The 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the governor of Wyoming. Incumbent Republican governor Matt Mead was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term. Republican nominee Mark Gordon defeated Democratic nominee Mary Throne by nearly 40 percentage points.
This was the only time since 1978 that a candidate from the president's party was elected governor of Wyoming.
Republican primary Candidates Nominated Mark Gordon, Wyoming state treasurer Declared Bill Dahlin, businessman Foster Friess, businessman and activist Sam Galeotos, businessman Harriet Hageman, attorney and former Liz Cheney campaign advisor Taylor Haynes, physician, write-in candidate for governor in 2010 and candidate for governor in 2014
Withdrew Rex Rammell, veterinarian and perennial candidate (ran for Constitution Party nomination)
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error FosterFriess SamGaleotos MarkGordon HarrietHageman TaylorHaynes Other UndecidedUniversity of WyomingUniversity of Wyoming August 17–19, 2018 357 – 20% 10% 26% 18% 9% 1%Bill Dahlin 1% 15%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R) August 11–14, 2018 1,775 ± 2.4% 21% 10% 20% 16% 6% 8%Bill Dahlin 2%, 6% "voted early." 20%University of WyomingUniversity of Wyoming June 18–20, 2018 596 ± 4.0% 6% 14% 19% 11% 10% 1% 35%
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominated Mary Throne, former minority leader of the Wyoming House of Representatives
Declared Ken Casner, candidate for governor in 2002 Michael Allen Green, nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000 Rex Wilde, candidate for governor in 2010
Declined James W. Byrd, state representative (ran for secretary of state) Ryan Greene, nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016 (ran for mayor of Rock Springs) Chris Rothfuss, minority leader of the Wyoming Senate and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2008 Milward Simpson, director of the Wyoming Nature Conservancy Gary Trauner, businessman and nominee for U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 and 2008 (ran for U.S. Senate)
Endorsements
Results
Independents and third parties Candidates Declared Rex Rammell, veterinarian and perennial candidate (Constitution)
General election
Debates Complete video of debate, October 6, 2018 Complete video of debate, October 18, 2018
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Report October 26, 2018The Washington Post November 5, 2018FiveThirtyEight November 5, 2018Rothenberg Political Report November 1, 2018Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2018RealClearPolitics November 4, 2018Daily Kos November 5, 2018Fox News November 5, 2018Politico November 5, 2018Governing November 5, 2018
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MarkGordon (R) MaryThrone (D) RexRammell (C) LawrenceStruempf (L) UndecidedChange ResearchChange Research November 2–4, 2018 858 – 61% 27% 6% 4% –
Results
By county +Vote breakdown by county Mark GordonRepublican Mary ThroneDemocrat All Others County Votes % Votes % Votes %Albany6,49445.1%7,13749.5%7805.4%Big Horn3,39178.6%60814.1%3157.3%Campbell10,39879.9%1,85614.3%7565.8%Carbon3,56068.9%1,31425.4%2925.7%Converse3,87278.4%75715.3%3106.2%Crook2,57583.4%35811.6%1555.0%Fremont9,25164.4%4,29929.9%8085.6%Goshen3,56874.3%95719.9%2805.8%Hot Springs1,68274.7%44319.7%1265.6%Johnson3,24583.6%47812.3%1584.1%Laramie20,05261.3%11,19634.2%1,4544.4%Lincoln5,51176.8%1,15516.1%5067.1%Natrona16,86668.9%6,35225.9%1,2625.2%Niobrara91879.1%15313.2%897.8%Park8,81574.6%2,27719.3%7176.1%Platte2,64470.0%84522.4%2877.7%Sheridan8,72773.9%2,66722.6%4203.6%Sublette2,66478.3%60217.7%1364.0%Sweetwater8,37564.8%3,75829.1%8006.2%Teton4,73640.5%6,54156.0%4113.6%Uinta4,54772.6%1,29620.7%4206.7%Washakie2,39677.0%56818.3%1484.8%Weston2,12578.6%34812.9%2318.6% Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Teton (largest city: Jackson)
References
External links Candidates at Vote Smart Candidates at Ballotpedia
Official campaign websites Mark Gordon (R) for Governor Lawrence Struempf (L) for Governor Rex Rammell (C) for Governor Mary Throne (D) for Governor