Wyoming Vote Tracker

Wyoming’s Republican primary for the at-large U.S. House seat being vacated by Rep. Barbra Cubin at the end of the year is turning into a typical WYGOP contest: crowded!

Six, count ‘em six, candidates have thrown their hats in the ring. Here’s what I know so far:

• Swede Nelson, a motivational speaker from Cheyenne, “wants to end sleaze by raising ethical standards and issues and ending partisanship that borders on hatred.” I need a few more specifics before I’m motivated…
• Kenn Gilchrist, a Casper social worker that at one time stated he was running as an independent, however, he is running as a Republican. At least, as far as I know, he’s running…
• Bill Winney at least has a website up (from his 2006 campaign), though that is going to be changing soon. However, you can see where he stands on pertinent issues. If abortion, stem cell research, and traditional marriage are among those, you’ll have to e-mail him (and he has committed to respond if you do).
• State Rep. Dan Zwonitzer is planning to heavily campaign for your vote after the legislative budget session ends. He is serving his second term in the State House and is the youngest elected member in some time. He also has a website, headed up the Giuliani for President campaign in Wyoming, and faces an uphill battle with the family values voters.
• Former State Treasurer Cynthia Lummis is taking a shot at being Wyoming’s vote in D.C. She currently has the power of name recognition on her side in the Republican primary, although the poll shows a close contest between her and Democrat Gary Trauner, with one-fifth of those polled undecided. In the special appointment process last summer, she was one of the leading conservatives vying for the Senate seat vacated by the late Sen. Craig Thomas. While the Governor didn’t choose her, you just had to know we hadn’t seen the last of her. She has a website coming soon and her daughter reads my blog.
• In case there aren’t enough choices, Mark Gordon from Buffalo is also running. He wants to bring people together to accomplish what’s best for America and see the Republican party return to “small government, individual opportunity and prudent government that wasn’t too invasive.”
• To put to rest the speculators (including myself), Tom Sansonetti announced that he would not be seeking votes in the August primary.

Meanwhile, I’m hoping to meet many of the aforementioned candidates at the Park County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner tonight. I have a preference in the group so far, but with the opportunity to meet them in person, I want to do so before announcing. Stay tuned!

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