SWEETWATER COUNTY –– Tuesday is election day in Wyoming as voters will participate in the 2026 Primary Election.
The polls opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. Voters need to bring a photo identification with them to their polling location to vote. The Letsvotewyo.org website from the Wyoming Secretary of State’s office can help voters find their polling locations and provides examples of acceptable photo identification. Voters who are not affiliated with a political party can still vote in municipal elections.
TRN Media will broadcast election results after the polls close on KUGR 104.9 FM and 1490 AM. A stream will be hosted on SweetwaterNOW’s Facebook page as well.
Sweetwater County Races
Within Sweetwater County, the biggest race takes place on the Republican ballot for Sweetwater County Sheriff. The races features six challengers vying to be the next sheriff: Interim Sheriff Rich Fischer, Ozzie Knezovich, Rich Kaumo, Amanda Buller, Matthew Wharton, and Randall Tryzbiak. With no Democrats or independent candidates involved in this election, the winner of the primary will become sheriff in 2027.
Republican voters will also have decisions to make when it comes to the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners. Four Republicans are vying for three slots in the November General Election. Incumbents Island Richards and Keaton West are joined by Green River City Councilor Sherry Bushman and Walter Majko. Only one Democrat, Wayne Severson, will be on their ballot and automatically will proceed to the General Election.
A third race taking place for a county office is between Incumbent Cindy Lane-Swenson and Dale Davis for Sweetwater County Clerk. The election is a rematch for the two as Lane-Swenson defeated Davis in 2016. Like the race for Sweetwater County Sheriff, the winner of this race does not face a Democrat in November and will be the county clerk in 2027.
Municipal Elections
Several municipal races will be influenced by the primary, with races for the Rock Springs and Green River mayoral offices at the center of their cities’ ballots. In Green River, mayoral candidates will be reduced from six to two after the primary, with Stan Blake, Mark Peterson, Jason Howard, Karl Bode, Phil Stanton, and Kayla Kappers all vying for the top two spots to continue into November. Rock Springs Mayor Max Mickelson faces two challengers in his re-election bid coming from Councilman Rick Milonas and Kathy Phelps.
In Green River, two of the three Council seats up for election will also be impacted by the Primary as each race features three candidates. Only the top two will move on to the General Election in those races. In Ward 1, Councilman Ron Williams face challenges from former Green River City Councilman Tom Murphy and Jason Souza, while Ward 3 features a race between Robert Ross, Clifford Vanderpool, and Paul Stephens.
Wyoming Legislature
A few local legislative races will be impacted by the Primary. In House District 60, incumbent Republican Marlene Brady is challenged by former HD 60 representative Tony Niemiec. Brady defeated Niemiec two years ago. The winner will face independent candidate Marshal Cummings should Cummings receive the needed signatures to be placed on the November ballot.
House District 48 features a race between incumbent Republican Darin McCann and Rock Springs Fire Chief Jim Wamsley. McCann is completing his first term as the representative in the house district after originally defeating Clark Stith. As of the publication of this post, an independent candidate or Democrat is seeking election in HD 48, which would leave the winner moving onto an uncontested election bid in November.
Republican voters in House District 18 will have a race between incumbent Scott Heiner and his challenger Kenneth Roberts. Roberts experienced a medical emergency during his campaign and has opted to remain in the race. There is not an independent or Democrat running in this race.
