1970 Wyoming state elections

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on Tuesday, November 3, 1970. All of the state's executive officers—the Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction—were up for election. Continuing their success from 1962 and 1966, Republicans won all of the statewide executive offices once again, and all of them by large margins.

Governor

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Incumbent Republican Governor Stanley Hathaway ran for re-election to a second term. He was opposed by State Representative John J. Rooney, the Democratic nominee. Hathaway defeated Rooney in a landslide.

1970 Wyoming gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Stanley Hathaway (inc.) 74,249 62.79% +8.49%
Democratic John J. Rooney 44,008 37.21% −8.49%
Majority 30,241 25.57% +16.99%
Turnout 118,257
Republican hold

Secretary of State

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Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Thyra Thomson ran for re-election to a third term. After facing marginal opposition in the Republican primary, Thomson faced former State Representative Howard L. Burke, the Democratic nominee, in the general election. Continuing her streak of winning large majorities, Thomson defeated Burke in a landslide to win re-election.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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  • Howard L. Burke, former State Representative from Laramie County, 1966 Democratic candidate for Governor[2]

Results

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Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Howard L. Burke 31,812 100.00%
Total votes 31,812 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thyra Thomson (inc.) 38,410 82.79%
Republican Bob Craver 7,987 17.21%
Total votes 46,397 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1970 Wyoming Secretary of State election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Thyra Thomson (inc.) 75,905 65.22% +0.92%
Democratic Howard L. Burke 40,475 34.78% −0.92%
Majority 35,430 30.44% +1.84%
Turnout 116,380
Republican hold

Auditor

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Incumbent Republican State Auditor Everett T. Copenhaver ran for re-election to a second consecutive term, his fourth term as State Auditor overall. The Democratic Party did not embark on a major recruitment effort for the race, and the primary election boiled down to Mike Vinich, who served as the executive director of the state employment security commission, rancher David Laird, and businessman Frank Woodhouse. The primary election was close, with Vinich holding a several-hundred vote lead over Laird as the votes were tallied.[3] However, Laird declined to seek a recount and conceded to Vinich,[4] who advanced to the general election against Copenhaver. The general election was much less close, and Copenhaver handily defeated Vinich to win re-election.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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  • Mike Vinich, former Executive Director of the Wyoming Employment Security Commission[5]
  • David G. Laird, Worland rancher[4]
  • Frank Woodhouse, Cheyenne businessman[4]

Results

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Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Vinich 12,522 35.05%
Democratic David G. Laird 12,482 34.94%
Democratic Frank Woodhouse 10,722 30.01%
Total votes 35,726 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Everett T. Copenhaver, incumbent State Auditor

Results

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Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Everett T. Copenhaver (inc.) 42,235 100.00%
Total votes 42,235 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1970 Wyoming Auditor election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Everett T. Copenhaver (inc.) 65,664 57.49% −0.54%
Democratic Mike Vinich 48,555 42.51% +0.54%
Majority 17,109 14.98% −1.09%
Turnout 114,219
Republican hold

Treasurer

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Incumbent Republican State Treasurer Minnie A. Mitchell was unable to seek re-election to a second consecutive term, creating an open seat. Newspaper publisher Jim Griffith won the Republican primary over Cheyenne Mayor Floyd Holland, and he proceeded to the general election, where he was opposed by Democratic nominee Bob Adams, a former State Representative who had repeatedly run as the Democratic nominee for Auditor or Treasurer for several decades. Griffith ultimately defeated Adams by a wide margin.

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 19,161 50.70%
Democratic Elizabeth Phelan 18,629 49.30%
Total votes 37,790 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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  • Jim Griffith, publisher of the Lusk Herald[8]
  • Floyd Holland, Mayor of Cheyenne[7]

Results

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Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Griffith 23,679 54.57%
Republican Floyd Holland 19,709 45.43%
Total votes 43,388 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1970 Wyoming Treasurer election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Jim Griffith 65,161 57.61% +0.66%
Democratic Bob Adams 47,942 42.39% −0.66%
Majority 17,219 15.22% +1.32%
Turnout 113,103 100.00%
Republican hold

Superintendent of Public Instruction

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Incumbent Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Harry Roberts declined to seek a second term, instead opting to run forCongress rather than seek re-election.[9] Robert G. Schrader, the superintendent of schools in the city of Cody, won a crowded Republican primary to succeed Roberts. He faced Democratic nominee Patrick J. Moran, the Superintendent of the Johnson County School District No. 1, in the general election. Schrader defeated Moran by a wide margin, significantly improving from Roberts's 1966.

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 Patrick J. Moran 31,766 100.00%
Total votes 31,766 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert G. Schrader 15,912 36.61%
Republican Jim Durkee 12,777 29.40%
Republican Richard Langdon 7,651 17.60%
Republican Ned N. Tranal 7,121 16.38%
Total votes 43,461 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1970 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Robert G. Schrader 64,699 57.61% +5.10%
Democratic Patrick J. Moran 47,610 42.39% −5.10%
Majority 17,089 15.22% +10.21%
Turnout 112,309 100.00%
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Thomson, Thyra (1971). 1971 Wyoming Official Directory and 1970 Election Returns. pp. 87–90.
  2. ^ "Howard Burke Seeks Secretary of State Post". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 4, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  3. ^ McCall, Jr., Richard L. (August 20, 1970). "Vinich Holds Slim Edge in Auditor Race". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. p. 1. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Laird Drops Plan For Vote Recount". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. August 31, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  5. ^ "Vinich Seeks Demo Bid for Stat Auditor". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 22, 1970. p. 3. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  6. ^ "Mrs. Phelan To Seek State Treasurer Job". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 8, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Filings Pour in Before Deadline". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 9, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  8. ^ Collins, Tutty (February 4, 1970). "Griffith First To Announce Bid For State Office". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. p. 1. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  9. ^ "Roberts Seeks Republican Nomination for Congress". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. April 9, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  10. ^ "Kaycee Principal Will Seek Top School Position". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 1, 1970. p. 17. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  11. ^ Robertson, Beverly (May 27, 1970). "Schrader Will Seek State Schools Post". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. p. 1. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  12. ^ "Durkee Declares 'Continuity' Is Required in Job". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. May 30, 1970. p. 3. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  13. ^ "Goshen Hole School Chief Enters Race". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 11, 1970. p. 2. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  14. ^ "Tranel to Speak in Evanston". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. May 1, 1970. p. 2. Retrieved June 5, 2021.