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The unofficial results from Park County's primary election are in the books, with local Republican voters embracing slate of more conservative legislative candidates. That included ousting a veteran Powell lawmaker.
In House District 25, challenger Paul Hoeft ran to the right of Rep. David Northrup (R-Powell) and earned a decisive victory. Hoeft received 1,251 votes (60.6%) to the incumbent's 808 votes (39.2%).
Other, more conservative incumbents fared better. Sen. Tim French (3,190 votes, 57.8%) finished well ahead challenger Landon Greer (2,311 votes, 41.9%); and incumbent Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams (1,778 votes, 62.4%) posted an even wider win over challenger David Hill (1,060 votes, 37.2%).
Meanwhile, Wyoming Republican Party National Comitteewoman Nina Webber bested Cody Mayor Matt Hall in what was initially an extremely tight race for House District 24. In early and absentee voting, Hall led by six votes, or not quite 0.6%, but Webber ultimately took the contest with 1,405 votes (52.9%) to Hall's 1,233 (46.4%).
Within Park County's results, challenger Tom Olmstead finished well ahead of Sen. Ed Cooper in Senate District 20 and House District 28 Rep. John Winter defeated Kevin Skates, but the final results hinge on ballots cast across multiple counties.
As for a six-way race for two Park County Commission seats, former Cody school board member Kelly Simone topped the field with 3,898 votes. Also advancing to the general election and toward reelection was Commissioner Scott Mangold, who picked up 3,270 votes. Trailing them were Karin Richard (2,432 votes), JP Jones (2,039), Casey Edwards (1,955) and Tanner Beemer (850).
In the mayoral races, Powell Mayor John Wetzel topped challenger Kade Richmond (55.5%-43.7%) and Cody Council Councilwoman Lee Ann Reiter trumped Chuck Struemke (76%-23.5%) in the race to replace Hall. In Powell's only contested city council race, Ward 3 Councilwoman Lesli Spencer topped Troy Bray (53.2%-45.9%).
Those nonpartisan, municipal races are basically just dress rehearsals, as two candidates can advance to November's general election. However, in a three-way Cody City Council race, one candidate was eliminated. Joanna Settineri (372 votes, 45.3%) finished ahead in the Ward 3 race, followed by Tillman Maxwel (188 votes, 22.9%), with Joseph Burrell (118 votes, 14.4%) eliminated. Brian Walker appeared on the ballot, but withdrew from the race weeks ago.
Turnout was relatively weak, with 8,969 Park County residents casting ballots. That's significantly from the August 2022 primary, when 12,366 voters participated.
There were signs heading into election day that interest was significantly lower than the 2022 primary, which featured a matchup between then-U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney and now-U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman. For example, a total of 1,550 county residents voted early, compared to 2,355 early votes in the 2022 primary. Similarly, there were roughly 1,500 absentee votes cast in this election, down from 2,216 two years ago.
"It just didn’t seem like there was a lot driving people into the office to vote,” said Elections Deputy Katie Johnson.
Johnson said things seemed to run smoothly on election day and Park County had its final, unofficial results online by 9:30 p.m.
For more on the election, see Thursday's edition of the Tribune.
