Who is running for state senate in Wyoming? Key showdowns to watch in 2024. (2024)

This election season, 15 out of 30 Wyoming senate seats are up for grabs. In thesupermajority Republican state, the primary on August 20 will determine whether the state's recent shift towards more hardline conservative policies will grow or reach its peak.A look at the Cowboy State's senate races:

Who's running in Senate District 6?

State Senate District 6 runs from the southeast corner of Wyoming, touching both Colorado and South Dakota, up through Laramie and Platte Counties.

The departure of Anthony Bouchard, who has represented the district since 2017, has created a power vacuum. Bouchard, one of the state's most controversial and far-right legislators, has high-profile shoes to fill—and half a dozen contestants have thrown their hats into the ring.

• Darin Smith, a lawyer from Cheyenne with a background in investment and experience with religious nonprofits, ran for Wyoming's U.S. House Seat in 2016 and 2022 but was unsuccessful both times. Smith received an endorsem*nt from Bouchard and is running on a conservative platform. His promotional materials highlight his "pro-life" stance, critique of DEI, and support for arming teachers in Wyoming.
• Eric D. Johnston, a former Platte County commissioner based in Wheatland, focuses his campaign on his agricultural background, the district's rural character, and his experience in local politics. Johnston, who served in the U.S. Army and worked in the oil and gas industry, supports low taxes and investment in local infrastructure and opposes interference from "Green New Deal fanatics in Washington."
• Gary Bjorklund, a former airline pilot and hardware store owner, told USA TODAY that he was encouraged to run for office by State Representative Jeremy Haroldson and local Platte County Republicans. He mentioned that after retiring, he felt compelled to take action instead of just complaining about the state of affairs in the federal government and the Wyoming State Legislature.
• Kim Withers, a longtime figure in Wyoming's financial scene, having served as the CEO of Meridian Trust Financial Credit Union, has also entered the race. In an interview with the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Withers declined to state whether her beliefs were more aligned with the Wyoming or Freedom Caucus but would focus the campaign on parental rights in education and rising property taxes in Wyoming.
• Marc Torriani, a conservative outsider with a background in ranching and telecommunications, opposes recent Wyoming developments benefiting other states more than Wyoming. He seeks to ban "critical race theory, DEI, and gender/sexuality indoctrination," is supported by Wyoming Right to Life, and opposes Second Amendment restrictions.
• Taft Love, chair of Laramie County GOP's Executive Committee, is also in the race. He served ten years on the Laramie County School District 2 Board of Trustees and emphasized education, protecting the Second Amendment, property tax relief, and the state's economy.

Who's running in Senate District 14?

State Senate District 14 sprawls across Western Wyoming, reaching portions of Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater, and Uinta counties. Since 2017, the district has been represented by outgoing Senator Fred Baldwin, who has left the door open for a three-way primary.

• Albert Sommers, the outgoing Speaker of the House, brings name recognition to the race, having served in the Wyoming legislature since 2017. A retired rancher, Sommers has been a Wyoming Freedom Caucus's prominent target, and critic as well.
• Bill Winney, a retired Naval Officer with six unsuccessful bids for office in Wyoming, is challenging Sommers. He highlights his experience in the U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Service as valuable for overseeing the district's newly initiated nuclear power plant, backed by Bill Gates. Additionally, he voices concerns about the cost of living for the state's retirees and elderly citizens.
• Laura Taliaferro Pearson, a school bus driver and sheep rancher, is the final candidate running for District 14 tricycle. Wyoming Right to Life endorses Pearson and has a 10-point platform. Her platform includes a pledge to defend the Second Amendment, strong opposition to COVID mandates, and a "fairness for girls in sports" plank that opposes "transgender ideologies seeping into our culture."

Who's running in Senate District 20?

Senate District 20 is in North-Central Wyoming, with its bumps and edges poking into Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs, Park, and Washakie Counties.

Ed Cooper, a rancher and oil and gas consultant, is defending his seat against newcomer Tom Olmstead. Cooper has represented the district since 2021 with a focus on economic development.

A former aviation industry worker, Olmstead considers himself a "political refugee" who left COVID-mandated Colorado. He aims to "defund the woke agenda," criticizes Cooper's "liberal-leaning tendencies," and has a platform mirroring national talking points, including addressing the southern border and opposing abortion as "healthcare" or a "choice."

Who's running in Senate District 22?

State Senate District 22 stands upright along the center of Wyoming's northern border, containing portions of Sheridan and Johnson counties.

Outgoing Senate Vice President Dave Kinskey has served the district since 2014, and the upcoming scuffle over the vacancy is turning heads across the Cowboy State.

Two high-profile Wyomingites from opposite sides of the Republican divide go head-to-head in one of the state's most politically active regions. Rancher, attorney and current House District 40 representative Barry Crago will face off against small business owner and current House District 30 representative Mark Jennings.Since 2021, Crago has emerged as a key player in the Wyoming Caucus, garnering support from conservative groups like Americans For Prosperity, backed by the Koch brothers. Despite this, he has encountered criticism for being deemed a "RINO" and for allegedly wavering in his commitment to conservative values. In retaliation, Crago has openly contested the Freedom Caucus, underscoring his legislative achievements in tax reform, mental health funding, and local infrastructure development.

Jennings, serving since 2015, was instrumental in establishing the State Freedom Caucus. However, he is not currently a member of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, having left when the group expanded nationally. He has been part of Freedom Caucus-sponsored panels and events, received endorsem*nts from groups such as Wyoming Right to Life and Gun Owners of America, and lists co-sponsoring "pro-life" and "traditional values" bills among his proudest legislative accomplishments.

Who's running in Senate District 30?

Senate District 30 is in central Wyoming and covers part of Natrona County. Charles Scott has represented the district since 1993. Scott has served in the Wyoming Legislature since 1979, starting in the Wyoming House.

• If elected, Scott, a rancher, would enter his 14th term. He is known for his old-school approach, particularly his long-running analog filing system. In recent years, he has become a Wyoming voice for nationally conservative viewpoints on education, including speaking out against DEI at the University of Wyoming during the 2024 legislative session, advocating for school choice vouchers, and attempting to introduce a bill opposed to critical race theory in 2022.
• Charles Schoenwolf ran for the Senate District 30 seat in 2020 before falling to Scott in the primary. He also lost a bid for House District 58 in 2018. In a written statement, he told USA TODAY that he has previously operated construction, retail, and in-home care businesses and has years of nursing experience. He lists his priorities as expanding Medicaid in Wyoming, supporting the Second Amendment, and improving homecare for elderly Wyomingites.
• Robert Hendry, the final candidate, currently serves as the Chairman of the Wyoming Business Alliance. His political priorities include supporting rural healthcare facilities, advocating for Wyoming's legacy industries, and combating federal overreach on public lands. Hendry has previously said that his run was motivated by dysfunction in the Wyoming legislature, particularly Scott's vote against the recent biennial budget.

Cy Neff reports on Wyoming politics for USA TODAY. You can reach him at cneff@usatoday.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter,@CyNeffNews