Cowboy State Daily published stories about 18 of the most important contested races in Tuesday’s Wyoming primary. There were no contested Democratic races, making the primary all about the Republicans.
Here are briefs summing up other contested Republican primary races.
Senate District 10
Former University of Wyoming football player Gary Crum beat Keith Kennedy 1,709-1,129. Crum will face Democrat Mike Selmer in the general election for the opportunity to replace state Sen. Dan Furphy, R-Laramie.
—Leo Wolfson
Senate District 12
In Sweetwater County’s State Senate 12 race, John Kolb, R-Rock Springs, beat Jeff Ramaj, R-Rock Springs, with 921 votes to Ramaj's 584.
—Pat Maio
Senate District 20
In central and northern Wyoming, state Sen. Ed Cooper, R-Thermopolis held on to his seat in the Republican primary. Cooper received 2,650 votes, while challenger Tom Olmstead of Basin received 2,428.
—Leo Wolfson
Senate District 28
The Wyoming Senate District 28 race became a close one with incumbent Jim Anderson defeating challenger Bryce Reece by 30 votes.
With all precincts reporting, Anderson received 1,304 votes to Reece’s 1,274.
“I hope it proves that negative campaigning does not work in this state,” Anderson said. He characterized his opponent’s campaign as “nasty” and one that use out-of-state PAC money to try and defeat him.
During his campaign, Reece advocated for a conservative agenda that emphasized foiling inroads from the “left” in areas of education, governmental control, and spending. He also took a stand against a controversial gravel pit proposal for the base of Casper Mountain.
Anderson was a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, UW Energy Resource Council and CSG (Council of State Governments), West Energy and Environment Committee in 2024. He has been in office since Jan. 2013.
The 28th District covers central Casper from Interstate 25 on the north, Poplar Street on the east and a significant part of the central and eastern city to the east. It’s southern boundary dips toward Garden Creek.
—Dale Killingbeck
House District 4
Jeremy Haroldson easily defended his House District 4 seat, taking home 1,666 votes, or 66.8%, from Platte County to Jeffery Thomas’ 792 votes, or 31.84%, according to unofficial results from Platte County Clerk Malcolm Ervin.
The total number of votes cast in the race in Platte County was 2,494, with 366 absentee ballots. Of the 366 absentees, seven were write-ins. There were 27 total write-ins on election day.
HD 4 includes a small number of voters in Laramie County, which had not yet reported any results as of 9 p.m.
With this wide a lead, Haroldson has clearly won the race over Thomas, who is Guernsey’s fire chief and a fifth generation Wyomingite with 36 years of public service.
“It's always good, whenever you end your election day, realizing that the people that you represent still believe that you're doing what you say you you came to do, and that they they want to stand behind you,” Haroldson said. “So definitely feel that support.”
Haroldson said his top priorities include stronger Second Amendment rights, as well as the continued fight for coal, oil and natural gas industries.
This will be Haroldson’s third term in office.
Haroldson has taken some hardline conservative stances on a number of issues, including the Second Amendment, abortion and taxation.
He told Cowboy State Daily in a July interview that he planned to continue strengthening and clarifying Wyoming’s Second Amendment protections if he won the office.
—Renee Jean
House District 7
Longtime legislator state Rep. Bob Nicholas, R-Cheyenne, is on track to potentially win an eighth term in office after winning the Republican primary election.
On Tuesday night, Nicholas took down Cheyenne resident and Wyoming Republican Party Executive Director Kathy Russell in the Republican primary for House District 7, winning the race by about 400 votes.
The race between the two got heated earlier this month when Nicholas accused Russell of making lies in her mailers that were “the size of Texas.”
Serving in the Legislature since 2011, Nicholas is one of the higher-ranking members of the Wyoming House as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. This committee plays an instrumental role in crafting the state’s biennial and supplemental budgets.
Nicholas has said the finite supply of production related to the minerals industry lends credence to the state’s need to save enough money so that it can be invested and brought back with a strong rate of return. Many conservatives in the Legislature have spoken against putting money in savings, arguing that it should be returned directly to taxpayers
It’s Nicholas’ perspective that by putting money into savings each year, it will save taxpayers more money in the long run. He’s proud of the fact the Legislature has put nearly $2 billion into savings over the past two years.
If reelected, Nicholas said he’ll double down on savings to lower taxes further into the future and ensure quality education for Wyoming.
Nicholas will now take on Democrat Jordan Evans, chairman of the Laramie County Democratic Party, in the general election.
—Leo Wolfson
House District 8
Steve Johnson upset Dave Zwonitzer’s bid for reelection to House District 8 on Tuesday. Johnson received 1,183 votes while Zwonitzer got 1,134 and Cayd Batchelor got 78 votes.
Johnson was endorsed by the farther right Wyoming Freedom Caucus. He wants to keep fighting for more property tax relief and believes the property tax reform passed during the 2024 session will do “absolutely nothing.” He also wants to continue strengthening parental rights and school choice, and he believes transgender people should be required to use the bathrooms of their biological sex.
Zwonitzer served in the Legislature from 2006 to 2016 and then returned in 2023.
Zwonitzer aligned more with the establishment faction of the state Legislature. During the most recent session, he served on the House Appropriations Committee, one of the most important committees at the Legislature for its role in crafting the biennial and supplemental budgets.
Johnson has no opponent for the general election.
—Leo Wolfson
House District 10
State Rep. John Eklund, R-Cheyenne, has been successfully fighting off cancer over the past year, and on Tuesday scored another major victory: Beating out perennial candidate Jennifer James in the Republican primary election.
Eklund beat James by nearly 1,000 votes.
Eklund does not have an opponent yet for the general election.
—Leo Wolfson
House District 11
Cheyenne House District 11 candidate Jacob Wasserburger won his Republican primary, beating fellow challenger Seth Ulvestad by around 90 votes. Wasserburger supports small government, low taxes and school choice.
“The people of House District 11 must believe we need lower property taxes and school choice,” Wasserburger said. “They also would like to have term limits and all the votes of the Legislature to be recorded.
“I’m absolutely honored to add these issues to my platform as I feel many representatives have lost touch with her community.”
Wasserburger will face Democrat and LGBTQ-rights organizer Sara Burlingame in the general election.
—Leo Wolfson
House District 12
Cheyenne resident Clarence Styvar won his Republican primary bid for a fourth term in office Tuesday night. Styvar beat challenger Thomas Lear by 89 votes.
Styvar was first elected to the Legislature in 2018 and is a decorated Army veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm. He is also a member of the farther right Wyoming Freedom Caucus.
“I want to thank all my constituents in House District 12,” he said. “I plan on doing the same work I’ve done for my district and state so far.”
Styvar may face Independent candidate Joseph Ramirez in the general election, who has filed an official petition with the state seeking to qualify for the ballot, but hasn’t qualified yet.
—Leo Wolfson
House District 15
Pamela Thayer has won a three-way race for House District 15, easily beating out her two challengers.
Thayer collected 734 votes from Carbon and Sweetwater counties as compared to her opponents,Terry Weickum (223) and Sheryl Foland (196).
House District 15 was an open field after Donald Burkhart stepped back from the Legislature, leaving a wide open field.
Thayer is Rawlins’ Downtown Development Authority executive director and had the endorsement of Gov. Mark Gordon.
Foland, meanwhile, is a licensed clinical health care worker from Rawlins who became interested in politics after helping craft anti-stalking legislation. Weikcum was a Carbon County commissioner from 2204 through 2012, and has been mayor of Rawlins since 2021, a term that expires at the end of 2024.
Thayer hung up when Cowboy State Daily called and did not respond to a text seeking comment on her win.
—Renee Jean
House District 17
In Sweetwater County’s State House District 17 race, JT Larson, R-Rock Springs, beat Terry Ellison, R-Rock Springs, by a vote of 463 votes to 413.
—Pat Maio
House District 18
In State District 18 race, which covers Sweetwater and parts of Lincoln counties, Scott Heiner, R-Green River, beat Thomas Crank, R-Diamondville, with 935 votes to Crank’s 626.
—Pat Maio
House District 21
In Lincoln County, McKay Erickson secured the Republican nomination for House District 21, beating T. Deb Wolfley 1,811-559.
Erickson told Cowboy State Daily he was “elated” with the primary’s outcome.
“We knew things were going to go well for us,” he said. “We had a good feeling about it, and everything’s come together very well.”
Erickson said he wants to “tackle” property tax reform during the next session of the Wyoming Legislature. But as the results of Tuesday’s primary came through, he decided that he wants to unify the sparring factions within the Wyoming Republican Party.
“With the division among the Wyoming and the Freedom Caucus, I hope to be a unifier between those groups,” he said. “I know that sounds like a big undertaking, but I'm going to be focused on trying to bring the two sides a little closer together. That will definitely be a priority of mine.”
—Andrew Rossi
House District 25
Paul Hoeft beat incumbent David Northrup 1,251-808 in Tuesday’s primary election for House District 25. Northrup, formerly the Park County Republican chairman, was elected to the seat in 2023.
“I’m a bit overwhelmed at the moment,” Hoeft told Cowboy State Daily. “I've had a tremendous amount of support from the folks here locally, and an outpouring of people being very encouraging all day and through this whole campaign.”
Hoeft said he wants to focus on tax reform during his first term in the Wyoming Legislature. It’s what he’s heard the most about during his campaign for House District 25.
“I’ve spent a lot of time talking with folks, and property tax kept coming up over and over,” he said. “I think we need to try to get a handle on that, because we’ve got a lot of people struggling to meet their tax obligations right now. If that's on the on the people's list, then we better go in that direction.”
—Andrew Rossi
House District 27
Incumbent State Rep. Martha Lawley, R-Worland, beat challenger Tami Young in the Republican primary election for the State House 27 seat. Lawley campaigned on her accomplishments backing property tax relief, stronger parental rights, supporting anti-abortion laws and measures to protect the Second Amendment.
—Justin George
House District 28
State Rep. John Winter, R-Thermopolis, won his primary bid for reelection to a fourth term in office over Thermopolis resident Kevin Skates. Winter received 1,707 votes while Skates got 980.
—Leo Wolfson
House District 38
Challenger Jayme Lien stunned incumbent Tom Walters in the House District 38 primary race, denying him a seventh term.
Lien received 859 votes to 715 for Walters.
“I would like to thank the people of House District 38 for the vote of confidence in the primary election,” she said. “I look forward to going to work for the people on true property reform, reduction in spending, quality, education and pro-life votes.”
Lien identified herself with Wyoming’s Freedom Caucus and characterized herself as a “constitutional conservative dedicated to upholding traditional Wyoming values.”
If elected, she said she would advocate for responsible government, champion the interests of Wyoming residents and work to lower taxes and resident fees.
Walters, a Casper-area rancher, was among legislators singled out in the February budget session for not backing a bill that would have legally defined “male” and “female.” He defended himself in July to media sending a letter to Cowboy State Daily and vowing to protect the “opportunities and rights of Wyoming girls.
During the past legislative term, Walters served as the chairman of the Air Transportation Liaison Committee, chairman of the Select Committee on Capital Financing and Investments, and chairman of the Subcommittee on Capitol Governance. He was a sponsor of legislation to sell, lease or exchange the Kelly Parcel in Teton County.
—Dale Killingbeck
House District 39
In Sweetwater’s State House District 39 race, Cody Wylie, R-Rock Springs, beat two defenders, Laura McKee, R-Rock Springs, and Marshall Burt, R-Green River. Wylie collected 426 votes to McKee’s 411 votes and Burt’s 72.
—Pat Maio
House District 44
Former state legislator Lee Filer upset state Rep. Tamara Trujillo, R-Cheyenne, and her cousin John Romero-Martinez on Tuesday night in House District 44.
In one of the lowest voter turnout races of the state, Filer received 313 votes while Trujillo got 190 and Romero-Martinez received 71.
“This victory is not just a testament to Lee's dedication and vision but also to the hard work of every volunteer, supporter, and voter who believed in the change we could bring to our community,” the Filer campaign said in a statement. “Winning this seat means that the voices of House District 44 will be heard louder and clearer in the halls of our state government.”
Filer served in the Legislature from 2013-2015 as a Democrat.
“Lee's victory represents a commitment to the values we share — economic opportunity, strong public education, and a government that works for everyone, not just the few,” Filer’s campaign stated. “It’s a win for the families, workers, and small businesses of our district, who can now count on a representative who will fight tirelessly for their needs and aspirations.”
Romero-Martinez, Trujillo’s cousin, served from 2021-2023, in the Wyoming House.
Trujillo aligned with the farther right Wyoming Freedom Caucus on most but not all votes.
Filer has no opponent yet in the general election.
—Leo Wolfson
House District 56
The three-candidate Republican primary race to replace outgoing State Rep. Jerry Obermueller, R-Casper, in Wyoming House District 56 went to Elissa Campbell.
With all precincts reporting, Campbell received 806 votes, Pete Fox won 541 votes and Pamela Mertens secured 111 votes.
“It is quite humbling and truly, truly and honor,” Campbell said.
Campbell is a third-generation Wyomingite, who was raised in Douglas. She graduated from Kelly Walsh High School and the University of Wyoming. She owns the Elevate Wyoming, a management consultant firm, and has worked as a master trainer and facilitator in many different industries. Campbell said she believes in local control, fiscal responsibility and limited government.
Campbell said she also believes a collaborative approach is needed to solve problems in the Legislature. Tuesday night, she said she hopes to help the state “back off a little” from local government.
—Dale Killingbeck
House District 42
Rob Geringer, the son of former Gov. Jim Geringer, beat incumbent state Rep. Ben Hornok of Cheyenne in the Republican primary election on Tuesday night. Geringer won by 32 votes over Hornok, who ran unopposed in 2022.
“It feels incredible to have the support of the folks in House District 42,” Geringer said. “I think the voters in my district recognized that it matters what Wyoming values and a vision for Cheyenne are and what that needs to be at the Legislature.”
Geringer has aligned with the more moderate Wyoming Caucus while Hornok is a member of the farther right Wyoming Freedom Caucus. Geringer shares Gov. Mark Gordon’s all-of-the-above energy approach, while Hornok, like his Freedom Caucus colleagues, take a no-compromises approach that only supports fossil fuels.
Geringer has no opponent yet for the general election.
—Leo Wolfson
House District 56
Elissa Campbell is on track to replace outgoing State Rep. Jerry Obermueller in House District 56 after Tuesday’s primary election.
The three-candidate Republican primary race to replace outgoing State Rep. Jerry Obermueller, R-Casper, in Wyoming House District 56 went to Elissa Campbell.
With all precincts reporting, Campbell received 806 votes, Pete Fox won 541 votes and Pamela Mertens secured 111 votes.
“It is quite humbling and truly, truly and honor,” Campbell said.
Campbell is a third-generation Wyomingite, who was raised in Douglas. She graduated from Kelly Walsh High School and the University of Wyoming. She owns the Elevate Wyoming, a management consultant firm, and has worked as a master trainer and facilitator in many different industries. Campbell said she believes in local control, fiscal responsibility and limited government.
Campbell said she also believes a collaborative approach is needed to solve problems in the Legislature. Tuesday night, she said she hopes to help the state “back off a little” from local government.
—Dale Killingbeck
House District 58
Incumbent State Rep. Bill Allemand, R-Midwest, on Tuesday beat his GOP primary challenger Tom Jones in the House District 58 race.
Allemand received 1,017 votes to 424 votes for Jones in the district that encompasses Mills, Bar Nunn, Midwest and the area north of Casper. Allemand’s name will appear on November’s ballot.
Allemand did not return repeated calls for a comment on Tuesday night.
Allemand, a trucking company owner serving the Salt Creek oil field, has one term in the Wyoming Legislature. During the 2024 term he served on the House Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee and the NCSL Natural Resources and Infrastructure Committee. Among bills pushed by Allemand in 2024, he put forward legislation that would have prohibited foreign ownership of property in Wyoming. It never made it to committee.
—Dale Killingbeck
House District 60
In Sweetwater County’s State House District 60 primary race, Marlene Brady, R- Green River, beat Tony Niemiec, R-Green River, by a narrow vote of 517 to 453.
—Pat Maio
House District 61
State Rep. Daniel Singh, R-Cheyenne, beat Republican challenger Matt Malcom in a rematch of their 2022 race Tuesday night. Singh beat Malcom 506-353.
“I’m thankful the voters of House District 61 continue to put their commitment behind me,” Singh said. “There’s a new makeup in the Republican slate and I’m excited to carry the Republican platform into the general election as a united front.”
Although Singh, 27, is a member of the farther right Wyoming Freedom Caucus known for taking a no-compromises approach to its conservative politics, he has been seen by many as someone who’s willing to reach across the aisle to get legislation passed.
Malcom, 27, previously served as an intern at the Legislature and full-time in the Wyoming Air National Guard until recently.
—Leo Wolfson
House District 62
Unofficial results show Kevin Campbell defeating Edis Allen in House District 62 by seven votes.
Campbell received 794 votes to Allen’s 787, according to results tabulated Tuesday.
The district includes the eastern part of Natrona County and the western part of Converse County.
Campbell received 399 votes in Natrona County and 395 in Converse County. Allen got 303 votes in Natrona County and 484 votes in Converse County.
“Boy, it looks like a squeaker, but I am very excited,” Campbell said. “I am very honored.”
Campbell, of Glenrock, is a U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve veteran with more than 20 years of experience in the oil industry. He has said one of the reasons he is running for the Legislature involves making U.S. Highway 20/26 between Glenrock and Casper safer.
Heading into the election he said he hoped his conservative values “aligned” with the residents of District 62.
Both candidates expressed support for conservative issues such an opposition to abortion, lowering property taxes, and First Amendment religious freedoms.
—Dale Killingbeck
