The last Senate race in Wyoming, in 2014 was not competitive, and that’s putting it mildly. Mike Enzi (R) beat Charlie Hardy (D) by a margin of 55%. That’s not a typo, the result was 72.2% to 17.5%. The independent candidate Curt Gotshall, got 8% of the vote.
The last house race in 2016, (statewide because Wyoming has such a low population) was decided by 31%. Liz Cheney (R) got 60.3% of the vote and her opponent (D) got 29.1%. Wyoming hasn’t sent a Democrat to the House or Senate since the 1970s.
So why are we talking about this race at all? Well, because Gary Trauner is running.
Gary was previously the Chair of the Teton County School District Number 1 Board of Trustees. He was also the Democratic nominee for the United States House of Representatives election in Wyoming in 2006 and 2008. And in these two races, he came closer to winning a Congressional seat than any Democrat from Wyoming has in decades.
|
2006 HSE |
2006 HSE |
2006 Senate |
2008 HSE |
2008 HSE |
2008 Pres |
Democrat |
47.8% |
92,324 |
57,761 |
42.9% |
106,758 |
82,868 |
Republican |
48.3% |
93,336 |
135,174 |
52.7% |
131,244 |
164,958 |
In 2006, he faced Barbara Cubin, who was the incumbent. In 2008, Cubin retired and Trauner faced Cynthia Lummis. In both state wide races, Gary came far closer than other Democrats running state-wide for a Congressional office. He was unopposed in the Senate primary this year.
You might say 2006 was a fluke because Dave Freudenthal, the Democrat won the gubernatorial race 70-30 (yes, Wyoming can elect Democrats by lopsided margins). But Freudenthal’s electoral margins didn’t really transfer to any other Democrat when he ran. There’s also the fact that in 2008, Trauner outperformed Obama, stealing cross-over voters who cast ballots for McCain/Palin. Freudenthal had endorsed Obama for the Democratic nomination, but that didn’t help in the general election.
He’s running an innovative campaign for Wyoming. He’s been posting short videos on “Who’s Stopping Trump”. In them, he calls Trump out for reneging on promises, including a promise to deliver health-care paid for by the government. Gary promises to serve as a check on presidential power and has been talking about the deficit. These arguments will actually win you votes in independent-minded Wyoming.
He’s also been traveling the state on a listening tour that he calls the “Open Doors Tour”. It’s a bit like what Beto is doing in Texas and Stacey Abrams in Georgia. In Wyoming, where fewer than 250,000 people vote in mid-term senate races, retail politics like the kind Gary’s engaging in can make an enormous difference.
Women make 80% of health care decisions in the US, however, they rarely get a voice in the decision-making process. A 13 member panel, WITH NO WOMEN, made the recommendation to take health care away from 22 million Americans. That shouldn't happen and I'll fight for women to have their voice heard. #CountryB4Party — Posted to FB
Gary is a credible candidate. We’ll have to see how far that can take him in deep red Wyoming. But at the very least, he deserves some love from us. If you, volunteer or donate to Gary Trauner’s campaign here.
— @subirgrewal
There are the 14 Senate races that are close or where the seat is currently held by a Republican along with their current 538 and Cook political rating. You can donate to all 14 of these Senate candidates here.
They are all worthy of attention because we need a 50 state strategy to show people who’re victims of country club Republicans that we will fight for them.
The Gavels is about gaining control of the Senate and its committees. Prior diaries are on David Baria (MS), Jenny Wilson (UT), Jane Raybould (NE).