CODY — The party in control is hardly a question coming into Tuesday’s Wyoming primary election, as the state is one of the reddest in the union. The battles remain contentious, only they’re all taking place within the Republican party.

“There’s almost no ground here left, except ‘I’m more Republican than you’,” said Cody resident Mary Keller on Tuesday.

Keller compared the battles between the centrists and far-right members of the GOP to the nightly rodeos held throughout the summer in Cody.

“It’s not your first rodeo. This election is not our first rodeo. We know how to set up good entertainment,” Keller said.

In the state with Republicans going head-to-head in nearly every race, it’s common to see heated debates over who is more conservative.

The Park County Patriots, a group who describe themselves on their website as promoting all candidates for public office who remain faithful to the founding principles in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, have been going door to door handing out sheets filled with names of candidates whom they call “the good guys.”

“We’ve got like 30% of those Republicans who are RINOs (Republicans In Name Only). They say that they’re conservatives to get elected. And then they get in office, and they don’t vote that way. They vote with the Democrats. So the Democrats can win,” said Cody resident Richard Conger on Monday.

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This is the first election in the state since a law was passed in 2023 making Wyoming a closed primary state, which prevents registered voters from changing their party affiliation at the polls.

“In Wyoming, if you want to have a say in who gets elected, you’re going to be registered as a Republican,” Gerber said. “I think most people who lean that way (Democratic) register as a Republican simply so they can vote in the primary.”

In August 2021, out of 279,807 registered voters in Wyoming, 46,192 voters were Democrats, and 195,452 were Republicans. This month, of the 223,703 registered voters, the Democratic numbers dwindled to 24,751.

“Wyoming is a conservative state, it’s always a conservative state, but it was Wyoming conservative,” Gerber said.

SAN FRANCISCO — The St. Louis Cardinals released veteran shortstop Brandon Crawford and reinstated infielder Matt Carpenter from the injured list on Tuesday.

Crawford, a four-time Gold Glove winner and three-time All-Star in 13 seasons with the San Francisco Giants, hit .169 with a homer and four RBIs in 80 plate appearances for the Cardinals this season. He last played on Aug. 10.

MORE: St. Louis Cardinals signing former SF Giants star Brandon Crawford, sources tell ESPN

The 37-year-old Crawford was signed as a free agent this offseason to back up rookie Masyn Winn, who has been having a strong season as St. Louis’ regular leadoff hitter. That meant fewer opportunities for Crawford.

Carpenter had been sidelined with a lower back strain. He’s hitting .255 with three homers and 11 RBIs in a utility role.

The Cardinals also optioned outfielder Jordan Walker to Triple-A Memphis and recalled infielder Luken Baker ahead of Tuesday night’s game against NL Central-leading Milwaukee.

The news of St. Louis Cardinals signing longtime San Francisco Giants infielder and Bay Area native Crawford was first announced in February.

KGO-TV staff contributed to this report

DENVER — A 50-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the domestic violence-related homicide of his wife on Monday evening in Denver, according to the Denver Police Department (DPD).

Shortly after 6 p.m. on Monday, Brian Mervin, 50, flagged down a person to call 911 after he said he found his wife on the ground struggling to breathe along the 4000 block of N. Adams Street, DPD said.

Police and paramedics responded and transported the woman to the hospital, where she died.

The police department said the first responders saw several injuries on the woman that were consistent with an assault. As a result, her death was investigated as a homicide.

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Based on the evidence collected and information gathered during the investigation, police arrested Mervin. He is being held for investigation of first-degree murder. The Denver District Attorney’s Office will determine formal charges.

The woman’s name has not been released. The Office of the Medical Examiner will determine her identity and cause and manner of death.

According to court documents, Mervin had been arrested for investigation of a domestic violence-related violation of a protection order earlier this year at the same address on N. Adams Street.

No other details were immediately available on Tuesday afternoon.