1942 Wyoming state elections

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on Tuesday, November 3, 1942. All of the state's executive officers—the governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction—were up for election. Like the 1938 elections, this year's elections were something of a mixed bag for both parties. Democratic secretary of state Lester C. Hunt successfully defeated Republican governor Nels H. Smith for re-election, but Republicans flipped the secretary of state's office in Hunt's absence. The other incumbents—State Auditor William M. Jack, a Democrat, and Superintendent Esther L. Anderson, a Republican—were re-elected, and Republicans held onto the state treasurer's office.

Governor

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After defeating his predecessor, Democrat Leslie A. Miller, by a wide margin in 1938, Republican governor Nels H. Smith faced a tough challenge to his re-election in Secretary of State Lester C. Hunt, the Democratic nominee. Ultimately, Hunt narrowly defeated Smith, winning the first of his two terms as governor.

1942 Wyoming gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Lester C. Hunt 39,599 51.32% +11.12%
Republican Nels H. Smith (inc.) 37,568 48.68% −11.12%
Majority 2,031 2.63% −16.98%
Turnout 77,167
Democratic gain from Republican

Secretary of State

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Secretary of State Lester C. Hunt opted to challenge Republican governor Nels H. Smith for re-election rather than seek a third term as secretary of state, thereby creating an open seat. Susan J. Quealey, a leader in the state Democratic Party, narrowly won the primary over State Representative Raymond E. Morris. In the general election, she faced State Treasurer Mart T. Christensen, and lost to him in a landslide. Fewer than two years into Christensen's term, however, he would die in office; Governor Hunt appointed State Auditor William M. Jack as his replacement.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Susan J. Quealy 10,344 50.98%
Democratic Raymond E. Morris 9,947 49.02%
Total votes 20,291 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Mart T. Christensen, State Treasurer[3]

Results

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Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mart T. Christensen 25,560 100.00%
Total votes 25,560 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1942 Wyoming Secretary of State election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mart T. Christensen 43,437 58.86% +13.47%
Democratic Susan J. Quealy 30,361 41.14% −13.47%
Majority 13,076 17.72% +8.49%
Turnout 73,798
Republican gain from Democratic

Auditor

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Incumbent Democratic Auditor William M. Jack ran for re-election to a third term. After winning a contested Democratic primary against C. A. Johnson, a former state employee, he faced State Representative Everett T. Copenhaver in the general election. Building on his track record of decisive victories, Jack defeated Copenhaver relatively easily, winning 55% of the vote to Copenhaver's 45%. During Jack's third term, he was appointed by Governor Hunt as the successor to the late Secretary of State Mart T. Christensen, who died in office. Governor Hunt would, in turn, appoint Carl Robinson as Jack's successor.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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  • William M. Jack, incumbent state auditor
  • C. A. Johnson, former sales tax department employee[4]

Results

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Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic William M. Jack (inc.) 17,120 79.37%
Democratic C. A. Johnson 4,451 20.63%
Total votes 21,571 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Everett T. Copenhaver 23,400 100.00%
Total votes 23,400 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1942 Wyoming Auditor election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic William M. Jack (inc.) 40,768 54.79% +0.48%
Republican Everett T. Copenhaver 33,638 45.21% −0.48%
Majority 7,130 9.58% +0.96%
Turnout 74,406
Democratic hold

Treasurer

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Incumbent Republican state treasurer Mart T. Christensen was unable to seek re-election due to term limits, and instead successfully ran for secretary of state. The open seat became a contest between two former presiding officers of the state legislature: Democratic nominee Henry D. Watenpaugh, the Director of the State Office of Government Reports and the Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1935 to 1937, and Republican nominee Earl Wright, the President of the Wyoming State Senate. Despite the strength of both candidates, Wright ended up defeating Watenpaugh comfortably, holding the office for the Republican Party.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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  • Henry D. Watenpaugh, Director of the State Office of Government Reports, former Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives[5]

Results

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Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Henry D. Watenpaugh 17,433 100.00%
Total votes 17,433 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Earl Wright, President of the Wyoming State Senate[6]
  • Doc Rogers, former deputy secretary of state, 1938 Republican nominee for auditor[7]

Results

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Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Earl Wright 14,221 54.99%
Republican Doc Rogers 11,639 45.01%
Total votes 25,860 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1942 Wyoming Treasurer election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Earl Wright 42,460 59.23% +7.21%
Democratic Henry D. Watenpaugh 29,231 40.77% −7.21%
Majority 13,229 18.45% +14.42%
Turnout 71,691
Republican hold

Superintendent of Public Instruction

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Incumbent Republican superintendent of public instruction Esther L. Anderson ran for re-election to a second term. She was opposed by Democratic nominee Albert L. Keeney, the superintendent of schools in the town of Superior. Keeney proved little challenge to Anderson, who overwhelmingly defeated him for re-election and won the highest percentage of the vote of any statewide candidate in Wyoming that year.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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  • Albert L. Keeney, Superintendent of Superior Schools[8]

Results

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Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Albert L. Keeney 17,391 100.00%
Total votes 17,391 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Esther L. Anderson, incumbent superintendent of public instruction

Results

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Republican Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Esther L. Anderson (inc.) 26,079 100.00%
Total votes 26,079 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1942 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Esther L. Anderson (inc.) 44,899 60.83% +8.20%
Democratic Albert L. Keeney 28,914 39.17% −8.20%
Majority 15,985 21.66% +16.40%
Turnout 73,813
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Christensen, Mart T. (1939). 1943 Wyoming Official Directory and 1942 Election Returns. pp. 78–83.
  2. ^ "Mrs. Quealy Candidate For Secretary of State". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 2, 1942. p. 4. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Party Leaders Predict Light Vote at Primaries This Month". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. August 9, 1942. p. 5. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "'Scotty' Jack Will Not Make Personal Campaign". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. August 2, 1942. p. 10. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  5. ^ "Watenpaugh in Treasurer Race". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 15, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  6. ^ "Earl Wright to Seek Office as State Treasurer". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. May 14, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  7. ^ "C. J. Rogers Is Candidate: Enters Campaign for State Treasurer". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. April 8, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "Four Democrats Seek Nominations For State Posts". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. May 15, 1942. p. 10. Retrieved June 3, 2021.