Ed Murray (Wyoming)
Ed Murray was a Republican Wyoming Secretary of State. Murray was elected to his first four-year term in 2014 and was sworn in on January 5, 2015. He succeeded Max Maxfield (R), who had declined to seek re-election in 2014 after two terms in the office.[1][2]
Ed Murray was mentioned during the wave of sexual assault and misconduct allegations in 2017 and 2018. Two women accused him of sexual assault. On January 23, 2018, he announced that he would not seek higher office or re-election in 2018. He resigned from his position on February 9, 2018.[3] Read more below.
After a competitive race for the Republican nomination in the August 19 primary, Murray easily won the general election for secretary of state on November 4, 2014. He faced two minor party opponents and claimed the open seat with 76.6 percent of the vote.
As secretary, Murray served as the state's chief elections official, securities commissioner, notaries public commissioner and corporations administrator.[4] In addition, he is the ex officio lieutenant governor; Because Wyoming has no lieutenant governor, the secretary of state serves as acting-governor if the governor leaves the state, resigns, is impeached or dies.[5]
Biography
Murray was born and raised in Laramie County, Wyo., where he graduated from Central High School in 1976. He later received his J.D. from the University of Wyoming College of Law. Murray has served his community as President of the Laramie County Community College Foundation and by assisting the Cheyenne-Laramie County Corporation for Economic Development.[2]
Education
- High School Diploma - Central High School (1976)
- J.D. - University of Wyoming College of Law
Political career
Wyoming Secretary of State (2015-2018)
Murray served as Secretary of State of Wyoming from January 2015 to February 2018. He was elected in November 2014 to fill the seat vacated by two-term incumbent Max Maxfield, a fellow Republican who chose not to run for re-election in 2014.[6] He resigned on February 9, 2018.[7]
June 2017 request for voter rolls
On June 29, 2017, the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, created by President Donald Trump (R) on May 11, requested information on registered voters from all 50 states dating back to 2006. The states were given until July 14 to respond. On July 3, Secretary Murray announced that the state would refuse to provide the requested information to the commission.
| “ | I’m going to decline to provide any Wyoming voter information...It’s not sitting well with me.[8] | ” |
| —Secretary Ed Murray[9] | ||
Elections
2014
Murray ran for election to the office of Wyoming Secretary of State. Murray won the Republican nomination in the primary on August 19, 2014, and faced Constitution Party nominee Jennifer Young in the general election.
The general election took place on November 4, 2014.
Results
Primary election
| Wyoming Secretary of State Republican Primary, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
 Ed Murrary |
36.8% | 32,944 | ||
| Edward Buchanan | 34.9% | 31,312 | ||
| Pete Illoway | 18.5% | 16,596 | ||
| Clark Stith | 9.5% | 8,511 | ||
| Write-in votes | 0.3% | 274 | ||
| Total Votes | 89,637 | |||
| Election results via Wyoming Secretary of State. | ||||
General election
| Secretary of State of Wyoming, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Ed Murray |
76.6% | 119,772 | |
| Constitution | Jennifer Young | 12.1% | 18,918 | |
| Libertarian | Kit Carson | 10.8% | 16,858 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.5% | 859 | |
| Total Votes | 156,407 | |||
| Election results via Wyoming Secretary of State | ||||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Noteworthy events
Resignation following sexual assault allegations (2018)
On February 9, 2018, Murray resigned from office. In a statement, he said, "After deep and profound contemplation, I am announcing my resignation as secretary of state, effective today. I step aside with peace and serenity in order that I may fully focus on what is most important in my life: my marriage, my family and my health."[10] The resignation came amid two allegations of sexual assault.
In December 2017, Tatiana Maxwell, a former intern at the law office where Murray worked during his early career, accused Murray of sexually assaulting her in the workplace in 1982. Murray denied the allegations, stating, “This baseless claim about an encounter from thirty-five years ago is unequivocally false."[11]
On January 23, 2018, Theresa Sullivan Twiford, who had worked as a babysitter for Murray's family in 1988, said that Murray forcibly kissed her. Murray said he did not remember the alleged incident. Murray also announced that he would not seek higher office or re-election in 2018, although he had previously been considered a frontrunner to replace Matt Mead (R) as governor.[12]
Contact information
Capitol Address:
Wyoming Secretary of State's Office
The Capitol Building, Room 106
200 West 24th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0020
Phone: (307) 777-7378
Fax: (307) 777-6217
E-mail: secofstate@state.wy.us
See also
| Wyoming | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
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|
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- Wyoming Secretary of State
- Wyoming secretary of state election, 2014
- Secretary of State
- Wyoming Lieutenant Governor
External links
Office links:
- Official Wyoming Secretary of State website
- National Association of Secretaries of State
- National Lieutenant Governors Association
- Ed Murray for Secretary of State 2014 Official campaign website
Footnotes
- ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State, "About the Secretary," accessed January 6, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ed Murray for Secretary of State, "Meet Ed Murray," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ Wyoming Tribune Eagle, "Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Murray resigns amid sexual misconduct allegations," February 10, 2018
- ↑ Wyoming.gov, " Elected Officials," accessed April 27, 2013
- ↑ Casper Star Tribune, "Meet Wyoming's temporary governor: Max Maxfield," May 30, 2012
- ↑ Casper Star-Tribune, "Wyoming Secretary of State Max Maxfield won't seek re-election," March 18, 2014
- ↑ Wyoming Tribune Eagle, "Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Murray resigns amid sexual misconduct allegations," February 10, 2018
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Casper Star-Tribune, "Wyoming rejects White House request for voter data, citing federal overreach," July 3, 2017
- ↑ Wyoming Tribune Eagle, "Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Murray resigns amid sexual misconduct allegations," February 10, 2018
- ↑ Casper Star Tribune, "Woman says Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Murray sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager," December 14, 2017
- ↑ Casper Star-Tribune, "Second woman accuses Murray of sexual misconduct; Secretary of state won't seek reelection or higher office," January 23, 2018
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Max Maxfield (R) |
Wyoming Secretary of State 2015-2018 |
Succeeded by Edward Buchanan |
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