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.

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## Governor

[edit]

Main article: 1970 Wyoming gubernatorial election

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

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

#### Results

[edit]

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

|
|
|

| Democratic | Howard L. Burke  | 31,812  | 100.00%
Total votes  | 31,812  | 100.00%

### Republican primary

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

* Thyra Thomson, incumbent Secretary of State
* Bob Craver

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

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

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

* Everett T. Copenhaver, incumbent State Auditor

#### Results

[edit]

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

|
|
|

| Republican | Everett T. Copenhaver (inc.)  | 42,235  | 100.00%
Total votes  | 42,235  | 100.00%

### General election

[edit]

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

* Bob Adams, former State Representative, former State Representative from Laramie County, 1966 Democratic nominee for Treasurer, 1962 Democratic nominee for Treasurer, 1958 Democratic nominee for State Auditor, 1954 Democratic nominee for State Auditor[6]
* Elizabeth Phelan, State Representative from Laramie County[7]

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

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

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

* Patrick J. Moran, Superintendent of the Johnson County School District No. 1[10]

#### Results

[edit]

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

|
|
|

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

### Republican primary

[edit]

#### Candidates

[edit]

* Robert G. Schrader, Superintendent of Cody Schools[11]
* Jim Durkee, University of Wyoming vocational education professor[12]
* Richard Langdon, Superintendent of Goshen Hole schools[13]
* Ned N. Tranal, Sheridan psychologist[14]

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

#### Results

[edit]

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

[edit]

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. 87–90.87-90&rft.date=1971&rft.aulast=Thomson&rft.aufirst=Thyra&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:1970+Wyoming+state+elections" class="Z3988">
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.

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