CASPER — Incumbent Rep. Julie Jarvis handily held off a challenge from Wyoming Freedom Caucus member and former Rep. Jeanette Ward in Casper’s House District 57 on Tuesday and will head to November to face a Democratic opponent.
Jarvis received 685 votes, or 57.51%, to 496, or 41.65%, for Ward.
“I’m incredibly honored, thankful, humbled at the opportunity to continue to be transparent and serve House District 57,” Jarvis said. “It was a tough race. There were people that were talking about negative campaigning was a turnoff.”
Jarvis said people in her district were “burnt out” and that going door-to-door was challenging as she tried to combat a “whisper campaign” against her. She said she believes her “transparency with voters is what resonated most.
Jarvis said she believes Wyoming voters are tired of the divisiveness in campaigns and agreed that the state’s Freedom Caucus took a hit in the voting booths Tuesday.
“It was an incredible win for Wyoming in that context overall,” she said. “It doesn’t look like there are very many Freedom Caucus members returning this year.”
Ward did not immediately return a request for comment. She lost her seat by 138 votes in the 2024 primary.
Watching the Legislature from the outside this past term, she saw “how easily” the government can lose its way and “become disconnected” from the people,” she previously said.
“Wyoming voters elect legislators to pass laws reflecting their values, but those laws can be weakened or overturned by an unaccountable judiciary,” Ward said. “We need greater transparency and accountability throughout government, including reforming the judicial-evaluation process and requiring judges to interpret the Wyoming Constitution and our laws according to their plain, original meaning.”
Survey Philosophy
Jarvis campaigned on giving district residents her vote and promised “you decide on how I vote on data centers, property tax, and the other issues you care about most.”
The director of teaching and learning for the Natrona County School District, Jarvis said she sought another term because she wants to ensure it remains a great place to live.
“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,” she said. “If we’re not willing to stand up for our state, what’s the alternative?”
As for the current political environment and strategies that involve personal attacks and divisive messaging, Jarvis wrote on her social media page that campaigns should be about records and solutions.
“Challenge my votes, question my positions, and hold me accountable,” she wrote. “That’s exactly how representative government is supposed to work.”
Ward said politics becomes personal because people stop debating votes and policies and turn to attacking motives or character in another. She said that has not been her method or goal.
“I believe we should be direct and honest about a candidate’s public record, because voters deserve that information, but our disagreements should remain focused on principles, legislation and results,” she said. “Standing firmly for one’s convictions is not the same as being divisive. I will work respectfully with anyone, but I will not compromise the promises I made to the people simply to avoid disagreement.”
Ward said she would not represent herself as one way and then hide behind a "survey" to take votes that are “completely antithetical” to Republican principles.
“There's another party for that kind of representation,” she said.
Conservative Values
Ward said as a legislator she voted the way she told constituents she would and emphasized her commitment to life, freedom, the Second Amendment and the families in the district and the state.
“I am running again because the people of House District 57 deserve a representative who will keep those promises, not vote with Democrats more than 80% of the time as my opponent has,” Ward said. “I will stand firmly on the principles I represent and fight for them even when doing so is difficult.”
Jarvis voted against the Human Heartbeat Act, ultrasound requirements for chemical abortions and basic safety standards for abortion facilities, Ward said.
Jarvis has emphasized her representation is a reflection of the desire of the people in the district. She surveyed registered voters and said she used those results to inform her stance on legislation, including the Human Heartbeat Act, which she opposed because of the lack of rape and incest exceptions.
Jarvis posted a chart on her campaign’s social media page showing she voted with the Republicans 91% of time during her past term while Ward during her two years voted 70% of the time with the GOP.
Ward had 93 “no votes on 309 bills passed while Jarvis has had 23 “no” votes on 287 bills passed during the past term.
Jarvis now faces Democrat Luc Colgrove in November.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
