Wyoming Republican primary voters chose to re-elect U.S. Sen. John Barrasso and U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman instead of their challengers. Barrasso emerged as the winner against Reid Rasner and is anticipated to secure a third full term in the Senate, representing the heavily Republican state. Barrasso, who first joined the Senate in 2007, has been a prominent figure as the chair of the Senate Republican Conference and ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He is known for his opposition to the Biden administration’s policies on immigration and fossil fuel development, crucial issues for Wyoming’s economy as a major coal, oil, and natural gas producer.
Rasner, who supported similar positions but advocated for term limits, criticized Barrasso as being disconnected from reality and detrimental to Wyoming. Hageman, a natural resources attorney from a ranching background, beat Steven Helling in the primary. Hageman, enjoying the support of former President Donald Trump, has been actively working on issues important to the people of Wyoming, such as advocating for the removal of grizzly bears from protection under the Endangered Species Act.
In Democratic primary races, Scott Morrow and Kyle Cameron, both without prior political experience, were unopposed for Senate and House seats respectively. Wyoming, a state known for its conservative leanings and strong support for Trump, recently introduced a law preventing “crossover” registration, aiming to maintain Republican dominance and prevent Democrats from influencing GOP primary outcomes.
Noteworthy local contests included the mayoral primary in Cheyenne, where Mayor Patrick Collins faced competition from five candidates, including Victor Miller, a local library employee who ran as the representative of an AI chatbot he created. Miller, known as the “meat avatar,” acknowledged defeat but highlighted the discussions sparked by his unconventional candidacy. Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray raised concerns about the legality of an AI candidate running for office, but local officials allowed Miller’s AI persona, VIC, to appear on the ballot. The top two candidates in the mayoral primary will advance to the general election.
