Incumbents sweep local House races as Crum takes Senate 10

Albany County’s representation in Wyoming’s lower chamber remains unchanged. In the battle for Senate District 10, Republican Gary Crum sailed to victory.

Nearly 18,000 voters cast ballots in Albany County, making their voice heard in races determining all levels of government, from school board to president.

When it came to the Wyoming Legislature, the state Freedom Caucus gained a simple majority in the State House, meaning it will be easier for the right-wing faction to continue pushing its social and economic agenda.

But in Albany County, the Freedom Caucus made no gains. Ocean Andrew, a caucus member, kept his seat. In the county’s three other House races, Democratic incumbents kept theirs.

The closest race of the night was in House District 14, where Trey Sherwood won reelection by fewer than 200 votes. In 2020, she won her first election by a margin of about 100 and in 2022, she won her second election by a margin of about 300. Sherwood faced a challenger in Republican Joe Giustozzi, a newcomer to Wyoming who moved to the Equality State four years ago.

In House District 13 — a traditionally safe Democratic seat — Ken Chestek was favored to win. He did win, but by a much smaller margin than in 2022. During the last election, Chestek secured 60% of the vote. This year, he received 52% of ballots cast, winning by just 226 votes.

The Democrat who won by the widest margin was Karlee Provenza, who took House District 45 with 63% of ballots cast, defeating her opponent, Paul Crouch, by more than 1,000 votes.

Like Giustozzi, Crouch is a recent arrival in Wyoming. He took an interest in state politics shortly after landing in Laramie in 2023.

Across all four House districts, Albany County’s representation in Wyoming’s lower chamber remains unchanged.

In Senate District 10, Republican Gary Crum — a conservative candidate who is not aligned with the Freedom Caucus — handily defeated his Democratic opponent. Senate 10 has been held by Republicans for decades.

Wyoming Senate District 10

Republican Gary Crum defeated Democrat Mike Selmer in the open race for Wyoming’s 10th State Senate District. Crum took 65% of the more than 9,700 ballots cast in the district.

• Gary Crum: 6,324 (65%)

• Mike Selmer: 3,403 (35%)

• Write-in: 30 (0%)

Wyoming State House District 13

Democratic incumbent Ken Chestek won reelection in House District 13, defeating Republican challenger Shane Swett with 53% of the vote. This is a much smaller margin of victory than Chestek enjoyed in 2022 when he won 60% of the vote.

More than 3,600 voters cast ballots in House District 13.

• Ken Chestek: 1,937 (53%)

• Shane Swett: 1,711 (47%)

• Write-in: 6 (0%)

Wyoming State House District 14

In the closest legislative race of the night, Democratic incumbent Trey Sherwood won reelection in House District 14, earning 52% of the ballots cast. She defeated Republican challenger Joe Giustozzi by 195 votes.

More than 4,700 voters cast ballots in House District 14.

• Trey Sherwood: 2,472 (52%)

• Joe Giustozzi: 2,277 (48%)

• Write-in: 8 (0%)

Wyoming State House District 45

Democratic incumbent Karlee Provenza won reelection in House District 45, defeating Republican challenger Paul Crouch by more than 1,000 votes. She earned 63% of all votes cast — a significantly larger margin of victory than the candidate saw during her last competitive election in 2020 when she received 52% of the vote.

Nearly 4,000 voters cast ballots in House District 45.

• Karlee Provenza: 2,493 (63%)

• Paul Crouch: 1,477 (37%)

• Write-in: 14 (0%)

Wyoming State House District 46

Republican incumbent Ocean Andrew won reelection in House District 46, handily defeating his Democratic challenger by more than 900 votes. Andrew won 69% of the vote, matching his victory margin from 2022.

Lowry suspended his campaign following the Primary Election, citing the difficulty of balancing a campaign with his full-time job.

More than 4,900 voters cast ballots in House District 46.

• Ocean Andrew: 3,406 (69%)

• Chris Lowry: 1,479 (30%)

• Write-in: 18 (0%)

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