# 1938 Wyoming gubernatorial election

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The 1938 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1938. Incumbent Democratic Governor Leslie A. Miller ran for re-election to his third term, and his second full term. Nels H. Smith, a former State Representative and former state highway commissioner, won a crowded Republican primary and advanced to the general election against Miller. Though Miller won his re-election campaign four years earlier in a landslide, Smith was able to take advantage of the nationwide Republican wave to defeat him in a landslide, winning 60% of the vote to Governor Miller's 40%.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Leslie A. Miller, incumbent Governor
* Gus F. Engelking, rancher

### Results

Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Leslie A. Miller (inc.) | 23,464 | 69.43% |
| | Democratic | Gus F. Engelking | 10,333 | 30.57% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 33,797 | 100.00% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Nels H. Smith, former state highway commissioner, former State Representative, 1934 Republican candidate for Governor
* Thomas A. Nicholas, former Campbell County Prosecuting Attorney
* Josiah H. Holland, Mayor of Evanston
* John F. Raper, Sheridan attorney
* Samuel S. Hoover, Mayor of Green River, former State Representative

### Results

Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Nels H. Smith | 13,355 | 41.66% |
| | Republican | Thomas A. Nicholas | 7,361 | 22.96% |
| | Republican | Josiah H. Holland | 6,494 | 20.26% |
| | Republican | John F. Raper | 3,111 | 9.71% |
| | Republican | Samuel S. Hoover | 1,734 | 5.41% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 32,055 | 100.00% |

## Results

1938 Wyoming gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Nels H. Smith | 57,288 | 59.81% | +18.44% |
| | Democratic | Leslie A. Miller (inc.) | 38,501 | 40.19% | −17.71% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,787 | 19.61% | +3.07% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 95,789 | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |