Democrat launches third bid for Wyoming governor

CASPER (WNE)  — For his third run for Wyoming governor and "last hurrah," small-town Democrat Kenneth Casner says the core of his campaign is truth-telling and taking no money.

Casner, 75, previously ran for Wyoming governor in 2002 and 2018, most recently losing the Democratic nomination to former state Rep. Mary Throne by more than 10,000 votes.

Casner also made an unsuccessful bid in 2016 to represent House District 47, which covers most of Carbon and Sweetwater counties.

"People consider me a perennial candidate. Well, what's ‘perennial?’ It blooms," Casner told the Star-Tribune on Wednesday.

Raised in a Democratic family, Casner said he considers himself more of an independent, though he runs as a Democrat.

"My priorities are real simple: you get what you get from me, you get the truth. I won't lie to you, and I don't take your money," Casner said.

Casner said he supports restructuring Wyoming's tax system to restore a state income tax, increase public school funding and place a greater emphasis on history education.

"I'm fighting for Wyoming now. I want to leave her in better shape than what she is today," he  said.

Now a 28-year resident of Elk River, Casner grew up in Cheyenne before serving in the U.S. Army and repairing aircraft turbine engines during the Vietnam War.

Casner continued serving in the Wyoming National Guard after his return home in 1971 and taught for 12 years at the NCO Academy.

"The first time I ran for office, everybody said it was crazy, but I ran because I always took orders from the top down, so I wanted to see what the top down in politics was," he said.

This story was published on May 23, 2026.