Election results: close races and surprise wins
From top to bottom, the results from yesterday’s primary election are packed with surprises and close outcomes. Starting at the top of the card with the statewide races, Mark Gordon won the Republican Party’s nomination for governor with 33 percent of the vote. Entering the race as their clear front runner, Gordon’s position in the crowded field of well-funded outsiders was not certain down the stretch.
Jackson Hole millionaire, Foster Friess, a stranger to Wyoming politics six months ago, stunned the pack and pulled off a second-place finish with 26 percent of the vote. Natural resources attorney Harriet Hageman finished third at 21 percent. Businessman Sam Galeotos was fourth, followed by Taylor Haynes and Bill Dahlin.
On the Democratic side, Mary Throne easily walked into vicotry with 9,600 votes. Her three challengers, who ran relatively low-key campaigns, managed only 4,000 votes combined.
Gordon and Throne will square off in the general election for governor.
In the congressional races, both Senator John Barrasso and Representative Liz Cheney held off their primary challengers with ease. Barrasso, with 65 percent of the votes, defeated Dave Dodson, with 28 percent. Barrasso will face Gary Trauner in November.
In the House race, Rod Miller’s quixotic campaign against Liz Cheney failed to gain much traction. Cheney pulled in 68 percent of the vote to Miller’s 20 percent. Cheney will face another relative unknown in the general this November, Laramie businessman Greg Hunter.
Other statewide races
State Treasurer: The race for the state treasurer was close on the Republican side. In the end, State Senator Curt Meier of LaGrange beat Leland Christiansen of Alta by 4,000 votes.
State Auditor: Republican Kristi Racines beat Nathan Winters. Racines will face Democrat Jeff Dockter, who ran unopposed for the auditor’s position in the general.
Secretary of State: Republican Edward Buchanan and Democrat James Byrd ran uncontested in their primary races for Secretary of State. They will square off this fall.
With a look at countywide races here in Carbon County as well as the slate in Rawlins, here’s Cali O’Hare:
With results from the rest of the local races around Carbon County, here’s Emma Diercks:
Mead and Barrasso applaud federal changes to coal restrictions
In Washington yesterday, the Trump Administration began easing Obama-era restrictions on coal-fired power plants – a move welcomed here in Wyoming. The Environmental Protection Agency released the Affordable Clean Energy Rule. It gives states greater authority to implement mix and match strategies to restrict emissions.
Acting EPA Director Andrew Wheeler told Fox News that the new rule will give states greater flexibility in reaching CO2 emission goals.
Wheeler said the new rule was drawn up to stay within the legal boundaries laid out in the Clean Air Act. It will replace the Clean Power Plan, which never went into effect after Wyoming and other states sued and won in the U.S. Supreme Court to stay its implementation.
Governor Matt Mead welcomed the overhaul and said in a statement that he looks forward to a thoughtful approach to improvement. U.S. Senator John Barrasso went further saying the Obama rule just wasn’t bad policy, it was illegal and harmful to Wyoming workers.
Despite the enthusiasm here, some states are expected to sue because they feel the plan is not aggressive enough in curbing carbon emissions. The Obama plan looked primarily at shutting down coal-fired power plants as a way to reduce CO2 emissions by 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.
The plan announced yesterday will give states more flexibility to achieve those goals. The Wyoming Mining Association also applauded yesterday’s move. WMA Director Travis Deti said in a release the new rule is a step in the right direction. Wyoming leads the nation in coal production, mining over 315 million tons in 2017.
City surveillance increases to stave off Rawlins vandalism
In response to a string of vandalism incidents that occurred earlier this summer, the City of Rawlins is stepping up its surveillance capabilities at some key areas around the community. Cali O’Hare reports.
Sports: Local cowboy shines on Texas cowhorse circuit
Saratoga Cowboy Kasen York has competed twice in Texas over the past month, and has represented Wyoming well. Joey Saverine caught up with York and filed this report.
Wyoming Football: It’s finally game week after the long Fall camp. Head Coach Craig Bohl took the media stand to talk about their upcoming opponent New Mexico State.
Former Cowboy Gunslinger Josh Allen will make his first start in the NFL this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
