GOP chooses Meeteetse financial adviser to help lead party

POWELL (WNE) — In early April, members of the Park County Republican Party elected Bob Ferguson as their vice chairman. On Saturday, Wyoming Republican Party members picked the Meeteetse resident to serve as the vice chair of the state party, too.

In a close race that required a couple of rounds of voting, Ferguson prevailed over Fremont County Republican Party Chair Ginger Bennett.

Speaking at a convention in Cody, Ferguson said he wants to “dramatically increase” the state GOP’s visibility and outreach, saying the party is not as effective as it needs to be. While the more conservative Wyoming Legislature “got a lot more accomplished” in last winter’s session, “there’s a little bit more work to be done,” he said.

“Right now the Legislature doesn’t have to listen to us, because they view us as 74 people sitting in a room,” Ferguson told the state central committee members gathered at the Cody Auditorium. “But if we involve the grassroots, if we get people mobilized, if we have 1,000 calls … come into the Legislature, they’re going to start paying attention and they’re going to start listening.

“And I think that’s crucial to the success of our party,” he said.

Bennett led the initial vote count 36-34, but it was later determined to be a 37-37 tie. In a second round of voting, Ferguson prevailed, 38-36.

As vice chair, Ferguson will serve as the state party’s second-in-command, behind newly elected chair Bryan Miller of Sheridan. Miller, the former chair of the Sheridan County Republican Party, defeated Teton County Republican Party State Committeewoman Rebecca Bextel by a vote of 42-32, according to media reports.

This story was published on May 6, 2025.