September 13, 2022 |
The Wyoming GOP Central Committee will meet in Senator Cale Case’s backyard on Saturday to vote on a resolution to censure the Fremont County Republican over his attempts to run someone against Chuck Gray in the General Election for Secretary of State.
Mainstream Republicans were shocked when the Trump-backed Gray from Casper upset Senator Tara Nethercott of Cheyenne in last month’s primary. They spent several weeks afterward plotting to find an alternative to run as an Independent. Their efforts have failed.
The resolution states that the Wyoming GOP will withhold any financial support from Case’s political ambitions and ask him to switch his party affiliation.
Carbon County Republican Party Chairman Joey Correnti said it’s time non-Republicans stop bringing their bad ideas to the party.
Pictured above: File photo of voting booths inside the Carbon County Courthouse. Photo by Cali O’Hare/Bigfoot 99.
Gray defeated Nethercott by more than 12,000 votes in the Primary.
At a time when national Democrats have denounced “election deniers,” Wyoming Democrats joined with Case and other less principled conservatives to find someone to run against Gray. Democrats did not field their own candidate in the Primary. Case focused on former representative Nathan Winters who declined the offer, saying it was important for the GOP to unite behind Gray.
The move against Sen. Case follows the state GOP’s move against Liz Cheney. The central committee’s move to censure Cheney and ostracize her from the party last was soon followed by her being flushed out of her leadership position in the U.S. House of Representatives and ultimate defeat in last month’s primary. Correnti said grassroot Republicans understand they have the power, not the politicians.
Correnti said he doesn’t think Case, who won his primary last month by less than 500 votes, is a bad legislator. Case has argued for a “big tent” Republican party. Correnti said Case should find another tent.
Case and Nethercott both serve on the Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee, which was accused of political intrigue in Laramie and Natrona Counties during the redistricting drama last year. Following last month’s Primary, the committee passed a motion to craft legislation to remove election duties from the Secretary of State in direct response to Gray’s victory. Rep. Dan Zwonitzer of Cheyenne chairs the committee.
The legislation will be taken up by the committee at its October 22nd meeting.
In the meantime, the GOP Central Committee will meet in Riverton this weekend to vote on the resolution to censure Case. The committee will also meet to discuss how to handle the expected resignation Ed Buchanan, the current secretary of state this month.
