1946 Wyoming state elections

Incumbent Democratic governor Lester C. Hunt ran for re-election to a second term. Though his predecessor, former governor Nels H. Smith, planned a rematch against Hunt, he lost the Republican primary to State Treasurer Earl Wright. In the general election, Hunt defeated Wright by a narrow margin, but improved from his 1942 election. During Hunt's second term, he would be elected to the U.S. Senate in 1948, vacating his office. Secretary of State Arthur G. Crane ascended to the governorship, while still acting as secretary of state.

1946 Wyoming gubernatorial election^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Lester C. Hunt (inc.)	43,020	52.88%	+1.56%
	Republican	Earl Wright	38,333	47.12%	−1.56%
Majority			4,687	5.76%	+3.13%
Turnout			81,353	100.00%
	Democratic hold

Summarize Timeline Fact Check

In 1944, Republican secretary of state Mart Christensen died while in office. Governor Hunt appointed longtime State Auditor William M. Jack as Christensen's replacement. Jack declined to run for re-election or for any other office,^[2] creating an open seat. Earl R. Burns, the Chairman of the Wyoming Public Service Commission, won the Democratic nomination unopposed and advanced to the general election against Arthur G. Crane, the former President of the University of Wyoming. The general election was not close, and Crane was elected secretary of state over Burns by a landslide. During Crane's term, Governor Hunt would be elected to the U.S. Senate, and Crane would serve as both acting governor and secretary of state.

• Earl R. Burns, chairman of the Wyoming Public Service Commission^[3]

Democratic Party primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Earl R. Burns	15,272	100.00%
Total votes			15,272	100.00%

• Arthur G. Crane, former President of the University of Wyoming
• Thomas A. Nicholas, former Campbell County and Crook County Prosecuting Attorney, 1938 Republican candidate for Governor^[4]

Republican Primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Arthur G. Crane	14,964	59.09%
	Republican	Thomas A. Nicholas	10,365	40.92%
Total votes			25,329	100.00%

1946 Wyoming Secretary of State election^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Arthur G. Crane	45,502	58.48%	−0.38%
	Democratic	Earl R. Burns	32,304	41.52%	+0.38%
Majority			13,198	16.96%	−0.76%
Turnout			77,806
	Republican gain from Democratic

Summarize Timeline Fact Check

Following the death of Secretary of State Mart T. Christensen, Democratic state auditor William M. Jack was appointed as his replacement by governor, who, in turn, appointed Carl Robinson as Jack's successor. In 1945, Robinson resigned from office and Governor Hunt appointed former Congressman John J. McIntyre as his replacement.^[5] McIntyre opted to run for Congress rather than seek re-election, and no other Democratic candidates filed for the election. In early July, however, Major Alvin C. Wade of the United States Army announced a write-in campaign,^[6] and won enough votes to receive the Democratic nomination.^[1] In the general election, Copenhaver defeated Wade by a decisive margin.

No Democratic candidates filed to run for auditor. However, on July 8, Major Alvin C. Wade of the U.S. Army announced that he would run as a write-in candidate for the party's nomination.^[6] He accepted the nomination upon receiving the requisite number of write-in votes.

• Everett T. Copenhaver, assistant state examiner, former deputy secretary of state, former state representative from Converse County, 1942 Republican nominee for auditor^[7]

Republican Primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Everett T. Copenhaver	22,133	100.00%
Total votes			22,133	100.00%

1946 Wyoming Auditor election^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Everett T. Copenhaver	42,819	55.60%	+10.39%
	Democratic	Alvin C. Wade	34,196	44.40%	−10.39%
Majority			8,623	11.20%	+1.61%
Turnout			77,015
	Republican gain from Democratic