1938 Wyoming gubernatorial election

1938 Wyoming gubernatorial election
	County results; Smith: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% ; Miller: 50–60%
Governor before election; Leslie A. Miller; Democratic	Elected Governor ; Nels H. Smith; Republican

The 1938 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1938. Incumbent Democratic Governor Leslie A. Miller ran for re-election to his third term, and his second full term. Nels H. Smith, a former State Representative and former state highway commissioner, won a crowded Republican primary and advanced to the general election against Miller. Though Miller won his re-election campaign four years earlier in a landslide, Smith was able to take advantage of the nationwide Republican wave to defeat him in a landslide, winning 60% of the vote to Governor Miller's 40%.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Leslie A. Miller, incumbent Governor
Gus F. Engelking, rancher^[1]

Results

Democratic primary^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Leslie A. Miller (inc.)	23,464	69.43%
	Democratic	Gus F. Engelking	10,333	30.57%
Total votes			33,797	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Nels H. Smith, former state highway commissioner, former State Representative, 1934 Republican candidate for Governor^[3]
Thomas A. Nicholas, former Campbell County Prosecuting Attorney^[4]
Josiah H. Holland, Mayor of Evanston^[5]
John F. Raper, Sheridan attorney^[6]
Samuel S. Hoover, Mayor of Green River, former State Representative^[7]

Results

Republican primary^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Nels H. Smith	13,355	41.66%
	Republican	Thomas A. Nicholas	7,361	22.96%
	Republican	Josiah H. Holland	6,494	20.26%
	Republican	John F. Raper	3,111	9.71%
	Republican	Samuel S. Hoover	1,734	5.41%
Total votes			32,055	100.00%

Results

1938 Wyoming gubernatorial election^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Nels H. Smith	57,288	59.81%	+18.44%
	Democratic	Leslie A. Miller (inc.)	38,501	40.19%	−17.71%
Majority			18,787	19.61%	+3.07%
Turnout			95,789
	Republican gain from Democratic

References

^ "Candidate Retraces Trail Trip on Visit to Casper". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 26, 1938. p. 3.
^ ^a ^b ^c Hunt, Lester C. (1939). 1939 Official Directory of Wyoming and Election Returns for 1934. pp. 60–65.
^ "Smith in Race for Governor: Weston County Rancher Is First Republican to Announce for Post". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. May 19, 1938. p. 1.
^ "Republicans of Wyoming: Thomas A. Nicholas Praised as Self-Made Man". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. April 5, 1938. p. 5.
^ "Evanston Mayor Endorsed for Gubernatorial Office". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. February 14, 1938. p. 7.
^ "Sheridan Attorney in Race for Gubernatorial Office". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 1, 1938. p. 1.
^ "Green River Mayor Gets Cheyenne Job". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 17, 1938. p. 9.

[1] "Candidate Retraces Trail Trip on Visit to Casper". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 26, 1938. p. 3.

[1939_directory-2] Hunt, Lester C. (1939). 1939 Official Directory of Wyoming and Election Returns for 1934. pp. 60–65.

[3] "Smith in Race for Governor: Weston County Rancher Is First Republican to Announce for Post". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. May 19, 1938. p. 1.

[4] "Republicans of Wyoming: Thomas A. Nicholas Praised as Self-Made Man". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. April 5, 1938. p. 5.

[5] "Evanston Mayor Endorsed for Gubernatorial Office". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. February 14, 1938. p. 7.

[6] "Sheridan Attorney in Race for Gubernatorial Office". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 1, 1938. p. 1.

[7] "Green River Mayor Gets Cheyenne Job". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 17, 1938. p. 9.

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