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Notable Wyoming races, 2016

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Notable Wyoming Races
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PrimaryAugust 16, 2016
GeneralNovember 8, 2016
2016 Notable Races
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Ballotpedia identified four notable Wyoming state legislative races in 2016.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Republicans kept a state government trifecta.
  • Open races for three seats vacated by Republican incumbents attracted competitive GOP primaries.
  • The open race for a seat vacated by a Democratic incumbent attracted a competitive Democratic primary.

    • Overview

    Main articles: Wyoming House of Representatives elections, 2016 and Wyoming State Senate elections, 2016

    All 60 state House seats and 15 of the 30 state Senate seats were up for election in 2016.

    Partisan breakdown of the Wyoming Legislature
    Party Republicans Democrats
    Wyoming House 51 seats 9 seats
    Wyoming Senate 26 seats 4 seats

    Republicans had held a state government trifecta since 2011, meaning they controlled the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature. They remained in total control of the state government following the November election. Gov. Matt Mead (R) was not up for election in 2016, and Democrats would have had to gain 22 seats to win a majority in the House and 12 seats to win a majority in the Senate.

    Four open legislative races attracted competitive primary fields in 2016.[1] Five candidates competed for the GOP nomination in Republican-held House District 18.[1] GOP-held Senate District 6 and Senate District 20 both saw three-way Republican primaries for their open seats.[1] The open race in Democratic-held House District 41 attracted two Democratic contenders.[1]

    What makes a race notable?

    Ballotpedia uses these criteria to identify notable races:

    • Incumbents facing more conservative or liberal challengers
    • Rematches between candidates
    • Races that receive considerable media attention
    • Races that could significantly affect the state's partisan balance
    • Competitive races involving party leaders
    • Open, competitive races with Republican and Democratic primaries
    • Races that capture money and attention from outside groups, including key endorsements

    Know of an interesting race we should include here? Email us!

    Notable primary elections

    House District 18 - Republican primary

    Five Republican candidates competed for the open seat vacated by a Republican incumbent.

    Rep. Fred Baldwin (R) did not run for re-election to his House District 18 seat in 2016, opting instead to make a bid for Senate District 14.[1][2] Five candidates—Thomas Crank, Scott Heiner, Zem Hopkins, Kevin Simpson, and Lyle Williams—competed for the GOP nomination in the open race.[1] Crank faced off against Michele Irwin, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[1] Irwin and Williams both made unsuccessful bids for the District 18 seat in 2014.[3][4]

    Thomas Crank defeated Michele Irwin in the Wyoming House of Representatives District 18 general election.[5]

    Wyoming House of Representatives, District 18 General Election, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Thomas Crank 80.34% 3,595
         Democratic Michele Irwin 19.66% 880
    Total Votes 4,475
    Source: Wyoming Secretary of State


    Michele Irwin ran unopposed in the Wyoming House of Representatives District 18 Democratic primary.[6][7]

    Wyoming House of Representatives, District 18 Democratic Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate
        Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Michele Irwin  (unopposed)


    Thomas Crank defeated Kevin Simpson, Lyle Williams, Scott Heiner and Zem Hopkins defeated in the Wyoming House of Representatives District 18 Republican primary.[6][7]

    Wyoming House of Representatives, District 18 Republican Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Thomas Crank 32.04% 471
         Republican Kevin Simpson 9.12% 134
         Republican Lyle Williams 17.89% 263
         Republican Scott Heiner 30.14% 443
         Republican Zem Hopkins 10.82% 159
    Total Votes 1,470


    House District 41 - Democratic primary

    Two Democratic candidates competed for the open seat vacated by a Democratic incumbent.

    Minority Whip Ken Esquibel (D) did not run for re-election to his House District 41 seat in 2016, opting instead to make a bid for Senate District 4.[1][2] Two candidates—Amy Simpson and Rich Wiederspahn—competed for the Democratic nomination in the open race.[1] Simpson faced Bill Henderson (R) in the November general election. Henderson defeated Patrick Fitzgerald in the Republican primary.[1] Henderson made an unsuccessful bid for the House in District 43 in 2014.[3]

    Bill Henderson defeated Amy Simpson in the Wyoming House of Representatives District 41 general election.[8]

    Wyoming House of Representatives, District 41 General Election, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Bill Henderson 50.81% 1,976
         Democratic Amy Simpson 49.19% 1,913
    Total Votes 3,889
    Source: Wyoming Secretary of State


    Amy Simpson defeated Rich Wiederspahn in the Wyoming House of Representatives District 41 Democratic primary.[6][7]

    Wyoming House of Representatives, District 41 Democratic Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Amy Simpson 62.06% 391
         Democratic Rich Wiederspahn 37.94% 239
    Total Votes 630


    Bill Henderson defeated Patrick Fitzgerald in the Wyoming House of Representatives District 41 Republican primary.[6][7]

    Wyoming House of Representatives, District 41 Republican Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Bill Henderson 50.09% 584
         Republican Patrick Fitzgerald 49.91% 582
    Total Votes 1,166

    Senate District 6 - Republican primary

    Three Republican candidates competed for the open seat vacated by a Republican incumbent.

    Sen. Wayne Johnson (R) retired from his Senate District 6 seat in 2016.[9] Three candidates—Anthony Bouchard, Lindi Kirkbride, and Rep. David Zwonitzer (R)—competed for the Republican nomination in the open race.[1] Bouchard defeated Zwonitzer in the Republican primary. Bouchard faced Kym Zwonitzer (ind.) in the November general election.[1] Bouchard lost a 2012 primary matchup with Johnson by 42 votes, and made an unsuccessful bid for the House in District 10 in 2014.[3][10]

    Anthony Bouchard defeated Kym Zwonitzer in the Wyoming State Senate District 6 general election.[11]

    Wyoming State Senate, District 6 General Election, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Anthony Bouchard 51.98% 4,670
         Independent Kym Zwonitzer 48.02% 4,314
    Total Votes 8,984
    Source: Wyoming Secretary of State


    Anthony Bouchard defeated David Zwonitzer and Lindi Kirkbride in the Wyoming State Senate District 6 Republican primary.[6][7]

    Wyoming State Senate, District 6 Republican Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Anthony Bouchard 35.02% 1,137
         Republican David Zwonitzer 34.86% 1,132
         Republican Lindi Kirkbride 30.12% 978
    Total Votes 3,247

    Senate District 20 - Republican primary

    Three Republican candidates competed for the open seat vacated by a Republican incumbent.

    Sen. Gerald Geis (R) retired from his Senate District 20 seat in 2016.[12] Three candidates—Wyatt Agar, Bob Bayuk, and Ron Harvey—competed for the Republican nomination in the open race.[1] Agar faced off against Mary Jane Norskog, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.[1]

    Wyatt Agar defeated Mary Jane Norskog in the Wyoming State Senate District 20 general election.[13]

    Wyoming State Senate, District 20 General Election, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Wyatt Agar 81.68% 6,893
         Democratic Mary Jane Norskog 18.32% 1,546
    Total Votes 8,439
    Source: Wyoming Secretary of State


    Mary Jane Norskog ran unopposed in the Wyoming State Senate District 20 Democratic primary.[6][7]

    Wyoming State Senate, District 20 Democratic Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate
        Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Mary Jane Norskog  (unopposed)


    Wyatt Agar defeated Bob Bayuk and Ron Harvey in the Wyoming State Senate District 20 Republican primary.[6][7]

    Wyoming State Senate, District 20 Republican Primary, 2016
    Party Candidate Vote % Votes
         Republican Green check mark transparent.png Wyatt Agar 56.55% 2,508
         Republican Bob Bayuk 13.51% 599
         Republican Ron Harvey 29.94% 1,328
    Total Votes 4,435

    Freshman legislators

    The following is a list of challengers who won election on November 8.

    1. Aaron Clausen (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 6
    2. Affie Ellis (Republican), .Wyoming State Senate, District 8
    3. Anthony Bouchard (Republican), .Wyoming State Senate, District 6
    4. Bill Haley (Wyoming) (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 46
    5. Bill Henderson (Wyoming) (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 41
    6. Bo Biteman (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 51
    7. Chuck Gray (Wyoming) (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 57
    8. Dan Furphy (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 14
    9. Danny Eyre (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 19
    10. Debbie Bovee (Democratic), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 36
    11. Fred Baldwin (Wyoming) (Republican), .Wyoming State Senate, District 14
    12. Glenn Moniz (Republican), .Wyoming State Senate, District 10
    13. Jamie Flitner (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 26
    14. Jared Olsen (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 11
    15. Jerry Obermueller (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 56
    16. Landon Brown (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 9
    17. Liisa Anselmi-Dalton (Democratic), .Wyoming State Senate, District 12
    18. Mike Gierau (Democratic), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 16
    19. Patrick Sweeney (Wyoming) (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 58
    20. Scott Court (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 24
    21. Tara Nethercott (Republican), .Wyoming State Senate, District 4
    22. Thomas Crank (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 18
    23. Tim Salazar (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 34
    24. Timothy Hallinan (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 32
    25. Wyatt Agar (Republican), .Wyoming State Senate, District 20

    Defeated incumbents

    The following is a list of incumbents who were defeated on November 8.

    1. Floyd Esquibel (Democratic), .Wyoming State Senate, District 8
    2. Gerald Gay (Republican), .Wyoming House of Representatives, District 36
    3. Mary Throne (Democratic), .Governor of Wyoming

    See also

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Wyoming Elections Division, "2016 Primary Election Candidate Roster," accessed August 7, 2016
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 WyoFile, "Wyoming Democrats Stand and Fight," May 31, 2016
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Wyoming Secretary of State, "Wyoming Primary Election - August 19, 2014," accessed August 7, 2016
    4. ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State, "Wyoming General Election - November 4, 2014," accessed August 7, 2016
    5. ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State, "2016 Official General Election Results," accessed November 29, 2016
    6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Wyoming Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Candidate Roster," accessed May 31, 2016
    7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Wyoming Secretary of State, "2016 Official Primary Election Results," accessed September 12, 2016 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "presults16" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "presults16" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "presults16" defined multiple times with different content
    8. ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State, "2016 Official General Election Results," accessed November 29, 2016
    9. ↑ Wyoming Tribune Eagle, "Cheyenne Lawmaker Announces Retirement," March 8, 2016
    10. ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State, "Wyoming Primary Election - August 21, 2012," accessed August 7, 2016
    11. ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State, "2016 Official General Election Results," accessed November 29, 2016
    12. ↑ Northern Wyoming Daily News, "Geis Heads to Final Legislative Session," February 6, 2016
    13. ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State, "2016 Official General Election Results," accessed November 29, 2016
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