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1960 United States Senate election in Wyoming

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1960 United States Senate election in Wyoming

← 1954 November 8, 1960 1962 →
 
Nominee Keith Thomson Raymond B. Whitaker
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 78,103 60,447
Percentage 56.37% 43.63%

County results
Thomson:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Whitaker:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Joseph C. O'Mahoney
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

Edwin Keith Thomson (died before taking office)
Republican

The 1960 United States Senate election in Wyoming was held on November 8, 1960. Incumbent Democratic Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney was first appointed to the U.S. Senate from Wyoming's Class 1 Senate seat in 1934, and was re-elected in 1934, 1940, and 1946 before losing re-election in 1952. He was then elected to the Class 2 Senate seat in 1954. O'Mahoney, in failing health and increasingly limited in his mobility, declined to run for a fifth non-consecutive term in the Senate. The winner of this election, Keith Thomson, died before assuming his elected office.

Accordingly, a competitive race for the open seat ensued. Congressman Keith Thomson won the Republican primary over former U.S. Senator and former Governor Frank A. Barrett, while 1958 Democratic congressional nominee Raymond B. Whitaker, the former Natrona County Prosecuting Attorney, beat out State Superintendent Velma Linford to win the Democratic nomination, queueing up a rematch between Thomson and Whitaker. Despite Democrats' recent history of winning competitive Senate elections in Wyoming, however, Thomson defeated Whitaker by a wide margin, closely matching Richard M. Nixon's margin over John F. Kennedy in the presidential election. However, Thomson died of a heart attack on December 9, prior to his assuming office. Democratic Governor John J. Hickey appointed himself to fill the vacancy; Hickey would serve until his defeat in the 1962 special election.

A Republican gain turned into a Democratic retention of the seat following Thomson's death and Hickey's decision to have himself appointed.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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  • Raymond B. Whitaker, former Natrona County Prosecuting Attorney, 1958 Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives[1]
  • Velma Linford, Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction
  • Carl A. Johnson, perennial candidate[2]
  • Charles B. Chittim, former State Senator[2]

Results

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Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Raymond B. Whitaker 18,031 40.21%
Democratic Velma Linford 13,792 30.75%
Democratic Carl A. Johnson 5,370 11.97%
Democratic Charles B. Chittim 3,653 8.15%
Total votes 40,846 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Keith Thomson 31,596 69.08%
Republican Frank A. Barrett 13,380 29.25%
Republican Miff M. Butler 765 1.67%
Total votes 45,741 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1960 United States Senate election in Wyoming[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Keith Thomson 78,103 56.37% +7.90%
Democratic Raymond B. Whitaker 60,447 43.63% −7.90%
Majority 17,656 12.74% +9.68%
Turnout 138,550
Republican gain from Democratic

Senator-elect Thomson died on December 9, 1960, and with the appointment of Governor John Hickey at the beginning of what should've been Thomson's term, the Democrats retained this seat until a special election was held in 1962.

References

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  1. ^ "Whitaker Will Run for Senate". Lusk Herald. Lusk, Wyo. March 31, 1960. p. 12.
  2. ^ a b "Filing Heavy at Deadline". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. July 8, 1960. p. 3.
  3. ^ a b c Gage, Jack R. (1961). 1961 Wyoming Official Directory and 1960 Election Returns. pp. 53–55.
  4. ^ "Butler Enters Senate Primary". Casper Star-Tribune. Casper, Wyo. April 27, 1960. p. 2.