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.

Elections in Wyoming

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## Governor

[edit]

Main article: 1954 Wyoming gubernatorial election

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

* Zan Lewis, former legislative aide to U.S. Senator Lester C. Hunt, chief clerk in the secretary of state's office[2]
* Archie Ewoldsen, Secretary of the Sheridan Chamber of Commerce, former Public Service Commissioner[3]

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

* Everett T. Copenhaver, Wyoming State Auditor

#### Results

[edit]

Republican Primary results[1] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Everett T. Copenhaver  | 39,766  | 100.00%
Total votes  | 39,766  | 100.00%

### General election

[edit]

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

* Bob Adams, Cheyenne real estate broker[4]
* Adam Roney, former Mayor of Powell[5]

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

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

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

* W. D. "Jud" Witherspoon, former state representative from Lincoln County[7]

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

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

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

* Velma Linford, Laramie High School teacher, 1946 Democratic nominee for Superintendent[10]

#### Results

[edit]

Democratic Party primary results[1] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

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

### Republican primary

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

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

#### Results

[edit]

Republican Party primary results[1] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
|

| Republican | Ray E. Robertson  | 38,071  | 100.00%
Total votes  | 38,071  | 100.00%

### General election

[edit]

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

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. 50–52.50-52&rft.date=1955&rft.aulast=Copenhaver&rft.aufirst=Everett+T.&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:1954+Wyoming+state+elections" class="Z3988">
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.

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