Voters send Chuck Gray to represent Wyoming in the US House

Wyoming voters on Tuesday elected Republican Chuck Gray to replace Harriet Hageman as the state’s lone congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Gray’s victory is the culmination of a 10-year rise from state lawmaker to secretary of state and now congressman-elect. He is an outspoken Trump supporter who advocated for a slew of changes to Wyoming’s election system that he said were needed for the system’s integrity, but his critics called them unnecessary and burdensome. 

Hageman was elected to an open U.S. Senate seat Tuesday, creating the House vacancy. Wyoming’s entire congressional delegation backed Gray, whose name was checked on 57% of ballots by the time the Associated Press called the race at 9:40 p.m. with 54% of the vote counted.

Gray faced former state senator Democrat Lisa Kinney, Constitution Party candidate Jeffrey Haggit and Libertarian Shawn Johnson in Tuesday’s election. 

In Wyoming, where Republicans have been elected to Congress since 1976, when Teno Roncalio was reelected over Republican Larry Hart, many viewed the primary election as more pivotal than the general election in determining the state’s next congressman. 

Gray won that nine-person race in August, but there was never a crystal-clear frontrunner. He likely had the greatest name recognition, having held a statewide seat, secretary of state, for four years. The race was marked by big spending by candidates. There were several, the victor included, who spent seven figures on their candidacies.

Gray ultimately won with 25% of the vote — five points more than runner-up Steve Friess.

Gray has been seen as a firebrand in Wyoming politics. As secretary of state, he butted heads frequently with Gov. Mark Gordon. He was aligned with the Wyoming Freedom Caucus — a Republican faction that collapsed during the primary election — during his time as a state representative. 

Gray has fashioned himself as an acolyte of President Donald Trump. Although Trump didn’t endorse him during the primary election, he did so in advance of Tuesday’s general election, calling Wyoming’s incoming congressman a “true friend of MAGA.” 

“Chuck Gray has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next U.S. Representative from Wyoming — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!,” the president’s Truth Social account posted.

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