2024 Wyoming Senate election explained

Election Name:	2024 Wyoming State Senate election
Country:	Wyoming
Type:	legislative
Previous Election:	2022 Wyoming State Senate election
Previous Year:	2022
Next Election:	2026 Wyoming State Senate election
Next Year:	2026
Seats For Election:	15 of the 31 seats in the Wyoming Senate
Majority Seats:	16
Leader1:	Ogden Driskill
Color1:	FF0000
Party1:	Republican
Leaders Seat1:	1st district
Last Election1:	29 seats, 75.31%
Seats Before1:	29
Seats1:	29
Popular Vote1:	105,174
Percentage1:	89.78%
Leader2:	Chris Rothfuss
Color2:	0000FF
Party2:	Democratic
Leaders Seat2:	9th district
Last Election2:	2 seats, 17.28%
Seats Before2:	2
Seats Needed2:	14
Seats2:	2
Popular Vote2:	7,742
Percentage2:	6.61%
Swing1:	14.47%
Swing2:	10.67%
Map Size:	350px
President of the Senate
Before Election:	Ogden Driskill
Before Party:	Republican
After Party:	Republican

The 2024 Wyoming Senate election was held on November 5, 2024, to elect members of the Wyoming Legislature for its 68th session.^[1] Partisan primaries were held on August 20.^[2] Part of the 2024 United States elections, the election was held alongside races for state house, U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and the presidential election.

Summary

Summary of the 2024 Wyoming Senate election results

Party		Candidates	Votes	%	Seats
					Before	Up	Won	After	+/–
	Republican	15	105,174	89.78	29	15	15	29
	Democratic	3	7,742	6.61	2	0	0	2
	Write-in		4,227	3.61	—
Valid ballots			117,143	87.24	—
Blank or invalid ballots			17,139	12.76	—
Total			134,282	100%	31	15		31

Retiring incumbents

Five incumbents will not seek re-election.

Republicans

• District 6: Anthony Bouchard is retiring.^[3]
• District 8: Affie Ellis is retiring.^[4]
• District 10: Dan Furphy is retiring.^[5]
• District 14: Fred Baldwin is retiring.^[6]
• District 22: Dave Kinskey is retiring.^[7]

District 2

Republican primary

Nominee

• Brian Boner, incumbent senator since 2015

Results

Democratic primary

No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary. 7 write-in votes and 153 blank ballots were cast.

General election

District 4

Republican primary

Nominee

• Tara Nethercott, incumbent senator since 2017

Withdrawn

• Gregg Smith, army veteran^[8]

Results

Democratic primary

No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary. 104 write-in votes and 480 blank ballots were cast.

General election

District 6

Republican primary

Nominee

• Darin Smith, attorney, Christian Broadcasting Network executive and congressional candidate in 2016 and 2022

Candidates

• Gary Bjorklund, Air Force veteran^[9]
• Eric D. Johnston, farmer and Platte County, Wyoming commissioner (2015–2018)^[10]
• Taft C. Love, chair of the Laramie County, Wyoming Republican Party^[11]
• Marc Torriani, rancher and telecommunications worker^[10]
• Kim Withers, former CEO^[12]

Declined

• Anthony Bouchard, incumbent senator since 2017

Results

Democratic primary

No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary. 37 write-in votes and 281 blank ballots were cast.

General election

District 8

Republican primary

Nominee

• Jared Olsen, member of the Wyoming House of Representatives from the 11th district since 2017

Declined

• Affie Ellis, incumbent senator since 2017

Results

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Marguerite Herman, member of the Laramie County School District 1

Results

General election

District 10

Republican primary

Nominee

• Gary Crum, former Wyoming Cowboys football player

Candidates

• Keith Kennedy

Declined

• Dan Furphy, incumbent senator since 2021

Results

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Mike Selmer

Results

General election

District 12

Republican primary

Nominee

• John Kolb, incumbent senator since 2021

Candidates

• Jeff Ramaj, businessman^[13]

Results

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Kenilynn S. Zanetti, former member of the Wyoming House of Representatives from the 16th district (1995–2000)

Results

General election

6275 318 659395.18 4.82

District 14

Republican primary

Nominee

• Laura Taliaferro Pearson, rancher and bus driver^[14]

Candidates

• Albert Sommers, Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives (2023–present), majority leader of the Wyoming House of Representatives (2021–2023) from the 20th district (2023–present)
• Bill Winney, perennial candidate^[15]

Declined

• Fred Baldwin, incumbent senator since 2017

Results

Democratic primary

No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary. 27 write-in votes and 206 blank ballots were cast.

General election

District 16

Republican primary

Nominee

• Dan Dockstader, President of the Wyoming Senate (2021–2023), Majority Leader of the Wyoming Senate (2019–2021) from the 16th district (2009–present), member of the Wyoming House of Representatives from the 16th district (2007–2009)

Results

Democratic primary

No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary. 19 write-in votes and 258 blank ballots were cast.

General election

District 18

Republican primary

Nominee

• Tim French, incumbent senator (2021–present)

Candidates

• Landon Greer, member of the Cody, Wyoming city council (2013–2020)^[16]

Results

Democratic primary

No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary. 15 write-in votes and 164 blank ballots were cast.

General election

District 20

Republican primary

Nominee

• Ed Cooper, incumbent senator (2021–present)

Candidates

• Tom Olmstead

Results

Democratic primary

No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary. 34 write-in votes and 259 blank ballots were cast.

General election

District 22

Republican primary

Nominee

• Barry Crago, member of the Wyoming House of Representatives from the 40th district (2021–present)

Candidates

• Mark Jennings, member of the Wyoming House of Representatives from the 30th district (2015–present)

Declined

• Dave Kinskey, incumbent senator (2014–present)

Results

Democratic primary

No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary. 34 write-in votes and 246 blank ballots were cast.

General election

District 24

Republican primary

Nominee

• Troy McKeown, incumbent senator (2021–present)

Candidates

• Phil Christopherson, former CEO

Results

Democratic primary

No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary. 21 write-in votes and 88 blank ballots were cast.

General election

District 26

Republican primary

Nominee

• Tim Salazar, incumbent senator (2021–present)

Candidates

• Elizabeth Philp

Results

Democratic primary

No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary. 26 write-in votes and 238 blank ballots were cast.

General election

District 28

Republican primary

Nominee

• James Lee Anderson, incumbent senator (2013–present)

Candidates

• Bryce Reece, lobbyist

Results

Democratic primary

No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary. 21 write-in votes and 235 blank ballots were cast.

General election

District 30

Republican primary

Nominee

• Charles Scott, incumbent senator (1983–present)

Candidates

• Robert L. Hendry, former Natrona County, Wyoming commissioner^[17]
• Charles H. Schoenwolf

Results

Democratic primary

No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary. 25 write-in votes and 162 blank ballots were cast.

General election

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wyoming State Senate elections, 2024. February 22, 2024. Ballotpedia. en.
2. Web site: Secretary of State of Wyoming . Secretary of State of Wyoming . January 2024 . 2024 Key Election Dates . 10 July 2024.
3. News: Beck. Madelyn. Contentious far-right legislator Anthony Bouchard won’t run for reelection. May 30, 2024. WyoFile. June 5, 2024.
4. News: Habermann. Hannah. Navajo State Senator Affie Ellis will not seek another term in the legislature. March 22, 2024. Wyoming Public Radio. June 5, 2024.
5. News: Watson. David. Furphy retires from Wyoming Legislature, endorses Crum candidacy. May 3, 2024. Laramie Boomerang. June 5, 2024.
6. News: Sen. Baldwin announces retirement from Wyoming Legislature. February 28, 2024. Wyoming Tribune Eagle. June 5, 2024.
7. News: Kinskey not seeking reelection to Wyoming Senate. April 10, 2024. The Sheridan Press. June 5, 2024.
8. News: Wolfson . Leo . Cheyenne Political Newcomer Is First To Announce 2024 Candidacy For Legislature . 13 November 2024 . Cowboy State Daily . 12 December 2023.
9. Web site: Gary Bjorklund . Ballotpedia . 13 November 2024.
10. News: Wolfson . Leo . Challengers Line Up To Test Wyoming Senate Firebrand Anthony Bouchard . 13 November 2024 . Cowboy State Daily . 30 April 2024.
11. News: Gendron . Jared . Laramie County resident Taft Love announces bid for Wyoming Senate . 13 November 2024 . Cap City News . 24 May 2024.
12. News: Kim Withers Announces Candidacy for Wyoming State Senate District 6 . 13 November 2024 . Guernsey Gazette . 8 May 2024.
13. News: Jeff Ramaj Seeks Election in Senate District 12 . 13 November 2024 . Sweetwater NOW . 17 June 2024.
14. News: Maio . Pat . Kemmerer Bus Driver Beats House Speaker Albert Sommers In Stunning Senate Race Upset . 13 November 2024 . Cowboy State Daily . 21 August 2024.
15. News: Wolfson . Leo . Bill Winney Has Lost Six Times For Wyoming Legislature; Will 7th Try Be The Charm? . 13 November 2024 . Cowboy State Daily . 17 June 2024.
16. News: Hassrick . Buzzy . Cody businessman announces candidacy for State Senate District 18 . 13 November 2024 . Cody Enterprise . 15 May 2024.
17. News: Culkin . Tommy . Former Natrona Commissioner Hendry announces senate candidacy . 13 November 2024 . Oil City News . 22 March 2024.