Albany County gears up for a busy 2022 election
Statewide offices, county commission and school board are on the ballot this year. Redistricting will likely alter the boundaries of state house districts and city council wards.
Albany County residents will have a lot to decide when they head to the polls in November. The votes they cast will influence the trajectory of everything from local schools to the halls of Congress.
Off-election years — those in which there’s no presidential race — tend to see suppressed voter turnout. Without polarizing figures like Donald Trump, Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders to excite the electorate, many residents, even many registered voters, view the off-years as less important.
But Albany County Clerk Jackie Gonzales said the electorate seems to be growing more excited about off-year elections.
“From 2014 to 2018, we saw an increase in participation and I’m assuming that 2022 will see an even greater increase from 2018,” she said. “We’re well aware that the U.S. representative race will probably draw a lot of attention to this election, as well as the statewide races.”
The race for Wyoming’s sole U.S. House of Representatives seat is already gaining national attention. The primary contest between incumbent Liz Cheney and the Trump-backed Harriet Hageman cuts to the core of divisions in the Republican Party, between the old guard and the farther-right Trump loyalists.
But Wyoming residents will also be voting for all five statewide elected offices — from governor to auditor. Each serves a five year term and each will have to win re-election (or a first election in the case of recently appointed Superintendent Brian Schroeder) to keep their office.
Albany County residents will also have to decide their State House representatives, and some will be electing or reelecting a state senator. But some of these races are not yet clear, as the Wyoming Legislature is currently engaged in the redistricting process.
The State Legislature is required to redistrict the state every ten years, following the national census. The results of that work could change who represents you in Cheyenne or on the Laramie City Council.
“Once the redistricting plan is approved, we will work to establish our districts and precincts and polling places,” Gonzales said. “As we start getting more and more election information, we’ll update our website with that information. But as much public education as we can do – that’s our goal this go around because of redistricting and the potential changes to house and senate districts and potential changes to ward boundaries.”
Two of the county’s three commissioners are up for reelection, giving voters a chance to flip the Albany County Commission from Democrat to Republican majority.
County Sheriff, Coroner, Attorney, Clerk, Treasurer and Assessor are also up for election. All six offices are currently run by Democrats. Three were appointed, rather than elected, when their predecessor left during the last term, and all three will face their first election in 2022. The Clerk of District Court is also up for election. The current clerk was elected to fill out an unexpired term two years ago and must win election again to keep the seat.
Albany County Commissioner Sue Ibarra is the only countywide elected official not up for election this year, having gained her seat in the 2020 election.
Seven of the county’s nine school board trustees are up for reelection. While school board seats are technically nonpartisan, seating seven new trustees of a unified persuasion could radically alter the focus and future of Albany County School District No. 1. School board trustee races will appear on the general ballot only, not the primary.
Laramie City Council races are also technically nonpartisan — meaning you won’t see an R or D on the ballot next to the candidate’s name — but several councilors are open and active members of local political parties. With just four of its nine members up for reelection, it would take a sweep by conservatives to completely change course on polarizing issues.
For example, the Laramie Rental Housing Code consistently earned seven of the council’s nine possible votes. If a landlord interest group sought a council more sympathetic to its aims, the group would have to win every council race in 2022. Of the four seats on the ballot, the group would have to retain its one “no” vote and unseat three “yes” votes, just to achieve a simple majority.
Also on the general ballot: one of three Albany County Fire District No. 1 Board members, two of five Albany County Hospital District Board trustees, and two of five Laramie Rivers Conservation District supervisors.
Anyone wishing to run for office can still do so. While some candidates have declared their intention to stand for reelection or to challenge an incumbent, filing does not actually open until May.
Candidate filing opens May 12 and runs through May 27. The primary election is scheduled for August 16, the general for Nov. 8.
Here’s a breakdown of the elected offices appearing on Albany County primary and general ballots in 2022. The name in parentheses is the current officeholder. When it comes to state legislators, city councilors and school board trustees, your individual precinct will determine which of those races you get a say in. And your precinct won’t be determined until after the Wyoming Legislature has finished redistricting the state.
National elections
U.S. Representative (Liz Cheney)
Statewide elections
Governor (Mark Gordon)
Secretary of State (Ed Buchanan)
State Auditor (Kristi Racines)
State Treasurer (Curt Meier)
State Superintendent (Brian Schroeder)
State House and Senate elections
SD-09 (Chris Rothfuss)
SD-11 (Larry Hicks)
HD-13 (Cathy Connolly)
HD-14 (Trey Sherwood)
HD-45 (Karlee Provenza)
HD-46 (Ocean Andrew)
HD-47 (Jerry Paxton)
Countywide elections
Albany County Commissions (Pete Gosar, Heber Richardson)
Albany County and Prosecuting Attorney (Kurt Britzius)
Albany County Sheriff (Aaron Appelhans)
Albany County Assessor (Chelsie Mathews)
Albany County Treasurer (Tracy Fletcher)
Albany County Coroner (Jennifer Graham)
Albany County Clerk (Jackie Gonzales)
Clerk of District Court (Stacy Lam)
Local elections
Laramie City Councilors
Ward 1 (Fred Schmechel)
Ward 2 (Paul Weaver)
Ward 3 (Bryan Shuster, Erin O’Doherty)
Albany County School Board No. 1
Area A (Beth Bear, Nate Martin, Jason Tangeman, Steve Gosar, Mary Alice Bruce)
Area B (Janice Marshall)
At-large (Lawrence Perea)
Albany County Fire District No. 1 (Matt Burkart)
Albany County Hospital District (Terry P. Roark, Guy Warpness)
Laramie Rivers Conservation District (Zachary Iddings, Robert M. Shine)