2018 Wyoming gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:	2018 Wyoming gubernatorial election
Country:	Wyoming
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Turnout:	73.45% registered 10.08% 41.16% of total population 7.16%
Previous Election:	2014 Wyoming gubernatorial election
Previous Year:	2014
Next Election:	2022 Wyoming gubernatorial election
Next Year:	2022
Election Date:	November 6, 2018
Image1:	File:Mark Gordon of Wyoming.jpg
Nominee1:	Mark Gordon
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	136,412
Percentage1:	67.12%
Nominee2:	Mary Throne
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	55,965
Percentage2:	27.54%
Map Size:	250px
Governor
Before Election:	Matt Mead
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	Mark Gordon
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

The 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the governor of Wyoming. Incumbent Republican governor Matt Mead was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term. Republican nominee Mark Gordon defeated Democratic nominee Mary Throne by nearly 40 percentage points.^[1]

This was the only time since 1978 that a candidate from the President's party was elected governor of Wyoming.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominated

• Mark Gordon, Wyoming State Treasurer^{[2] [3] [4]}

Declared

• Bill Dahlin, businessman^{[5] [6]}
• Foster Friess, businessman and activist^[7]
• Sam Galeotos, businessman^[8]
• Harriet Hageman, attorney and former Liz Cheney campaign advisor^[9]
• Taylor Haynes, physician, write-in candidate for governor in 2010 and candidate for governor in 2014^{[10] [11]}

Withdrew

• Rex Rammell, veterinarian and perennial candidate^[12] (running for Constitution Party nomination)^[13]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Foster Friess	Sam Galeotos	Mark Gordon	Harriet Hageman	Taylor Haynes	Other	Undecided
University of Wyoming	August 17–19, 2018	357	–	20%	10%	align=center	26%	18%	9%	1%^[14]	15%
The Trafalgar Group (R)	August 11–14, 2018	1,775	± 2.4%	align=center	21%	10%	20%	16%	6%	8%^[15]	20%
University of Wyoming	June 18–20, 2018	596	± 4.0%	6%	14%	align=center	19%	11%	10%	1%	align=center	35%

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominated

• Mary Throne, former Minority Leader of the Wyoming House of Representatives^{[16] [17]}

Declared

• Ken Casner, candidate for governor in 2002^[18]
• Michael Allen Green, nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000^[18]
• Rex Wilde, candidate for governor in 2010^[18]

Declined

• James W. Byrd, state representative^[19] (running for secretary of state)
• Ryan Greene, nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016 (running for Mayor of Rock Springs)^{[20] [3] [21]}
• Chris Rothfuss, Minority Leader of the Wyoming Senate and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2008^{[10] [3]}
• Milward Simpson, director of the Wyoming Nature Conservancy
• Gary Trauner, businessman and nominee for U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 and 2008 (running for U.S. Senate)^[22]

Results

Independents and third parties

Candidates

Declared

• Rex Rammell, veterinarian and perennial candidate (Constitution)^[13]

General election

Debates

• Complete video of debate, October 6, 2018
• Complete video of debate, October 18, 2018

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report^[23]		October 26, 2018
The Washington Post^[24]		November 5, 2018
FiveThirtyEight^[25]		November 5, 2018
Rothenberg Political Report^[26]		November 1, 2018
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[27]		November 5, 2018
RealClearPolitics^[28]		November 4, 2018
Daily Kos^[29]		November 5, 2018
Fox News^[30]		November 5, 2018
Politico^[31]		November 5, 2018
Governing^[32]		November 5, 2018

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Teton (Largest city: Jackson)

External links

• • Candidates at Vote Smart Candidates at Ballotpedia

Official campaign websites

• Mark Gordon (R) for Governor
• Lawrence Struempf (L) for Governor
• Rex Rammell (C) for Governor
• Mary Throne (D) for Governor

Notes and References

1. News: Wyoming governor-elect Gordon outlines vision for his first year in office . Reynolds . Nick . 2018-11-07 . Casper Star-Tribune . 2018-11-09 . en.
2. Web site: Lummis not ruling out run for governor. Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Hancock. Laura. June 29, 2016. June 29, 2016.
3. Web site: GOP candidate for Wyoming governor remains unclear. Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Funk. Joel. September 20, 2017. September 20, 2017.
4. Web site: State Treasurer Says He Plans to Run for Wyoming Governor . U.S. News & World Report. February 20, 2018. February 20, 2018.
5. Web site: Bill Dahlin Announces Candidacy For Wyoming Governor. Wyo 4 News. July 25, 2017. August 7, 2017.
6. Web site: The Wild, Wild 2018 Race for Governor is Already Starting to Heat Up in State. Sheridan Media. Sniffin. Bill. August 7, 2017. August 7, 2017. August 7, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170807190255/https://www.sheridanmedia.com/news/wild-wild-2018-race-governor-already-starting-heat-state94663. dead.
7. Web site: GOP megadonor Friess to run for Wyoming governor. Politico. April 20, 2018. April 20, 2018.
8. Web site: Cheyenne businessman studies run for governor. Gillette News-Record. February 15, 2018. February 16, 2018.
9. Web site: Cheyenne attorney to join GOP primary battle for governor. Wyoming Tribune Eagle. January 6, 2018. January 8, 2018.
10. Web site: Race to the top: Potential candidates dip toes into governor's race. Casper Star-Tribune. Hancock. Laura. April 15, 2017. April 16, 2017.
11. Web site: Haynes believes his time has come in Wyoming's governor race. KGAB. Randall. Doug. January 29, 2018. January 29, 2018.
12. Web site: 'I'm Wyoming's Donald Trump': Rex Rammell enters governor's race on libertarian right. Sidney Herald. January 3, 2018. January 4, 2018.
13. Web site: Rex Rammell to run as third-party candidate, guaranteeing appearance in general election . Casper Star-Tribune. May 10, 2018. May 10, 2018.
14. Bill Dahlin 1%
15. Bill Dahlin 2%, 6% "voted early."
16. Web site: Former Wyoming lawmaker Mary Throne announces bid for governor. Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Funk. Joel. August 27, 2017. August 27, 2017.
17. Web site: Throne Launches Campaign for Wyoming Governor. KGAB. Greenwald. Joy. August 25, 2017. August 27, 2017.
18. Web site: 2018 Primary Election Candidate Roster. Wyoming Secretary of State. June 1, 2018.
19. Web site: First Republican enters race for Wyoming secretary of state. Casper Star-Tribune. Rosenfeld. Arno. February 9, 2018. February 12, 2018.
20. Web site: Throne enters Wyoming gov. race with support of Greene, consolidating Democratic field. Casper Star-Tribune. Rosenfeld. Arno. August 25, 2017. August 28, 2017.
21. Web site: Businessman to run for mayor. Rock Springs Daily Rocket-Miner. April 3, 2018. April 22, 2018.
22. Web site: Democrat Gary Trauner Announces Bid for Wyoming U.S. Senate. U.S. News & World Report. December 8, 2017. December 8, 2017.
23. Web site: 2018 Governor Race Ratings for October 26, 2018. The Cook Political Report. en. 2021-04-10.
24. News: The Washington Post's gubernatorial race ratings. The Washington Post. October 16, 2018.
25. Web site: 2018 Governor Forecast FiveThirtyEight. FiveThirtyEight. October 17, 2018 . en. October 17, 2018.
26. Web site: 2018 Gubernatorial Ratings Inside Elections. insideelections.com. en. 2017-11-15.
27. Web site: Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball » 2018 Governor. www.centerforpolitics.org. en-US. 2017-11-15.
28. Web site: 2018 Governor Races. RealClearPolitics. October 9, 2018.
29. Web site: 2018 Governor Race Ratings. Daily Kos. June 5, 2018.
30. Web site: 2018 Midterm Power Ranking. Fox News. October 23, 2022 .
31. Web site: Politico Race Ratings. Politico.
32. Web site: 2018 Governor Elections: As November Nears, More Governors' Races Become Tossups . www.governing.com . en . 2018-07-18 . October 21, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181021005343/http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-governors-races-july-ratings.html . dead .