1946 Wyoming state elections

none February 2026 September 2023 1946 Wyoming state elections Wyoming presidential no 1942 Wyoming state elections 1942 1950 Wyoming state elections 1950 A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on Tuesday, November 5, 1946. All of the state's executive officers—the governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction—were up for election. The election was largely a rout for the Republican Party. Though Democratic governor Lester C. Hunt was narrowly re-elected, Democrats lost their two other state offices: auditor and secretary of state (which they picked up following a vacancy). Moreover, they were unable to win back any other state offices. Governor 1946 Wyoming gubernatorial election Incumbent Democratic governor Lester C. Hunt ran for re-election to a second term. Though his predecessor, former governor Nels H. Smith, planned a rematch against Hunt, he lost the Republican primary to State Treasurer Earl Wright. In the general election, Hunt defeated Wright by a narrow margin, but improved from his 1942 election. During Hunt's second term, he would be elected to the U.S. Senate in 1948, vacating his office. Secretary of State Arthur G. Crane ascended to the governorship, while still acting as secretary of state. 1946 Wyoming gubernatorial electionCrane A. G. 1947 Wyoming Official Directory and 1946 Election Returns 76–77, 296–97 1947 Democratic Party (United States) Lester C. Hunt (inc.) 43,020 52.88% +1.56% Republican Party (United States) Earl Wright 38,333 47.12% -1.56% 4,687 5.76% +3.13% 81,353 100.00% Democratic Party (United States) Republican Party (United States) Secretary of State In 1944, Republican secretary of state Mart Christensen died while in office. Governor Hunt appointed longtime State Auditor William M. Jack as Christensen's replacement. Jack declined to run for re-election or for any other office,January 10, 1946 'Scotty' Jack Declares Will Not Be Candidate: Announcement Sets at Rest Statewide Speculation on Political Plans of Secretary of State, Former Casperite Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/347869581/ June 4, 2021 creating an open seat. Earl R. Burns, the Chairman of the Wyoming Public Service Commission, won the Democratic nomination unopposed and advanced to the general election against Arthur G. Crane, the former President of the University of Wyoming. The general election was not close, and Crane was elected secretary of state over Burns by a landslide. During Crane's term, Governor Hunt would be elected to the U.S. Senate, and Crane would serve as both acting governor and secretary of state. Democratic primary Candidates Earl R. Burns, chairman of the Wyoming Public Service CommissionApril 19, 1946 PSC Completes Rate Hearings Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/347860365/ June 4, 2021 Results Democratic Party primary results Earl R. Burns Democratic Party (United States) 15,272 100.00% 15,272 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Arthur G. Crane, former President of the University of Wyoming Thomas A. Nicholas, former Campbell County and Crook County Prosecuting Attorney, 1938 Republican candidate for GovernorMay 2, 1946 Nicholas Seeks Secretary Post: Casper Attorney Is Candidate for G.O.P. Selection Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1–2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/347831975/ June 4, 2021 Results Republican Primary results Arthur G. Crane Republican Party (United States) 14,964 59.09% Thomas A. Nicholas Republican Party (United States) 10,365 40.92% 25,329 100.00% General election Results 1946 Wyoming Secretary of State election Republican Party (United States) Arthur G. Crane 45,502 58.48% -0.38% Democratic Party (United States) Earl R. Burns 32,304 41.52% +0.38% 13,198 16.96% -0.76% 77,806 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) Auditor Following the death of Secretary of State Mart T. Christensen, Democratic state auditor William M. Jack was appointed as his replacement by governor, who, in turn, appointed Carl Robinson as Jack's successor. In 1945, Robinson resigned from office and Governor Hunt appointed former Congressman John J. McIntyre as his replacement.September 11, 1945 John J. McIntyre Is Named State Auditor: Appointed to Post Following Resignation of Carl Robinson Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/348950783/ June 4, 2021 McIntyre opted to run for Congress rather than seek re-election, and no other Democratic candidates filed for the election. In early July, however, Major Alvin C. Wade of the United States Army announced a write-in campaign,July 8, 1946 Major Wade Write-In Democratic Candidate For State Auditor Job Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/347873344/ June 4, 2021 and won enough votes to receive the Democratic nomination. In the general election, Copenhaver defeated Wade by a decisive margin. Democratic primary No Democratic candidates filed to run for auditor. However, on July 8, Major Alvin C. Wade of the U.S. Army announced that he would run as a write-in candidate for the party's nomination. He accepted the nomination upon receiving the requisite number of write-in votes. Republican primary Candidates Everett T. Copenhaver, assistant state examiner, former deputy secretary of state, former state representative from Converse County, 1942 Republican nominee for auditorApril 23, 1946 Copenhaver Candidate for State Auditor Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/347861283/ June 4, 2021 Results Republican Primary results Everett T. Copenhaver Republican Party (United States) 22,133 100.00% 22,133 100.00% General election Results 1946 Wyoming Auditor election Republican Party (United States) Everett T. Copenhaver 42,819 55.60% +10.39% Democratic Party (United States) Alvin C. Wade 34,196 44.40% -10.39% 8,623 11.20% +1.61% 77,015 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) Treasurer Incumbent Republican state treasurer Earl Wright, unable to seek re-election, instead opted to run for Governor. Doc Rogers, who had unsuccessfully run for Auditor in 1938 and Treasurer in 1942, ran against State Senator Thomas Stirling and former state representative Carl Dallam in a close Republican primary. Rogers was narrowly leading Stirling as votes were tallied on election night,July 18, 1946 Result in Republican Race For Treasurer Is in Doubt: Rogers Holds Slim Lead Over Stirling As Count Awaited in Outlying Precincts Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/347874530/ June 4, 2021 with the final tally putting him ahead of Stirling by 99 votes. However, alleged irregularities with how the primary was conducted in Natrona County were raised, namely that "candidate names had not been properly placed on ballots and that ballots had been opened before being placed in ballot boxes." However, the secretary of state's office concluded that it was without jurisdiction to evaluate the allegations and certified Rogers's nomination.August 4, 1946 Official Canvass Shows 'Doc' Rogers Nominated: State Board Said Lacking Authority to Act on Natrona County Procedure Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/347876189/ June 4, 2021 In the general election, Rogers faced Democratic nominee David B. Gilfillan, the State Commissioner of Labor. Despite the closeness of the Republican primary and allegations of impropriety, the general election was not close, and Rogers defeated Gilfillan in a landslide. Democratic primary Candidates David B. GilfillanApril 28, 1946 Cheyenne Man Elected Head of Hotel Group Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1–2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/347863378/ June 4, 2021 Results Democratic Party primary results David B. Gilfillan Democratic Party (United States) 14,163 100.00% 14,163 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Doc Rogers, former Deputy Secretary of State, 1942 Republican candidate for treasurer, 1938 Republican nominee for Auditor Thomas Stirling, state senator from Weston CountyMay 2, 1946 Senator Stirling Files For State Treasurer Jackson's Hole Courier Jackson, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/317005028/ June 4, 2021 Carl A. Dallam, former state representativeJune 17, 1946 Carl Dallam Candidate for State Treasurer Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 3 https://www.newspapers.com/image/347844265/ June 4, 2021 Results Republican Primary results Doc Rogers Republican Party (United States) 8,861 37.69% Thomas Stirling Republican Party (United States) 8,762 37.27% Carl A. Dallam Republican Party (United States) 5,885 25.03% 23,508 100.00% General election Results 1946 Wyoming Treasurer election Republican Party (United States) Doc Rogers 43,903 57.49% -1.73% Democratic Party (United States) David B. Gilfillan 32,459 42.51% +1.73% 11,444 14.99% -3.47% 76,362 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) Superintendent of public instruction Incumbent Republican superintendent of public instruction Esther Anderson declined to run for a third term, instead endorsing Edna B. Stolt, the Supervisor of Elementary and Special Education the State Department of Education, as her successor.May 1, 1946 Miss Anderson Not Candidate: Gives Support to Miss Stolt for Job Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/347831845/ June 4, 2021 Stolt faced high school teacher Nancy L. Jones and former governor Alonzo M. Clark in the Republican primary, whom she narrowly defeated to advance to the general election. Velma Linford, a high school teacher, won the Democratic primary unopposed and opposed Stolt in the general election. Despite the broad support for Republican candidates around the state, the race between Stolt and Linford was close, with Stolt only beating her opponent by 2,545 votes. Democratic primary Candidates Velma Linford, Laramie High School teacherJune 12, 1946 Miss Linford Files For State School Job Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/347842497/ June 4, 2021 Results Democratic Party primary results Velma Linford Democratic Party (United States) 14,168 100.00% 14,168 100.00% Republican primary Candidates Edna B. Stolt, Wyoming Department of Education supervisor of elementary and special education Nancy L. Jones, Laramie High School teacherJune 17, 1946 31 Petitions Are Filed at Deadline Casper Star-Tribune Casper, Wyo. 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/347844243/ June 4, 2021 Alonzo M. Clark, former governor of Wyoming Results Republican Party primary results Edna B. Stolt Republican Party (United States) 8,837 37.29% Nancy L. Jones Republican Party (United States) 8,134 34.33% Alonzo M. Clark Republican Party (United States) 6,725 28.38% 23,696 100.00% General election Results 1946 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election Republican Party (United States) Edna B. Stolt 39,638 51.66% -9.17% Democratic Party (United States) Velma Linford 37,093 48.34% +9.17% 2,545 3.32% -18.34% 76,731 Republican Party (United States) Democratic Party (United States) References Wyoming