Why It Matters
Wyoming’s primary election could face disruption if state officials move forward with redrawing legislative boundaries. The request comes weeks after candidate filing opened for 2026 races, creating potential confusion for voters and candidates already preparing for the election cycle.
The issue centers on whether Wyoming lawmakers considered race when creating House District 33 in Fremont County, which includes the Wind River Indian Reservation and surrounding communities.
What Happened
Secretary of State Chuck Gray sent letters this week to Governor Mark Gordon and the Fremont County Commission requesting review of electoral district lines. Gray cited a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that limited how states can use race when drawing election boundaries.
In his Wednesday communication to the governor, Gray argued that Wyoming’s House District 33 may need reexamination to ensure compliance with the high court’s April ruling in Louisiana v. Callais. The district covers more than 100 miles of Fremont County, including Fort Washakie, Ethete, Arapahoe, Atlantic City, Crowheart, and Hudson.
Gray asked Gordon to establish a process for reviewing legislative districts, though he did not specify whether he wanted a special legislative session convened. The secretary also wrote separately to Fremont County officials suggesting they return to an at-large commissioner selection system.
Governor Gordon’s office said Thursday the governor is seeking legal guidance from the attorney general and gathering additional information before responding.
By the Numbers
House District 33 extends across more than 100 miles of Fremont County terrain. The district has historically alternated between Democratic and Republican representation. Eastern Shoshone educator Ivan Posey, a Democrat, currently holds the seat after defeating Freedom Caucus-backed incumbent Sarah Penn in the most recent election.
Louisiana officials suspended primary elections affecting six congressional races after their governor took action on redistricting, even though more than 42,000 voters had already submitted absentee ballots. Several southern states controlled by Republican legislatures have moved to redraw congressional maps following the Supreme Court decision.
Zoom Out
The Supreme Court’s Callais decision narrowed states’ ability to consider race as a determining factor in creating election districts. The ruling triggered immediate redistricting efforts in multiple GOP-controlled southern states seeking to add Republican congressional seats.
Wyoming appeared initially unlikely to face redistricting pressures because the state has a single at-large congressional seat representing the entire population. However, Gray’s focus on state legislative boundaries has raised questions about whether Wyoming will join other states in reconsidering district lines.
Republican governors in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee have called special legislative sessions to address redistricting in their states. Louisiana’s governor took the more aggressive step of suspending primary elections while new maps were drawn.
What’s Next
Local elected officials expressed skepticism about reopening electoral boundaries this close to primary elections. State Senator Cale Case, a Lander Republican who chairs the Senate committee overseeing electoral issues, said he saw little appetite among commissioners or legislators for redrawing maps.
The candidate filing period for Wyoming’s 2026 elections opened Thursday, marking the official start of election season. House District 33 will be contested this year along with all other legislative seats.
Governor Gordon is consulting with the attorney general’s office on the matter. Any decision to suspend elections or call a special redistricting session would place Wyoming in unprecedented legal and procedural territory.
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