Low key primary takes place August 20
Psst. There’s an election in a little under two weeks. You’d hardly know it, but yes, the 2024 Wyoming Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
About 90 percent of the attention this year is focused on the presidential race, which culminates with the General Election November, and in Wyoming, the next most interesting thing is the battle between U.S. Senator John Barrasso and his challenger for the Republican nomination, Reid Rasner of Casper – at least for the Primary.
Locally, the election is as quiet as we’ve ever seen it. We can’t think of a time – ever – when there was just one candidate for the Big Horn County Commission. But incumbent commissioner Bruce Jolley is the sole candidate for the GOP nomination, and there is no challenger coming from the Democratic side.
This is especially odd because commissioners actually get paid to serve the county, unlike many boards that are purely volunteer and unpaid.
True, it takes a lot of time to be a commissioner with many extra meetings besides the lengthy commission meetings themselves, but to have only one candidate is astounding. We’ve seen six or eight commission candidates in many elections over the years.
Similarly, but not as rare, only incumbent Dalton Banks is seeking the District 26 seat in the Wyoming House of Representatives. Being a legislator takes a great deal of time and commitment, with lengthy sessions in Cheyenne and committee meetings throughout the months that follow, and incumbents often run unopposed for legislative seats. But our young House member alone on the ballot keeps the Primary quiet.
Think there’s action at the municipal level? Not really. There is a three-way race for two council seats in Lovell and Frannie, but since two candidates per seat advance to the General, all six candidates will be on the ballot in November. There are only two candidates in Cowley and Deaver and just one in Byron, though it is often the case that people accept write-in nominations for council.
We’re not sure why there’s a lack of candidates this year. Are people simply too busy, or is it basic disinterest and apathy? Or is it a general disgust with the state of national politics that has trickled down to the local level?
The voter turnout will certainly be light on August 20, but very likely the turnout will be huge in November since a new president will be elected.
Whatever the case, enjoy the rest of your summer. About a dozen candidates in North Big Horn County are enjoying a stress-free election season, at least for now.
Now if we could just get rid of those disgusting opponent-bashing TV ads in Montana.