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2026 Wyoming Senate election

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2026 Wyoming State Senate election

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November 3, 2026 (2026-11-03)
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17 of the 31 seats in the Wyoming Senate
(odd-numbered seats and one special election)
16 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Bo Biteman
(retiring)
Mike Gierau
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since January 14, 2025 January 14, 2025
Leader's seat 21st–Ranchester 17th–Jackson
Last election 15 seats, 89.78% 0 seats, 6.61%
Current seats 29 2
Seats needed Steady Increase 14
2022 gen. 14 seats, 75.31% 2 seats, 17.28%
Seats up 15 2

     Republican incumbent      Republican incumbent retiring
     Democratic incumbent
     No election

Incumbent President of the Senate

Bo Biteman
Republican



The 2026 Wyoming Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect members of the Wyoming Legislature for the 69th Wyoming Legislature.[1] Partisan primaries will held on August 18, 2026.[2] Part of the 2026 United States elections, the election will be held alongside races for state house of representatives, U.S. House, and U.S. Senate.

Background

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Both primary and general elections in the state use a plurality voting system to select candidates. Also known as first-past-the-post, a candidate only needs to win the most votes out of any candidate and does not need to attain an outright majority. Wyoming utilizes closed primaries, in which voters must be registered members of a political party to participate in a primary election. Voters have until 96 days before the primary to do so.[3] Some Republican legislators have introduced a bill to create runoff elections for primaries,[4] but has not succeeded.

Retirements

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Republicans

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  1. District 5: Lynn Hutchings is retiring[5]
  2. District 7: Stephan Pappas is retiring[5]
  3. District 11: Larry S. Hicks is retiring[5]
  4. District 19: Dan Laursen is retiring[5]
  5. District 21: Bo Biteman is retiring to run for Congress.[5]
  6. District 23: Eric Barlow is retiring to run for governor.[6]
  7. District 27: Bill Landen is retiring[5]

Incumbents defeated

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In primary elections

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Republicans

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  1. District 29: Bob Ide lost renomination to Lisa Engebretsen.[7]

Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[8] Safe R January 22, 2026

Summary by district

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† = incumbent who did not seek re-election
Italics = non-incumbent
Bold = district flipped from one party to the other

District Incumbent Party Elected Senator Party
1st Ogden Driskill Rep
3rd Cheri Steinmetz Rep
5th Lynn Hutchings† Rep
6th sp Taft Love[a] Rep
7th Stephan Pappas† Rep
9th Chris Rothfuss Dem
11th Larry S. Hicks† Rep
13th Stacy Jones Rep
15th Wendy Davis Schuler Rep
17th Mike Gierau Dem
19th Dan Laursen† Rep
21st Bo Biteman† Rep
23rd Eric Barlow† Rep
25th Cale Case Rep
27th Bill Landen† Rep
29th Bob Ide Rep
31st Evie Brennan Rep
  1. ↑ Replacing Darin Smith, who was elected in 2024 and resigned on August 11, 2025

By district

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District 1 • District 3 • District 5 • District 6 (special) • District 7 • District 9 • District 11 • District 13 • District 15 • District 17 • District 19 • District 21 • District 23 • District 25 • District 27 • District 29 • District 31

District 1

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Wyoming Senate District 1 is located in the northeastern corner of Wyoming, representing the entirety of Crook County and portions of Campbell and Weston counties.[9] House Districts 1 and 52 are nested within SD 1.[10] It has been represented by Republican Ogden Driskill since his election in 2010. He won re-election in the 2022 general election with 75.18% of the vote with significant write-in opposition, he only won renomination in the Republican primary with a plurality of 39.82% against two opponents.[11]

Republican primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Results
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Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ogden Driskill (incumbent) 2,923 51.80
Republican Chip Neiman 2,705 47.93
Write-in 15 0.27
Total votes 5,643 100.00

District 3

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Wyoming Senate District 3 is located on the western edge of Wyoming, representing the entirety of Goshen and Niobrara counties and a portion of Weston County.[9] House Districts 2 and 5 are nested within SD 3.[10] It has been represented by Republican Cheri Steinmetz since her election in 2018. She won re-election in the 2022 general election unopposed with 96.56% of the vote, winning renomination in the Republican primary with 63.64% of the vote.[11]

Republican primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Results
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Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Cheri Steinmetz (incumbent) 4,438 96.88
Write-in 143 3.12
Total votes 4,581 100.00

District 5

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Wyoming Senate District 5 is located in southeastern Wyoming in the Cheyenne area, representing a portion of Laramie County.[9] House Districts 12 and 42 are nested within SD 5.[10] It has been represented by Republican Lynn Hutchings since her election in 2018. She won re-election in the 2022 general election with 70.58% of the vote against a Democratic opponent, winning renomination in the Republican primary unopposed with 95.99% of the vote.[11]

Republican primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Declined
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Results
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Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lauren Schoenfeld 1,252 42.43
Republican Ben Hornok 1,185 40.16
Republican Meagan Herrington 373 12.64
Republican Ronald McCleary 120 4.07
Write-in 21 0.71
Total votes 2,951 100.00

Democratic primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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  • Ted Hanlon, solar and wind energy installer[5]
Results
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Democratic primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ted Hanlon 341 97.71
Write-in 8 2.29
Total votes 349 100.00

District 6

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Wyoming Senate District 6 is located in southeastern Wyoming, representing Platte County and a portion of Laramie County.[9] House Districts 4 and 10 are nested within SD 6.[10] It has been represented by Republican Taft Love since his appointment in August 2025. Love replaced Senator Darin Smith, who was elected in the 2024 general election unopposed with 95.48% of the vote, winning nomination in the open Republican primary with 37.60% of the vote against five opponents.[11] Smith was appointed United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming on August 11, 2025, and Love, who came in third in the 2024 Republican primary, was appointed to take his place. Ordinarily this seat would be up for election in 2028, but Love's appointment necessitates a special election to take place in 2026. Love has declared his intention to run for re-election.[14]

Republican primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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  • Taft Love, incumbent Senator (2025-present)[5]
  • Roy Birt, retired postal worker[5]
Results
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Special Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Taft Love (incumbent) 2,684 52.52
Republican Roy Birt 2,394 46.85
Write-in 32 0.63
Total votes 5,110 100.00

District 7

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Wyoming Senate District 7 is located in southeastern Wyoming in the Cheyenne area, representing a portion of Laramie County.[9] House Districts 9 and 41 are nested within SD 7.[10] It has been represented by Republican Stephan Pappas since his election in 2014. He won re-election in the 2022 general election with 56.82% of the vote against a Democratic opponent, winning renomination in the Republican primary with 51.90% of the vote against two opponents.[11]

Republican primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Declined
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Results
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Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Rinne 2,801 93.59
Write-in 192 6.41
Total votes 2,993 100.00

Democratic primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Results
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Democratic primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Lee 613 97.77
Write-in 14 2.23
Total votes 627 100.00

District 9

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Wyoming Senate District 9 is located in southeastern Wyoming in the city of Laramie, representing a portion of Albany County.[9] House Districts 13 and 45 are nested within SD 9.[10] It has been represented by Democrat Chris Rothfuss since his election in 2010. He won re-election in the 2022 general election with 62.80% of the vote against a Republican opponent, winning renomination in the Democratic primary unopposed with 99.48% of the vote.[11]

Democratic primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Results
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Democratic primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chris Rothfuss (incumbent) 801 99.75
Write-in 2 0.25
Total votes 803 100.00

District 11

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Wyoming Senate District 11 is located in southern Wyoming, representing the entirety of Carbon County and a portion of Sweetwater County.[9] House Districts 15 and 47 are nested within SD 11.[10] It has been represented by Republican Larry S. Hicks since his election in 2010. He won re-election in the 2022 general election with 78.36% of the vote against a Constitution Party opponent, winning renomination in the Republican primary unopposed with 96.90% of the vote.[11]

Republican primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Declined
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Results
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Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Davis 2,728 98.45
Write-in 43 1.55
Total votes 2,771 100.00

Democratic primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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  • Jim Wilson, electrical control operator[5]
Results
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Democratic primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Wilson 297 97.38
Write-in 8 2.62
Total votes 305 100.00

District 13

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Wyoming Senate District 13 is located in southeastern Wyoming in the Green River–Rock Springs area, representing a portion of Sweetwater County.[9] House Districts 39 and 60 are nested within SD 13.[10] It has been represented by Republican Stacy Jones since the 2022 general election where she defeated a Democratic opponent with 75.76% of the vote. She defeated incumbent senator Tom James in the Republican primary with 67.67% of the vote.[11]

Republican primary

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Candidates
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Declared
[edit]
Results
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Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stacy Jones (incumbent) 2,489 98.69
Write-in 33 1.31
Total votes 2,522 100.00

District 15

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Wyoming Senate District 15 is located in southeastern Wyoming, representing a portion of Uinta County.[9] House Districts 19 and 49 are nested within SD 15.[10] It has been represented by Republican Wendy Davis Schuler since her election in 2018. She won re-election in the 2022 general election with 96.45% of the vote, winning renomination in the Republican primary with 61.40% of the vote.[11]

Republican Primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Results
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Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Wendy Davis Schuler (incumbent) 2,551 61.75
Republican Tina Johnson 1,041 25.20
Republican Jen Hegeman 350 8.47
Republican Chris Katzl 184 4.45
Write-in 5 0.12
Total votes 4,131 100.00

District 17

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Wyoming Senate District 17 is located in northeastern Wyoming, representing a portion of Teton County,[9] the only county that voted for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. House Districts 16 and 23 are nested within SD 17.[10] It has been represented by Democrat Mike Gierau since his election in 2018. He won re-election in the 2022 general election with 62.80% against Republican and Libertarian opponents, winning renomination in the Democratic primary unopposed with 97.92% of the vote.[11]

Democratic primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Results
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Democratic primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Gierau (incumbent) 1,200 99.67
Write-in 4 0.33
Total votes 1,204 100.00

District 19

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Wyoming Senate District 19 is located in northern Wyoming, representing portions of Big Horn and Park counties.[9] House Districts 25 and 26 are nested within SD 19.[10] It has been represented by Republican Dan Laursen since the 2022 general election where he won unopposed with 93.85% of the vote. He defeated incumbent senator R. J. Kost and another opponent in the Republican primary with a plurality of 42.91%.[11]

Republican primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Declined
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Results
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Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican R. J. Kost 2,752 53.32
Republican Paul Hoeft 2,395 46.41
Write-in 14 0.27
Total votes 5,161 100.00

District 21

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Wyoming Senate District 21 is located in northern Wyoming, representing a portion of Sheridan County.[9] SD 21 and 22 are not subject to House District nesting.[10] It has been represented by Republican Bo Biteman since his election in 2018. He won re-election in the 2022 general election with 73.18% of the vote against a Democratic opponent, winning renomination in the Republican primary unopposed with 95.22% of the vote.[11]

Republican primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Declined
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Results
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Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Melissa Butcher 3,361 58.18
Republican Ken Pendergraft 2,391 41.39
Write-in 25 0.43
Total votes 5,777 100.00

District 23

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Wyoming Senate District 23 is located in northeastern Wyoming, representing a portion of Campbell County.[9] House Districts 3 and 31 are nested within SD 23.[10] It has been represented by Republican Eric Barlow since the 2022 general election where he won 72.35% of the vote against an independent opponent. He won the Republican primary with 80.47% of the vote with significant write-in opposition after incumbent senator Jeff Wasserburger did not stand for re-election.[11]

Republican primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Declined
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Results
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Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Abby Angelos 2,054 55.19
Republican Dwayne Dillinger 1,657 44.52
Write-in 11 0.30
Total votes 3,722 100.00

District 25

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Wyoming Senate District 25 is located in central Wyoming, representing a portion of Fremont County.[9] House Districts 33 and 54 are nested within SD 25.[10] It has been represented by Republican Cale Case since his election in 1998. He won re-election in the 2022 general election with 89.01% of the vote with some write-in opposition, winning renomination in the Republican primary with 54.89% of the vote.[11]

Republican primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Results
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Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Cale Case (incumbent) 2,604 62.78
Republican Lisa Wilson 1,536 37.03
Write-in 8 0.19
Total votes 4,148 100.00

District 27

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Wyoming Senate District 27 is located in central Wyoming in the Casper area, representing a portion of Natrona County.[9] House Districts 35 and 36 are nested within SD 27.[10] It has been represented by Republican Bill Landen since his election in 2006. He won re-election in the 2022 general election unopposed with 97.50% of the vote, winning renomination in the Republican primary unopposed with 98.07% of the vote.[11]

Republican primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Declined
[edit]
Results
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Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kevin Helling 1,928 52.97
Republican Marcia Neumiller 1,093 30.02
Republican Jim Corkery 612 16.81
Write-in 7 0.19
Total votes 3,640 100.00

District 29

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Wyoming Senate District 29 is located in central Wyoming in the Casper area, representing a portion of Natrona County.[9] House Districts 37 and 39 are nested within SD 29.[10] It has been represented by Republican Bob Ide since the 2022 general election where he was elected unopposed with 91.44% of the vote with some write-in opposition. He defeated incumbent senator Drew Perkins in the Republican primary with 52.65% of the vote.[11]

Republican primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Results
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Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lisa Engebretsen 2,153 52.27
Republican Bob Ide (incumbent) 1,954 47.44
Write-in 12 0.29
Total votes 4,119 100.00

District 31

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Wyoming Senate District 31 is located in southeastern Wyoming in the Cheyenne area, representing a portion of Laramie County.[9] House Districts 43 and 61 are nested within SD 31.[10] SD 31 was added after the 2020 redistricting cycle, with Republican Evie Brennan representing the district since its creation. She was first elected in the 2022 general election unopposed with 96.21% of the vote, winning the Republican primary with 56.44% of the vote.[11]

Republican primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Results
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Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Evie Brennan (incumbent) 1,753 65.36
Republican Daniel Singh 894 33.33
Write-in 35 1.30
Total votes 2,682 100.00

Democratic primary

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Candidates
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Declared
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Results
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Democratic primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shifa Hamid 381 97.19
Write-in 11 2.81
Total votes 392 100.00

References

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  1. ↑ "Wyoming State Senate elections, 2026". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  2. ↑ "2026 State Primary Election Dates". NCSL. May 9, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Primary elections in Wyoming". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  4. ↑ Clements, Chris (January 30, 2025). "Hand counting votes? Ban on ballot drop boxes? Election bills move through Legislature". Wyoming Public Radio. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 "2026 Unofficial Primary Election Candidate Roster" (PDF). Wyoming Secretary of State. June 4, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Hill, Alex (August 13, 2025). "Wyoming Senator Eric Barlow announces 2026 gubernatorial campaign". Your Wyoming Link. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  7. ↑ "2026 Wyoming Primary Election Recap: In a Deep Red State, the Primary Is The Election". Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. August 21, 2026. Retrieved August 25, 2026.
  8. ↑ Jacobson, Louis (January 22, 2026). "Handicapping The 2026 State Legislative Map: A First Look". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Statewide Senate Districts and House Districts By County Report" (PDF). Wyoming Secretary of State. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "2024 Wyoming Statutes Title 28 - Legislature Chapter 2 - Legislative Districts of Members Section 28-2-118 - Senate Legislative Districts; List of Nested House Districts Formed to Create Senate Districts". Justia. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 "Wyoming State Senate elections, 2022". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "Statewide Senate Unofficial Summary" (PDF). Wyoming SOS. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
  13. ↑ Byrd, Klark (May 15, 2026). "Lauren Schoenfeld announces campaign for Wyoming Senate District 5". Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  14. ↑ Walker, Jackson (August 29, 2025). "Former County GOP Chair Chosen To Fill Senate Seat Vacated By Trump Appointee". Cowboy State Daily. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  15. ↑ Byrd, Klark (March 27, 2026). "Cheyenne City Councilor Mark Rinne to run for Wyoming Senate District 7". Cap City News. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Davis to run for Wyoming Senate District 11 seat". RocketMiner. April 2, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  17. ↑ Baker, CJ (April 28, 2026). "Hoeft seeks to move up to Senate". Powell Tribune. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  18. ↑ Peck, David (March 5, 2026). "R. J. Kost seeks return to State Senate". Basin Republican Rustler. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 McFarland, Clair (March 18, 2026). "Battle For Biteman's Seat: House Rep. Ken Pendergraft Vies To Move Over To Senate". Cowboy State Daily. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 McFarland, Clair (March 27, 2026). "Wyoming House Rep. Abby Angelos — Not John Bear — Runs For Barlow's Senate Seat". Cowboy State Daily. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  21. 1 2 "Dr Kevin Helling to run for Landen's Wyoming SD 27 seat". Oil City News. April 10, 2026. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  22. 1 2 Byrd, Klark (May 26, 2026). "Lisa Engebretsen announces campaign for Wyoming Senate District 29". Oil City News. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  23. ↑ Culkin, Tommy (April 14, 2026). "State Rep. Daniel Singh announces bid for Senate District 31 seat". Retrieved June 6, 2026.

See also

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