Commissioners Mary Thoman and Taylor Jones celebrate together after the unofficial primary election results revealed they will move on to the general election in the top two spots for Republican County Commissioner candidates. They were joined by Senator Stacy Jones, right, and many other candidates and their families who gathered at the County Courthouse on Tuesday night to watch the election results come in.
Wyoming's primary election gave voters the chance to narrow down the field of candidates within their party before the general election in November. In Sweetwater County, many races were also decided in the primary election when there were only Republican candidates running.
The primary election took place Tuesday, August 20. The unofficial results were shared Tuesday night. A total of 6,499 ballots were cast in Sweetwater County, with 5,442 Republicans voting, 925 Democrats voting, and 132 non-partisan ballots cast.
The Green River City Council could potentially be changed by the election results. Although Council Member Sherry Bushman is likely to retain her seat, having beaten Mark Peterson by 200 votes, Council Member George Jost might not return to the council after losing to Jessica Maser by 136 votes.
Other changes in leadership will occur this year, with several races ending with incumbents being beaten by their opponents. House District 60 Representative Tony Niemiec lost in a close race to Marlene Brady, coming up short by 45 votes. House District 48 Representative Clark Stith lost to Darin McCann by 127 votes. Albert Sommers, who previously served as a representative for House District 20 and Speaker of the House, also lost his race for Senate District 14, losing to Laura Pearson by 163 votes.
Other races were close victories for incumbents, with candidates describing them as "nail biters" as they watched the unofficial results come in at the County Court House on Tuesday night. Wyoming Representative J.T. Larson for House District 17 won by 81 votes, while Representative Codie Wylie of House District 39 won by 44 votes.
The Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners is on track to continue without changes, with current commissioners Mary Thoman and Taylor Jones maintaining a decisive lead.
The federal races for senator and representative were also decisively won by the incumbents John Barrasso and Harriet Hageman.
A handful of Democratic candidates ran for various positions, but were uncontested in their races, so they will automatically move on to the general election, which will take place Tuesday, November 5.
The full unofficial results for the primary election can be found on sweetwatercountywy.gov.
Primary election unofficial results
(Republican candidate results are listed for partisan races; Democratic candidates were all uncontested)
Federal offices
United States Senator
1. John Barrasso: 3,306
2. Reid Rasner: 1,518
3. John Holtz: 438
United States Representative
1. Harriet Hageman: 4,184
2. Steven Helling: 1,025
State offices
State Senator, District 12
1. John Kolb: 1,313
2. Jeff Ramaj: 814
State Senator, District 14
1. Laura Taliaferro Pearson: 324
2. Albert Sommers: 161
3. Bill Winney: 91
State Representative, House District 15
1. Pamela Thayer: 20
2. Terry Lee Weickum: 10
3. Sheryl Foland: 6
State Representative, House District 17
1. Joshua Thomas (J.T.) Larson: 562
2. Terry Ellison: 481
State Representative, House District 18
1. Scott Heiner: 393
2. Thomas D. Crank: 179
State Representative, House District 39
1. Cody Wylie: 501
2. Laura Mckee: 457
3. Marshall Burt: 88
State Representative, House District 47
1. Robert "Bob" Davis: 327
State Representative, House District 48
1. Darin McCann: 617
2. Clark Stith: 490
State Representative, House District 60
1. Marlene Brady: 567
2. Tony Niemiec: 522
County
County Commissioner
1. Mary E. Thoman: 2,992
2. Taylor C. Jones: 2,707
3. Rose M. Mosbey: 2,095
Green River
City Council, Ward I
1. Sherry Bushman: 468
2. Mark Peterson: 268
City Council, Ward II
1. Jessica Maser: 297
2. George Jost: 161
City Council, Ward III
1. Robert V. Berg: 585
Rock Springs
City Council Ward I
1. Tim Robinson: 355
2. Rick Milonas: 233
City Council Ward II
1. Robert B. Zotti: 1,057
City Council, Ward III
1. Larry Hickerson: 505
City Council, Ward IV
1. Brent Bettolo: 677
Granger Town Council
1. Kimberly G. Nygaard: 16
2. Vern Howey: 15
3. Jimi Frazier: 9
Superior Town Council
1. Thomas McCune: 59
2. Sandra S. Merritt: 41
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