Granted, it’s still early. But at least three rematches in the Wyoming House of Representatives have surfaced this campaign season, and one more looks likely.
In deep-red Wyoming, the notable rematches feature Republicans and other Republicans.
The three known rematches are between Rep. Landon Brown, R-Cheyenne, and his 2024 GOP challenger Exie Brown; Rep. Julie Jarvis, R-Casper, and former Rep. Jeanette Ward; and Rep. Kevin Campbell, R-Glenrock, and 2024 GOP hopeful Edis Allen.
Ward and Exie Brown both sat as frequent spectators in the third-floor gallery of the House during this year’s legislative session, while Jarvis and Landon Brown worked on legislation below them.
If You’ll Have Me
Another rematch, if the incumbent is willing, is in the Casper-based House District 35.
GOP candidate Christopher Dresang announced in March he’s running for the seat, which his opponent Rep. Tony Locke, R-Casper, won by 137 votes, or 6.7% of their 2,027 total, in the 2024 primary election.
Locke did not return a Cowboy State Daily voicemail by publication time, about whether he’s running for the House again.
Dresang also did not return a Tuesday voicemail by publication.
The Close One
Incumbent Campbell, R-Glenrock, won the 2024 primary election in House District 62 by six votes over GOP hopeful Allen, the official results say.
Allen’s ready to spar once again, he told Cowboy State Daily in a Tuesday phone call.
“Neither Kevin nor myself had run for office before” in 2024, Allen said.
It’s a difficult seat to gauge, since it straddles the Converse/Natrona County line. Candidates find themselves courting people in Glenrock and Casper, and listening to the issues of two county governments, Allen said.
“Running for this seat is not unlike running for two House seats,” he said. “But I’m getting the hang of it.”
Allen said he does not believe Campbell represents the district well.
Campbell in a Tuesday phone interview said he believes his 2024 race against Allen was gentlemanly, especially in comparison with other state elections from that cycle that were “pretty rank.”
“I like Edis,” said Campbell. “I look forward to the challenge.”
Campbell also speculated that the pair would have more competition.
Campbell said he challenges Allen’s characterization of his representation.
He pointed to his efforts to curb controversial solar and wind projects. He said he’s not willing to welcome uranium nuclear waste into the state, and he voiced pride in House Bill 120, which he sponsored and Gov. Mark Gordon signed into law.
The law lets county governments nominate areas as industrial sovereign zones to encourage natural gas production.
Allen said he’s not a member of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus.
Campbell also said he’s not a member of the Freedom Caucus and cast the media’s attention toward the caucus as excessive.
“I have to laugh at this,” he said. “Back in 2024, the Wyoming Freedom Caucus endorsed me because I am a very conservative person. But I have never been asked to join the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, ever.”
Campbell said the caucus comprises about 16 members, and the media credits it too much for some conservative measures that enjoy much more sweeping support — perhaps by 50 or more House members.
The Browns
Incumbent Rep. Landon Brown defeated challenger Exie Brown by 17 votes in the 2024 Republican primary for their Cheyenne-based House District 9.
Landon Brown on Tuesday declared what he called his final House run in an interview with Cowboy State Daily. He said he may run for a leadership position in the House as well, citing a need for experience there. Landon is entering his 10th year in the chamber.
He had considered running for the state Senate seat from which Sen. Stephan Pappas announced his retirement in March, but when Mark Rinne declared, Landon Brown said he was unwilling “to split that vote.”
He’s working through big changes in his professional career and would like to focus on those after one last House term, he said.
Landon cast his race this year as an effort to curb the forays of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus. He’s a frequent opponent of the caucus’s efforts.
“Some of the decisions they made this year got their hands caught in the cookie jar,” said Landon Brown, describing Freedom Caucus-driven proposals to cut the University of Wyoming by $40 million and defund and dismantle the Wyoming Business Council.
“I think I’ve got the chance to make this right with one last run, then I’m done,” he said.
Landon Brown and other lawmakers derided the proposed cut to UW as random and ill-planned. The House made late changes to lessen the reduction, and the cut was scrapped altogether in the course of negotiations with the state Senate’s budget planners.
Landon Brown cast the proposed cut as a “big, boisterous move” of “just randomly cutting $40 million without any understanding of where they were going to cut from.”
When pressed during House debate, some proponents of the cut attributed it to cultural issues at the university, such as reported moves based on diversity, equity and inclusion-style governance.
House Speaker Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, had countered claims the plan was arbitrary, telling reporters in a mid-session press conference that it was devised mostly as a blanket cut so that the university would retain the discretion to pull from areas that could best sustain the reductions.
Landon Brown also voiced disagreement with the failed plan to defund the Wyoming Business Council, calling that effort an affront to the state’s efforts to diversify its economy.
He also discussed an Appropriations subcommittee, led by Freedom Caucus member Rep. Ken Pendergraft, R-Sheridan, geared toward trimming the Wyoming Department of Health’s budget.
“They found out the state Department of Health is doing a fantastic job of doing what they’re supposed to be doing — and actually increased their spending,” said Landon Brown of the Legislature’s budget planners.
Exie’s Rerun
Exie Brown told Cowboy State Daily in a Tuesday email that he believes his chances this time are “very good” considering the narrow split in 2024.
“Two years ago I jumped into the race at the last minute and people didn’t really know who I was,” wrote Exie Brown. “Since the election, people have got to know me really well and my support has continued to grow. I’ve been able to take a good amount of time to visit with people, listen to their concerns, and build on those relationships.”
He said the constituents have an appetite for “new and true representation.”
“People in that county pocket reached out to me to represent them during the process and not their current representative,” said Exie.
He’s running on protecting legacy industries like coal, oil and natural gas, fighting “wasteful carbon capture policies and the green energy scam of wind and solar,” and pursuing long-term property tax reform as well as reducing regulation.
He said he wants to focus on small businesses, fight for teachers rights and appropriate pay, defend homeschool families and emphasize trades training.
Exie Brown accused his opponent of taking marching orders from groups that fund his campaign.
He said he attended the lawmaking session to stay on top of the issues, network and testify to committees.
Exie Brown said he appreciates the efforts of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, but is a “free independent thinker” with strong conservative principles.
This Time, Says Ward
Former Rep. Jeanette Ward, R-Casper, held her seat for one term before local woman Julie Jarvis primaried her by 138 votes, or 12.5% of their shared 1,108 votes.
Ward, who was a Freedom Caucus member, is back for round two.
“I am running again because the people of (Wyoming’s House District 57) are conservative: pro-life, pro-freedom, pro-2nd Amendment, and pro-family, and they deserve representation that reflects that,” wrote Ward after requesting Cowboy State Daily interview her via email. “When I represented WY HD57 in 2023 and 2024 in the 67th Legislature, what I told voters about myself is exactly how I voted. My voting record speaks for itself.”
Ward said she believes she has the edge this time, “because 2024 voters were not aware that Julie Jarvis misrepresented who she was to get elected. Voters were not aware that she would vote with DEMOCRATS 80% of the time. She's pro-death, anti-freedom and anti-woman, and she ran as a Republican!”
Ward pointed to her own website, which contains screenshots from the Legislature’s real-time vote tracker and Ward’s own commentary.
For example, Ward wrote in a Feb. 10 Facebook post, “Rep Jarvis just voted for murdering babies with a heartbeat who feel pain” — a reference to Jarvis’ "no" vote on the Human Heartbeat Act. The act bans nearly all abortions after the point at which a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
“Help me get her out of office,” wrote Ward, directing readers to her site to make donations.
The Counter
Jarvis countered, pointing to her own website, as well as the survey she poses to district residents, which she said informs her legislative decision-making.
One of those survey points showed 32% of her surveyed constituents calling for Wyoming to be pro-life with exceptions, 29% calling for the state to be hands-off with the issue, 25% calling for a “pro-choice” stance and 14% urging “pro life with NO exceptions.”
The heartbeat act lacks rape and incest exceptions, but contains exceptions for serious health risks to the mother.
Jarvis pointed to Ward’s and others’ frequent attacks on her, saying they’re arriving early and growing overt this election season.
“I am just encouraging people to check the facts and reach out to me,” said Jarvis. “I’m happy to show them where they can find the real facts.”
She’s gearing up to dispatch another survey in May, said Jarvis.
“The claims that are already coming out about me on social media and the mailers, they’re just not true,” said Jarvis. “I kept my word. I voted the way my constituents asked me.”
Jarvis said the attacks are challenging, but the weight of duty compels her to run again.
“I’m from Wyoming, for Wyoming. And this is my state. It’s the place I grew up, and it’s the place I want to retire — and it’s the place I hope my children stay,” said Jarvis. “If we’re not willing to stand up for our state, what’s the alternative?”
At This Moment In Time
As of Tuesday, former Rep. Tony Niemiec said in a phone interview that he hadn’t decided “at all” whether to challenge Rep. Marlene Brady, who ousted him in the 2024 GOP primary.
Brady, a Republican from Green River, volleyed in her own brief phone interview, saying she hasn’t made any announcements either.
Niemiec chairs the Sweetwater County Republican Party, and that’s “going really well” he said, emphasizing the busy week the party has ahead with nominating candidates to replace the Sweetwater County Clerk of District Court, who has resigned.
Brady defeated Niemiec in the 2024 primary election by a vote of 566 to 520, or 4.2% of their shared vote.
No Comment
Former Rep. Jon Conrad, a Republican of southwestern Wyoming’s House District 19, gave a “no comment” Tuesday in reference to whether he’ll run again for the seat he held for one term.
Rep. Joe Webb, R-Lyman, defeated Conrad in the 2024 primary election by a vote of 1,019-792, or 12.5% of their shared vote.
And A Nope
Former Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, had served 19 years in the state House before his 2024 primary election ouster by now-Rep. Ann Lucas.
Zwonitzer gave a hard no on the rematch topic, via text message Tuesday.
“I have no plans to run for the (House District 43) seat,” he wrote. “I’m already supporting an amazing candidate who will be announcing in a couple weeks.”
Lucas announced last week she’s seeking a second term.
Four Years Later
To contemplate rematches in the current state Senate races, one looks back to 2022 since senators have four-year terms.
Former Sen. RJ Kost lost his seat in Powell-based Senate District 19 to now-Sen. Dan Laursen in the 2022 Republican primary election. The pair had a third contender, R. Ray Peterson.
Kost, Laursen, and Peterson respectively nabbed 1,866, 2,580, and 1,557 votes.
Kost announced last month he’s running for the Senate again.
Laursen did not return a late-day Cowboy State Daily voicemail for comment by publication.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
