2018 Midterm Elections
The general election on November 6 saw a high turnout in Park County with 73% of registered voters casting a ballot (compare to 62.23% for the 2014 midterm elections).
Interest in the midterms soared nationwide. An unprecedented number of women ran for and won local, state, and national office. There were several firsts, including the election of the first Native American woman to Congress–not just one but two! Two Muslim women were elected, the first Muslim women to serve in Congress. South Dakota elected its first female governor and Arizona and Tennessee elected their first female senators. Colorado elected the first openly gay man to win a governorship in the United States.
Republicans dominated the stage in the Wyoming races but Democrats can feel proud of the quality candidates on their ticket, including Mary Throne and Gary Trauner. Both these candidates traveled the state, talking to people about issues that matter to Wyomingites. Both must have known it was a very long shot, but both put their hat in the ring. Kudos!
There is still a long ways to go in Park County and in Wyoming to have a more diverse ballot, with choices that cover the political spectrum. But if one looks at the number of candidates who participated, from the School Board race in Cody to the slate of contenders on the primary election County Commissioner ballot, there is much to be optimistic about. Thank you to all of those that ran for office and congratulations to all who won. We hope that the work of Wyoming Rising helped to inform and get out the vote.
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Winners of some of the most-closely watched races with their percentage of the total vote are below. For the full summary of Park County results, visit Park County elections website.
To report errors or omissions, please leave a comment below.
Park County Commissioners
The term for Commissioners is 4 years. No Democrats or Independents ran in the August primary; thereby the top three vote-getting Republicans ran unopposed in the midterms.
- Dossie Overfield (22.76%)
- Lloyd Thiel (22.51%)
- Joe Tilden (23.26%)
Special Districts
Northwest College Trustees Subdistrict B (Cody): term is 4 years.
- John Housel (48.52%)
Northwest College Trustees Subdistrict A (Powell): term is 4 years.
- Dusty Spomer (28.36%)
- Carolyn Danko (26.47%)
School District #6 (Cody) Trustees: term is 4 years.
- Brandi Nelson (11.4%)
- Cathy Roes (10.72%)
- Karen Schipfmann-Nielson (8.92%)
School District #6 (Cody) Trustees: term is 2 years.
This is the seat that Rebecca George resigned in March of 2018. Lisa Constantine was selected by the School Board from a field of applicants to fill the seat until the November 2018 midterm elections.
- John McCue (35.15%)
School District #1 (Powell) Trustees: term is 4 years.
- Greg Borcher (15.34%)
- Lillian Brazelton (13.86%)
- Trace Paul (13.64%)
- Donald Hansen (9.68%)
School District #16 (Meeteetse) Trustees: term is 4 years.
- Mike Potas (40.54%)
- J. Nicole Blake (39.9%)
West Park Hospital Trustees: term is 4 years.
Four seats were open. Ken Markert withdrew from the race after the ballots were printed.
- Howard Thompson (12.65%)
- Graham Jackson (12.23%)
- Peggy Rohrbach (12.06%)
- Jen Talich (16.69%)
West Park Hospital Trustees: term is 2 years.
- Catherine Schmidt (75.78%)
Powell Hospital Trustees: term is 4 years.
- R.J. Kost (17.79%)
- Jim Carlson (15.55%)
Council Member Cody Ward 1: term is 4 years.
- Justin Baily (71.89%)
Council Member Cody Ward 2: term is 4 years.
- Heidi Rasmussen (79.71%)
Council Member Cody Ward 3: term is 4 years.
- Diane Ballard (80.05%)
Council Member Powell Ward 1: term is 4 years.
- Steven Michael Lensegrav (49.81%)
Council Member Powell Ward 2: term is 4 years.
- Scott Mangold (65.64%)
Council Member Powell Ward 3: term is 4 years.
- Timothy A. Sapp (51.34%)
Wyoming Legislature
SENATE
Fifteen of the 30 seats in the Wyoming Senate were up for election. Wyoming state senators serve staggered four-year terms so half of the senate is up for reelection every two years. For information about the Wyoming Legislature, visit this link. To find your district, visit this link.
Senate District #19
The district includes Powell, Garland, Cowley, Byron, Emblem, Lovell, Greybull, and Shell. Term is for four years.
- R.J. Kost (R) (86.51%)
HOUSE
All 60 seats in the Wyoming House of Representatives were up for election. Term is two years. For information about the Wyoming Legislature, visit this link. To find your district, visit this link.
House District #50
The district includes Crandall, Sunlight, Clark, Heart Mountain, Ralston, and Wilwood
- David Northrup (R) (77.79%)
~ Northrup is a farmer and rancher who has served in the Legislature since 2013. You can find a summary Northrup’s voting record and the bills he sponsored at Open States.
House District #24
The district includes Cody and Mammoth.
- Sandy Newsome (R) (68.98%)
House District #25
The district includes Powell.
- Dan Laursen (R) (81.65%)
House District #26
The district includes Lovell and Greybull. The incumbent ran unopposed.
- Jamie Flitner (R) (85.51%)
House District #28
The district includes Meeteetse and Burlington.
- John R. Winter (R) (80.57%)
Wyoming Governor
Term is 4 years.
- Mark Gordon (R) (73.96%)
Secretary Of State
Term is 4 years.
- Edward Buchanan (R) (74.41%)
State Auditor
Term is 4 years.
- Kristi Racines (R) (78.55%)
State Treasurer
Term is 4 years.
- Curt Meier (R) (77.15%)
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Term is 4 years. The specific duties of the superintendent and information about Barlow can be found here: https://ballotpedia.org/Jillian_Balow
- Jillian Balow (R) (83.39%)
US Senate Candidates
Term is six years. Senator Barrasso has been in office since 2007 and was a Wyoming state senator from 2002-2007.
- John Barrasso (R) (75%)
U.S. House Of Representatives
Term is two years. Incumbent Liz Cheney has been in office since 2017.
- Liz Cheney (R) (70.31%)