1958 Wyoming gubernatorial election
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County results Hickey: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Simpson: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Elections in Wyoming |
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The 1958 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1958. Incumbent Republican Governor
John J. Hickey, the former U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming and the Democratic nominee. Following a close campaign, Hickey narrowly defeated Simpson for re-election, winning just a narrow plurality because of a third-party candidate in the race. In an irony, just four years later, in the 1962 special U.S. Senate election
, Simpson would defeat Hickey, avenging his loss in the gubernatorial election. As of 2023, this is the last time an incumbent Governor of Wyoming lost re-election.
Campaign
Louis W. Carlson ran a campaign around legalizing gambling. Simpson attributed him defeat to his failure to win the traditional Republican Sheridan County. Voters in Sheridan County were displeased with Interstate 90 going from Gillette to Buffalo rather than between Gillette and Sheridan.[1]
Democratic primary
Candidates
- John J. Hickey, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John J. Hickey | 33,027 | 100.00% | |
Total votes | 33,027 | 100.00% |
Republican primary
Candidates
- Milward Simpson, incumbent Governor
- Stanley Edwards, former state civil defense director, former deputy state adjutant general[3]
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Milward Simpson (inc.) | 28,749 | 77.61% | |
Republican | Stanley Edwards | 8,294 | 22.39% | |
Total votes | 37,043 | 100.00% |
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John J. Hickey
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55,070 | 48.94% | -0.57% | |
Republican | Milward Simpson (inc.) | 52,488 | 46.64% | -3.86% | |
Economy | Louis W. Carlson | 4,979 | 4.42% | - | |
Majority | 2,582 | 2.29% | +1.30% | ||
Turnout | 112.537 | ||||
Democratic gain from Republican |
References
- ^ Trachsel 1959, p. 364.
- ^ a b c Gage, Jack R. (1959). 1959 Wyoming Official Directory and 1958 Election Returns. pp. 54–56.
- ^ "Primary Interest Picking Up, Says Stanley Edwards". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. August 17, 1958. p. 2.
Works cited
- Trachsel, Herman (1959). "The 1958 Election in Wyoming". JSTOR 444064.