| Election Name: | 1966 Idaho gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Idaho |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1962 Idaho gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1962 |
| Next Election: | 1970 Idaho gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1970 |
| Election Date: | November 8, 1966 |
| Image1: | File:Don Samuelson.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Don Samuelson |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 104,586 |
| Percentage1: | 41.41% |
| Nominee2: | Cecil Andrus |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 93,744 |
| Percentage2: | 37.11% |
| Nominee4: | Perry Swisher |
| Party4: | Independent politician |
| Popular Vote4: | 30,913 |
| Percentage4: | 12.24% |
| Nominee5: | Philip Jungert |
| Party5: | Independent politician |
| Popular Vote5: | 23,139 |
| Percentage5: | 9.16% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Robert E. Smylie |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Don Samuelson |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 1966 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 8. Republican nominee Don Samuelson defeated Democratic nominee Cecil Andrus with 41.4% of the vote in a four-way race (two independents).[1]
In early August, three-term incumbent Robert E. Smylie, the dean of American governors, was soundly defeated in the Republican primary by Samuelson.[2] Andrus was a close runner-up in the Democratic primary to Charles Herndon,[2] who was killed in a plane crash six weeks later in September.[3] [4]
This was the sixth consecutive Republican victory for governor, but Democrats won the next six, with four by Andrus. The next gubernatorial election in 1970 was a rematch, with different results.
Primary elections were held on August 2, 1966.[2] [5]
Major party candidates
Other candidates