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1966 Idaho gubernatorial election

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1966 Idaho gubernatorial election

← 1962 November 8, 1966 1970 →
 
Nominee Don Samuelson Cecil Andrus
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 104,586 93,744
Percentage 41.41% 37.11%

 
Nominee Perry Swisher Philip Jungert
Party Independent Independent
Popular vote 30,913 23,139
Percentage 12.24% 9.16%

County results
Samuelson:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Andrus:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Robert E. Smylie
Republican

Elected Governor

Don Samuelson
Republican

The 1966 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 8. Republican nominee Don Samuelson defeated Democratic nominee Cecil Andrus with 41.4% of the vote in a four-way race (two independents).[1]

In early August, three-term incumbent Robert E. Smylie, the dean of American governors, was soundly defeated in the Republican primary by Samuelson.[2] Andrus was a close runner-up in the Democratic primary to Charles Herndon,[2] who was killed in a plane crash six weeks later in September.[3][4]

This was the sixth consecutive Republican victory for governor, but Democrats won the next six, with four by Andrus. The next gubernatorial election in 1970 was a rematch, with different results.

Primary elections

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Primary elections were held on August 2, 1966.[2][5]

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles Herndon 28,926 40.75
Democratic Cecil Andrus 27,649 38.95
Democratic William J. Dee 14,409 20.30
Total votes 70,984 100.00
  • Herndon was killed in a plane crash in the central Idaho mountains in mid-September.[3][4]

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Don Samuelson 52,891 61.04
Republican Robert E. Smylie (incumbent) 33,753 38.96
Total votes 86,644 100.00

General election

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Candidates

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Major party candidates

  • Don Samuelson, Republican
  • Cecil Andrus, Democratic

Other candidates

  • Perry Swisher, Independent, Pocatello state senator (Republican)
  • Philip Jungert, Independent, Lewiston businessman (Democrat)[1]

Results

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1966 Idaho gubernatorial election[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Don Samuelson 104,586 41.41%
Democratic Cecil Andrus 93,744 37.11%
Independent Perry Swisher 30,913 12.24%
Independent Philip Jungert 23,139 9.16%
Majority 10,842
Turnout 252,593
Republican hold Swing

References

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  1. ^ a b "Which of the four will be next Governor of Idaho?". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. November 5, 1962. p. 1, section 3.
  2. ^ a b c "Smylie loses, Herndon holds edge on Andrus". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. August 3, 1966. p. 1.
  3. ^ a b "Air crash kills Idaho candidate for governor". Morning-Record. (Meriden, Connecticut). Associated Press. September 16, 1966. p. 17.
  4. ^ a b "Andrus is likely ballot successor". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. September 16, 1966. p. 1.
  5. ^ a b c Guide to U.S. elections - CQ Press, Congressional Quarterly, inc. CQ Press. 2005. ISBN 9781568029818. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  6. ^ Cook, Rhodes (November 5, 2013). America Votes 30: 2011-2012, Election Returns by State - Rhodes Cook. CQ Press. ISBN 9781452290171. Retrieved February 20, 2019.