1978 Wyoming state elections

none February 2026 September 2023 1978 Wyoming state elections Wyoming presidential no 1974 Wyoming state elections 1974 1982 Wyoming state elections 1982 A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on Tuesday, November 7, 1978. All of the state's executive officers—the Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction—were up for election. Democratic Governor Edgar Herschler won a narrow re-election to a second term, and Democrat Lynn Simons was elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, narrowly defeating incumbent Republican Robert G. Schroder. Republicans won the remainder of the statewide offices. Governor 1978 Wyoming gubernatorial election Incumbent Democratic Governor Edgar Herschler ran for re-election to a second term, and faced former State Senator John Ostlund, the Republican nominee, in the general election. Herschler's margin of victory narrowed considerably from 1974, but he narrowly won re-election over Ostlund. 1978 Wyoming gubernatorial electionThomson Thyra 1979 Wyoming Official Directory and 1978 Election Returns 132, 201 1979 Democratic Party (United States) Edgar Herschler (inc.) 69,972 50.86% -5.02% Republican Party (United States) John Ostlund 67,595 49.14% +5.02% 2,377 1.73% -10.03% 137,567 Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) Secretary of State Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Thyra Thomson ran for re-election to a fifth term. She faced Ed Sencabaugh, an executive with the Union Pacific Railroad and a former State Representative, in the Republican primary. She handily defeated him, and advanced to the general election. No Democratic candidates filed to oppose Thomson, though Robert Warburton, a college student, received 54 write-in votes and was offered the nomination. He ultimately declined it,September 26, 1978 Write-in turns down nomination Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 17 https://www.newspapers.com/image/447269903/ June 5, 2021 leaving the Democrats with no candidate and Thomson with no opponent, enabling her to win re-election unopposed. Republican primary Candidates Thyra Thomson, incumbent Secretary of State Ed Sencabaugh, Union Pacific Railroad executive, former State Representative from Albany CountyMay 10, 1978 Thyra to announce; Herschler mum Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/446394620/ June 5, 2021 Results Republican Primary results Thyra Thomson (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 46,992 68.30% Ed Sencabaugh Republican Party (United States) 21,807 31.70% 68,799 100.00% General election Results 1978 Wyoming Secretary of State election Republican Party (United States) Thyra Thomson (inc.) 103,102 100.00% 103,102 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Thomson: #A80000 90–100% Auditor Incumbent Republican State Auditor Jim Griffith ran for re-election to a second term. He faced no opposition in the Republican primary and no Democratic candidate initially filed against him. But Jim Polis, a bank examiner in the State Examiner's office, received enough write-in votes to receive his party's nomination,September 21, 1978 Cross-over voting high Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/447262750/ June 5, 2021 which he accepted.September 5, 1978 Griffith opposed Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 4A https://www.newspapers.com/image/447167435/ June 5, 2021 However, Polis did not present significant challenge to Griffith, who won re-election by a lopsided margin. Democratic primary No Democratic candidates filed for State Auditor. However, Jim Polis, a bank examiner at the State Examiner's office, received 329 write-in votes and was offered the nomination, which he accepted. Republican primary Candidates Jim Griffith, incumbent State Auditor Results Republican Primary results Jim Griffith (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 60,947 100.00% 60,947 100.00% General election Results 1978 Wyoming Auditor election Republican Party (United States) Jim Griffith (inc.) 88,190 68.96% +12.06% Democratic Party (United States) Jim Polis 39,704 31.04% -12.06% 48,486 37.91% +24.13% 127,894 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Griffith: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% Treasurer Incumbent Republican State Treasurer Ed Witzenburger was unable to seek re-election due to term limits and instead opted to run for Congress, ultimately losing to Dick Cheney in the Republican primary.March 13, 1978 Office swapping charged Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 11 https://www.newspapers.com/image/446590014/ June 5, 2021 In the Republican primary, Deputy Treasurer Shirley Wittler won a narrow victory over Craig L. Thomas. In the general election, she faced former State Representative Bob Adams, a perennial candidate for statewide office. She defeated Adams in a landslide, becoming only the second woman, after Minnie A. Mitchell, to serve as State Treasurer. Democratic primary Candidates Bob Adams, former State Representative, former State Representative from Laramie County, 1974 Democratic nominee for Auditor, 1970 Democratic candidate for Treasurer, 1966 Democratic nominee for Treasurer, 1962 Democratic nominee for Treasurer, 1958 Democratic nominee for State Auditor, 1954 Democratic nominee for State AuditorJuly 29, 1978 Bob Adams running Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 11 https://www.newspapers.com/image/447312817/ June 5, 2021 Ed Dover, salesman Results Democratic Party primary results Bob Adams Democratic Party (United States) 25,970 66.70% Ed Dover Democratic Party (United States) 12,965 33.30% 38,935 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Shirley Wittler, Deputy State TreasurerJune 22, 1978 Republican candidates for State Treasurer compared Jackson Hole Guide Jackson, Wyo. B5 https://www.newspapers.com/image/317846432/ June 5, 2021 Craig L. Thomas, general manager of the Wyoming Rural Electric AssociationJune 22, 1978 Candidate Thomas gives views on state's monies Jackson Hole News Jackson, Wyo. 6 https://www.newspapers.com/image/316902797/ June 5, 2021 Results Republican Primary results Shirley Wittler Republican Party (United States) 33,255 51.86% Craig L. Thomas Republican Party (United States) 30,865 48.14% 64,120 100.00% General election Results 1978 Wyoming Treasurer election Republican Party (United States) Shirley Wittler 80,273 62.39% +10.65% Democratic Party (United States) Bob Adams 48,394 37.61% -10.65% 31,879 24.78% +21.31% 128,667 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Wittler: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% Adams: #7996E2 50–60% Superintendent of Public Instruction Incumbent Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Robert G. Schrader ran for re-election to a third term. He faced a strong challenge in the Republican primary from Converse County Superintendent of Schools Millard I. Meredith. Though Schrader defeated Meredith, he did so by a relatively close margin. In the Democratic primary, meanwhile, Lynn Simons, the former Chairwoman of the Wyoming Board of Education, defeated Sydney Spiegel, a history teacher who ran as the 1974 Democratic nominee for Superintendent. Simons ultimately defeated Schrader by a slim margin, receiving the highest percentage of vote of any statewide Democratic candidate. Democratic primary Candidates Lynn Simons, former Chairwoman of the State Board of EducationMay 8, 1874 Teacher unveils plans to enter race Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/445974121/ June 5, 2021 Sydney Spiegel, Cheyenne history teacher, 1974 Democratic nominee for Superintendent Results Democratic Party primary results Lynn Simons Democratic Party (United States) 25,253 64.86% Sydney Spiegel Democratic Party (United States) 14,111 36.24% 39,364 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Robert G. Schrader, incumbent State Superintendent of Public Instruction Millard I. Meredith, Converse County Superintendent of SchoolsApril 27, 1978 Douglas administrator to be state candidate Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 15 https://www.newspapers.com/image/446574582/ June 5, 2021 Results Republican Party primary results Robert G. Schrader (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 37,377 57.54% Millard I. Meredith Republican Party (United States) 27,580 42.46% 64,957 100.00% General election Results 1978 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election Democratic Party (United States) Lynn Simons 69,251 52.70% +14.66% Republican Party (United States) Robert G. Schrader (inc.) 62,165 47.30% -14.66% 7,096 5.40% -18.51% 131,426 100.00% Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Simons: #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% Schrader: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% References Wyoming