jones 43,021 35.70% -4.38% 34,467 28.60% +8.75% 120,509 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Thomson: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% Jones: #6674DE 60–70% Auditor Incumbent Republican State Auditor Minnie A. Mitchell opted to run for State Treasurer instead of for a fourth term as State Auditor, thereby allowing term-limited State Treasurer Everett T. Copenhaver to run for State Auditor.June 7, 1966 Mitchell Files for Treasurer Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348087659/ June 5, 2021 Copenhaver faced minimal challengers in his bid for Auditor, winning the Republican primary unopposed and only facing rancher Bob Bentley, the Democratic nominee, in the general election. Copenhaver ultimately defeated Bentley in a landslide. Democratic primary Candidates Bob Bentley, Lander rancher Results Democratic Party primary results Bob Bentley Democratic Party (United States) 34,265 100.00% 34,265 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Everett T. Copenhaver, Wyoming State Treasurer Results Republican Primary results Everett T. Copenhaver Republican Party (United States) 43,328 100.00% 43,328 100.00% General election Results 1966 Wyoming Auditor election Republican Party (United States) Everett T. Copenhaver 68,714 58.03% -1.04% Democratic Party (United States) Bob Bentley 49,688 41.97% +1.04% 19,026 16.07% -2.07% 116,409 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Copenhaver: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% Bentley: #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% Treasurer Incumbent Republican State Treasurer Everett T. Copenhaver was unable to seek re-election due to term limits, but wanted to run for another state office. The decision by Secretary of State Thyra Thomson to not run for governor prevented him from running for Secretary of State, and so State Auditor Minnie A. Mitchell opted to not seek another term as Auditor so that Copenhaver could succeed her. Mitchell, in turn, filed to run for State Treasurer. She was opposed in the Republican primary by State Representative Jack Van Mark, whom she easily defeated. And in the general election, she faced Democrat Bob Adams, a former state representative who had repeatedly run for Auditor or Treasurer for the preceding 12 years. She decisively defeated Adams and returned to the office of State Treasurer, to which she had first been appointed in 1952. Democratic primary Candidates Bob Adams, former State Representative from Laramie County, 1962 Democratic nominee for Treasurer, 1958 Democratic nominee for State Auditor, 1954 Democratic nominee for State AuditorJune 30, 1966 Kinney First To File for Senate Seat Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348093505/ June 5, 2021 Results Democratic Party primary results Bob Adams Democratic Party (United States) 34,574 100.00% 34,574 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Minnie A. Mitchell, Wyoming State Auditor, former State Treasurer Jack Van Mark, State Representative from Goshen County Results Republican Primary results Minnie A. Mitchell Republican Party (United States) 30,319 65.05% Jack Van Mark Republican Party (United States) 16,287 34.95% 46,606 100.00% General election Results 1966 Wyoming Treasurer election Republican Party (United States) Minnie A. Mitchell 67,711 56.95% -0.78% Democratic Party (United States) Bob Adams 51,177 43.05% +0.78% 16,534 13.91% -1.56% 118,888 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Mitchell: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% Adams: #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% Superintendent of Public Instruction Incumbent Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Cecil Shaw ran for re-election to a second term, despite some speculation that he might run for governor.July 6, 1966 Shaw Plans Last Minute Declaration Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348082216/ June 5, 2021 Shaw was challenged in the Republican primary by Harry Roberts, a member of the state board of education, and teacher Nancy J. Rymill. During the campaign, Shaw was attacked for allegedly using state funds in assistance of his campaign,August 17, 1966 Christian Overtakes Miller in Late Tally; Other Races Settled: Wilkerson, Hathaway Nominated Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348090356/ June 5, 2021 a scandal that was compounded by his poor relationship with the Republican political establishment in the state.August 18, 1966 Exciting Campaign Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 21 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348091146/ June 5, 2021 Ultimately, Roberts defeated Shaw in the Republican primary by a decisive margin, advancing to the general election, where he faced Katherine H. Vehar, the Democratic nominee and a former Deputy State Superintendent under Superintendent Velma Linford. Roberts narrowly defeated Vehar, winning election as Superintendent. Democratic primary Candidates Katherine H. Vehar, former Deputy State SuperintendentAugust 3, 1966 Miss Vehar Puts Stress On Teaching Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 5 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348087429/ June 5, 2021 William G. "Bill" Rector, State Senator from Laramie County Robert L. Beaver, former Northwest College professor Results Democratic Party primary results Katherine H. Vehar Democratic Party (United States) 14,292 37.00% William G. "Bill" Rector Democratic Party (United States) 13,453 34.83% Robert L. Beaver Democratic Party (United States) 10,880 28.17% 38,625 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Harry Roberts, member of the Wyoming Board of EducationJuly 7, 1966 Roberts, Shaw File For School Chief Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 13 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348082557/ June 5, 2021 Cecil M. Shaw, incumbent State Superintendent of Public Instruction Nancy Jones Rymill, junior high school math teacher Results Republican Party primary results Harry Roberts Republican Party (United States) 20,599 44.15% Cecil M. Shaw (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 17,100 36.65% Nancy Jones Rymill Republican Party (United States) 8,954 19.19% 46,653 100.00% General election Results 1966 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election Republican Party (United States) Harry Roberts 62,066 52.50% +2.19% Democratic Party (United States) Katherine H. Vehar 56,147 47.50% -2.19% 5,919 5.01% +4.38% 118,213 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Roberts: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% Vehar: #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% #584CDE 70–80% References Wyoming