1958 Wyoming gubernatorial election


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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.

1958 Wyoming gubernatorial election

← 1954 November 4, 1958 1962 →
 
Nominee John J. Hickey Milward Simpson
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 55,070 52,488
Percentage 48.94% 46.64%

County results
Hickey:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Simpson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%


Governor before election

Milward Simpson
Republican

Elected Governor

John J. Hickey
Democratic

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.[1]

  • Milward Simpson, incumbent Governor
  • Stanley Edwards, former state civil defense director, former deputy state adjutant general[3]
  1. ^ Trachsel 1959, p. 364.
  2. ^ a b c Gage, Jack R. (1959). 1959 Wyoming Official Directory and 1958 Election Returns. pp. 54–56.
  3. ^ "Primary Interest Picking Up, Says Stanley Edwards". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. August 17, 1958. p. 2.