The 1910 Wyoming gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1910. Incumbent Republican Governor Bryant B. Brooks declined to seek re-election. The leading Republican candidates to succeed him were initially former U.S. Senator Joseph M. Carey and Attorney General William E. Mullen. However, shortly before the Republican convention, Carey announced he would instead run as an independent candidate. Shortly thereafter, Mullen was formally nominated by the Republican Party. A week later, at the Democratic convention, Carey was named as the Democratic nominee for Governor. In the general election matchup between Carey and Mullen, Carey won a sizable victory, winning every county in the state, a feat that no other Democratic nominee would accomplish until Dave Freudenthal in 2006.
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| Turnout | 25.98% of Total Population  3.31 | ||||||||||||||||
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 County results Carey: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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Party conventions
editIn the summer of 1910, former U.S. Senator Joseph M. Carey announced that he would run for Governor as a Republican. At the time, he denied any interest in running as an independent candidate if he lost the Republican nomination, affirming that he would only run as a Republican.[1] State Attorney General William E. Mullen announced his campaign shortly thereafter, and called for the repeal of state legislation that limited the sale of alcohol outside of incorporated towns and cities.[2]
Prior to the start of the Republican convention, Carey announced that he would instead run as an independent candidate, condemning the "republican state ring" that he alleged had run the state university and penitentiary system for political ends, committed financial fraud with the state's accounts, and had corrupted the state legislature. He called for the enactment of a direct primary law, eliminating the convention method of candidate nomination; the direct election of U.S. senators; and a corrupt practices act.[3] At the Republican convention on September 15, 1910, State Senator Patrick Sullivan was unanimously offered the nomination for governor, but ultimately declined it,[4] enabling Mullen to instead be named as the nominee.[5]
Subsequently, at the Democratic convention that began on September 20, Carey announced that he would be a candidate for the nomination, facing W. L. Kuykendall. Carey was seen as the frontrunner for the nomination, with a high-level Democrat in the state party noting, "We can swallow Carey if Carey will swallow us" and adopt the state party's platform.[6] Carey was ultimately nominated unanimously,[7] and pledged to financially support the entire state ticket.[8]
General election
editResults
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joseph M. Carey | 21,086 | 55.60% | +20.75 | |
| Republican | William E. Mullen | 15,235 | 40.17% | −20.03% | |
| Socialist | W. W. Paterson | 1,605 | 4.23% | −0.33% | |
| Majority | 5,851 | 15.43% | −9.93% | ||
| Turnout | 37,926 | 100.00% | |||
| Democratic gain from Republican | |||||
Results by county
edit| County | Carey | Votes | Mullen | Votes | Paterson | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uinta | 49.40% | 2,197 | 42.21% | 1,877 | 8.39% | 373 |
| Park | 50.37% | 814 | 47.65% | 770 | 1.98% | 32 |
| Big Horn | 52.17% | 1,563 | 46.26% | 1,386 | 1.57% | 47 |
| Fremont | 71.26% | 2,130 | 26.87% | 803 | 1.87% | 56 |
| Sweetwater | 50.18% | 1,095 | 36.85% | 804 | 12.97% | 283 |
| Sheridan | 60.17% | 2,269 | 34.98% | 1,319 | 4.85% | 183 |
| Johnson | 60.60% | 832 | 37.73% | 518 | 1.68% | 23 |
| Natrona | 61.19% | 749 | 36.36% | 445 | 2.45% | 30 |
| Carbon | 50.45% | 1,401 | 43.54% | 1,209 | 6.01% | 167 |
| Crook | 47.52% | 1,007 | 47.33% | 1,003 | 5.14% | 109 |
| Weston | 49.82% | 711 | 48.07% | 686 | 2.10% | 30 |
| Converse | 56.82% | 1,196 | 42.19% | 888 | 1.00% | 21 |
| Albany | 55.12% | 1,497 | 38.92% | 1,057 | 5.96% | 162 |
| Laramie | 58.64% | 3,625 | 39.95% | 2,470 | 1.41% | 87 |
References
edit- ^ "Looking for Political Mavericks". Natrona County Tribune. Casper, Wyo. June 15, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Mullen Springs Big Sensation: Demands Repeal ofLaw Limiting the Sale of Liquor in Unincorporated Towns". Billings Gazette. Billings, Mont. July 24, 1910. p. 4. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Carey of Wyoming Out for Governor". Anaconda Standard. Anaconda, Mont. September 11, 1910. p. 4. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Hon. Patrick Sullivan: Who Refused the Nomination for Governor of Wyoming". Natrona County Tribune. Casper, Wyo. September 21, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Sec. Ballinger Suits Wyoming: He's Commended by State Platform--Tariff Bill Is Also Pleasing to 'Em". Butte Daily Post. Butte, Mont. September 16, 1910. p. 4. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Joseph M. Carey Has Good Chance: Author of Land Act Independent Candidate for Wyoming Governorship". Independent Record. Helena, Mont. September 20, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Carey Nominated by Democrats". Natrona County Tribune. Casper, Wyo. September 21, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Carey Appears to Lead in Wyoming Convention". Anaconda Standard. Anaconda, Mont. September 21, 1910. p. 8. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
- ^ Erwin, Marie (1974). Trenholm, Virginia Cole (ed.). Wyoming Blue Book (PDF). Vol. 2. Cheyenne, Wyo.: Pioneer Printing & Stationery Co. pp. 574–75.