Gossett was elected to the governorship in his own right in 1944, winning the June primary over Idaho State Auditor Calvin Wright and Idaho Secretary of State George Curtis, as well as the November general election over William Detweiler, the Republican nominee from Hazelton.
In 1944, Gossett was elected governor by securing both the June primary and the November general elections. He defeated Calvin Wright, Idaho's State Auditor, George Curtis, the Secretary of State, and William Detweiler, the Republican nominee from Hazelton.