Wyoming, known for its conservative politics, is gearing up for primary elections to select Republican candidates for federal and state legislative offices. The state has a strong Republican presence, with supermajorities in both state legislative chambers, and Democrats making up only 11% of the electorate. With just 56 Republican primaries contested, most candidates are expected to advance with no Democratic opponents in November.
Among the key contests in Wyoming’s primary are the races for U.S. Senate and the at-large U.S. House seat. Incumbent Sen. John Barrasso and Rep. Harriet Hageman face challengers in the GOP primary, but are not expected to face serious threats. Hageman’s opponent has not reported any fundraising to the FEC, while Barrasso’s opponent, businessman Reid Rasner, has raised $1.2 million compared to Barrasso’s $5 million.
Polls will close at 9 p.m. EDT on primary day, and the Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in contested primaries for Senate, House, state Senate, and state House races. Only voters registered with a political party may participate in that party’s primary, following a law change in 2023 that restricts cross-party voting. Wyoming has 23 counties, with the most populous being Laramie and Natrona, both Republican-leaning despite a few Democratic strongholds.
Turnout and advance voting figures indicate that about 60% of registered voters participated in the Republican primary in the last midterm election, compared to 3% in the Democratic primary. As of July 1, there were nearly 222,000 registered voters in Wyoming, with 11% Democrats and 81% Republicans. About 23,000 ballots had been cast before primary day, with the majority in the Republican primary. Vote-counting in past elections wrapped up around 2:00 a.m. EDT on election night, with results typically reported within minutes of polls closing.
Looking ahead to the November general election, Wyoming Republicans are expected to maintain their dominance in the state. While a few Democratic strongholds exist, such as Teton and Albany counties, Republican Governor Mark Gordon still won those counties in the last election. The AP does not make projections and will only declare winners when there is no chance for trailing candidates to catch up. Recounts are automatic if the margin is less than 1%, but candidates can request and pay for a recount in case of alleged fraud or errors. Overall, Wyoming’s elections are shaping up to highlight the state’s strongly conservative political landscape.
