The 1962 United States Senate special election in Wyoming was held on November 6, 1962. Following the death of Senator-elect Keith Thomson after his election to the Senate in

1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Ja ...

, Democratic Governor

John J. Hickey John Joseph Hickey (August 22, 1911 – September 22, 1970) was an American judge and politician who served the 24th Governor of Wyoming and Senator as a Democrat before sitting on the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He was the first G ...

appointed himself to fill the vacancy. A special election was held to fill the remaining four years of the term in 1962, and Hickey faced a strong challenge from former Republican Governor

Milward Simpson Milward Lee Simpson (November 12, 1897June 11, 1993) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Senator and as the 23rd Governor of Wyoming, the first born in the state. In 1985, he was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the Nati ...

in a rematch of the 1958 gubernatorial election. Despite a political environment largely favorable to Democrats nationwide, Democratic candidates faced strong headwinds in Wyoming. Senator Hickey overwhelmingly lost re-election to Simpson as Democratic Governor

Jack R. Gage Jack Robert Gage (January 13, 1899 – March 14, 1970) was an American author, educator, and politician who served as the List of governors of Wyoming, 25th Governor of Wyoming as a member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Par ...

lost re-election by a wide margin, as well. Hickey was the last Democratic Senator from Wyoming to serve after

Gale McGee Gale William McGee (March 17, 1915April 9, 1992) was a United States Senate, United States Senator of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, and United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS). He represente ...

began his tenure, though McGee was the last remaining.

Democratic primary

Candidates

, incumbent U.S. Senator

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

, former Governor of Wyoming *

Kenny Sailors Kenneth Lloyd Sailors (January 14, 1921 – January 30, 2016) was an American professional basketball player active in the 1940s and early 1950s. A guard, he is notable for inventing the jump shot as an alternative to the two-handed, flat-footed ...

, basketball player, former State Representative

Results

General election

Results

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1962 United States Senate Special Election In Wyoming

Wyoming Wyoming () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the south ...

United States Senate elections in Wyoming 1962 Wyoming elections Wyoming 1962 Wyoming 1962 United States Senate 1962