MONDAY, August 24, 2026|
Photo – Voting booths – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Carbon County Clerk’s Office released the official results for Tuesday’s primary elections, complete with write‑in candidates.
Last Thursday, the Carbon County Clerk’s Office posted the final count from the August 18th primary elections. Of the 6,435 registered voters in Carbon County, 3,138, or just under 49 percent, voted in the primaries. One voter cast a blank ballot.
Nearly 55 percent of registered Republicans voted Tuesday, compared with 43 percent of Democrats. Only 15 percent of unaffiliated voters took part in the election.
As reported by Toga Radio, Harriet Hageman defeated her Republican rival, Sam Mead, to represent Wyoming in the United States Senate. Chuck Gray received the most support and will advance to the U.S. House of Representatives in November, taking Hageman’s former seat. Carbon County voters also chose Eric Barlow over Megan Degenfelder to serve as governor.
In the local races, Scott Allison and Matthew Lee Howell will face off for the mayor of Baggs in November. No candidates filed to run for any of the three open Baggs Town Council seats, but Jacob Dana, Harvey Kisner, Jim McConahay, and Shan Ferguson all received enough write‑in votes to appear on the general election ballot. Write-in candidate Becka Evan can run unopposed for the third seat.
In Dixon, Matt Feldmann will not face any competition for the mayor’s seat, as no write‑in ballots were cast. It’s a similar situation for Raymond Hauger, who will run unopposed for one of the two open Dixon Town Council seats. Four write‑in votes were cast in that race, but no candidate received the required three votes to be included on the November ballot.
Elk Mountain Mayor Morgan Irene appeared alone on the ballot for his reelection bid. However, Don Olson received four write‑in votes, enough to place him on the general election ballot. Linda Crane, Brett Larson, and Craig Mustard may face write‑in candidate Megan Davies Jones for the two open Elk Mountain Town Council seats.
In Encampment, Jim McKinney was set to run unopposed for mayor until Greg Salisbury picked up six write‑in votes, earning a spot on the November ballot. Write‑ins also shifted the Encampment Town Council race. Gary Stull, Wyatt Craig, Steve Reichert, and John Farr filed for the two open seats, but Scott Ward’s 37 write‑ins are enough to push Farr, who had 32, off the ballot.
In Hanna, sitting mayor Charlie George was the only registered mayoral candidate, but Anthony Poulos received nine write‑in votes, giving him the ability to appear on the November ballot as well. Originally, three candidates registered for the two open Hanna Town Council seats, Marcia Beals, Timothy Born, and current council member David Felix, but the field may change after Carl Bickel picked up 19 write‑ins, qualifying him to enter the contest.
Medicine Bow mayor Justin George was running unopposed. However, Aaron Kovar received enough write-in nominations, three, to have his name included on the November ballot. Sitting council members Trevor Strauch and Crystal Mayfield will remain on the Medicine Bow Town Council as only two write-in votes were cast in that race.
In Rawlins, Megan Cragun and sitting councilmember Bruce Seilaff will face off in November’s election to represent Ward One on the City Council. Both candidates received more primary votes than former mayor DeBari Martinez, and no one was nominated through write‑ins. Cristy Magagna will move on to represent Ward Two in the general election, although Jason Ridgeway can challenge her after receiving four write‑in votes. Cody Bluth and current councilman Steve Sanger will run against one another for Ward Three, and Christine Cruz‑Ford and Eddie Archuleta will compete for the at‑large seat. No one received enough write‑ins to enter either race.
No candidates filed to run for mayor of Riverside. However, Manville Gutierrez and current mayor Leroy Stevenson received enough write‑in votes, three and eight respectively, to be included on the ballot. Lisa Lorenz and Billie Helwick are the only candidates for the two open Riverside Town Council seats, as no one received the required three write‑in nominations to join the race.
Saratoga Mayor Chuck Davis will run unopposed in November. Councilmen Jerry Fluty and Bub Barkhurst will face Tiffany Moore in the general election. Like the mayor’s race, no write‑in candidate qualified for the November ballot.
And in Sinclair, current mayor Cullen Meeks will run against challenger Eugene Goetz in November. Stephanie Haldorson and sitting Sinclair Town Council member Nancy Sanders will compete for the two open seats on the governing body. They may face former mayor Leif Johansson, who can now join the race after receiving seven write‑in votes.
Last week, Toga Radio incorrectly reported that Deputy Coroner Shayna Casada and current County Coroner Brittany Nyman will run against one another. However, unlike the municipal races, county races are party‑based, meaning Republican Casada will run unopposed in November. The same is true for Sheriff Alex Bakken, who will continue leading the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office after receiving more primary votes than his Republican opponent, Deputy Ted Kranenberg.
All write in candidates must accept their nominations by filing with their respective municipal clerks before they can appear on November’s general election ballot.
