Wyoming

Wyoming’s Primary Election Is Set: 167 Candidates In 72 Contested Races

Published

2 years ago

June 1, 2024

Wyoming’s Primary Election Is Set: 167 Candidates In 72 Contested Races

As of 5 p.m. Friday, the official 2024 election candidate roster in Wyoming is signed, sealed and delivered.

Overall, 167 candidates have filed to run for state and federal offices in Wyoming. This does not include future write-in candidates or people who choose to run as Independents for the general election. There will be at least 74 contested state and federal primary races. This does not include county commission and other local races.

“We had a robust candidate filing period to kick off Wyoming’s 2024 election cycle, in which we have seen a number of candidates filed with our office,” Secretary of State Chuck Gray said. “With the candidate filing period now closed, our office is focused on continuing to serve the people of Wyoming and working with Wyoming’s county clerks to oversee and administer a great election here in Wyoming.”

Participation is a bit down this year. In 2022, there were 193 candidates and 82 contested races throughout the election cycle.

Both U.S. Sen. John Barrasso and Rep. Harriet Hageman will have primary and general election challengers.

U.S. Senate

In the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, Barrasso will take on Casper resident Reid Rasner and Laramie resident John Holtz. Rasner is a relative newcomer to Wyoming politics but has aggressively campaigned around the state over the past year, but also has drawn some criticism.

Holtz was a longtime judge in Douglas who now runs a private law practice. Holtz ran in the 2020 U.S. Senate Republican primary race against Sen. Cynthia Lummis, finishing seventh. He also ran for interim Secretary of State in the fall of 2022.

The winner of the Republican primary will face Laramie Democrat Scott Morrow in the general election, who has no primary challenger.

U.S. House

In the Republican primary for U.S. House, Hageman will take on Casper attorney Steve Helling. Helling ran in the 2022 Democratic primary for U.S. House, finishing last out of three candidates. During that race, Helling said he supported former President Donald Trump and expressed virtually no views of the Democratic Party.

The winner of this race will take on Cheyenne Democrat Kyle Cameron in the general election, who has no primary challenger.

Key Legislature Races

There weren’t too many surprise candidacy announcements in the waning days of the filing period, but a few were eye-catching.

One of the biggest themes to watch will be that of former state legislators trying to get their seats back.

In House District 6, former legislator Aaron Clausen will take on Freedom Caucus member Rep. Tomi Strock, R-Douglas, in a rematch of the 2022 election.

The only contested Democratic race in the state will involve former legislator and LGBTQ advocate Sara Burlingame, who will go up against Teresa Wolff in the House District 11 primary in Cheyenne. This is the seat now held by Rep. Jared Olsen, R-Cheyenne, who announced this spring he’s running for the Senate.

Also running to get their seat back is former legislator John Romero-Martinez, who will take on his cousin Rep. Tamara Trujillo, R-Cheyenne, and Lee Filer in the House District 44 primary in Cheyenne. Filer is a former Democratic member of the Legislature. Trujillo beat Romero-Martinez, then an incumbent, in the 2022 primary.

Former Libertarian Rep. Marshall Burt is now running as a Republican for House District 39 in Sweetwater County against Rep. Cody Wylie, R-Rock Springs, and Laura McKee. This is another rematch as Wylie beat Burt by a large margin in the 2022 general election.

Former legislator Bob Wharff, who ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2022, is taking on Rep. Ryan Berger, R-Evanston, in the House District 49 Republican primary.

Who’s Not Coming Back?

There were also a few unexpected departures from current legislators who did not file to run again.

One of the most significant is Rep. Don Burkhart, R-Rawlins, who has served in the Legislature since 2011 and is chair of the House Minerals Committee.

Other departures that weren’t previously announced include Reps. Sandy Newsome, R-Cody, Forrest Chadwick, R-Evansville, and Kevin O’Hearn, R-Mills.

Sen. Charles Scott, R-Casper, first elected in 1978 and the longest serving member of the Legislature, is running for reelection in the Republican primary against former Natrona County Commissioner Rob Hendry and Charles Schoenwolf.

Every member of the farther right Wyoming Freedom Caucus is running for reelection.

Near-Guaranteed Wins

There are also a number of uncontested races, which unless changed by the entry of an Independent candidate for the general election, means that the lone candidate is nearly guaranteed an election win.

Some of the most notable legislators who won’t face a primary or general election challenger include Reps. John Bear, R-Gillette; Steve Harshman, R-Casper; Mike Yin, D-Jackson; Liz Storer, D-Jackson; Art Washut, R-Casper; Chris Knapp, R-Gillette; and Reuben Tarver, R-Gillette.

Democrats

There are 19 Democratic candidates in the current election cycle, with every currently serving Democrat up for reelection running again. There are no Democrats running in any part of northern Wyoming.

In 2022, there were 33 Democratic candidates.

Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.

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Wyoming

Wyoming State Parks solicits proposals for appraisals at HSSP

Published

7 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming State Parks solicits proposals for appraisals at HSSP

Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and Trails has officially released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for professional appraisal services to evaluate concession facilities at Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, Wyoming.

These appraisals are mandated by 2026 Senate Enrolled Act 27, Section 335, which requires appraisals of the “capital investment” and “ongoing concern” for the businesses known as the Star Plunge and the Hot Springs Hotel and Spa.

Qualified professional appraisers are encouraged to review the full requirements. Proposals must be submitted through the State’s Public Purchase online bidding system by 2:00 p.m., May 18, 2026. To view the full RFP (Number 0270-M), please visit https://www.publicpurchase.com/gems/wyominggsd,wy/buyer/public/home.

For additional information, contact Wyoming State Parks’ Visitor Services Manager Stephanie Dillmon at (307) 777-5734 or by email at Stephanie.Dillmon2@wyo.gov or learn more about Wyoming State Parks at wyoparks.wyo.gov.

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Wyoming

Wyoming’s Title X Family Planning network remains a critical part of the state’s health care system

Published

19 hours ago

April 22, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming’s Title X Family Planning network remains a critical part of the state’s health care system

When a clinic closes in Wyoming, it doesn’t just close a door; it can cut off access to care for entire communities.

For many residents, getting to a health care provider already means traveling long distances across multiple counties, and local clinics are often the only nearby option for basic health care. With one Title X Family Planning clinic in western Wyoming now closed, the challenge is becoming even more real for many people.

Reproductive and sexual health care is a key part of overall health, but it’s often one of the first services people lose access to when clinics close. Title X Family Planning is a federal program that helps people get essential preventive care, no matter their income. These clinics offer services like birth control, cancer screenings, STI and HIV testing, and care before pregnancy. They help people stay healthy, catch problems early, and plan for their futures.

The need is real. Wyoming’s Title X Family Planning network remains a critical part of the state’s health care system, helping bridge gaps in both access and affordability. With 9 clinics currently serving communities across the state, these providers cared for nearly 12,000 patients through more than 28,000 visits between 2022 and 2025. For many, these clinics are their only source of care: 49% of patients were uninsured, and nearly half were living at or below the federal poverty level.

In a state where distance and cost can both be barriers, affordable care is essential. About 14.6% of Wyoming women ages 19–44 are uninsured, higher than the national average. Title X clinics help meet this need by offering low- or no-cost care, while also connecting patients to referrals and additional health services when needed, ensuring more individuals can get the care they deserve.

These clinics are also on the front lines of prevention. In recent years, they delivered more than 3,100 cervical cancer screenings and about 20,000 STI and HIV tests. Services like these support early detection and treatment, helping reduce the need for more serious and costly care down the line.

In rural states like Wyoming, once a clinic closes, it is very hard to bring it back. These clinics are more than buildings; they are part of the local health care system that keeps communities healthy.

The good news is that Title X Family Planning clinics are still open, working every day to serve their communities. The Wyoming Health Council supports this network of clinics and works to ensure that people across the state can access the care they need. Through partnerships, education, and community-based programs, the organization helps connect Wyoming residents to reproductive and sexual health services, no matter where they live.

In a state where distance, cost, and provider shortages all play a role, these clinics, and the work supporting them, are more than just a convenience. They are a lifeline.

To help sustain this work and protect access to care across Wyoming, consider making a donation to the Wyoming Health Council.

Donation Link: givebutter.com/WYTitleX

Required Federal Funding statement:
This project is supported by the Office of Populations Affairs (OPA) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award 1 FPHPA 006541-0-00 totaling $978,380 with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by OPA/OASH/HHS or the U.S. Government.

PAID FOR BY WYOMING HEALTH COUNCIL
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Wyoming

Casper approves Wyoming Boulevard property rezoning

Published

1 day ago

April 21, 2026

Press Room

Casper approves Wyoming Boulevard property rezoning

CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper City Council voted Tuesday to approve on first reading a zoning change for a vacant 2.4-acre parcel located at 1530 SE Wyoming Boulevard, transitioning the property from residential to commercial use.

The ordinance reclassifies Lot 4 of the Methodist Church Addition from Residential Estate to General Business. Located between East 15th and East 18th streets, the irregular-shaped property has remained undeveloped since it was first platted in 1984.

While original plans for the subdivision envisioned a church and an associated preschool, Community Development Director Liz Becher reported those projects never materialized.

According to Becher, the applicant sought the rezoning to facilitate the potential installation of a cell tower or an off-premises sign. Under the new C-2 designation, a cell tower up to 130 feet in height is considered a permitted use by right, though any off-premises sign would still require a conditional use permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The applicant also owns the adjacent lot to the north, which the city rezoned to general business in 2021.

Becher said the change aligns with the “Employment Mixed Use” classification in the Generation Casper comprehensive land use plan. This designation typically supports civic, institutional and employment spaces.

Despite the new zoning, the property remains subject to a subdivision agreement that limits traffic access. Entry and exit are restricted to right turns onto or from East 15th Street, and no access is permitted from East 18th Street.

The council will vote on two more readings of the ordinance before it is officially ratified.

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