1974 Wyoming state elections

none February 2026 September 2023 1974 Wyoming state elections Wyoming presidential no 1970 Wyoming state elections 1970 1978 Wyoming state elections 1978 A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on Tuesday, November 5, 1974. All of the state's executive officers—the Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction—were up for election. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Edgar Herschler won a sizable victory in the gubernatorial election, and while Democrats generally improved their margins in the other statewide races, they fell short in all four. Governor 1974 Wyoming gubernatorial election Incumbent Republican Governor Stanley Hathaway opted to retire rather than run for a third consecutive term. Former State Senator Dick Jones won a close Republican primary to succeed him, and faced former State Representative Edgar Herschler, the Democratic nominee, in the general election. Despite the growing Republican dominance in Wyoming, Herschler took advantage of the national Democratic wave and defeated Jones by a sizable margin, becoming the first Democrat to win a gubernatorial election in the state since 1958. 1974 Wyoming gubernatorial electionThomson Thyra 1975 Wyoming Official Directory and 1974 Election Returns 93–95 1975 Democratic Party (United States) Edgar Herschler 71,741 55.88% +18.67% Republican Party (United States) Dick Jones 56,645 44.12% -18.67% 15,096 11.76% -13.81% 128,386 Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) Secretary of State Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Thyra Thomson ran for re-election to a fourth term. In the Democratic primary, attorney Charles Carroll, a new arrival to the state, beat out Paul Crane, the son of former Governor Arthur G. Crane. However, despite the national Democratic wave and Edgar Herschler's large victory, Thomson's personal popularity allowed her to defeat Carroll in a landslide. Democratic primary Candidates Charles Carroll, attorneyAugust 13, 1974 Democrats opposing Thyra Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 6 https://www.newspapers.com/image/446017068/ June 5, 2021 Paul Crane, son of former Governor Arthur G. Crane Results Democratic Party primary results Charles Carroll Democratic Party (United States) 21,629 59.80% Paul Crane Democratic Party (United States) 14,541 40.20% 36,170 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Thyra Thomson, incumbent Secretary of State Results Republican Primary results Thyra Thomson (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 53,300 100.00% 53,300 100.00% General election Results 1974 Wyoming Secretary of State election Republican Party (United States) Thyra Thomson (inc.) 77,16 62.23% -2.99% Democratic Party (United States) Charles Carroll 47,098 37.77% +2.99% 30,517 24.47% -5.97% 124,713 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Thomson: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% Carroll: #7996E2 50–60% Auditor Everett T. Copenhaver resigned as State Auditor on June 30, 1973, and Governor Stanley Hathaway appointed Deputy State Treasurer Ed Witzenburger as his replacement.May 30, 1973 Witzenburger to fill State Auditor's post McAuley Phil Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 13 https://www.newspapers.com/image/446233862/ June 5, 2021 Though Witzenburger would have been eligible to seek re-election to a full term as Auditor, he came to an agreement with State Treasurer Jim Griffith, who was barred from seeking a second consecutive term, to instead run for Treasurer so Griffith could run for Auditor.April 3, 1974 Witzenburger to go for treasurer Wheelan Joan Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 13 https://www.newspapers.com/image/446233862/ June 5, 2021 Griffith won the Republican primary unopposed, and no Democrats initially filed to run against him. However, former State Representative Bob Adams, despite losing the primary for State Treasurer, received 59 write-in votes in the Democratic primary, was offered the nomination, and ended up accepting it.September 25, 1974 Auditor's race grows Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/446152236/ June 5, 2021 Griffith ultimately defeated Adams by a wide margin, winning his first of three terms as State Auditor. Democratic primary No Democratic candidates filed for State Auditor. However, former State Representative Bob Adams received 59 votes as a write-in in the Democratic primary, despite not campaigning, and was offered the nomination. Richard Ford Pew, an oil fortune scion who served as George McGovern's Wyoming state coordinator for his 1972 presidential campaign, received 55 votes and Adams said that he would step aside if Pew wanted the nomination.September 20, 1974 Pew doubtful about taking write-in bid to state post Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 5 https://www.newspapers.com/image/446131932/ June 5, 2021 However, Pew declined the nomination and Adams ultimately accepted it. Republican primary Candidates Jim Griffith, Wyoming State Treasurer Results Republican Primary results Jim Griffith Republican Party (United States) 51,197 100.00% 51,197 100.00% General election Results 1974 Wyoming Auditor election Republican Party (United States) Jim Griffith 68,798 56.89% -0.60% Democratic Party (United States) Bob Adams 52,128 43.11% +0.60% 16,670 13.79% -1.19% 120,926 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Griffith: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% Adams: #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% Treasurer Incumbent Republican State Treasurer Jim Griffith was unable to seek re-election to a second term because of a constitutional bar on state treasurers succeeding themselves, so he came to an agreement with appointed State Auditor Ed Witzenburger in which Griffith ran for Auditor and Witzenburger ran for Treasurer. Witzenburger won the Republican primary unopposed and faced former State Representative Elizabeth Phelan, who had previously sought the Democratic nomination for Treasurer in 1970, in the general election. Witzenburger fell significantly short of Griffith's strong performance in the election four years prior, and ended up barely defeating Phelan, winning by a little more than 4,000 votes. Democratic primary Candidates Elizabeth Phelan, former State Representative, 1970 Democratic candidate for TreasurerAugust 13, 1974 Three seek state treasurer post Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 16 https://www.newspapers.com/image/446017068/ June 5, 2021 Bob Adams, former State Representative, former State Representative from Laramie County, 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 Auditor Results Democratic Party primary results Elizabeth Phelan Democratic Party (United States) 22,742 55.77% Bob Adams Democratic Party (United States) 18,039 44.23% 40,781 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Ed Witzenburger, Wyoming State Auditor Results Republican Primary results Ed Witzenburger Republican Party (United States) 48,757 100.00% 48,757 100.00% General election Results 1974 Wyoming Treasurer election Republican Party (United States) Ed Witzenburger 63,734 51.73% -5.88% Democratic Party (United States) Elizabeth Phelan 59,463 48.27% +5.88% 4,271 3.47% -11.76% 123,197 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Witzenburger: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% Phelan: #7996E2 50–60% #584CDE 70–80% Superintendent of Public Instruction Incumbent Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Robert G. Schrader ran for re-election to a second term. Two Democrats filed to oppose him: former teacher Sydney Spiegel and John Seyfang, the Superintendent of Schools in the city of Worland. Spiegel narrowly defeated Seyfang in the primary and advanced to the general election against Schrader. Even though most statewide races tightened as the outlook improved for Democratic candidates, Seyfang improved on his margin of victory from four years prior, defeating Spiegel in a landslide. Democratic primary Candidates Sydney Spiegel, former Cheyenne teacherMay 8, 1874 Teacher unveils plans to enter race Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/445974121/ June 5, 2021 John Seyfang, Worland Superintendent of SchoolsMay 8, 1874 Seyfang seeks state post Sonneman Barbara Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/446067390/ June 5, 2021 Results Democratic Party primary results Sydney Spiegel Democratic Party (United States) 19,731 54.21% John Seyfang Democratic Party (United States) 16,666 45.79% 36,396 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Robert G. Schrader, incumbent State Superintendent of Public Instruction Results Republican Party primary results Robert G. Schrader (inc.) Republican Party (United States) 49,334 100.00% 49,334 100.00% General election Results 1974 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election Republican Party (United States) Robert G. Schrader (inc.) 75,208 61.96% +4.35% Democratic Party (United States) Sydney Spiegel 46,181 38.04% -4.35% 29,027 23.91% +8.70% 121,389 100.00% Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) 250px|thumb|Results by county Schrader: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% #D72F30 70–80% #C21B18 80–90% Spiegel: #6674DE 60–70% References Wyoming