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    <title>2026 General Election Info</title>
    <link>https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2026-general-election-information</link>
    <description>2026 General Election Info</description>
    <language>en-US</language>
    <copyright>Copyright</copyright>
    <lastBuildDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:59:25 GMT</lastBuildDate>
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      <title>Barlow campaign shatters Wyoming fundraising records</title>
      <link>https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-08-26/barlow-campaign-shatters-wyoming-fundraising-records</link>
      <description>Eric Barlow’s campaign for governor has raised over $1.65 million in contributions, setting a new statewide record for individual fundraising and surpassing the previous benchmark before the primary was even decided.</description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ebeb387/2147483647/strip/false/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/792x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5c%2F69%2F3bafdf864c15893f6bd947d9de28%2Fleg2674.JPG" alt="Rep Larson and Senator Barlow "><figcaption><span>(C. Jordan Uplinger)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Wyomingites turned up for Eric Barlow, who secured a major victory by winning the Republican primary for the Wyoming gubernatorial race.</p><p>Barlow’s campaign for governor has raised over $1.65 million in contributions, setting a new statewide record for individual fundraising and surpassing the previous benchmark before the primary was even decided.</p><p>The historic support has been built overwhelmingly from in-state sources: more than $1.2 million from over 1,700 individual Wyoming donors, with contributors from all 23 counties. This excludes contributions from the candidate and his immediate family, out-of-state donors and PACs.</p><p></p><p></p><p>“A year ago, Kelly and I set out to travel Wyoming, show up in communities, listen to people and earn their support,” Barlow said in a statement. “We believed then, and we believe now, that if you show up, listen and do the work, you can get results for Wyoming. People across this state have responded to that message, and we are incredibly grateful.”</p><p>The dollar amount tells part of the story, and the people behind it tell the rest.</p><p>More than 3,000 people signed up to volunteer or support the campaign. They have hosted events, put up signs, knocked doors, called neighbors and brought friends to meet Barlow, according to his campaign.</p><p>“Support looks different for everybody,” Barlow said. “For one person it may be writing a check. For somebody else, it is putting a sign in the yard, giving up an evening to knock on doors, or waiting for us in a parking lot because they want a few minutes to talk about their community. We have felt that support everywhere we have gone.”</p><p></p><p></p><p>The connection to Wyoming extends beyond the state line. The campaign has also heard from Wyomingites now living elsewhere who still consider the state home.</p><p>“We’ve gotten notes and calls from Wyomingites living in other states who have told us, ‘We see the race you are running. We see the vision you have for Wyoming, our home, and we support it,’” Barlow said.</p><p>With the campaign’s latest campaign finance reports now filed, the record-breaking totals are on the public record. For Barlow, what matters most is the thousands of Wyomingites who have chosen to be part of what this campaign is building.</p><p>“Historic fundraising is something we are proud of, but what makes it meaningful is how we got here,” Barlow said. “This campaign was built by Wyoming people who believe we can stay strong and hold on to what makes Wyoming Wyoming while building a future our kids and grandkids can choose to be part of.”</p><p>In past Wyoming statewide campaigns, the previous high for individual contributions over a full election cycle was Mark Gordon’s 2018 campaign at approximately $1.1 million. Matt Mead raised approximately $585,000 from individuals in 2010 and $474,900 in 2014, while Gordon raised approximately $528,000 in 2022.</p><p>Following his primary victory, Republican nominee Eric Barlow will face Democrat Kenneth Casner in the general election.</p><p><i>This story was republished with permission from the </i><a href="https://www.codyenterprise.com/" target="_blank"><i>Cody Enterprise</i></a><i>.</i></p>]]></content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:59:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-08-26/barlow-campaign-shatters-wyoming-fundraising-records</guid>
      <dc:creator>Pierce Baugh V</dc:creator>
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      <title>About 150,000 voters decided Wyoming’s primary results</title>
      <link>https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-08-20/about-150-000-voters-decided-wyomings-primary-results</link>
      <description>About half of Wyoming’s registered voters turned in a ballot. That stat drops, though, when factoring in all voting-aged residents.</description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c371150/2147483647/strip/false/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F47%2F96%2F2968293f4f41933ea9e383ab95c2%2Falbany-county-voters-2026.JPEG" alt="Two men walk behind a sandwich board sign that says the library is closed and serving as a voting center."><figcaption>Some voters in Albany County waited in long lines to vote at the Albany County Public Library.<span>(Michelle Visser)</span></figcaption></figure><p><i>This story is part of our Quick Hits series. This series brings you breaking news and short updates from throughout the state.</i></p><p></p><p>A little <a href="https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/2026/Results/Primary/2026_Statewide_Total_Ballots_Cast_Summary.pdf"><u>more than 150 thousand Wyomingites</u></a> voted in this week’s primary election.</p><p>Of them, 132,705 of them cast votes for Republicans, while 13,263 went for Democrats. Nearly 4,400 voted non-partisan.</p><p>Tuesday’s raw turnout numbers were <a href="https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/VoterProfile.pdf"><u>second only to the 2022 midterms</u></a>, the last time Wyoming’s top five elected positions were on the ballot and when Harriet Hageman successfully challenged Liz Chenney for Wyoming’s U.S. House seat.</p><p>On election day, 273,705 Wyomingites were <a href="https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/VRStats/2026/26Aug18_PrimaryElection_VR_Stats.pdf"><u>registered to vote</u></a>. That means about 55% of registered voters actually turned in a ballot.</p><p>As a point of reference, 454,508 Wyomingites were of voting age in 2024, according to the <a href="https://sos.wyo.gov/Elections/Docs/VoterProfile.pdf"><u>state’s latest data</u></a>.</p><p>In 2024, 122,718 people voted in the primary, about 27% of the state’s voting age population, and 54% of registered voters that year.</p>]]></content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 17:49:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-08-20/about-150-000-voters-decided-wyomings-primary-results</guid>
      <dc:creator>Nicky Ouellet</dc:creator>
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      <title>Public lands, ousting interest groups were top of mind for Teton County voters this primary</title>
      <link>https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-08-19/public-lands-ousting-interest-groups-were-top-of-mind-for-teton-county-voters-this-primary</link>
      <description>In Wyoming’s bluest county, many Democrats forfeited a say in the party’s primary, crossing over to support more moderate Republicans in state and federal races.</description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ef2dbbc/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1024x1024+0+0/resize/528x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5d%2F1b%2F55e03189402bb0d8d0b916c3e31f%2Funnamed.png" alt="Retired ski magazine publisher and photographer Bob Woodall is a self-dubbed “RINO for the day.” "><figcaption><span>(Jenna McMurtry / KHOL )</span></figcaption></figure><p>Storm and thunder cleared throughout the day in Jackson Tuesday, where voters ousted two incumbents in one of the state’s few <a href="https://891khol.org/dunford-chin-and-propst-win-commission-primary-in-shelter-jh-sweep/"><u>hotly contested</u></a> local Democratic races for the Board of Teton County Commissioners.</p><p>But many Dems forfeited a stake in their party’s primary, crossing over to support more moderate Republicans in the state and federal races. Some wanted to unseat Freedom Caucus members and allies. Others wanted more to support hometown candidates like businessman Stephen “Steve” Friess for U.S. House. Also from Jackson, public lands advocate U.S. Senate candidate <a href="https://891khol.org/in-final-days-of-senate-primary-mead-critiques-hageman-defends-public-lands-record/"><u>Sam Mead</u></a>. Friess came in second to Secretary of State Chuck Gray in a race for U.S. House. Mead <a href="https://891khol.org/hageman-wins-republican-primary-for-senate-byrd-wins-democratic-vote/"><u>lost by a double-digit margin</u></a> to Trump-backed U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman. KHOL reporters spoke with voters outside polling stations across the county. That’s despite a recent law that requires registered voters to declare party affiliation before candidates have filed.</p><p><b>Jenny Fitzgerald</b>: My name is Jenny Fitzgerald and I particularly care about our county <a href="https://891khol.org/dunford-chin-and-propst-win-commission-primary-in-shelter-jh-sweep/"><u>commissioners' races</u></a> here. With three seats open, it's a really important race, especially if you care about one specific thing or another. I vote based on the conservation line, and so this could be kind of a make-it-or-break-it [election] in terms of what we can accomplish in the next few years.</p><p>If we have a conservation-favorable majority, I think that there's a lot of things that need to be done locally and especially in terms of our land development regulations and all the development pressures that our community is facing. This is where we can really hone in and decide if we're going to put our ecosystem first — it is what generates our economy locally — or if we are going to continue to let development pressures and capitalism take over this place that really brought us all here because of the mountains and the wildlife.</p><p><b>Bob Woodall:</b> [I’m] Bob Woodall. I was a magazine editor and a photographer.<b> </b>[I’m] trying to get the lesser of evils. I vehemently disagree with the, quote, Freedom Caucus. In name only, that's all they are. They're an out-of-state group that is trying to usurp Wyoming and bring their outside influence into our state. In the state Legislature, they're changing all the rules. That's why I had to vote, change my affiliation and make myself a RINO [Republican in name only] for the day.</p><p><b>Margaret Gordon</b>: I'm Margaret Gordon and I work in accounting. I would really like to get back to our government working for the people instead of working for particular parties, or people, or interest groups. I think we are struggling with retaining our young people, providing good quality jobs for them and healthcare, particularly maternal health care for expectant mothers. It's kind of scary and I'm glad that I had my kids a long time ago, instead of now.</p><p><b>Sam McGee: </b>Sam McGee, I operate Frederick Landscaping. I don't think the Freedom Caucus is something that's going to help everyone's best interests. I think they're too narrowly focused on their own goals. I think we have a lot going for us here in Wyoming, I think it's the best state to be in. I think that we're struggling on spending our budget appropriately and making sure that we're not wasting our public lands. I want to make sure that my kids have the same availabilities that I have. So, I don't want to see our lands get used for the wrong purposes.</p><p><b>Jenna McMurtry (KHOL): </b>How was your voting experience? Did you have any issues?</p><p><b>SM: </b>No, very smooth, very well run.</p><p><b>JM: </b>And you trust the results that will come out later tonight or tomorrow?</p><p><b>SM:</b> Yes, very much so.</p>]]></content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 20:38:52 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-08-19/public-lands-ousting-interest-groups-were-top-of-mind-for-teton-county-voters-this-primary</guid>
      <dc:creator>Evan Robinson-Johnson , Jenna McMurtry, Sophia Boyd-Fliegel</dc:creator>
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      <title>Freedom Caucus candidates come up short in Wyoming’s primary</title>
      <link>https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-08-19/freedom-caucus-candidates-come-up-short-in-wyomings-primary</link>
      <description>A number of prominent Wyoming Freedom Caucus members lost their primaries on Tuesday night, threatening the bloc’s House majority and undercutting the group’s goal to expand its numbers in the state Senate and higher office.</description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9ae0d6d/2147483647/strip/false/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/704x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F84%2Fe2%2F0d43013541138d581d7e5882abec%2Fcheyenne-voting-primary-2026.jpg" alt="People stand next to tall terminals in a gymnasium with a giant American flag in the background."><figcaption><span>(Jordan Uplinger / Wyoming Public Radio )</span></figcaption></figure><p>At a Cheyenne bar where Americans for Prosperity was hosting a primary election night watch party, Kale watched results roll in.</p><p>Kale, who declined to give his last name, is a young Wyomingite who said a Freedom Caucus defeat was an economic green flag for young people. The hard line voting bloc of the Republican Party has used its majority in the state House to push for stricter voting requirements, ending diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at the University of Wyoming and cutting property taxes.</p><p>“Owner occupied residences leaves out owner-not-occupied residences, like rental properties. So a big concern I had with a lot of the way those cuts were structured … was driving up rent and making it even harder for young people to stay in the state,” Kale said.</p><p>A number of prominent Wyoming Freedom Caucus members lost their primaries on Tuesday night, threatening the bloc’s House majority and undercutting the group’s goal to expand its numbers in the state Senate and higher office.</p><p>Former caucus chair Rep. John Bear (R-Gillette) lost to challenger Douglas Moore in House District 31 by more than 15 points.</p><p>Founding member Rep. Scott Heiner (R-Green River) was defeated by Kenneth Roberts by 10 points.</p><p>And Speaker of the House Chip Neiman (R-Hulett) narrowly lost in his bid to unseat Sen. Ogden Driskill (R-Devils Tower).</p><p>Melissa Butcher, who beat Rep. Ken Pendergraft (R-Sheridan) in his Senate bid by nearly 1,000 votes, said she thinks people are looking for more “community minded” candidates.</p><p>Jessica Crowder beat her opponent, Freedom Caucus member Rep. Ann Lucas (R-Cheyenne), with roughly 63% of the vote. Crowder said that “Are you part of the Freedom Caucus?” was a common question she heard on the campaign trail.</p><p>“So [the caucus] certainly is on everyone's mind,” said Crowder. “And it looks like there's a shift across the state just based on the results of the night.”</p><p>Jennifer from Cheyenne, who declined to give her last name, said she doesn't know individual caucus members by name, but thinks Wyoming could use some “fresh blood to represent us” in Cheyenne.</p><p>Former state Rep. John Romero-Martinez was also in attendance at the AFP watch party. He said Tuesday’s primary results were a signal of big changes in the state GOP.</p><p>“Pluralism doesn’t have a place in the Republican Party. They were pushed out before and it’s time to push them out again,” said Martinez. “They’re the RINO [Republican in name only.] The real Republicans are returning.”</p><p>A number of reliable Freedom Caucus voters held onto their seats due to a lack of challengers.</p><p>At the federal level, current Secretary of State Chuck Gray, a founding member of the caucus, squeaked by in <a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-08-18/gray-narrowly-wins-republican-bid-for-u-s-house-kinney-wins-democratic-landslide"><u>winning the Republican ticket</u></a> for the U.S. House race in November. And U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, who is not a member of the caucus but often shares its priorities, handily won the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.</p><p>She’ll face former state Rep. James Byrd in the November general election.</p><p>“Let's put it this way,” Byrd said from a different watch party in Cheyenne. “If you've watched and you've been in tune with the Republican Party for the last six months, they are very vocal about their disdain for particular individuals in that party who are elected.  So if you draw connected dots between those, you'll know who I'm talking about.”</p><p>The full strength of the caucus likely won’t be known until the next legislative session starts in January when newcomers start casting votes on policy.</p><p>A number of Freedom Caucus candidates did not immediately respond to Wyoming Public Media's requests for comment on election night.</p>]]></content:encoded>
      <pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 07:05:54 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-08-19/freedom-caucus-candidates-come-up-short-in-wyomings-primary</guid>
      <dc:creator>Jordan Uplinger, Nicky Ouellet</dc:creator>
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      <title>2026 Primary Live Blog</title>
      <link>https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-08-17/2026-primary-live-blog</link>
      <description>Wyoming Public Media is tracking the Aug. 18 primary election online and on the air. Watch this page for updates on Tuesday.</description>
      <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bdc85f1/2147483647/strip/false/crop/4000x2667+0+0/resize/792x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbd%2Fe5%2F2c788b1b45849e92f477d8091c22%2Felement5-digital-t9cxbzluvic-unsplash.jpg" alt="A silhouette of a hand feeding a ballot into a box"><figcaption><span>(element 5 digital / unsplash )</span></figcaption></figure><p>Wyoming Public Media is tracking the Aug. 18 primary election online and on the air.</p><p>Watch this page for updates throughout the day on Tuesday. You can also find live results from the Associated Press linked below:<br></p><ul class="rte2-style-ul"><li><a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/wyoming-2026-primary-election-results-statewide-offices#governor" target="_blank"><b>Statewide Offices</b></a>: Governor, Secretary of State, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Treasurer, State Auditor</li><li><a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/wyoming-2026-primary-election-results-u-s-house-and-senate" target="_blank"><b>Federal Offices</b></a>:<b> </b>U.S.House of Representatives, U.S. Senate</li><li><a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/wyoming-2026-primary-election-results-state-house" target="_blank"><b>State House</b></a></li><li><a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/wyoming-2026-primary-election-results-state-senate" target="_blank"><b>State Senate</b></a></li></ul><p>You can also catch us on the radio at the start of the hour starting at 7 p.m.</p><p><b>Update 12:30 a.m.: That’s a wrap (for now)</b></p><p>The Associated Press has called State House District 46 for Republican Cam Wright, who beat out incumbent Ocean Andrew, who was a member of the Freedom Caucus. Wright will face Democrat Gary Wilken, who ran unopposed, in the general election.</p><p>House District 53 has been called for incumbent Republican Christopher Knapp. He beat Greg Schreurs. No Democrats ran in the race.</p><p>House District 19 has been called for Republican Chad Stephens. He won the nomination over incumbent Joe Webb. No Democrats ran.</p><p>State House District 35 was called for Republican Christopher Dresang. He beat out incumbent Tony Locke. Locke was endorsed by the Wyoming Freedom Caucus in 2024. No Democrats ran.</p><p>House District 62 has been called for Republican Andrew Server. He beat Seth Bard 58% to 42%. No Democrats ran.</p><p>State Senate District 6 was called for incumbent Republican Taft Love. He beat out Roy Birt for the nomination. No Democrats ran.</p><p>R.J. Kost is the Republican nominee for State Senate District 6. He beat out Paul Hoeft 53.5% to 46.5%. No Democrats ran.</p><p>Senate District 29 has been called for Republican Lisa Engebretsen. She won over incumbent Bob Ide. No Democrats ran.</p><p>This is the final update for the live blog. You can visit our <a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2026-primary-election-results"><u>AP results pages</u></a> for more race calls.</p><p><b>Update 11 p.m.: Republican U.S. House of Representatives Called</b></p><p>The Associated Press called the Republican race for U.S. House of Representatives for current Secretary of State Chuck Gray. He edged out Steve Friess and Kevin Christenson by less than 10 points, with 81% of the votes counted.</p><p>House District 26 was called for incumbent Republican Dalton Banks. No Democrats ran.</p><p>House District 5 was called for Republican Joe Speckner. He beat Karen Weber for the nomination. No Democrats ran.</p><p>Allen Hogg is the Republican nominee for House District 28. He beat out three other candidates. No Democrats ran.</p><p>David Walton is the Republican nominee for State House District 49, beating out incumbent Robert Wharff. No Democrats Ran.</p><p>State House District 50 was called for Republican David Hill. He beat Levi Asay, 55% to 45%. No Democrats ran.</p><p>State House District 57 was called for incumbent Republican Julie Jarvis. In a repeat matchup from 2024, she beat Jeanette Ward. Jarvis will face Democrat Luc Colgrove, who ran unopposed.</p><p>Incumbent Republican Kevin Campbell is the GOP nominee for State House District 62. No Democrats ran.</p><p>State House District 43 has been called for Republican Jessica Crowder. She beat incumbent Ann Lucas, a Freedom Caucus member, 63% to 37%. No Democrats ran.</p><p><b>Update 10:30 p.m.: Secretary of State race called</b></p><p>The Associated Press has named Converse County Commissioner Robert Short as the Republican secretary of state nominee. He will face Democrat Bryan McCarty in the general election. McCarty ran unopposed.</p><p>Short beat out Rachel Williams, a state House representative and current chair of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus.</p><p>In more state legislative races, incumbent Bob Nicholas has been named the Republican nominee in the State House District 7 primary race. He’ll face Democrat Gavin Lobmeyer, who ran unopposed.</p><p>In State House District 8, Republican Luke Reiner beat out incumbent Steve Johnson. Reiner will face Democrat Brenda Lyttle, who ran unopposed.</p><p>State House District 9 has been called for Republican Boyd Wiggam. He will face Democrat Stephen Latham, who ran unopposed.</p><p>State Senate District 31 has been called for Republican incumbent Evie Brennan. She beat out Daniel Singh for the nomination. Brennan will face Democrat Shifa Hamid, who ran unopposed, in the general election.</p><p></p><p><b>Update 10:15 p.m.: Democratic Superintendent of Public Instruction nominee called</b></p><p>Ana Cordova won the Democratic nomination for superintendent of public instruction. With 56% of votes counted, she leads Sergio Maldonado by more than 20 points.</p><p>In state elections, state Senate District 21 has been called for Republican Melissa Butcher. She beat out Ken Pendergraft, a Freedom Caucus member who left a House seat in a bid for the upper chamber.</p><p>Wyoming State House District 56 has been called for incumbent Republican Elissa Campbell. She took 68% of the vote to Pete Fox’s 32%. No Democrat ran.</p><p>The AP also called House District 60 for Republican Tony Niemiec, who beat out incumbent Marlene Brady. Brady received the Freedom Caucus’ endorsement in 2024. No Democrat ran.</p><p>State House District 6 has been called for incumbent Republican Tomi Strock, a member of the Freedom Caucus. No Democrats ran. With nearly all the votes counted, she carried the day with nearly 56% to Jim Willox ‘s 14%.</p><p>State House District 37 has been called for Republican Brian Costello. He will run against Democrat Betsy Erickson in the general election.</p><p>State Senate District 27 has been called for Republican Kevin Helling, who beat out two other candidates with 53% of the vote. No Democrat ran.</p><p>State Senate District 15 has been called for incumbent Republican Wendy Davis Schuler. No Democrats ran.</p><p></p><p><b>Update 9:45 p.m.: More state calls</b></p><p>The AP called House District 1 for Troy Claycomb. He has nearly double the votes of his challenger, Zeta Nuckolls Anderson, with 66% of the votes counted. The seat was left open after current Speaker of the House and Freedom Caucus member Chip Neiman made a bid for state Senate. No Democrats ran.</p><p>Myca Sturtevant took the Republican nomination for State House District 29, Freedom Caucus member Rep. Ken Pendergraft’s current seat, with 78% of the votes counted. No Democrats ran.</p><p>State House District 30 has been called for Republican Ryan Koltiska with 85% of the votes counted. Koltiska beat Mark Jennings, who was endorsed by the Freedom Caucus in his Senate bid in 2024. No Democrats ran.</p><p>State House District 20 has been called for Albert Sommers. He leads with 62% of the votes to Matt McGinnis’ 22% and Bill Winney’s 16%. Sommers served over a decade in the state House from 2017 to 2024, holding several leadership positions. No Democrats ran.</p><p>State House District 41 has been called for Republican Erin Edwards, who beat out incumbent Gary Brown. He will face Democrat Stacy Becker, who ran unopposed, in the general election.</p><p>State House District 48 has been called for Republican James Wamsley, who beat out incumbent Darin McCann. No Democrats ran.</p><p><b>Update 9:20 p.m.: Treasurer, Superintendent</b></p><p>Incumbent Curt Meier staved off a challenge from Rep. Scott Smith, a member of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus. AP called the race with 37% of the vote counted.</p><p>Steve Harshman came out on top in his run for the Republican nomination for superintendent of public instruction, with about 36% of votes counted. He holds a double digit lead over Tom Kelly.</p><p>The District 40 State House race has been called for incumbent Marilyn Connolly. The moderate Republican won the rematch from 2024 against Mark Jones.</p><p><b>Update 9:15 p.m.: AP calls governor, U.S. Senate, state races</b></p><p>Sen. Eric Barlow (R-Gillette) took home the Republican nomination for governor over current Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder and businessman Brent Bien.</p><p>Degenfelder was endorsed by Pres. Donald Trump, while Bien got the nod from the Wyoming Republican Party, which endorsed candidates for the first time this election.</p><p>For U.S. Senate, Harriet Hageman took the Republican nomination and James Byrd took the Democratic.</p><p>For Democrats, AP called the U.S. House race for Lisa Kinney, with 27% of the vote counted.</p><p>The AP also called the District 24 State House race for Quin Blair, upsetting incumbent Nina Webber, with 84% of the votes counted.</p><p>The District 11 State House race has been called for Republican Dan McIntosh with 41% of the votes counted. He’ll run against Democrat Britney Tennant, who ran unopposed in the primary.</p><p>The AP called the District 54 State House race for Lloyd Larsen, with 81% of the votes counted.</p><p>The state Senate District 25 race has been called for the incumbent Cale Case, with 64% of the votes counted.</p><p><b>8:52 p.m. update: First race called</b></p><p>The Associated Press called the Republican primary for Wyoming House District 24, which includes Cody, for state representative.</p><p>Quin Blair upset incumbent Nina Webber, who received the Wyoming Freedom Caucus’s endorsement in 2024.</p><p>The preliminary results reported by AP show Blair with 66% of votes to Webber’s 34%, with 84% of votes counted.</p><p>Blair is a business owner. He currently serves as Chairman of the Park County Travel Council and previously served as Vice Chair of the Wyoming Office of Tourism Board of Directors.</p><p>His <a href="https://www.quinblairforwyoming.com/about-quin"><u>campaign website</u></a> says, “Quin will focus on protecting public lands, defending constitutional freedoms, strengthening local schools, supporting responsible economic growth, making tourism work for the people who live here, and keeping government accountable to the taxpayers who fund it.”</p><p>No Democrats ran in this race. Independent candidates may file to run until August 24.</p><p><b>Update 7 p.m.: Polls just closed. Here’s what happens next</b></p><p>Polls across the state are closed. Polling places will now start closing procedures and running ballots through machine tabulators.</p><p>Malcolm Ervin, Platte County’s clerk, said how <a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-08-18/what-to-expect-on-primary-election-day-today"><u>long it may take to begin seeing the results</u></a> will depend on the size of the county and the number of ballots that need to be counted. Ervin said he expects smaller counties, like Platte, will see results beginning around 8:30 p.m.</p><p>Hand count audits for ballots in selected races, the requirement of a law passed earlier this year, will continue over the next several days. These audits will compare results from the machine tabulators against the hand count.</p><p>“I'm excited about the opportunity to show that the equipment is doing what it's supposed to do, which is counting votes accurately,” Ervin said.</p><p>Ervin said Wyoming clerks learned from Utah, which does a hand audit of one percent of ballots cast.</p><p>“Our colleagues in Utah have experienced this for years now, that the hand count generally is not spot on after the first attempt. Sometimes it is, but in their experience, every time they have not balanced, it's been due to some sort of human error,” Ervin said.</p><p>Wyoming’s hand count audit will look at 5% of the votes cast in certain races.</p><p><b>Update 4:30 p.m.:</b> <b>Bucking the influence of national politics</b></p><p></p><p>A common theme for <a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-08-18/pinedale-voters-voice-frustrations-about-the-influence-of-national-politics-in-wyoming"><u>voters in Pinedale</u></a> is a desire for better representation and feeling sick of national politics intruding into Wyoming.</p><p>“I'm not sure I completely agree with the Freedom Caucus,” said Jeanene Esterholt, a retiree. “ I'm glad they're conservative. On the other hand, I don't like the fact that there's out-of-state places that are swaying our state officials to vote one way or another.</p><p>“I think we have to become more family-focused, more nation-focused, and I think that we need to kinda get back to some of the basics,” she added.</p><p>Zachary Maxam, who grew up in town, said he wants to see “something that's a little bit more welcoming for us and my generation.”</p><p>That includes addressing the area’s housing shortage and high cost of living, along with more transparency.</p><p>Kendra Cross said Pinedale is struggling on which direction to go – more development or more conservation. She’s excited to vote for conservation-minded candidates like Sam Mead, who’s running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.</p><p>More locally, she’s backing Albert Sommers in his bid to retake House District 20.</p><p>“I think he does a great job here in Sublette County and is a really reasonable and stable, good voice in our Legislature, and we need more of that,” Cross said.</p><p>Jeff Alexander said he wants to see current U.S. House Rep. Harriet Hageman successful in her bid for U.S. Senate.</p><p>“She's tough as nails, and she's not afraid to stand up,” he said.</p><p></p><p><b>Update 3:15 p.m.:&nbsp;Transportation can be a barrier to the polls on the Wind River Reservation</b></p><p>Some likely voters we spoke to at the Black Coal Senior Center hope to see more Native American culture in schools, more tribal candidates and for tribal programs to receive more support.</p><p>“We need a Native American in the state of Wyoming to help us Natives here on the Wind River Reservation,” said Victoria Moss about why she’s backing Sergio Maldonado for state superintendent of public instruction.</p><p>She said she wants to see the next superintendent bring more culture into the classroom.</p><p><b>“</b>And then get these advocates, like our elders, to come into the schools, and it could just be for the children,  because we know our Native ways, and it would be more comfortable,” Moss added.</p><p><a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/tribal-news/2026-08-18/some-voters-on-the-wind-river-reservation-say-transportation-to-the-polls-is-an-issue" target="_blank">Others mentioned concerns</a> about recent cuts to tribal programs and wanting to see candidates end the war in Iran.</p><p>Some said they’re not sure if they’ll vote due to a lack of transportation.</p><p>“I'd like to go there if I only had transportation,” Moss said, adding, “My car is broke down.  Because I'm one of them that always relies on transportation, and our elders out there, they can't drive, and we really need that support.”</p><p><b>Update noon:</b>&nbsp;<b>When to expect results</b></p><p>Many counties will likely have results by around 10 p.m.</p><p>Platte County Clerk Malcolm Ervin said that’s the secretary of state's deadline to receive preliminary results</p><p><b>“</b>It really depends on the size of your polling place, number of voters, how long that takes,” <a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-08-18/what-to-expect-on-primary-election-day-today"><u>Ervin told WPR</u></a>. “Some of your smaller counties, like Platte, will have results posted – my anticipation would be roughly at 8:30 – now that I say that, something will pop up.”</p><p>County clerks and voters are working under a handful of new voting rules, including a proof of 30-day Wyoming residency and proof of U.S. citizenship requirement to register and vote. Many Wyomingites are still catching up with a law enacted a few years ago that requires registered voters to declare party affiliation months before the primary.</p><p>“A lot of folks just ask about declaring a party and affiliating,” Ervin said about last-minute questions that his office fields. “The question I wish they would ask when they do that is: What races are <a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2026-primary-election-info#:~:text=What%E2%80%99s%20on%20the%20ballot"><u>on their ballot</u></a>? What candidates? Because we have folks that will actually switch from a major party to an unaffiliated status, and if they don't live in a municipality during the primary, there's nothing to vote on.”</p><p>Another new thing specific to this year’s primary and general elections is a hand-count audit of 5% of votes cast. Counties must complete the audit, in addition to preexisting accuracy checks, within nine days of the election. The audit will be compared to the machine tabulators most counties use to tally results.</p><p></p><p><b>Update 11:20 a.m.: Legislative balance of power</b></p><p>A big question in this primary is whether a hardline voting bloc in the state House will retain its current majority and grow its ranks in the Senate.</p><p>The Wyoming Freedom Caucus, which bills itself as the genuine conservative voice of the Republican Party, rose to power in the statehouse <a href="https://wyofile.com/conservatives-form-freedom-caucus-to-challenge-house-gop/"><u>after forming in 2020</u></a>. It has championed budget cuts as well as legislation to cut residential property taxes, repeal many gun-free zones, expand a school voucher program and require residents to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote.</p><p>But we saw some <a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-03-06/cheyenne-roundup-wyoming-budget-inked-checkgate-checked"><u>pushback to their goals earlier this year</u></a>, when the Senate rejected steep budget cuts to the University of Wyoming and dismantling the state’s primary economic development agency that the Freedom Caucus had pushed for.</p><p>About a dozen members or voting allies of the Freedom Caucus in the House are running for the state Senate or higher office, leaving open a <a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-07-13/cheyenne-roundup-decision-2026-legislative-balance-of-power"><u>handful of races that will determine</u></a> whether the Freedom Caucus gains or loses power. Another batch of contested primary races could also shake up the caucus’ strength.</p><p>But some races we already know the outcomes of.</p><p>That includes Rep. Jeremy Haroldson of Wheatland for House District 4, a founding member and the <a href="https://wyfreedomcaucus.com/members/"><u>vice chairman of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus</u></a>.</p><p>Rep. Clarence Styvar of Cheyenne, who often votes for the caucus’ priorities, is also running unopposed for HD 12. Rep. Pepper Ottman of Riverton, another founding member of the caucus, will have a fourth term in HD 34 after facing no challengers this year.</p><p>On the other hand, some seats held by moderate Republicans won’t see any changes. That includes HD 39, where Rep. Cody Wylie of Rock Springs will have a third term after running unopposed.</p><p>We’ll also be watching if current House representatives affiliated with the Freedom Caucus find success in their Senate bids. That includes current Speaker of the House Chip Neiman, who’s taking on incumbent Sen. Ogden Driskill for Senate District 1. Representatives Ken Pendergraft of Sheridan, Abby Angelos of Gillette and Bob Davis of Baggs are also seeking to grow the caucus’s numbers in the upper chamber.</p><p><b>Update 10:15 a.m.: Polls are open</b></p><p>Polls opened at 7 a.m. today for Wyoming's primary election.</p><p>All five of the state’s top leadership positions are <a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-06-01/wyomings-primaries-are-crowded-these-are-the-races-to-watch"><u>up for grabs this year</u></a>, but only four are contested: governor, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction and treasurer. Auditor Kristi Racines is running unopposed.</p><p>Two of Wyoming’s three Congressional seats are also contested. The most crowded race is for the state's lone House seat, where nine Republicans are vying against two Democrats and an Independent. Five Republicans and two Democrats are running for Sen. Cynthia Lummis’ seat as she plans to retire.</p><p>This was the first year the <a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-07-30/what-to-make-of-the-wyoming-gops-first-primary-endorsements"><u>Wyoming GOP made endorsements.</u></a> The state party backed: U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman for U.S. Senate; Secretary of State Chuck Gray for U.S. House; Col. Brent Bien for governor; Rep. Rachel Williams for secretary of state; Rep. Scott Smith for treasurer and Rep. Tom Kelly for superintendent of public instruction.</p><p>Pres. Trump endorsed a different candidate for governor, Megan Degenfelder, the current superintendent of public instruction.</p><p>The future of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus is also at stake. In 2024, the further right block <a href="http://google.com/search?q=Wyoming+Freedom+Caucus+took+majority+in+the+house+what+year%3F+&amp;sca_esv=0ca1614a8e79126c&amp;rlz=1C5MACD_enUS1024US1024&amp;sxsrf=APpeQnvnUI4fXC7bYwxvm1HRe19TkHWlRw%3A1786560960486&amp;ei=wMF8ao2THdWP0PEPmeGX8Aw&amp;biw=1440&amp;bih=754&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiN86yb4puWAxXVBzQIHZnwBc4Q4dUDCBA&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=Wyoming+Freedom+Caucus+took+majority+in+the+house+what+year%3F+&amp;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiPVd5b21pbmcgRnJlZWRvbSBDYXVjdXMgdG9vayBtYWpvcml0eSBpbiB0aGUgaG91c2Ugd2hhdCB5ZWFyPyBIlzRQAFjiMnACeACQAQCYAZsBoAHOKKoBBTExLjM0uAEDyAEA-AEBmAINoAL4CcICBRAAGO8FwgIIEAAYgAQYogTCAgQQIRgKmAMAkgcDNS44oAf7hQGyBwMzLji4B-0JwgcGMC4zLjEwyAcugAgB&amp;sclient=gws-wiz-serp"><u>gained the majority</u></a> in the 62-seat House of Representatives. Caucus chair Rachel Rodriguez-Williams is running for secretary of state, and the group has not named a potential successor.</p><p>You can still register to vote up to and on election day. Check your <a href="https://wyowaco.org/membership-information/"><u>county clerk’s website</u></a> for the documents you’ll need and where to go.</p><p>If you received an absentee ballot, it must be returned to your county’s election office by the time the polls close at 7 p.m.</p><p>Contact info for all of Wyoming’s county clerks can be found on Wyoming Public Media’s “<a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2026-primary-election-info"><u>How do I vote?</u></a>” page.</p><p>We’ll update this live blog throughout the day with reactions from voters and candidates, and we’ll provide live results starting after 7 p.m. from the Associated Press.</p><p>Still not sure who you’re voting for?<a href="https://projects.wyofile.com/election-guide-2026/"><u> WyoFile surveyed candidates</u></a> to get a sense of their background and priorities. Find their responses on WyoFile’s website.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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