1958 Wyoming gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:1958 Wyoming gubernatorial election
Country:Wyoming
Type:presidential
Election Date:November 4, 1958
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1954 Wyoming gubernatorial election
Previous Year:1954
Next Election:1962 Wyoming gubernatorial election
Next Year:1962
Image1:File:John Joseph Hickey.jpg
Nominee1:John J. Hickey
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:55,070
Percentage1:48.94%
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Nominee2:Milward Simpson
Popular Vote2:52,488
Percentage2:46.64%
Map Size:250px
Governor
Before Election:Milward Simpson
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:John J. Hickey
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 1958 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1958. Incumbent Republican Governor Milward Simpson ran for re-election to a second term. He was challenged by 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. To date, 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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Works cited

Notes and References

  1. News: August 17, 1958. Primary Interest Picking Up, Says Stanley Edwards. Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo.. 2.