The Wyoming Republican Party’s leadership committee endorsed Brent Bien for governor, Chuck Gray for U.S. House, and Harriet Hageman for U.S. Senate during a virtual meeting Monday evening.
The roughly 50-person voting committee also endorsed Rep. Scott Smith in his bid for state treasurer, Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams in her bid for secretary of state, and Rep. Tom Kelly for superintendent of public instruction.
In releasing the endorsements, the party Central Committee’s majority broke recent tradition – and arguably state law – by choosing to back some Republicans over others before the Aug. 18 primary election is final.
While that law references financial backing, state GOP Chair Bryan Miller told members in April it’s been interpreted to bar endorsements too.
But party leadership is waging an ongoing federal legal challenge in an effort to have that state law overturned as a violation of the party’s First Amendment rights.
Proponents of letting the party endorse people pre-primary have called it a move toward freedom. Opponents have called it an “insider” maneuver, or disrespectful to the law or Republican voters.
Numerous members of the roughly 50-member voting body cast “abstain” and “no” votes during roll calls Monday.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to be endorsing candidates at all,” said Hot Springs County GOP state committeeman Phil Scheel during a debate on whether to endorse Hageman, a sitting U.S. representative, in her run for U.S. Senate. “So I am going to suggest the group vote down this motion.
State Republican Party Vice-Chair Bob Ferguson, who had chaired the candidate endorsement vetting committee, ruled Scheel’s comment out of order.
The state central committee majority already approved a bylaw calling for vetting and endorsements at its convention in April, so Monday’s discussion should have been on Hageman’s merits, said Ferguson.
Niobrara County GOP Chair Janae Miller typed a comment into the Zoom meeting chat.
“Niobrara county constituents have been vocal in their opposition to endorsing any candidate no matter their excellent or poor performance,” wrote Miller. “They want the voters to decide at the polls.”
No conversation on Hageman’s merits unfolded. She won the endorsement with 32 in favor, five (including Scheel) against and 14 members abstaining.
This followed a vetting process in which the party dispatched questionnaires to statewide candidates, asking whether they agree with the 23 planks of the state GOP platform.
U.S. House Race
The body voted 33 in favor, four against, to endorse Gray, who is currently Secretary of State. Fourteen members abstained from the vote.
Fremont County GOP Chair Ginger Bennett had called Gray a “stalwart” who comes to Republican Party events, “and he donates, and donates his time.”
State House Rep. Nina Webber, R-Cody, who also attended the meeting as a voting party member, said Gray has been “instrumental in pushing through a lot of the conservative movements.”
Park County GOP Chair Vince Vanata endorsed Gray “wholeheartedly.”
Mitch Benson, a state committeeman from Fremont County, said he endorses Gray but disputes things the candidate has said.
“The only thing I want to throw out is, we still have voter drop boxes in Lander,” said Benson.
Gray has made banning drop boxes one of his priorities, and in 2025 applauded the passage of a law designed to do so.
Ferguson called Benson’s commentary not germane.
“I’m endorsing him, all I’m saying is a lot of the things Chuck has said about voter integrity and getting rid of voter drop boxes is not true,” said Benson.
Miller interjected, saying the three-minute limit for debate had passed.
Gray is running in a 10-candidate field for the GOP nomination to U.S. House. He faces philanthropist Steve Friess, state Senate President Bo Biteman, Casper businessman Reid Rasner, Teton County-based attorney Frank Chapman, former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow, Casper-based veterans Kevin Christensen and David Giralt, former legislator Keith Goodenough and Casper man Richard Dodson.
Most candidates completed and submitted those questionnaires to become eligible for the endorsement process. Some did not, like U.S. House candidates Bo Biteman and Keith Goodenough; U.S. Senate candidate Sam Mead; and gubernatorial candidate Eric Barlow.
Governor, Secretary, Superintendent
The party committee voted 34-4 with 13 abstaining to endorse Bien for governor. He was part of a consent list with candidates from other races.
The retired Marine Corps colonel faces Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder, former state House Speaker and current Sen. Eric Barlow, and Centennial man Curt Blake in his primary bid.
Bien, Blake and Degenfelder all had submitted questionnaires to the party as part of the process.
Barlow did not.
“I am a Republican, and I agree with the Republican platform,” Barlow said in a statement earlier this month. “But in a contested Republican primary, the voters should decide. I will not seek or accept an endorsement from the Wyoming Republican Party before receiving the votes of Wyoming’s Republican electorate.”
Sheridan County GOP state committeeman Tod Windsor asked the party to make a vote opposing Barlow’s campaign.
“I ask we consider Eric Barlow,” began Windsor – a woman gasped – “someone we’re in opposition to as the party.”
Vanata seconded that. Fremont County state committeewoman and former legislator Sarah Penn said Democrats in her area support Barlow.
Benson said Barlow brushed aside a concern he raised earlier this year.
Scheel and Teton County GOP Chair Kat Rueckert both raised concerns against the opposition vote. Rueckert worried the Barlow campaign may sue the party.
A Washakie County delegate, Richard George, said opposing Barlow could “diminish” the party if Barlow is elected governor.
Natrona County delegate Marcia Neumiller called it “throwing mud” and urged the party to set a higher example.
“Aaannnnnd, the press is here recording all this,” wrote Nichole Odom in a soon-deleted chat message.
Miller had notified the committee before debate that Cowboy State Daily was present.
Benson uttered a profane comment right after Scheel voted not to oppose Barlow.
It’s uncertain what the comment was. Cowboy State Daily heard it as “f*ck you (inaudible).
Multiple members called Benson out of line. Ferguson warned him not to disrupt the meeting again.
The motion failed.
Treasurer, Secretary, Superintendent
The party approved endorsements for state Treasurer candidate Scott Smith, Secretary of State candidate Rachel Williams (also known as Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams) and Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Rep. Tom Kelly.
Those were part of the same consent list as Bien.
In a separate vote, the party majority voted 12-25 against endorsing current Treasurer Curt Meier in his bid for reelection. Meier had been removed from the consent list after Benson called his aye-vote on selling the lucrative Kelly parcel of state lands unconstitutional.
Giralt, So Close
Crook County Republican Party Chair Mark Koep asked the committee to vote in favor of supporting, rather than endorsing, Giralt for U.S. House.
“David Girlat didn’t’ meet all the vetting criteria because he doesn’t have enough history in the state,” said Koep, adding that he’s spoken to Giralt and “he seems like a good Republican. But right now I’m kind of guessing, because I don’t have enough history on it.”
Other members called Giralt engaged his military career “impressive.”
The committee voted 17-18 against extending a gesture of support to Giralt.
Degenfelder
Weston County GOP Chair Kari Drost asked the committee to vote against closing the meeting, saying they should consider endorsing Degenfelder.
Benson agreed, saying his precinct committee people are entrusting the state delegates with vetting candidates thoroughly no matter how long it takes.
George countered.
“I completely disagree with that last comment. I think if there’s anybody in this state that needs to vet the candidates, it’s the people. The people are going to do a fine job at it. We don’t always agree with it,” said George. “But to suggest that people are depending on the party to vet candidates I think is an assumption of power and responsibility that’s not delegated to us.”
The committee voted 24-19, nine abstaining, to close the meeting.
Degenfelder’s endorsement bid did not get a hearing.
Nope
Koep referenced a Cowboy State Daily “author” present in the meeting and suggested a retraction of the headline in a Monday story titled “Candidate Worries Wyoming GOP Doing ‘Pay To Play’ Endorsements.”
Koep said because the party voted against endorsing Meier, “that would fly in the face of that article.”
The story, rather, referenced the fact that, according to emails by party leaders, candidates’ past donations to the party have been approved as one of the vetting committee’s criterion.
It also cited a concern by Christensen that allowing that criterion creates a perception of a “pay to play” endorsement system.
Cowboy State Daily’s reporting drew from the party’s own emails, Christensen’s comments, and other candidates’ comments.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
