The Republican primary rematch in Wyoming’s District 6 State House race was more decisive the second time as incumbent Tomi Strock, R- Douglas, defeated challenger and former representative Aaron Clausen.
With all the Converse County precincts reporting, Strock received 1,278 votes or 52.21% over Clausen, who received 1,162 votes or 47.47%
“I just want to thank all of my supporters,” Strock said. “I’m excited to be able to serve the people of House District 6 for another two years.”
Strock, 55, who's alligned with the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, stressed her campaign was about getting back to “grassroots” and not electing politicians. She emphasized the need for less government.
“I really still stand on less government and less spending,” she said. “We’ve got to come to terms with this as a state.”
During the 2024 budget session she voted against the state’s biennial budget and was a co-sponsor of Senate File 99, which was signed into law, banning “gender affirming care” for minor children.
“I fought to return funding to the people of Converse County, but the big city tax-and-spend liberals in charge of crafting the state budget stripped projects from our backyard and moved them to Casper, Cheyenne, and Laramie,” she wrote in a column published on Cowboy State Daily in June.
During her past term, she served on the 2024 House Revenue Committee and CSG (Council of State Governments) West - Canada Relations committee. She said she looked forward to representing the Douglas area for another two years.
Strock received a 100% endorsement from the American Conservative Union. The group gave her an 88% rating while the Institute for Legislative Analysis gave Strock an 86% rating. The Wyoming Education Association gave her a 1% rating.
Clausen, 47, a fourth generation rancher, businessman and three-term representative from 2017 to 2022, lost to Strock in 2022 by 56 votes during a Wyoming election widely dubbed the “Red Wave.”
While in the legislature he served on the Committee on Corporations, Elections, and Political Subdivisions, Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Committee, and the Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee.
Claussen received 100% endorsements from Right To Life, an A- from the Wyoming Family Alliance, a 70% from the American Conservative Union and 27% from the Wyoming Education Association.
During his last term, Claussen voted no on a bill that would have prohibited transgender girls from playing on female sports teams. The bill failed. He also voted against reducing the state coal severance tax by 0.5%. The bill passed.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
