Senate District 6
In Platte County, Taft Love edged out Roy Birt for Senate District 6 in the Republican Primary by a vote of 1,394 to 1,156, with 13 write-in votes.
Love, a former Laramie County Republican Party chairman, was chosen by Laramie and Platte County commissioners to represent SD6. It was vacated by former Sen. Darin Smith, who was picked by Trump as U.S. District Attorney for Wyoming.
In the Democrat primary, no candidates filed. There were 10 write-in votes in SD6.
— Mark Heinz
Senate District 15
Incumbent state Sen. Wendy Schuler, R-Evanston, easily won Tuesday’s four-way Republican primary for Senate District 15.
Schuler received 2,551 votes, defeating Tina Johnson with 1,041, Jen Hegeman at 350 and Chris Katzl at 184, according to unofficial Uinta County results.
Schuler, who has served in the Senate since 2019, has been a prominent advocate for legislation barring transgender athletes from competing in girls sports. Earlier this month, as several Republicans claimed some credit for the policy, Schuler told Cowboy State Daily she was happy for the support but emphasized it was the Legislature that got the bill “across the finish line.”
— Kolby Fedore
Senate District 19
R.J. Kost will return to his previously held position after defeating Paul Hoeft in the Senate District 19 GOP primary.
Kost represented SD19 from 2019 to 2022. He lost to incumbent Dan Laursen, who didn’t seek re-election in favor of an unsuccessful bid to win an open seat on the Park County Commission.
The final total was 2,762 votes for Kost and 2,395 for Hoeft between Park and Big Horn counties.
Kost ran on supporting schools and educators, maintaining pro-life values and a strong economy, and “putting the Bighorn Basin first.”
“For me, this campaign isn’t about climbing a political ladder,” he said. “It’s about ensuring that our farms and ranches, our schools, and our small businesses have a seasoned, steady hand representing them.”
Hoeft has represented Senate District 25 since January 2025. He promoted his campaign on bringing and defending “conservative results to Cheyenne."
His website touted his support for the 25% property tax reduction, school choice, election integrity, immigration accountability, and the requirement that CDL drivers prove their English-language proficiency.
Hoeft is also a member of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus. He co-sponsored several of its bills during his first session in the Wyoming Legislature.
— Andrew Rossi
Senate District 27
Casper’s Senate District 27 to fill the GOP seat of longtime outgoing state Sen. Bill Landen went to Kevin Helling.
Helling received 1,928 votes, or 52.97%, to 1,093, or 30.03%, for Marcia Neumiller, and 612, or 16.81%, for Jim Corkery.
All the candidates ran on “conservative values” of limited government, lower property taxes, and parental rights.
Helling is a Casper surgeon who marketed himself as a “steady hand for Wyoming.” He too advocated conservative principles and wrote that faith, personal responsibility, and the “freedom to live and work without unnecessary government interference” are the values needed to “guide everyday decisions for families and small businesses” in Wyoming.
Neumiller, the president of Natrona County Republican Women, is a certified paralegal in family law who is pursing a master’s degree in mental health counseling. She, too, advocated for “local values” included parental rights, the Second Amendment, strengthening the energy, agriculture, and tourism sectors and “improving workforce development.”
Corkery is a businessman and ski patrol volunteer who ran on property tax reform, government accountability, and school choice.
No Democrat filed in the race.
— Dale Killingbeck
House District 4
In Platte County, Rep. Jeremy Haroldson ran unopposed, garnering 1,843 votes. There were 210 write-in votes.
— Mark Heinz
House District 5
Joe Speckner easily defeated Karen Weber in the House District 5 GOP primary to represent Goshen County.
Speckner received 1,969 votes, or 76.14%, to Weber’s 614, or 23.74%, according to unofficial Goshen County results.
— Kolby Fedore
House District 19
Chad Stephens defeated incumbent state Rep. Joe Webb in the GOP primary for House District 19.
Stephens received 1,327 votes to Webb’s 881, according to unofficial Uinta County results, giving Stephens about 60% of the vote.
Webb, R-Lyman, was elected to the Wyoming House in 2024.
— Kolby Fedore
House District 24
Quinn Blair has beaten incumbent Nina Webber in the primary election for House District 24, which serves Cody.
Blair finished with 65.69% of the vote to Webber’s 33.88%.
“Thank you, Park County,” Blair told Cowboy State Daily. “I am grateful for the trust you have placed in me. I am especially grateful to the true Wyoming conservatives who showed up, stood their ground, and made their voices heard! I look forward to representing House District 24 honestly, thoughtfully, and with integrity.”
Blair is the general manager of Blair Hotels, founded by his grandfather, Quinton Blair. He’s also the chair of the Park County Travel Council and has served on the board of directors of the Cody Country Chamber of Commerce and the Wyoming Office of Tourism.
Since announcing his candidacy, Blair has focused on a “Wyoming first” agenda, saying ideology and partisan politics shouldn’t get in the way of bills and policies that benefit the people of Wyoming.
“Representation begins with the people," he said. “It is my sincere hope that you will reach out to discuss the issues, ideas, and projects that matter to you. Time to get to work for Wyoming.”
Webber has represented House District 24 since January 2025. Her 2026 campaign website was “under construction” as of Aug. 18.
Webber is not an official member of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus but has been closely associated with its members, voting for or sponsoring nine of its 10 bills during the last legislative session.
— Andrew Rossi
House District 25
John Wetzel, the current mayor of Powell, has won the primary for House District 25 over Matthew Legler. Wetzel got 51.74% of the vote to Legler’s 48.06%.
"Tonight, I'm humbled and grateful,” Wetzel told Cowboy State Daily. “To the voters of House District 25 — thank you for placing your trust in me. I don't take that lightly, and I'll work every day to earn it.”
Wetzel made a point to thank his volunteers for the “countless hours” they gave to his campaign “knocking doors, making calls, putting up signs, showing up again and again.
“This win belongs to you as much as it does to me,” he said.
Wetzel also extended thanks to Legler.
“He ran a good race, and he did it as a gentleman from start to finish,” he said. “Any negativity in this campaign came from outside PACs, not from Matt, and I respect him for staying above that. Wyoming is fortunate to have citizens willing to step up and run for office, and Matt is one of them.
"Now it's time to go to work. I look forward to heading to Cheyenne and representing Powell, Park County, and all of House District 25 with the same integrity and dedication this community has shown me. Thank you."
— Andrew Rossi
House District 26
Dalton Banks won the primary for House District 26 over J. Allison Aagard to represent Park and Big Horn counties.
Banks had 65.13% of the vote to Aagard's 34.36%. The total was 1,938 votes for Banks and 644 votes for Aagard.
Banks has represented HD26 since January 2023.
— Andrew Rossi
House District 29
Myca Sturtevant held a commanding lead in the three-way Republican primary for Wyoming House District 29 in Sheridan County with James Temple and Noll Roberts trailing.
With most votes counted, Sturtevant had 1,315 followed by Temple with 580 and Roberts with 154.
The race was the only three-way primary contest for a Sheridan County legislative seat.
Sturtevant, a small-business owner and mother who owns Whirly Girl Flowers, campaigned on priorities such as health care, small businesses and public lands. Her family has lived in Sheridan for more than a decade.
She also has defended the Wyoming Business Council during public debates, arguing the organization plays an important role in creating job opportunities and encouraging younger Wyoming residents to remain in the state.
Temple, who moved to Sheridan in 2019, has taken a more skeptical view of government involvement in economic development and job creation.
When he announced his campaign in March, Temple criticized Republicans who, in his view, support expanded government, higher taxes, increased spending and so-called clean energy initiatives.
“There is an epidemic of politicians who claim to be Republicans, yet consistently vote in favor of big government, higher taxes, ‘clean’ energy, and increased spending,” Temple said when announcing his campaign.
Temple is a U.S. Air Force veteran who served during Desert Storm and worked as a police officer in Norfolk, Virginia.
In Sheridan, he was a supervisor for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Census Division and a drivers license examiner for WYDOT. He also served as election supervisor for the 2023 and 2024 Sheridan County elections and chaired the Sheridan County Republican Party.
Temple was dismissed from his election supervisor position in 2024 after the election, which he described as successful. He has said he was surprised by the termination.
The circumstances surrounding his departure included disagreements with Sheridan County Clerk Eda Schunk Thompson over election administration, including the use and security of ballot drop boxes.
Drop boxes have become a contentious issue in Wyoming and nationally, with critics raising concerns about ballot security and potential ballot harvesting. Wyoming counties generally place drop boxes under video surveillance.
Roberts, meanwhile, trailed both candidates by a wide margin, with 154 votes.
— Kate Meadows
House District 30
First-time candidate and Sheridan native Ryan Koltiska pulled away in Sheridan County’s House District 30 race, handily beating former state Rep. Mark Jennings 1,632-972, according to unofficial results.
Jennings held the Sheridan-area seat for 10 years before leaving the House two years ago to run for Senate District 22. That race was won by Barry Crago of Buffalo.
Jennings announced in February he would seek his former House seat.
Koltiska returned to his hometown after spending five years in South Dakota. He is director of development at The Hub on Smith senior center in Sheridan. He announced his candidacy in May.
“Sheridan County is home in every sense of the word,” Koltiska previously told Sheridan Media. “My family has been part of this community for well over a century, on the land, in our churches, in our schools and in civic life.”
Koltiska said he would focus on three priorities: Keeping Wyoming affordable for working families, supporting strong schools that prepare the next generation, and protecting the quality of life in Sheridan County.
During the campaign, Jennings said one of the questions he heard most from voters was how to address Wyoming’s rising property taxes.
His approach was encouraging individuals and the government to live within their means.
Jennings has previously emphasized his support for smaller government and a state government that focuses on efficient spending.
The House District 30 seat is held by Republican Rep. Tom Kelly, who won the seat in November 2024. Kelly ran for Wyoming superintendent of public instruction, leaving the seat open for the 2026 election. He lost his bid to Steve Harshman on Tuesday night.
— Kate Meadows
House District 35
House District 35 two-term incumbent Rep. Tony Locke was defeated by challenger Christopher Dresang in a rematch from the 2024 primary.
Dresang, an administrator in Natrona County schools, received 1,377 votes, or 56.76%, to Locke’s 1,046, or 43.12%.
“I think that it is a win for Wyoming in that we can start moving past the dis-regulation that has gotten in the way of collaboration between the House, the Senate and the governor,” Dresang said. “I know that Tony was careful to say that he was not part of the Freedom Caucus, but his votes were in support of their work.”
Dresang lost to Locke in 2024 by 137 votes. A Casper native, he campaigned against outside money, influence and agendas in the district. He posted on his website that he opposed “any legislation that strips local governments, school boards, or property owners of their authority to govern themselves.”
Locke was first elected to the Legislature in 2022. He campaigned as a pro-life, pro-Second Amendment conservative and in the last legislative session sponsored property tax exemption reduction legislation.
“As someone who champions limited taxes and small government, I firmly believe in the principles of fiscal responsibility and individual liberty,” he said.
There are no Democratic candidates for the HD 35 seat in November.
— Dale Killingbeck
House District 37
Educator Brian Costello defeated two other challengers to claim the GOP nod for Casper’s House District 37 that opened up when longtime Rep. Steve Harshman opted to seek the superintendent of public instruction seat.
Costello garnered 1,408 votes, or 52.95%, to 843, or 31.70%, for Ross Schriftman, and 398, or 14.97%, for Donna Rice.
Costello, a teacher, coach and small businessman, had the endorsement of Harshman and believes it made a difference.
“It’s humbling and I am honored to try to pick up and take over for Steve Harshman’s seat and help the people of Casper and House District 37 and all of Wyoming.”
Costello said his plans for serving involve “common sense, more results, and less drama.”
In his campaign, Costello advocated for more efforts to retain the young people in the state through affordable housing, improved health care, and “responsible tax relief that protects taxpayers while maintaining essential services and infrastructure.”
Schriftman, 73, said he believes in limited government and wanted to be a “watch dog” for district residents.
“I chose Wyoming because our people still value freedom, responsibility, and local control,” he said. “After getting involved locally by showing up and speaking up, and doing the work, I am running to protect taxpayers, defend parents, and push back on the culture of big spending and backroom government.”
Rice, an attorney in Casper, characterized herself as a woman of “faith and family” and has served for the past five years as the state’s Republican secretary.
“We are facing an aging poplulation, we’re facing houseing challenges, healthcare challenges, we have a variety of things in our energy industry that need attention and yet we also have some amazing opportunities right now,” she said. “We are a people who can solve any problem if we simply face it with the understanding of the freedoms we’ve been given, of the solid foundation our Founding Fathers put in place, and we work together to find solutions.”
Costello will face Democrat Betsy Erickson in November.
— Dale Killingbeck
House District 38
GOP challenger Robert Hendry, a former Natrona County commissioner, defeated House District 38 incumbent Jayme Lien in the Republican primary.
Hendry received 938 votes, or 51.65%, to Lien’s 869, or 47.85%.
“The whole state was kind of crazy because of the Freedom Caucus and they got a comeuppance tonight,” Hendry said. “I think we can go down there and do some real business for the state and I think that’s what’s good about it.”
Hendry said he believes it is time to start doing the “state’s business” again and stop talking about election fraud and “all the stuff they wanted to push on us.”
Hendry, a rancher and businessman from Lysite, campaigned on doing “what’s best for Wyoming.”
“I will not get my marching orders from a political caucus, interest group, or party faction,” he said.
Lien defines herself as a “constitutional conservative” and has served on the Judiciary Committee, Revenue Committee, and Select Gaming and Management Committee.
During her first term Lien was the primary sponsor for the “What is a Woman Bill” that defined what is a man and a woman under Wyoming statute. She also sponsored legislation aimed at protecting state residents from AI-generated criminal offenses such as using artificial intelligence to create sexual material that realistically depicts another identifiable person.
Hendry will face Democratic candidate Catherine McQueen in November.
— Dale Killingbeck
House District 49
David Walton defeated incumbent state Rep. Robert Wharff to represent Uinta County in House District 49.
Walton received 1,173 votes to Wharff’s 765, according to unofficial Uinta County results, taking about 60% of the vote.
Wharff, R-Evanston, has represented House District 49 since 2021.
— Kolby Fedore
House District 50
Attorney David Hill of Cody has won the primary for House District 50 over Levi Asay. Cody is the hub of the district.
"The biggest thing is gratitude," Hill told Cowboy State Daily. "I'm grateful to everybody who supported my campaign and encouraged me throughout it. I'm grateful to my wife and boys, I'm grateful to Levi for running a clean campaign, and I'm grateful to everybody in Park County for showing up to vote.
Hill got 54.98% of the vote to 44.6% for Asay.
Hill previously challenged and lost to incumbent Rachel Rodriguez-Williams in the 2024 primary. Rodriguez-Williams ran for secretary of state in the 2026 primary, leaving HD 50 open.
"Al Simpson was my inspiration," Hill said of the late former Wyoming senator. "He told me that when he would run for office, he would always say 'I'll work hard to make you proud.' Now, I'm at that point, and my goal is to make everybody who voted for me proud and live up to those expectations."
— Andrew Rossi
House District 51
Republican incumbent Laurie Bratten defeated Susan Bigelow in the GOP primary, edging the first-time candidate by less than 140 votes to represent Sheridan County.
The unofficial poll numbers showed Bratten with 1,837 votes and Bigelow with 1,699.
At one point in the ballot counting the two were separated by six votes.
Bratten, who is finishing her first term representing Sheridan, announced her bid for re-election March 21 at the Sheridan County Republican Convention.
During her first term, Bratten worked on amendments aimed at restoring funding for the University of Wyoming and Wyoming Business Council. She also made property tax relief a major focus of her re-election campaign.
In February, Bratten personally funded a postcard campaign that went to every eligible Sheridan County homeowner who had not yet signed up for the state’s 25% residential property tax reduction. Her campaign has emphasized lasting property tax relief for homeowners, families, agricultural producers and small businesses.
Bigelow, a 30-year resident of northeast Wyoming, entered the race as a political newcomer with a background in economic development and higher education.
She has highlighted her role in helping attract Weatherby Inc. to Sheridan and said she has worked to strengthen technical education at Sheridan College and other Wyoming community colleges.
Her campaign priorities included expanding workforce training and economic diversification, particularly career and technical education programs designed to meet the needs of Wyoming’s current and future industries.
Bigelow also campaigned on fiscal responsibility, arguing the state should balance saving for future economic downturns in the energy sector with investments in infrastructure, education and other services.
— Kate Meadows
House District 52
With 99% of the votes counted, Ronda Boller had an eight-vote lead in the GOP House District 52 primary at 1 a.m. Wednesday.
Boller had 914 votes and Fortner 906 in an effort to represent Campbell County.
— Jeff Welsch
House District 53
Incumbent Christopher R. Knapp trounced Greg Schreurs in the GOP primary, garnering 60.8% of the vote in a district covering much of Campbell County. Knapp had 815 votes and Schreurs 525.
— Jeff Welsch
House District 56
Republican House District 56 incumbent Rep. Elissa Campbell will head to November as the GOP candidate with an unopposed shot at a second term.
Campbell defeated Pete Fox 1,234 votes, or 67.54%, to 580 votes, or 31.75%.
Campbell, who serves as the executive director for the Wyoming Foundation of Cancer Care, campaigned on her focus on local control, fiscal responsibility, and work to communicate and be transparent with constituents as worthy of a second term.
“Whether meeting with local municipalities and residents, advocating in committee hearings, or working on citizen-led legislation, I am focused on practical solutions that benefit Wyoming families, businesses, communities and future generations,” she said.
Fox, a retired engineer from the oil and gas industry, serves as the Natrona County Republican precinct committeeman. He said he reviewed Campbell’s voting patterns and decided that district needed a more balanced voice.
“This race is about priorities, leadership, and the future direction of House District 56,” Fox said. “As a longtime Casper resident, mechanical engineer, energy professional, husband, and father, I care deeply about Wyoming’s future and the opportunities available to the next generation.”
No Democrat has filed to run in the district.
— Dale Killingbeck
House District 59
Incumbent J.R. Riggins appeared to be having no problem holding on to his Natrona County seat, leading Neil Jeske 745-612 with 99% of the ballots counted.
— Jeff Welsch
House District 60
With 99% of the votes counted, Tony Niemiec was cruising to a GOP primary victory over incumbent and Freedom Caucus-endorsed candidate Marlene Brady in a House District 60 race that was called before 10 p.m.
Niemiec, who lost to Brady for the same seat by 46 votes in 2024, had 65.7% of the vote in the Sweetwater County race.
— Jeff Welsch
House District 62
In a district that covers parts of Natrona and Converse counties, a GOP primary rematch again saw incumbent Kevin Campbell defeat hopeful Edis Allen.
Campbell had 1,126 votes, or 60.57%, to 729 votes and 39.21% for Allen.
Both men told Cowboy State Daily earlier this year they looked forward to the race and neither wanted to embrace any association with the state’s Freedom Caucus.
Campbell pointed to his efforts to curb controversial solar and wind projects as well as his opposition to allowing nuclear waste into the state. He sponsored legislation that allows county government to nominate areas as industrial sovereign zones to encourage natural gas production.
Allen, an entrepreneur who owns dry cleaning stores in Casper, is a Marine Corps veteran who was only beholden to his neighbors and not to any caucuses.
He has participated in Leadership Wyoming and called himself a “regular guy.”
“I am beholden to my neighbors,” he told two hosts on a Glenrock podcast. “If we are going to continue in Cheyenne to say that we have a citizens’ legislature, we are going to need more of that.”
In 2024, official results showed that Campbell defeated Allen by six votes.
No Democrat filed for the district.
— Dale Killingbeck
