1930 Wyoming state elections

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Wyoming on Tuesday, November 4, 1930. All of the state's executive officers—the Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction—were up for election. Republicans narrowly held onto the Governor's office and won every other state office.

Governor

Incumbent Republican Governor Frank Emerson ran for re-election to a second term. After beating back a challenge in the Republican primary from State Treasurer William H. Edelman, he faced State Senator Leslie A. Miller in the general election. As was the case in 1926, Emerson faced a close race, and only narrowly defeated Miller to win re-election. However, Emerson would die shortly after being sworn into his second term, triggering a special election in 1932.

1930 Wyoming gubernatorial election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Frank C. Emerson (inc.) 38,058 50.58% -0.32%
Democratic Leslie A. Miller 37,188 49.42% 0.47%
Majority 870 1.16% -0.79%
Turnout 75,246 100.00%
Republican hold

Secretary of State

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Alonzo M. Clark ran for re-election to a second term. After defeating two challengers in the Republican primary—State Representative A. D. Persson and former State Senator H. S. Kirk—he advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by O. O. Davis, the editor of the Green River Star. Clark overwhelmingly defeated Davis to win re-election. Just weeks into Clark's second term, however, Governor Emerson would die, elevating Clark as acting governor—though he continued to serve as Secretary of State.

Candidates

  • O. O. Davis, editor of the Green River Star[2]

Results

Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic O. O. Davis 9,061 100.00%
Total votes 9,061 100.00%

Candidates

  • Alonzo M. Clark, incumbent Secretary of State
  • A. D. Persson, State Representative[3]
  • H. S. Kirk, former State Senator[4]

Results

Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Alonzo M. Clark (inc.) 21,158 55.66%
Republican A. D. Persson 11,289 29.70%
Republican H. S. Kirk 5,569 14.65%
Total votes 38,016 100.00%

Results

1930 Wyoming Secretary of State election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Alonzo M. Clark (inc.) 41,643 60.44% +7.22%
Democratic O. O. Davis 27,268 39.56% -7.22%
Majority 14,385 20.88% +14.44%
Turnout 64,325
Republican hold

Auditor

State Auditor Vincent Carter was elected to Congress in 1928, and Governor Frank Emerson appointed Roscoe Alcorn, the President the Wyoming Press Association and a former State Representative, as Carter's replacement.[5] Alcorn ran for re-election in 1930, and was opposed by accountant C. H. Reimerth in the Republican primary. Alcorn defeated Reimerth in a landslide and advanced to the general election. No Democratic candidate filed to oppose Alcorn, but A. E. Wilde received enough write-in votes to win the party's nomination. Wilde, however, declined the nomination.[6] Accordingly, the Wyoming Democratic Party named June J. Creswell, the former Converse County Treasurer, as its nominee.[7] Alcorn was re-elected over Creswell in a landslide.

Democratic primary

No Democratic candidates filed for State Auditor. However, because A. E. Wilde received the most write-in votes for the race,[1] he was entitled to the nomination under state law, which he declined.[6] The Democratic Party then named June J. Creswell, the former Converse County Treasurer, as Wilde's replacement on the ballot.[7]

Candidates

  • Roscoe Alcorn, incumbent State Auditor
  • C. H. Reimerth, accountant

Results

Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Roscoe Alcorn (inc.) 22,126 60.40%
Republican C. H. Reimerth 14,508 39.60%
Total votes 36,634 100.00

Results

1930 Wyoming Auditor election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Roscoe Alcorn (inc.) 42,126 61.84% +2.07%
Democratic June J. Creswell 26,012 38.16% -2.07%
Majority 16,134 23.67% +4.15%
Turnout 68,158
Republican hold

Treasurer

Incumbent State Treasurer William H. Edelman opted to challenge Governor Frank Emerson for re-election rather than seeking a second term, creating an open seat. Harry R. Weston, a banker, won the Republican primary over former Cheyenne Mayor Robert N. LaFontaine, and then faced former State Representative Bert Waddell in the general election. Weston defeated Waddell by a wide margin to win his first (and only) term as Treasurer.

Candidates

  • Bert Waddell, former State Representative[8]

Results

Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bert Waddell 8,393 100.00%
Total votes 8,393 100.00%

Candidates

  • Harry R. Weston, banker[9]
  • Robert N. LaFontaine, former Mayor of Cheyenne[10]

Results

Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Harry R. Weston 22,968 63.39%
Republican Robert N. LaFontaine 13,267 36.61%
Total votes 36,235 100.00

Results

1930 Wyoming Treasurer election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Harry R. Weston 39,939 59.19% +2.88%
Democratic Bert Waddell 27,534 40.81% -2.88%
Majority 12,405 18.39% +5.76%
Turnout 67,473
Republican hold

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Incumbent Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Katharine A. Morton ran for re-election to a fourth term. She faced Nelle O'Donnell in the Republican primary, which, despite Morton's longtime popularity, was the closest primary in the state. No Democratic candidates originally filed to oppose Morton, but L. C. Tidball, the former state commissioner of education, received enough write-in votes to win the nomination. Tidball declined the spot, however, citing his belief that politics shouldn't be mixed with schools.[11] Accordingly, the state party named Margaret S. "Anna" Preston, the widow of former state Attorney General Douglas Preston, as its nominee.[12] Despite Morton's long history of electoral landslides and the Democratic Party's poor organization in the race, the campaign between Morton and Preston was quite close. Morton ultimately only won re-election by just 1,382 votes, winning her fourth and final term in office.

Candidates

No Democratic candidates filed for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. However, because L. C. Tidball received the most write-in votes for the race,[1] he was entitled to the nomination under state law, which he declined.[11] The Democratic Party then named Anna Preston as Tidball's replacement on the ballot.[12]

Candidates

  • Katharine A. Morton, incumbent Superintendent of Instruction
  • Nelle O'Donnell

Results

Republican Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Katharine Morton (inc.) 21,897 55.08
Republican Nelle O'Donnell 17,857 44.92
Total votes 39,754 100.00

Results

1930 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Katharine A. Morton (inc.) 36,304 50.97% -12.14%
Democratic Anna S. Preston 34,922 49.03% +12.14%
Majority 1,382 1.94% -24.28%
Turnout 71,226
Republican hold

References

  1. Clark, A.M. (1931). 1931 Official Directory of Wyoming and Election Returns for 1930. pp. 50–53.
  2. "O.O. Davis, Editor at Green River, Submits Petition for Office". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 9, 1930. p. 5. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  3. "Persson in Race for Secretary of State". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. January 21, 1930. p. 4. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  4. "Lingle Man Will Run for State Secretary". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 16, 1930. p. 12. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  5. "Gov. Emerson Names Alcorn for Auditor". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. January 8, 1929. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  6. "Democratic Nominee Out of Race for Wyoming Auditor". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. September 8, 1930. p. 8. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  7. "Mrs. June Creswell to be Demo Candidate for Auditor". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. September 23, 1930. p. 10. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  8. "Representative Bert Waddell". Wyoming Legislator Database. Wyoming State Legislature. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  9. "Two Now in Race for Treasurer of Wyoming". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. January 22, 1930. p. 8. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  10. "La Fontaine Enters Race for Treasurer". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. January 19, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  11. "Tidball Declines to Run For State School Office". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. September 7, 1930. p. 11. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  12. "Mrs. Margaret Preston Will Oppose Katharine A. Morton". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. September 16, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.