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