Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has appointed Karl Allred as interim secretary of state. Allred replaces Ed Buchanan, who resigned Sept. 15 after being appointed a District Court judge for the 8th Judicial District.
State law obliges the governor to choose within five days from three names submitted to him by the Republican Central Committee. The other two candidates were Marti Halverson and Bryan Miller.
“I have selected Mr. Allred from the candidates forwarded to me by Wyoming Republican Party Chairman Frank Eathorne,” Gordon said in a short and comparatively bland announcement. “We will coordinate with Mr. Allred to arrange for his swearing in as soon as possible.”
Allred Reaction
Allred told Cowboy State Daily shortly after the announcement was made that he was still a little shocked about being chosen for the appointment.
“I just got the call from the governor,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with him and having a real smooth general election coming up.”
He said he will work to ensure a smooth transition with the elected secretary of state who takes over in January. State Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper, is expected to win as he has no opponent in the general election.
Allred said he has already spoken to Gray, who congratulated him on the appointment. He said he interviewed with Gordon for the job Thursday and did not know when he will be sworn-in.
The incoming secretary ran unsuccessfully for state House District 19 in this year’s primary and also was defeated in legislative elections in 2014, 2018 and 2020.
Allred will serve until a new secretary of state is sworn in Jan. 2, 2023.
The governor noted that two of Wyoming’s five elected constitutional officers are now unelected appointees as a result of the existing statutory process for replacing statewide elected officials.
Brian Schroeder was appointed by Gordon in January as superintendent of public instruction after former officeholder Jillian Balow resigned to take a similar position in Virginia. Schroeder lost in his Republican primary last month to Megan Degenfelder.
