It was about as unsurprising as most of the other events that played out at the Republican National Convention on Monday, but still noteworthy for Wyoming.
Former President Donald Trump, as expected, became the party’s official nominee at the convention, and did so with the help of 29 Wyoming Republican delegates.
Announcing the delegate’s unanimous support for Trump was Secretary of State Chuck Gray, wearing an oversized white “Wyoming Is Trump Country” cowboy hat.
“Wyoming, the Cowboy State, casts all of its 29 delegates for Donald J. Trump,” Gray yelled, met by an enthusiastic cheer from the Wyoming delegation and chants of “fight” afterwards.
Gray is the No. 2 state executive in Wyoming next to Gov. Mark Gordon, who was not a delegate.
The convention was being broadcast live on C-SPAN and various other networks.
A Few Seconds Of Fame
Standing near Gray in the video was state Sens. Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester, Bob Ide, R-Casper, John Kolb, R-Rock Springs, Wyoming GOP Chairman Frank Eathorne and Wyoming GOP National Committeewoman Nina Webber.
Also visible in the background was Gillette resident Patricia Junek, Jackson resident Katherine Rueckert, Cody resident Brent Bien, Thermopolis resident Cheryl Aguiar and Laramie resident Roxie Hensley among others.
Gray started his speech by promoting Wyoming’s various industries, calling the Cowboy State the “energy capitol of our country.”
“Coal, oil and gas, soda ash, ag products for the entire world,” he said. “And Wyoming, the Cowboy State is Trump country.”
He then went on to mention how Wyoming voted for Trump with a larger margin of victory than any other state in 2020 and 2016.
Scene In Milwaukee
Inside the convention hall in Milwaukee, Wisc., delegates flanked by “Make America Great Again” signs cheered wildly as state after state voted their support for Trump’s second term, according to the Associated Press.
Sheridan resident Jeff Wallack, an alternate delegate, said the mood was very positive with great enthusiasm for Trump’s vice president selection of Ohio Senator J.D. Vance earlier in the day.
Wyoming announced its delegates in between the Northern Mariana Islands and Maine.
Trump won enough delegates to officially be considered the party’s nominee on Monday afternoon, but he had already been the presumptive nominee for months.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
