1918 Wyoming state elections

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on Tuesday, November 5, 1918. All of the state's executive officers—the Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction—were up for election. Republicans won all statewide offices by wide margins, and with Robert D. Carey's defeat of Frank L. Houx, picked up the governorship following two consecutive losses to Democrats.

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Governor
Main article: 1918 Wyoming gubernatorial election

Incumbent Democratic Governor Frank L. Houx, who ascended to the governorship following John B. Kendrick's election to the U.S. Senate in 1916, ran for re-election to a full term. He was opposed by Republican nominee Robert D. Carey, the Chairman of the State Highway Commission and the son of former Governor Joseph M. Carey, in the general election. Carey defeated Houx by a decisive margin.

1918 Wyoming gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Robert D. Carey 23,825 56.11% +11.90%
Democratic Frank L. Houx (inc.) 18,640 43.89% -7.72%
Majority 5,185 12.21 +4.80%
Turnout 42,465
Republican gain from Democratic

Secretary of State

Incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Frank L. Houx, who served as acting Governor, opted to run for re-election as Governor rather than as Secretary of State. Maurice Groshon, the acting Chairman of the State Council for National Defense, won the Democratic primary unopposed, and faced Republican nominee William E. Chaplin, the former Register of the Cheyenne Land Office. Chaplin defeated Groshon by a wide margin to pick up the seat for the Republican Party.

Candidates
  • Maurice Groshon, Acting Chairman of the State Council for National Defense, former State Dairy, Food and Oil Commissioner[2]

Results
Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Maurice Groshon 6,409 100.00%
Total votes 6,409 100.00%

Candidates
  • William E. Chaplin, former Register of the Cheyenne Land Office, former Mayor of Laramie[3]

Results
Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Birney H. Sage 9,573 100.00%
Total votes 9,573 100.00%

Results
1918 Wyoming Secretary of State election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican William E. Chaplin 22,507 56.39% +9.64%
Democratic Maurice Groshon 17,408 43.61% -3.43%
Majority 5,099 12.77% +12.48%
Turnout 39,915 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

Auditor

Incumbent Republican State Auditor Robert B. Forsyth declined to run for re-election to a third term. State Senator Ishmael Jefferis won the Republican primary unopposed, and faced Casper insurance salesman Albert H. Stewart, who defeated Deputy Secretary of State Frank H. Westcott in the Democratic primary. Jefferis defeated Stewart by a wide margin.

Candidates
  • Albert H. Stewart, Casper insurance salesman[4]
  • Frank H. Westcott, Deputy Secretary of State[5]

Results
Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Albert H. Stewart 3,944 59.40%
Democratic Frank H. Westcott 2,696 40.60%
Total votes 6,640 100.00%

Candidates

Results
Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ishmael C. Jefferis 11,629 100.00%
Total votes 11,629 100.00%

Results
1918 Wyoming Auditor election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Ishmael C. Jefferis 22,146 56.27% +4.87%
Democratic Albert H. Stewart 17,208 43.73% +2.08%
Majority 4,938 12.55% +2.79%
Turnout 39,354 100.00%
Republican hold

Treasurer

Incumbent Republican State Treasurer Henry B. Gates was unable to seek a second consecutive term, thereby creating an open seat. Former State Senator A. D. Hoskins narrowly defeated George W. Perry, a banker and the former Chief Clerk of the State Senate, in the Republican primary. In the general election, he faced former State Representative John L. Jordan, whom he handily defeated to win election as Treasurer.

Candidates

Results
Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John L. Jordon 6,399 100.00%
Total votes 6,399 100.00%

Candidates
  • A. D. Hoskins, former State Senator from Uinta County[8]
  • George W. Perry, Sheridan banker, former Chief Clerk of the State Senate[9]

Results
Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican A. D. Hoskins 6,551 51.30%
Republican George W. Perry 6,218 48.70%
Total votes 12,769 100.00%

Results
1918 Wyoming Treasurer election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican A. D. Hoskins 21,840 55.45% +8.56%
Democratic John L. Jordan 17,545 44.55% -1.74%
Majority 4,295 10.91% +0.04%
Turnout 39,385 100.00%
Republican hold

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Incumbent Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Edith K. O. Clark declined to seek re-election, creating an open seat. Katharine A. Morton, the former State Librarian, won a plurality of the vote in the Republican primary and advanced to the general election. No Democratic candidate initially filed to run for Superintendent, but Laramie County Superintendent of Schools Mamie Hefferon won the Democratic nomination as a write-in candidate. In the general election, Morton only defeated Hefferon by a narrow margin, holding the office for the Republican Party.

Democratic primary

No Democratic candidates filed for Superintendent, but Laramie County Superintendent of Schools Mamie Hefferon announced that she would run as a write-in candidate for the nomination one week before the primary.[10] After Hefferon received 600 write-in votes in the Democratic primary,[1] she received the nomination and proceeded to the general election.[11]

Candidates
  • Katharine A. Morton, former State Librarian[12]
  • Lenore C. Harnsberger, Republican activist[13]
  • Thomas B. McDonough, Deputy State Superintendent, 1914 Republican candidate for Superintendent[14]

Results
Republican Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Katharine A. Morton 5,887 43.86%
Republican Lenore C. Harnsberger 4,037 30.08%
Republican Thomas B. McDonough 3,498 26.06%
Total votes 13,422 100.00%

Results
1918 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Katharine A. Morton 20,711 51.58% +1.44%
Democratic Mamie E. Hefferon 19,446 48.42% +4.77%
Majority 1,265 3.15% -3.33%
Turnout 40,157
Republican hold

References
  1. Erwin, Marie (1974). Trenholm, Virginia Cole (ed.). Wyoming Blue Book (PDF). Vol. 2. Cheyenne, Wyo.: Pioneer Printing & Stationery Co. pp. 594–96.
  2. "Groshon Is Chairman of Wyoming Defense Council". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. March 15, 1918. p. 3. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  3. "Hon W. E. Chaplin: Republican Candidate for Secretary of State". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. June 6, 1918. p. 2. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  4. "A. H. Stewart of Casper Is Out for State Auditor". Laramie Boomerang. Laramie, Wyo. July 13, 1918. p. 4. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  5. "James Fisher Files Name to Enter Fray for Senate". Wyoming State Tribune. Cheyenne, Wyo. June 18, 1918. p. 1. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  6. "Senator Ishmael Jefferis". Wyoming Legislator Database. Wyoming State Legislature. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  7. "Representative J Jordan". Wyoming Legislator Database. Wyoming State Legislature. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  8. "Senator A Hoskins". Wyoming Legislator Database. Wyoming State Legislature. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  9. "For State Treasurer: Something About the Candidate From Sheridan County". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. March 5, 1918. p. 5. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  10. "Mrs. Hefferon Announces As State Superintendent". Cheyenne State Leader. Cheyenne, Wyo. August 24, 1918. p. 3. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  11. "Houx and Carey Will Lead Tickets: Acting Governor Probably Nominated Over Ross". Douglas Budget. Douglas, Wyo. July 9, 1918. p. 1. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  12. "Mrs. Morton Here Monday". Rawlins Republican. Rawlins, Wyo. August 22, 1918. p. 1. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  13. "'Oil Queen' Is Candidate For School Leader". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 31, 1918. p. 6. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  14. "Meeting at the University: Better Schools Conference in Session at Agricultural Hall Today". Laramie Republican. Laramie, Wyo. July 9, 1918. pp. 1, 8. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
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