Primary Election

Polls open Tuesday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

The 2026 Wyoming Primary Election is finally here. Many voters have already cast their ballot by mail, but for those who go to the polls, voting will take place Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. After many months of campaigning, town halls, meet and greets and attack ads flooding mailboxes, the Primary takes place next Tuesday, Aug. 18. 

In South Big Horn County, precinct polling places are: 

• Basin-Fairgrounds. 

• Burlington/Otto-Burlington Fire Hall

• Emblem/Irrigation District Office 

• Hyattville-Community Center

• Manderson-Town Hall

• Greybull-Elks Lodge 

• Shell-Community Hall 

Although the deadline to change voter registration has passed, citizens who are not registered may register to vote at their polling place on Election Day. New applicants must provide proof of identity, proof of U.S. citizenship and proof of Wyoming residency. A Wyoming Driver’s license is sufficient for all three requirements, but for more information on what documentation is required to register, visit the Wyoming Secretary of State website, click on Elections, pull down to Elections Home, click on Forms in the list to the left, click on Voter Registration and click on Wyoming Voter Registration Form. The state requires voters to show a form of ID when voting in-person: a Wyoming driver’s license or ID card, tribal ID card, U.S. passport, U.S. military card, driver’s
license or ID card from another state, University of Wyoming student ID, Wyoming Community College student ID, Wyoming concealed carry firearm permit, Medicare or Medicaid insurance card.

Big Horn County Office Races

Perhaps the most hotly contested race in Big Horn County is the four-man race for the Republican nomination for sheriff among current deputies Jeff Angell and Craig Shidler, interim sheriff Jason Beal and Greybull Chief of Police Travis Davis. One will advance to the November 3 General Election. There is not a filed candidate on the Democratic ticket. Another key race in Tuesday’s Primary is the contest for two seats on the Big Horn County Commission. Vying for two GOP nominations are incumbent Deb Craft, Tim Beck, Jared Boardman, Randall Gormley, Rodney Hopkin, Mike Laird and Jeff McCollam. Two will advance to the General Election, and like all of the county races, there is no Democrat on the ballot. The third contested county wide race is a two-way contest for the Republican nomination for Big Horn County Coroner between incumbent Mike Jameson and Clayton Dragoo. One will advance to the General. All other county officeholders are unopposed on Tuesday: County Attorney Marcia Bean, County Clerk Lori Smallwood, County Treasurer Nicole Vigil, County Assessor Cozette Winters and Clerk of District Court Serena Lipp.

Local Wyoming House Races

In the most southern and west portions of Big Horn County there are two Wyoming House seats open. House District 27 Republican incumbent Martha Lawley is running against Democrat Theresa Livingston. Both will advance to primary.

House District 28 has four Republican candidates vying for the seat held by Rep. John Winter. Those candidates are Allen Hogg, Carlin Jones, Marshall Keller and Roland Luehne. 

There are two legislative seats up for grabs in the north end and a portion of the south end of the county for House District 26. The only Republican candidates having filed. Rep. Dalton Banks of Cowley is seeking re-election and is facing a challenge for the GOP nomination from J. Addison Aagard of Lovell.

Local Senate Race: 

With Sen. Dan Laursen retiring, two are vying for the Senate District 19 seat in the Wyoming State Senate, both with experience in the legislature. Former senator R. J. Kost of Powell is seeking the GOP nomination along with House District 25 Rep. Paul Hoeft, also of Powell.

Statewide races

The largest race on the state level is the battle for the Republican nomination for Wyoming’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Vying to replace Rep. Harriet Hageman, who is running for the U.S. Senate, are Republicans Jillian Balow of Cheyenne, the former Wyoming Supt. of Public Instruction, State Senator Bo Biteman of Ranchester, Kevin Christensen of Casper, Richard Dodson of Sundance, Steve Friess of Cheyenne, David Giralt of Mills, Keith Goodenough of Casper, Secretary of State Chuck Gray and Reid Rasner of Casper.

Seeking the Democratic nomination are Elena Del Real of Lander and Kisa Kinney of Laramie.

One from each party will advance to the General Election.

Running to succeed the retiring Cynthia Lummis in the U.S. Senate are Republican hopefuls Jill Edwards of Laramie, Rep. Hageman, John Holtz of Laramie, Sam Mead of Jackson and Jimmy Skovgard of Casper, along with Democrats Billy Benavidez of Sheridan and James Byrd of Cheyenne.

One from each party will advance.

There are four races for the top five state elected officials. Four Republicans and one Democrat are seeking nominations to replace the retiring Governor Mark Gordon. Republicans are State Senator Eric Barlow of Gillette, Brent Bien of Cody, Curt Blake of Centennial and Supt. of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder. The lone Democrat is Kenneth Casner of Elk Mountain.

Running for Secretary of State are Republicans Qwenton Eagle Oviatt of Hudson, Robert Short of Douglas, State Rep. Rachel Williams of Cody and CJ Young of Cheyenne and Democrat Bryan McCarty of Worland.

Seeking the GOP nomination for Wyoming State Treasurer are incumbent treasurer Curt Meier of La Grange and challenger Scott Smithnof Lingle. Running for Supt. of Public Instruction are Republicans Chad Auer of Cheyenne, State Rep. Steve Harshman of Casper and State Rep. Tom Kelly of Sheridan, along with Democrats Ana Cordova of Cheyenne and Sergio Maldonado Sr. of Lander.

Republican Kristi Racines in unopposed for her Wyoming State Auditor. There are no filed Democratic candidates for State Auditor or State Treasurer.

Town Races 

In the non-partisan races for municipal office, up to two candidates per seat will advance to the General Election.

Residents of Manderson will have only one candidate on their ballot. That candidate is Bill Duncan, who is running for mayor. No one filled for the open town council seats. Write-ins are likely for those seats. Wyoming Statue 22-5-215 states that a write-in candidate shall not be nominated unless she/he receives at least 25 write-in votes in the primary election.

The Town of Basin has three candidates for the open mayor seat. Those candidates are Danae Bales, Carl Olson and Charles (Chuck) Hopkin. Two seats are available on the Basin Town Council. Seven candidates are running to fill those seats: incumbent Stuart DesRosier (who was recently sworn in to fill a vacancy), Jennifer Riley, Karen Scott, Steve VanderPloeg, Nicholas Unruh, Michael Tanner and Don Oryall. 

Burlington has one candidate for mayor in Gary Brunko. There are two four-year council seats open. Running for those seats are Melissa Leonhardt, Jackie Cenker, Matt Walker and Michael Harrington.  Burlington also has one two-year seat open. Neal Wood and Jessie Hamilton are running for that seat. 

Greybull’s only candidate for mayor is Michael Johnston. There are two four-year council seats open. Bob Williamson and Robert Skillman are running for those two seats.