Secretary of State Chuck Gray won the Republican nomination for Wyoming’s lone U.S. House seat on Tuesday.
According to unofficial results, Gray had 25.4% of the vote, philanthropist Steve Friess had 20.4%, combat veteran Kevin Christensen had 17.6%, former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow had 10.3%, Casper businessman Reid Rasner had 8.8%, former U.S. Army Ranger David Giralt had 8.2%, state Senate President Bo Biteman had 5.1%, former legislator Keith Goodenough had 2.7%, and Sundance resident Richard Dodson had 1.4%.
This sets Gray up to face Libertarian Party nominee Shawn Johnson, Democratic Party nominee Lisa Kinney and Constitution Party nominee Jeff Haggit n the Nov. 3 general election.
"I am incredibly humbled by the trust Wyoming Republicans have placed in me tonight," said Gray in a statement. "From the bottom of my heart, thank you to every voter, volunteer, and supporter, who stood with us throughout this campaign."
He vowed to work for Wyoming and he also urged Wyoming Republicans to unify and "win in November, and deliver the America first agenda the people of Wyoming voted for."
"President Trump needs a Republican Congress that will stand for our America First values," said Gray.
Gray declared his U.S. House run in late December after U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis touched off a round of musical chairs by announcing she would not run for another term.
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman declared her run for Senate, and Gray for House.
Gray has served one term as Secretary of State, before which he was a member of the state House.
People Know Him
His name recognition in Wyoming is indisputable.
He’s been outspoken on hot-button conservative issues, was the lone nay vote last year two massive and controversial wind farms slated for state lands, and quarreled so frequently with Gov. Mark Gordon, the governor urged him to “step outside” during a public meeting.
He was first elected to the Wyoming Legislature in 2016 and served three terms before winning statewide election.
He had won President Donald Trump’s endorsement in 2022, but not this election cycle, as the president chose not to endorse anyone in this race.
Gray lobbied extensively for stronger election laws. He campaigned this year in outright opposition to data centers.
Despite his father losing narrowly to Gordon in the 2018 primary election, Friess lacked the 10 years’ name recognition backing Gray.
Friess did not enter the race until April and then distributed a flurry of mailers telling Republican voters that he’s been a help to the president and a conservative force in national politics.
He spent more than any other candidate in this race at about $2.5 million and loaned himself $3 million as of July 29.
Rasner spent the second-most at $2.26 million as of July 29, followed by Gray at $1.38 million.
Rasner loaned himself $1.87 million and Gray $1.377 million as of July 29.
Friess, Rasner and Gray were by far the top earners and spenders in this race.
Notable superPACs also came to Friess' and Gray’s aid: the Protecting Wyoming Values PAC, which attacked Friess repeatedly, had gathered nearly $1 million, exclusively from Gray’s father, as of July 29.
The Wyoming Way Action PAC, which had attacked Gray, had raised $596,613 as of July 29, exclusively from the Outrider PAC, which was funded in part by Friess’s mother but also by other high-profile conservatives, such as Dubois philanthropist Dan Starks.
Christensen was a dark horse in this race, taking Teton County and potentially Albany (results still pending).
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
