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 County results Samuelson: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Andrus: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Idaho | ||
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The1966 Idaho gubernatorial election was held on November 8.Republican nomineeDon Samuelson defeatedDemocratic nomineeCecil Andrus with 41.4% of the vote in a four-way race (two independents).[1]
In early August, three-term incumbentRobert E. Smylie, the dean ofAmerican 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 forgovernor, but Democrats wonthe next six, with four by Andrus. The next gubernatorial election in1970 was a rematch, with different results.
Primary elections were held on August 2, 1966.[2][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 | ||
| 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 | ||
Major party candidates
Other candidates
| 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 | ||||
| Republicanhold | Swing | ||||
