Wilson won the Republican nomination to succeed him as governor, but was defeated by Democrat Nelson G. Kraschel in the general election by fewer than 3,000 votes out of over one million cast.

[2] Wilson was then re-elected as governor in 1940, winning again by 52.7 percent in the general election over Democrat John Valentine after overcoming a surprisingly strong challenge in the Republican primary from future Congressman H.R.

[3] Instead of running for a third term in 1942, Wilson decided to challenge Senator Clyde L. Herring, and defeated him.

Senator Guy M. Gillette, unseated in his own bid for re-election in 1944, ran against Wilson in the general election.

[5] However, in a year in which President Harry S. Truman and many other Democrats surprised pundits, Gillette defeated Wilson by a vote of 578,226 (58%) to 415,778 (42%).