1906 Wyoming gubernatorial election

The 1906 Wyoming gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1906. Incumbent Republican Governor Bryant B. Brooks ran for re-election to a second term. After winning renomination against some intraparty challengers, he faced State Senator Stephen Keister in the general election. Brooks was ultimately able to win re-election by an overwhelming margin, setting a record for the largest majority in a state gubernatorial election, which would not be exceeded until Governor Stanley Hathaway's re-election in 1970.

1906 Wyoming gubernatorial election

← 1904 November 6, 1906 1910 →
Turnout	29.29% of Total Population 4.11
Nominee Bryant Butler Brooks Stephen A. D. Keister Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 16,317 9,444 Percentage 60.20% 34.85%
County results Brooks:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Keister:      60–70%
Governor before election Bryant Butler Brooks Republican Elected Governor Bryant Butler Brooks Republican

Party conventions

As the Republican convention began on August 29, 1906, Governor Brooks was seen as a heavy favorite for renomination,^[1] but several challengers to Brooks emerged, including State Treasurer William C. Irvine, banker Thomas A. Cosgriff, and L. G. Phelps.^[2] Despite the strong challenges, however, Brooks was renominated.^[3]

As the Democratic convention began on September 13, 1906, Democratic leaders reported that they had "difficulty finding prominent democrats willing to take places on the ticket," with State Senator Stephen Keister named as the likeliest candidate for Governor.^[4] Keister was ultimately nominated, and the Democratic Party adopted a platform endorsing William Jennings Bryan as a candidate for president in 1908 and supporting the direct election of U.S. Senators.^[5]

General election

Results

1906 Wyoming gubernatorial election^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Bryant B. Brooks (inc.)	16,317	60.20%	+2.73%
	Democratic	Stephen A. D. Keister	9,444	34.84%	−4.42%
	Socialist	William L. O'Neill	1,236	4.56%	—
	Independent	George W. Blain	106	0.39%	—
Majority			6,873	25.36%	+7.15%
Turnout			27,103	100.00%
	Republican hold

Results by county

County	Brooks	Votes	Keister	Votes	O'Neill	Votes	Blain	Votes
Uinta	59.34%	2,259	28.24%	1,075	12.19%	465	0.24%	9
Big Horn	66.00%	1,807	32.18%	881	1.57%	43	0.26%	7
Fremont	35.51%	722	62.52%	1,271	1.43%	29	0.54%	11
Sweetwater	59.83%	1,010	32.46%	548	7.41%	125	0.30%	5
Sheridan	54.92%	1,411	37.02%	951	7.82%	201	0.23%	6
Johnson	56.54%	666	42.44%	500	0.93%	11	0.08%	1
Natrona	63.00%	664	37.00%	390	0.00%	0	0.00%	0
Carbon	65.82%	1,579	30.47%	548	3.50%	84	0.21%	5
Crook	64.40%	747	31.29%	363	4.05%	47	0.26%	3
Weston	70.18%	633	29.16%	263	0.55%	5	0.11%	1
Converse	68.57%	1,023	27.95%	417	1.27%	19	2.21%	33
Albany	57.45%	1,342	32.83%	767	8.73%	204	0.98%	23
Laramie	65.49%	2,454	34.45%	1,287	0.11%	4	0.05%	2

References

1. "Phelps for Governor". Great Falls Tribune. Great Falls, Mont. June 17, 1906. p. 4. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
2. "The Political Situation". Natrona County Tribune. Great Falls, Mont. June 28, 1906. p. 4. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
3. "The Wyoming Republicans". Great Falls Tribune. Great Falls, Mont. August 30, 1906. p. 4. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
4. "Wyoming Democrats". Butte Daily Post. Butte, Mont. September 13, 1906. p. 5. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
5. "Wyoming Democrats Make Nominations". Butte Miner. Butte, Mont. September 15, 1906. p. 1. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
6. Erwin, Marie (1974). Trenholm, Virginia Cole (ed.). Wyoming Blue Book (PDF). Vol. 2. Cheyenne, Wyo.: Pioneer Printing & Stationery Co. pp. 565–66.