167 to run for offices

Democrats won’t contest vast majority of races

CASPER — Friday marked the close of the election candidate filing period, and a total 167 candidates will seek office. A large majority of Wyoming races will be decided by the August 20 primary election. 61 of all 79 races in the Equality State will not see a Democrat on the November ballot.

“We had a great candidate filing period to kick off Wyoming’s 2024 Election Cycle,” Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray said in a press release Monday. “Our office is focused on continuing to serve the people of Wyoming and working to administer a great election here in Wyoming.”

Seven individuals will seek election to the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate.

Sen. John Barrasso is seeking a fourth term in office and will face Casper businessman Reid Rasner and Laramie attorney John Holtz in the primary election.

Barrasso was first appointed to the position in 2007 following the death of Sen. Craig Thomas and was later elected in a 2008 special election and reelected in 2012 and 2018.

The winner of the Republican Primary will face Laramie Democratic candidate Scott Morrow in the November presidential election.

Incumbent Rep. Harriet Hageman will face Casper attorney Steven Helling in the primary election and Cheyenne Democratic candidate Kyle Cameron in the November election. Helling ran for the same seat in 2022 as a Democrat.

Senate races

Only even number Senate seats are up for reelection this year — half of the seats.

The most crowded race of 2024 is Senate District 6, which is held by outgoing Sen. Anthony Bouchard.

Bouchard last week announced he would not seek reelection and endorsed Darin Smith — one of six Republicans vying for the seat.

“I never thought of elected office as a lifetime position. I’m proud of winning four hotly contested races in District 6. And I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished for my district and for the state. But now it’s time for someone new,” Bouchard said in a statement on Facebook last week.

The district encompasses north and east of Cheyenne in Laramie County and Platte County.

Another notable race is Senate District 22, where Reps. Barry Crago and Mark Jennings will go head to head for the seat held by outgoing Sen. Dave Kinskey.

Speaker of the House and Pinedale Rep. Albert Sommers will face sheep rancher Laura Taliaferro Pearson and former Navy Officer Bill Winney for Senate District 14.

House races

In Cheyenne Rep. Tamara Trujillo will face off against John Romero-Martinez again.

Romero-Martinez is a former one-term lawmaker and Trujillo’s cousin.

House District 11 will see two Democrats face off in the primary election.

Wyoming Equality Executive Director and former lawmaker Sara Burlingame and writer Teresa Wolff are both seeking the seat encompassing downtown Cheyenne. The District 11 seat is currently held by Rep. Jared Olsen, who is running for the Wyoming State Senate. Republicans Jacob Wasserburger and Seth Ulvestad are also seeking election to the District 11 seat.

Cheyenne Rep. Bob Nicholas will face Wyoming GOP Executive Director Kathy Russel in his reelection bid and Casper Rep. Jeanette Ward will face Natrona County School District administrator Julie Jarvis. Ward will also be challenged by independent Tyler Cessor.

Independent and other minor party candidates have until August to file for office.

Casper Rep. Steve Harshman is the only Casper area incumbent not facing opposition in August.

Republican J.R. Riggins is a political newcomer, but he will win the House District 59 seat as no other person filed to run in the district encompassing the town of Mills and west Casper.

Kevin O’Hearn, the current District 59 representative, did not announce he would not seek reelection.

Evansville Rep. Forrest Chadwick and Cody Rep. Sandy Newsome also did not file for reelection.

Jackson Democrats Reps. Mike Yin and Liz Storer will win their races to the Legislature as no other candidates joined the race.

More election information can be found at https://sos.wyo.gov/elections/

This story was published on June 5, 2024.