Charles C. Gossett

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Charles C. Gossett

20^th Governor of Idaho
In office January 1945 – November 1945
Lieutenant(s)	Arnold Williams
Preceded by	C. A. Bottolfsen
Succeeded by	Arnold Williams

Born	September 2, 1888 Butler County, Ohio
Died	September 20, 1974 Boise, Idaho
Political party	Democratic
Profession	rancher

Charles Clinton Gossett (born September 2, 1888 in Butler County, Ohio – died September 20, 1974 in Boise, Idaho) was a Democratic Governor and United States Senator from Idaho.

Gossett attended public schools in Ohio. He moved west to Cunningham, Washington in 1907, to Ontario, Oregon in 1910, and finally to Nampa, Idaho in 1922. He engaged in the agriculture, livestock, feed and shipping businesses.

In 1932, Gossett was elected to the Idaho State House of Representatives. In 1936, he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Idaho, serving alongside Governor Barzilla W. Clark. Four years later Gossett returned as lieutenant governor under Governor Chase A. Clark, Barzilla Clark's younger brother.

Gossett was elected governor in his own right in 1944, but served less than a year. In November 1945 he resigned to let his successor, Lieutenant Governor Arnold Williams, appiont him to the United States Senate to succeed the late John W. Thomas.

In 1946, Gossett was defeated in the Democratic primary for a special election to finish Thomas' term in the Senate by state senator George E. Donart, who in turn was defeated by Republican Congressman Henry Dworshak in the general election. After the loss Gossett returned to his former business pursuits.

Gossett attempted a political comeback in 1954 by running to replace retiring Governor Len Jordan. He was defeated in the Democratic gubernatorial primary by state senator Clark Hamilton. Hamilton in turn lost the general election to Republican Attorney General Robert E. Smylie.

Gossett is buried in Kohlerlawn Cemetery in Nampa.

Preceded by G. P. Mix	Lieutenant Governor of Idaho January 3, 1937–January 2, 1939	Succeeded by Donald S. Whitehead
Preceded by Donald S. Whitehead	Lieutenant Governor of Idaho January 3, 1941–January 2, 1943	Succeeded by Edwin Nelson
Preceded by Chase A. Clark	Democratic Party nominee, Governor of Idaho 1944 (won)	Succeeded by Arnold Williams
Preceded by C. A. Bottolfsen	Governor of Idaho January 1, 1945–November 17, 1945	Succeeded by Arnold Williams
Preceded by John W. Thomas	United States Senator (Class 2) from Idaho November 17, 1945–January 3, 1947 Served alongside: Glen H. Taylor	Succeeded by Henry Dworshak

Governors of Idaho
Shoup • Willey • McConnell • Steunenberg • Hunt • Morrison • Gooding • Brady • Hawley • Haines • Alexander • Davis • Moore • Baldridge • Ross • B. Clark • Bottolfsen • C. Clark • Bottolfsen • Gossett • Williams • Robins • Jordan • Smylie • Samuelson • Andrus • Evans • Andrus • Batt • Kempthorne • Risch • Otter

United States Senators from Idaho
Class 2: Shoup • Dubois • Borah • Thomas • Gossett • Dworshak • Miller • Dworshak • Jordan • McClure • Craig Class 3: McConnell • Dubois • Heitfeld • Heyburn • Perky • Brady • Nugent • Gooding • Thomas • Pope • Clark • Taylor • Welker • Church • Symms • Kempthorne • Crapo