Wyoming Secretary of State Mark Gordon has won a fiercely contested GOP primary to replace Republican Gov. Matt Mead. Gordon won the nomination Tuesday against five opponents, including GOP mega-donor Foster Friess and Cheyenne businessman Sam Galeotos.
Mead is term-limited after serving two full terms.
On Tuesday, Mr. Trump tweeted his support for billionaire Foster Friess.
Wyoming is among the reddest states, and Gordon is favored to win the general election and become governor.
The 61-year-old Gordon ranches near Buffalo, Wyoming, and served on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. His quiet and non-confrontational demeanor makes him the candidate most like Mead.
Gordon is finishing his first full term as treasurer, a job to which he was appointed in 2012
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso has fended off a well-funded challenger in Wyoming’s Republican primary.
Barrasso on Tuesday beat five opponents, including investor and Stanford University lecturer Dave Dodson of Jackson Hole. Dodson put $1 million of his own money toward a campaign that questioned Barrasso’s ties to corporate interests and Washington political insiders.
Barrasso won with help from long-standing name recognition and an endorsement from Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump won Wyoming by the largest margin of any state in 2016.
Barrasso’s campaign, meanwhile, questioned Dodson’s campaign contributions, including $1,000 to Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Dodson explained that he gave the money out of opposition to Sanders’ opponent, Hillary Clinton, but regretted it.
Barrasso faces Wilson businessman Gary Trauner in the general election. Trauner ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Trauner ran two unsuccessful campaigns for U.S. House a decade ago. In 2006, Trauner came within half a percentage point of beating Republican Rep. Barbara Cubin.
In 2008, he lost by a 9-point margin to former state treasurer and legislator Cynthia Lummis.
Trauner faces an uphill battle to win the general election. Wyoming hasn’t had a Democratic U.S. senator since Sen. Gale McGee left office in 1977.
Trauner has held a number of positions in Teton County, including president of the school board and chief operating officer of St. John’s Medical Center.
This is a developing story. Please check back for latest updates.
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