Republican state Sen. Eric Barlow won Wyoming’s gubernatorial primary on Aug. 18, defeating Trump-endorsed State Superintendent Megan Degenfelder and two other candidates to become the GOP nominee. Barlow will face Democrat Ken Casner, who ran unopposed in his party’s primary, in the Nov. 3 general election.
The Associated Press called the race at 10:54 p.m. ET, with Barlow leading Degenfelder by roughly 16 percentage points as vote counts neared completion. The primary also included retired Marine Col. Brent Bien and rodeo producer Curt Blake, who finished third and fourth, respectively.
Republican Primary Results
Barlow, a former state House speaker, emerged as the top vote-getter in a four-way contest. Degenfelder, who received a public endorsement from former President Donald Trump, had been considered the frontrunner. Trump praised Degenfelder in a Truth Social post, calling her a “Sixth Generation Wyomingite” and highlighting her role as state superintendent of public instruction.
Bien, who ran in the 2022 gubernatorial primary, finished third, while Blake, a professional bull rider, garnered fewer than 1,000 votes in early returns. Campaign finance reports cited by the Associated Press showed Barlow and Degenfelder each raised about $1.2–$1.3 million, while Bien reported $192,000 and Blake reported no fundraising.
Democratic Nominee Faces Uncontested Primary
Casner, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, is seeking to succeed term-limited Gov. Mark Gordon, a Republican. Gordon, who served two terms, chose not to challenge Wyoming’s two-term limit law and did not seek a third term.
Casner, who has run in the past two gubernatorial races, declined to detail his policy agenda in interviews. In an email to The Epoch Times, he stated, “My focus is on the people of Wyoming and the issues that directly affect our families and working class.” He did not provide further elaboration on his campaign platform.
General Election Outlook
Republicans hold a significant advantage in Wyoming, a state where every statewide elected office is currently held by a Republican. The Cook Political Report predicts the GOP will likely retain the governorship in November.
Barlow’s campaign has highlighted priorities including housing affordability, local control over data center proposals, and the creation of a “healthcare strike team” to reduce costs and regulatory burdens. Degenfelder’s campaign emphasized her experience in education and Trump’s endorsement as key assets.
The general election will also feature open races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, secretary of state, and superintendent of public instruction, marking an unusually high turnover in Wyoming’s political leadership.