Eric Hunt / Wikimedia Commons
Why It Matters
Wyoming Republicans are gearing up for a consequential August primary that will shape the state’s executive leadership for the next term. The race to replace the sitting governor drew three candidates willing to face public scrutiny in an 80-minute debate — with a fourth candidate notably absent — giving voters an early look at the field ahead of the vote.
What Happened
Three Republican candidates vying for Wyoming’s governorship met Thursday evening at the Headwaters Arts and Conference Center in DuBois, Fremont County, to lay out their conservative credentials and policy positions. State Sen. Eric Barlow, retired Col. Brent Bien, and State Superintendent Megan Degenfelder each took the stage before a crowd of more than 100 residents. A fourth candidate, Curt Blake, did not respond to the invitation to participate.
Fremont County GOP members Mitch Benson and John Birbari moderated the event, guiding the conversation through a range of issues central to Wyoming conservatives: judicial nominations, COVID-19 policy responses, library book rules, energy development, private property rights, and federal government overreach.
All three candidates emphasized deep Wyoming roots — each born and raised in the state — and all three positioned themselves as defenders of Wyoming values at a time of increasing pressure from Washington. This year’s primary landscape reflects a broader push among Wyoming conservatives to tighten their grip on state government heading into the general election cycle.
The Candidates
Degenfelder, the current state superintendent of public instruction, framed her candidacy around personal background and urgency. “I’m a Wyoming ranch kid whose parents clawed their way into the middle class,” she said during the debate. “I believe that Wyoming is worth fighting for, because look what’s happening across this country.”
Barlow drew on a broad professional resume to establish his credentials, telling attendees, “I’m a Marine. I’m a veterinarian. I’m a business person. I’m a rancher.” The state senator also noted a personal milestone during the debate week — celebrating 35 years of marriage — and spoke about his two children, Kate and Graham.
Bien, a retired military officer with nearly three decades of marriage and three daughters, leaned on his service background and family values as anchors for his campaign message.
Key Issues Debated
Judicial nominations drew significant attention after a recent Wyoming court ruling struck down three of the state’s anti-abortion laws. Under Wyoming’s current system, judges appear on the nonpartisan general election ballot for an uncontested “yes” or “no” retention vote following their initial appointment — a process that has drawn scrutiny from conservatives who argue it lacks sufficient accountability.
COVID-19 policy was another flashpoint. Wyoming’s record during the pandemic — having logged more in-person school days than any other state — was held up by candidates as a point of pride and an example of prioritizing parental choice over bureaucratic caution. The death of Rep. Roy Edwards from COVID-19 in 2020 provided a sobering backdrop to that discussion.
Energy development and federal overreach rounded out the policy debate, both perennial issues in a state where the federal government controls vast stretches of land and where the energy sector remains the backbone of the economy. Wyoming’s ongoing push to expand its energy infrastructure — including major projects like the $4 billion Seminoe Pumped Storage Project — makes those topics especially pressing for whoever wins the governor’s office.
By the Numbers
- 80 minutes — total length of Thursday’s debate
- 100+ — residents who attended in DuBois
- 4 — Republican candidates in the race; only 3 participated
- 3 — Wyoming anti-abortion laws recently struck down by state court ruling
- 1 — state with the most in-person school days during the pandemic: Wyoming
What’s Next
The Wyoming Republican primary is scheduled for August, giving candidates roughly two months to distinguish themselves in what remains a competitive three-way race — or four-way, if Blake engages before voters head to the polls. Expect additional candidate forums and increased campaigning across the state’s rural communities as the summer primary approaches.
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