1966 Wyoming gubernatorial election

Summary

The 1966 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1966. Incumbent Republican Governor Clifford Hansen declined to seek a second term, instead opting to run for the U.S. Senate. Stanley Hathaway, the former Goshen County Prosecuting Attorney, won the Republican primary, and faced attorney Ernest Wilkerson, the Democratic nominee, in the general election. Despite the unfavorable national environment for Democratic candidates, Wilkerson was able to improve on Democrats' performance from the 1962 election, but not enough to defeat Hathaway, who won the election by a decisive margin.

1966 Wyoming gubernatorial election

← 1962 November 8, 1966 (1966-11-08) 1970 →
 
Nominee Stanley Hathaway Ernest Wilkerson
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 65,624 55,249
Percentage 54.29% 45.71%

County results
Hathaway:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Wilkerson:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Clifford Hansen
Republican

Elected Governor

Stanley Hathaway
Republican

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ernest Wilkerson 13,145 31.07%
Democratic Bill Nation 9,834 23.35%
Democratic Jack R. Gage 8,661 20.47%
Democratic Raymond B. Whitaker 6,238 14.75%
Democratic Howard Burke 4,426 10.46%
Total votes 42,926 100.00%

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stanley Hathaway 26,110 55.24%
Republican Joe Burke 19,815 41.92%
Republican Arthur E. Linde 1,344 2.84%
Total votes 47,269 100.00%

Results edit

1966 Wyoming gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Stanley Hathaway 65,624 54.29% -0.18%
Democratic Ernest Wilkerson 54,298 45.53% +0.18%
Majority 10,375 8.58% -0.36%
Turnout 120,873
Republican hold

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Thomson, Thyra (1967). 1967 Wyoming Official Directory and 1966 Election Returns. pp. 72–74.