President Donald Trump endorsed Secretary of State Chuck Gray for Wyoming’s lone U.S. House seat Tuesday.
“Chuck Gray has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next U.S. Representative from Wyoming – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” says a Tuesday TruthSocial post by the president’s account.
The post says that Gray, who won the Republican nomination with about 25% of the vote on Aug. 18, “has been a tremendous Secretary of State for the Great state of Wyoming, a place I love and WON BIG in 2016, 2020 and 2024!”
Gray thanked the president publicly for the endorsement, writing in a text to Cowboy State Daily that, “As President Trump said, I have a real track record of advancing the key priorities of the people of Wyoming, and I will continue that track record in Congress.”
“Together,” added Gray, “we will defend our Wyoming way of life.”
The president’s TruthSocial post calls Gray “an America First Patriot, and true friend of MAGA.”
“As your next Congressman,” the post says, “Chuck will fight tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Support our Amazing Farmers and Ranchers, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, Advance Election Integrity, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.”
Libertarian Not Shocked At All
Gray faces three opponents heading into the Nov. 3 general election: combat medic and attorney Shawn Johnson (Libertarian), 10-year legislator and attorney Lisa Kinney (Democratic), and instrument technician Jeff Haggit (Constitution).
Johnson’s vocal tone equated Tuesday to a shrug.
“Well I mean it doesn’t surprise me,” said the Libertarian of the president’s endorsement. “(Gray is) the Republican nominee.”
Johnson said Gray has already proven loyalty to the White House by handing over the sensitive voter data.
"Energy dominance, does that include more forever wars, more attacks on the Middle East?" asked Johnson.
The Libertarian also noted paradoxes in Trump’s statement.
The president has a rocky relationship with both the farm and ranch sector and the Second Amendment. He cast them both as vital to protect, in his endorsement message.
Tariffs, the high costs of diesel and Trump’s maneuvers to import foreign beef have wrought controversy with ranchers and farmers.
His administration also defended the National Firearms Act in Court in recent months.
“I don’t think the administration’s policy on oil and gas, or even (toward) Wyoming’s ranchers and farmers has been very friendly,” said Johnson. “So let’s hope (Gray’s) policy doesn’t align with the White House, if that’s the case."
Questions To Answer
Kinney pointed to Gray’s consistent pro-Trump messaging, and decision to hand sensitive voter data to the federal government last year; and she questioned whether Gray answers to the president or the people of Wyoming
Kinney also pointed to some of the president's more outlandish statements, and questioned whether Gray supports those.
At a campaign rally Monday in Nebraska, the president said high gas prices are "a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe." And he suggested Iran "can take out a city. Let them take, let it, let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego."
Gray has vowed to halt AI data centers, while Trump supports them, and has made headlines for saying that communities that resist them will be "backwards and poor."
Trump has also backed efforts to sell public lands, while Gray says they should be protected.
"There's a friendship there, can it be broken?" Kinney asked. "And I think with the president coming in and endorsing him, I think Chuck has quite a few questions to answer and he needs to tell the people of Wyoming who he's supporting.
Haggit did not immediately return a voicemail request for comment.
The Third
This endorsement marks the president's third in Wyoming this election cycle. He did not endorse anyone in the chaotic, 10-candidate (later nine) Republican primary race for U.S. House before Gray won the nomination.
Trump has a mixed record so far.
He endorsed Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder for governor in January. Degenfelder finished second in the primary election, as Sen. Eric Barlow won the GOP nomination in every county.
The president also has endorsed Rep. Harriet Hageman for U.S. Senate, who won her primary bid with 67% of the vote over three contenders.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
