Republican Gordon wins second term as Wyoming governor

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Republican Mark Gordon has won a second term as Wyoming’s governor.

Gordon beat Democrat Theresa Livingston, a retired educator and U.S. Bureau of Land Management employee.

Gordon emphasized his efforts to diversify Wyoming’s economy away from fossil fuels, mentioning ongoing work to develop new uses for coal and an unconventional nuclear reactor. He won despite criticism from fellow Republicans for closing off businesses and public places during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. His pandemic response drew calls for a Republican to challenge him.

One often-mentioned opponent, Cheyenne attorney Harriet Hageman, ran for U.S. House instead, beating Liz Cheney in the Republican primary.

Hageman wins Wyoming US House seat after ousting Cheney

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Republican Harriet Hageman has beaten a Native American activist to win Wyoming’s lone seat in the U.S. House and cement her place as successor to Liz Cheney.

A Cheyenne natural resources attorney, Hageman beat Democrat Lynnette Grey Bull. Hageman ran on her deep family ties to Wyoming’s ranching community to connect with rural voters in the least-populated state. She campaigned aggressively, much as she did before beating Cheney in the GOP primary in August.

The race between Hageman and Grey Bull drew little attention outside Wyoming compared with the Republican primary, when voters turned against Cheney for her criticism of former President Donald Trump.