Darin Smith, who received former President Donald Trump’s endorsement, won his Senate District 6 primary race by a landslide on Tuesday.
Smith received 1,676 votes, followed by former Platte County commissioner Eric Johnston, who received 1,237 votes.
“I want to thank God for guiding me through this journey,” Smith said. “Without His strength and wisdom, this achievement would not have been possible.”
Finishing in third was Laramie County Republican Party Chairman Taft Love.
The race had been the most crowded Wyoming Legislative race this election cycle.
Unless a candidate files as an Independent for the general election and beats Smith, he will be replacing conservative firebrand Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, in the State House.
Smith shares similar hardline conservative views to Bouchard on most issues, opposing abortion, transgender surgeries for minors while being supportive of making large property tax reform.
“As your representative, I pledge to always vote with conscience, striving to make decisions that align with the values and best interests of our district,” he said.
Smith, an attorney and real estate agent, was an early entry in the 2022 U.S. House race against former congresswoman Liz Cheney and some polls indicated he was an early frontrunner.
He was one of a few candidates to meet with Trump at his Bedminster golf resort in New Jersey in 2021 when the former president was deciding who he would endorse in that race. When Trump announced he was endorsing Hageman in September 2021, Smith dropped out shortly thereafter.
Also running in the race was Cheyenne residents Marc Torriani and Kim Withers and Wheatland resident Gary Bjorklund.
Torriani received 392 votes. Withers won 341 votes while Bjorklund earned 257 votes.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
