Incumbents on both sides of the aisle defend seats in key legislative races

The Wyoming Legislature’s balance of power was largely determined in August’s primary elections, when voters resoundingly rejected the hard-right Wyoming Freedom Caucus in favor of more moderate Republican candidates. But a handful of races still posed uncertainty ahead of Tuesday. Here’s how those races panned out.  

Rep. Posey keeps House District 33, one of the Legislature’s few swing districts.

Democrat Rep. Ivan Posey defended his seat for House District 33 against his opponent, Republican Justin Morgan. Posey, an Eastern Shoshone educator, has represented the district since 2024.

A member of the House Transportation Committee and chairperson of the Select Committee on Tribal Relations, Posey said in response to WyoFile’s candidate questionnaire that his biggest concerns are rising costs and access to healthcare, education and young people leaving the state.

Stretching across Fremont County, House District 33 encompasses the Wind River Indian Reservation towns of Fort Washakie, Ethete and Arapahoe, as well as the small non-tribal communities of Atlantic City, Crowheart and Hudson. Over the years, its representation has flipped back and forth between Democrats and Republicans, as well as enrolled tribal members and white ranchers.

Costello will replace longtime Rep. Harshman in House District 37.

Republican Brian Costello, a Casper educator and coach, will be House District 37’s new representative after longtime Republican Rep. Steve Harshman decided to run for state superintendent of public instruction. 

Harshman has represented Natrona County’s House District 37 since 2003, including two terms as speaker of the House. The district spans Casper Mountain and several west-side neighborhoods, including Wolf Creek and Valley Hills. Costello faced Democratic candidate Betsy Erickson, also an educator, in the general election. 

Born in Kemmerer and raised in Big Piney, Costello said in his response to WyoFile’s candidate questionnaire that he would prioritize local control, supporting schools and businesses, protecting public lands and creating opportunities for young people to build lives in the state. 

House District 23 keeps a Democrat. 

Democrat Rep. Liz Storer defended her House District 23 seat against Republican Shannon Brennan. Storer, who has represented the district since 2022, has largely focused on abortion rights, tourism and tax reform. 

(Storer is the president and CEO of the George B. Storer Foundation, a financial supporter of WyoFile. The foundation has no role in WyoFile’s editorial content.)

Since 2015, voters in Teton County, one of Wyoming’s two blue bubbles, have sent a Democrat to Cheyenne to represent its northern half, including Teton Village, an eastern section of Wilson, as well as the communities of Kelly, Moran and Moose.

Rep. Sherwood also defended her House District 14 seat. 

Democratic Rep. Trey Sherwood also defended her seat in House District 14, which spans northern Laramie and the Albany County communities of Rock River and Bosler. Sherwood has represented the area since 2020. She faced Republican candidate Emily Study in the general election.

As a lawmaker, Sherwood rose through the ranks of the minority party, while focusing on housing, supporting rural schools and suicide prevention. Most recently, she served as the sole Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee — the Legislature’s panel responsible for crafting the state’s budget bill.

House District 11 turns blue.

Democrat Britney Tennant, who runs the Cheyenne Animal Shelter, defeated Republican Dan McIntosh and Libertarian Ryan Shollenberger in House District 11’s three-way race, according to Laramie County’s unofficial results.

Tennant is set to replace Republican Rep. Jacob Wasserburger, who didn’t run for reelection after serving one term representing the central Cheyenne district. 

House District 11’s boundaries shifted significantly during the Legislature’s 2022 redistricting process. Years before then, several Democrats represented the district. But for the last decade, it has favored Republicans.

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