State Treasurer Mark Gordon won the Republican nomination for governor with an unofficial seven percent victory over multi-millionaire Foster Friess. Cheyenne attorney Harriett Hageman finished third.
Gordon overcame a last-minute endorsement of Friess from President Trump and some negative attacks from other candidates to win. Gordon said he was surprised by the Trump endorsement, but at the end the day he said it didn’t matter.
“You know that we felt like we had been talking about Wyoming issues all the way through and we felt confident that it wasn’t going to torpedo our efforts.”
Gordon said he was thrilled with the victory: “I feel absolutely overwhelmed. It was a fabulous race, an excellent team, we kept things high brow.”
2010 Republican gubernatorial candidate Rita Meyer was at the watch party. She was happy to see Gordon win and said he’s the man for the job.
"I think he’s got experience, I think that’s always important but especially now with Wyoming facing a budget deficit,” Meyer said, "that experience in the State Treasurer's office, experiences he’s had outside in the federal reserve and other areas are going to make for some really strong capabilities to govern Wyoming.”
Soon after the race, Gordon received calls from opponents Foster Friess and Harriet Hageman. Gordon will face Democratic candidate Mary Throne on November 6.