# 1942 Wyoming gubernatorial election

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The 1942 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 1942. Incumbent Republican Governor Nels H. Smith ran for a second term as governor. After defeating several opponents in the Republican primary, he advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by Lester C. Hunt, the Wyoming Secretary of State and the Democratic nominee. In a reversal from Smith's landslide election in 1938, Hunt narrowly defeated him in his attempt at a second term.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Lester C. Hunt, Secretary of State of Wyoming
* Gus Engelking, rancher, 1938 Democratic candidate for Governor
Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Lester C. Hunt | 20,255 | 92.56% |
| | Democratic | Gus Engelking | 1,628 | 7.44% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,883 | 100.00% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Nels H. Smith, incumbent Governor
* Frank Cowan, former Mayor of Casper
* John F. Raper, Sheridan attorney, 1938 Republican candidate for Governor
Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Nels H. Smith (inc.) | 20,580 | 71.41% |
| | Republican | Frank Cowan | 5,220 | 18.11% |
| | Republican | John F. Raper | 3,019 | 10.48% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,819 | 100.00% |

## Results

1942 Wyoming gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Lester C. Hunt | 39,599 | 51.32% | +11.12% |
| | Republican | Nels H. Smith (inc.) | 37,568 | 48.68% | −11.12% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,031 | 2.63% | −16.98% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 77,167 | | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |