1954 United States House of Representatives election in Wyoming

1954 United States House of Representatives election in Wyoming

←  1952 November 2, 1954 1956  →

Nominee Keith Thomson Sam Tully Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 61,111 47,660 Percentage 56.18% 43.82%

U.S. Representative before election William Henry Harrison Republican Elected U.S. Representative Keith Thomson Republican

The 1954 United States House of Representatives election in Wyoming was held on November 2, 1954. Incumbent Republican Congressman William Henry Harrison unsuccessfully ran for Senate instead of seeking re-election. State Representative Keith Thomson won the Republican primary and faced Rawlins Mayor Sam Tully, the Democratic nominee, in the general election. Though the Republican Party lost control of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1954, Thomson defeated Tully by a wide margin, winning 56 percent of the vote.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Sam Tully, Mayor of Rawlins ^[1]
• Pat Flannery, 1948 Democratic nominee for Congress ^[2]
• John F. Sullivan, Laramie attorney ^[3]
• Alice de Mauriac Hammond, cattle farmer, 1952 Democratic candidate for Congress ^[4]
• George W. K. Posvar, former artist's model ^[5]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sam Tully	11,678	36.50%
	Democratic	Pat Flannery	8,319	26.00%
	Democratic	John F. Sullivan	7,839	24.50%
	Democratic	Alice de Mauriac Hammond	3,490	10.91%
	Democratic	George W. K. Posvar	670	2.09%
Total votes			31,996	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Keith Thomson, State Representative ^[7]
• Frank C. Emerson, former State Representative, son of Governor Frank Emerson ^[8]
• Tom Nicholas, former Mayor of Casper ^[9]
• Mark Cox, Cheyenne rancher ^[10]

Results

Republican primary results ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Keith Thomson	15,126	35.50%
	Republican	Frank C. Emerson	13,113	30.77%
	Republican	Tom Nicholas	8,008	18.79%
	Republican	Mark Cox	6,365	14.94%
Total votes			42,612	100.00%

General election

Results

1954 Wyoming's at-large congressional district general election results ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Keith Thomson	61,111	56.18%
	Democratic	Sam Tully	47,660	43.82%
Total votes			108,771	100.00%
	Republican hold

References

1. "Mark Cox Seeks Nomination for U.S. Congressman". Star Valley Independent. Cheyenne, Wyoming. July 16, 1954. p. 11. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
2. "Pat Flannery Is Running For House". Casper Star-Tribune . Casper, Wyoming. March 4, 1954. p. 3. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
3. "Candidates in Rush to File In Last Hours". Casper Star-Tribune . Casper, Wyoming. July 7, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
4. "Mrs. Hammond Files for Nomination to House". Casper Star-Tribune . Casper, Wyoming. July 6, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
5. "Posvar Files For House Seat Race". Casper Star-Tribune . Casper, Wyoming. June 24, 1954. p. 5. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
6. Copenhaver, Everett T.; Robertson, Ray E. (1955). 1955 Wyoming Official Directory and 1954 Election Returns. Cheyenne, Wyoming: Wyoming Secretary of State.
7. "Thomson Is Mulling Bid For House". Casper Star-Tribune . Casper, Wyoming. June 13, 1954. p. 6. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
8. "Emerson Enters GOP Race for U.S. Congress". Star Valley Independent. Afton, Wyoming. July 9, 1954. p. 4. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
9. "Tom Nicholas Files Petition For Congress". Star Valley Independent. Afton, Wyoming. July 9, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
10. "Mark Cox Seeks Nomination for U.S. Congressman". Star Valley Independent. Afton, Wyoming. July 16, 1954. p. 11. Retrieved June 18, 2025.