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Wyoming Legislative Committee Keeps Primary Run-Off Bill Alive

Wyoming GOP Chair Frank Eathorne testifies in support of a primary runoff bill.
Bob Beck
/
Wyoming Public Radio
GOP Chairman Frank Eathorne

A Wyoming legislative committee has voted to continue discussing a bill that would fundamentally change the way primary elections are handled in the state.

The legislation would set up a system for a run-off election if no candidate gets over 50 percent of the vote. Secretary of State Ed Buchanan told the Joint Corporations Committee that the issue comes up quite a bit.

"There would have been a run-off election in five of the past six primary elections. It would have been in 2020 for U.S. Senator, 2018 for Governor, 2016 for U.S. Representative," said Buchanan

He added that seven legislative elections would have been subject to run-off requirements in 2020. State Republican party officials call the legislation their top priority.

The bill would move the primary election to May with the run-off election taking place in August. Citizens will also have to support a constitutional amendment in conjunction with the legislation.

Bob Beck moved to Wyoming from Syracuse, New York, where he worked at WAER Syracuse Public Media as a news anchor, editor, and producer from 2023-2026. While at WAER, Beck was awarded the Syracuse Press Club-Best Public Affairs Program for 2025. Bob Beck also taught radio news for the Newhouse School at Syracuse University in New York.
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