1954 Wyoming state elections

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on Tuesday, November 2, 1954. All of the state's executive officers—the governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction—were up for election. The result was largely a continuation of Republican rule, though Democrat Velma Linford won the election for Superintendent and the margins in most of the other races shrunk considerably from 1950.

Governor

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Following Governor Frank A. Barrett's election to the U.S. Senate in 1952, Republican secretary of state Doc Rogers became acting governor. He ran for re-election, but was defeated by former state representative Milward Simpson in the Republican primary. In the general election, Simpson then narrowly defeated William M. Jack, the former secretary of state and state auditor.

1954 Wyoming gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Milward Simpson 56,275 50.50% −5.65%
Democratic William M. Jack 55,163 49.50% +5.65%
Majority 1,112 1.00% −11.30%
Turnout 111,438 100.00%
Republican hold

Secretary of state

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Incumbent Republican secretary of state Doc Rogers simultaneously served as acting Governor following Governor Frank A. Barrett's election to the U.S. Senate in 1952, and opted to run for re-election as Governor rather than for re-election as secretary of state. State Auditor Everett T. Copenhaver ran for secretary of state, and won the Republican primary unopposed. In the general election, he faced Zan Lewis, a former aide to Senator Lester C. Hunt and the longtime chief clerk in the secretary of state's office. Copenhaver was able to build on his record of electoral victories and defeated Lewis in a landslide, and was the strongest performing statewide candidate that year.

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 Zan Lewis 17,845 61.22%
Democratic Archie Ewoldsen 11,306 38.78%
Total votes 29,151 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Everett T. Copenhaver, Wyoming State Auditor

Results

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Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Everett T. Copenhaver 39,766 100.00%
Total votes 39,766 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1954 Wyoming Secretary of State election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Everett T. Copenhaver 61,130 57.05% +5.07%
Democratic Zan Lewis 46,018 42.95% −5.07%
Majority 15,112 14.10% +10.14%
Turnout 107,148
Republican hold

Auditor

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Incumbent Republican state auditor Everett T. Copenhaver opted against seeking a third term, instead running for secretary of state. Accordingly, State Treasurer Minnie A. Mitchell, barred from seeking a second term as treasurer, ran for auditor. She defeated Rusty Rothwell, secretary to the State Board of Charities and Reform, in the Republican primary and then faced Democratic nominee Bob Adams, a real estate broker, in the general election.

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 Bob Adams 20,601 67.29%
Democratic Adam Roney 10,015 32.71%
Total votes 30,616 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Minnie A. Mitchell, Wyoming State Treasurer
  • E. C. "Rusty" Rothwell, secretary to the State Board of Charities and Reform[6]

Results

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Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Minnie A. Mitchell 28,917 69.34%
Republican E. C. "Rusty" Rothwell 12,784 30.66%
Total votes 41,701 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1954 Wyoming Auditor election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Minnie A. Mitchell 57,912 53.39% −6.61%
Democratic Bob Adams 50,566 46.61% +6.61%
Majority 7,346 6.77% −13.21%
Turnout 92,317
Republican hold

Treasurer

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Incumbent Republican state treasurer Minnie A. Mitchell, appointed to the post following the death of her husband in 1952, was barred from seeking re-election due to term limits. Charles B. Morgan, who served as deputy state treasurer for 41 years and to 12 different state treasurers, won the Republican primary over Insurance Commissioner Ford S. Taft. In the general election, he faced former state representative W. D. "Jud" Witherspoon, the Democratic nominee, whom he narrowly defeated.

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 W. D. "Jud" Witherspoon 28,156 100.00%
Total votes 28,156 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Charles B. Morgan, deputy state treasurer[8]
  • Ford S. Taft, state insurance commissioner[9]

Results

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Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles B. Morgan 23,549 58.40%
Republican Ford S. Taft 16,772 41.60%
Total votes 40,321 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1954 Wyoming Treasurer election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Charles B. Morgan 56,592 53.41% −5.27%
Democratic W. D. "Jud" Witherspoon 49,357 46.59% +1.16%
Majority 7,235 6.83% −2.32%
Turnout 105,949 100.00%
Republican hold

Superintendent of public instruction

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Incumbent Republican superintendent of public instruction Edna B. Stolt declined to run for re-election to a third term.[10] State Education Commissioner Ray Robertson won the Republican nomination to succeed Stolt unopposed and faced Velma Linford, the 1946 nominee for superintendent. In the Democratic Party's only pickup of a state executive office, Linford narrowly defeated Robertson to win her first term.

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 Velma Linford 28,226 100.00%
Total votes 28,226 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Ray E. Robertson, State Education Commissioner[11]

Results

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Republican Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ray E. Robertson 38,071 100.00%
Total votes 38,071 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1954 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Velma Linford 54,438 50.88% +8.10%
Republican Ray E. Robertson 52,558 49.12% −8.10%
Majority 1,880 1.76% −12.69%
Turnout 106,996 100.00%
Democratic gain from Republican

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Copenhaver, Everett T. (1955). 1955 Wyoming Official Directory and 1954 Election Returns. pp. 50–52.
  2. ^ "Lewis to Run for Sec. Post". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. May 6, 1954. p. 17. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  3. ^ "Lewis to Run for Sec. Post". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. April 21, 1954. p. 22. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  4. ^ "Bob Adams Will Seek Auditor Job". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. May 9, 1954. p. 7. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  5. ^ "Roney Announces for State Auditor on Democratic Ticket". Big Piney Examiner. Big Piney, Wyo. July 15, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  6. ^ "Rothwell to Run For State Auditor". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. February 11, 1954. p. 3. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  7. ^ "Morris Files for State Treasurer". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. June 23, 1954. p. 10. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  8. ^ "Morgan To Be Candidate For State Treasurer". Big Piney Examiner. Big Piney, Wyo. February 4, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  9. ^ "FordTaft to Seek Bid for Treasurer Job". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. January 27, 1954. p. 10. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Miss Linford To Announce Soon". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. May 13, 1954. p. 3. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  11. ^ "Mrs. Mitchell Seeks Post of State Auditor". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. February 18, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved June 4, 2021.