LANDER — Riverton is getting a new state House representative, after handing a primary election win to newcomer Joel Guggenmos over two-term incumbent Rep. Ember Oakley.
Guggenmos took 1,071 votes to Oakley’s 855 Tuesday, winning 55.4% of the 1,934 votes cast for House District 55.
Guggenmos told Cowboy State Daily the win feels “surreal.”
“I wasn’t sure how it was going to go and so yeah, it’s a totally new feeling for me,” Guggenmos told Cowboy State Daily in a post-count interview.
As for his top priorities in the state House next year, he said he’ll cross that bridge when he gets to it. He said he’s pleased to win the Republican nomination, and doesn’t want to proclaim a victory until after the general election this November.
“Well, I just want to thank everybody who came out and took the time to vote, no matter if it was for me or my opponent,” said Guggenmos. “I love the process we have in this republic, and I’m grateful to all those who came out and did support me in my campaign in this primary.”
The 45-year-old works in residential construction and has a wife and 15-year-old son. He ran a cut-taxes campaign, criticizing Oakley for passing a property tax reform bill — House Bill 45 — that he called inadequate.
Guggenmos in prior public statements took a dig at Republicans in the Legislature, saying the divide between state Republicans stems from Democratic lawmakers self-disguising as Republicans to gain office.
“They are also masters at concealing and hiding their agendas from the people,” wrote Guggenmos in a voter guide in The Ranger. “When election time comes around, they start with their Republican talking points again to maintain their positions and liberal influence.”
About Oakley
Oakley is also the county’s second-in-command prosecutor, serving as assistant Fremont County attorney. She specializes in prosecuting sex crimes and domestic abuse.
Her campaign shifted to the defensive in July as she fought off false and misleading claims in- and out-of-state groups sent to Riverton mailboxes ahead of Tuesday’s primary election. The mailers cast Oakley as a Trump-hating leftist, claims she rebutted, saying she supports conservative ideals and never maneuvered against Trump.
Oakley did not respond to a Tuesday evening to a message request for comment.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
