Challenger Cameron Wright defeated incumbent Ocean Andrew by a vote of 1,255 to 808 on Tuesday, according to unofficial results of the House District 46 Republican primary election in Albany County.
Wright is a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and University of Wyoming engineering professor.
Andrew was elected to the Laramie-centered HD 46 in 2020 and took office on Jan. 4, 2021.
Andrew chairs the House Education Committee and serves on the Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration.
Wright moves on to face Democrat Gary Wilken in the Nov. 3 general election. Wilken ran unopposed and garnered 293 votes, against 7 write-ins, according to unofficial results at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.
"I'm just honored and humbled by the support of all the people who supported me," Wright told Cowboy State Daily shortly after the results were posted.
As a newcomer to the Wyoming Legislature, “I have a lot to learn, but I learn very quickly, and I look forward to serving House District 46,” he added.
Clash With UW Leadership
Wright made headlines last year when he clashed publicly with UW President Ed Seidel and others over whether university leadership could send state money earmarked for the UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences into a spinoff computing school— which Seidel’s romantic partner was leading.
Wright was dean of the engineering college when the controversy began. He asserted that the money could not be used that way and refused to divert it to the computing school. Two state lawmakers wrote to the governor, warning that Wright could suffer retaliation.
Months later Wright was demoted.
He later filed a legal challenge accusing UW of retaliation.
That suit’s “only purpose is to hold people accountable,” Wright said.
The case is ongoing.
Wright previously told Cowboy State Daily that his struggle with UW leadership didn’t drive his desire to run. But it pointed people his way, he said.
“It made me (get) noticed by people, since I was willing to stand up for integrity, risk my job for integrity,” he said. “I think that’s what drove them to ask me to run for the Legislature.”
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
