It may not feel like it yet, but primary season is just about over in Wyoming, and for that matter election season is mostly over. In a state with a large Republican majority, most of the election drama statewide will take place Tuesday night.
And with that, the state’s major political campaigns have released their last advertisements.
On Aug. 8, U.S. House candidate Harriet Hageman unveiled her final ad of the election cycle, telling Wyoming voters the election is not about U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney.
“She’s made her time in Congress, and this election, all about her,” Hageman narrates. “Well, it’s not about her. It’s about you. Wyoming deserves a voice in Congress to fight for our values, our way of life.”
Most of the commercial shows stock footage of Cheney and a shot captured by drone aircraft, of a windmill brandishing a Hageman yard sign. Besides a still-photo of Hageman shown at the end of the commercial, the candidate never physically appears in the ad.
The low-budget production may be a testament to Hageman’s confidence at this stage in the race. A recent University of Wyoming poll showed her leading Cheney by nearly 30 points.
On Thursday, Cheney released her final ad of the campaign, telling voters this election is about opposing former President Donald Trump.
In the highly contentious Secretary of State race, both candidates made a strong final push to get their messaging out.
In mailers sent out across Wyoming, State Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper claimed his opponent State Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne is facing a lawsuit for defamation and lying and is under investigation by the Secretary of State’s office for violating campaign finance laws.
There is no evidence any lawsuit has been filed and Monique Meese, a communications director with the Secretary of State’s office, confirmed no investigation is taking place of Nethercott’s campaign finances.
This ad also brings up that Nethercott voted for a $30,000 pay raise for the Secretary of State and has received the support of multiple Democrat state legislators.
Nethercott released her final ad of the campaign cycle on Thursday, a commercial featuring an endorsement from Diana Enzi, wife of the late U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi.
“Tara is a daughter of the Equality State and the Secretary of State we deserve. She has a history of service to Wyoming,” Enzi narrates in the ad, played over photos and video of Nethercott shown across the screen. “She is committed to fair and secure elections and a strong business environment. Join me in voting for Tara Nethercott for Wyoming Secretary of State.”
Gov. Mark Gordon hasn’t released any major campaign advertising recently but has been busy traveling across the state in recent days. Last week, he made stops in Cody, Powell, Buffalo, Worland, Basin, Ten Sleep, Big Horn, Shoshoni, Casper and Midwest.
His leading Republican opponent, Brent Bien, released a digital graphic imploring voters to “Save Wyoming from wokeism vote Bren Bien for Governor.”
Bien made campaign stops in Cody, Powell, Riverton, Lovell, Greybull, Dubois, Shoshoni and Lusk last week.
