May 19, 2022 |
Wyoming’s political season is heating up, but Wyoming’s sole seat in the U.S. House of Representatives is not the primary race in the spotlight this week.
The position of secretary of state took center stage.
Current office holder, Ed Buchanan made the surprise announcement that he would not run for re-election after saying just last month that he would seek a second term.
Buchanan said that “after much prayer and contemplation” he would instead apply for a vacancy in the the Eighth Judicial District in Torrington.
Two state lawmakers were quick to file for the office. Senate President Dan Dockstader was first to announce. On Tuesday, less than 12 hours after Buchanan flipped the script, Dockstader announced he would run for the office. Dockstader, the publisher of the Star Valley Independent newspaper and owner of radio station KRSV, both in Afton, has served in the Senate since 2009 after serving for two years in the state House of Representatives.
On Wednesday Representative Chuck Gray of Casper, also a Republican, announced he will run for secretary of state.
Gray sponsored a voter ID law that Wyoming Democrats have sued to overturn. Buchanan cited the new law in his exit statement as an example of how voter integrity was safeguarded on his watch. The lawsuit, filed by Laramie Democrat Charles Pelkey, is pending.
Both Dockstader and Gray had already to filed to run for re-election for their legislative seats. So if either loses, they could still keep their seats in the senate and the house.
The filing period ends May 27th.
