Wyoming House race heats up with 9 GOP candidates, big money, and defamation lawsuits

Wyoming's lone U.S. House seat is up for grabs, and the Republican primary to fill it has turned into a nine-candidate brawl marked by self-funding millionaires, defamation lawsuits, and sharp policy debates. With the Aug. 18 primary approaching, voters in the Cowboy State are sorting through a crowded field where no clear frontrunner has emerged.

The open seat comes as current U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman runs for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Cynthia Lummis. Given Wyoming's deep Republican lean, the GOP primary winner is all but guaranteed to win the general election in November.

Who is running for Wyoming's House seat?

The nine Republicans vying for the nomination include Secretary of State Chuck Gray, businessman Reid Rasner, state Senate President Bo Biteman, businessman and conservative donor Steve Friess, former Wyoming and Virginia State Superintendent of Public Education Jillian Balow, Army veteran Kevin Christensen, congressional staffer and Army veteran David Giralt, homeless advocate Richard Dodson, and former Democratic state senator Keith Goodenough, who is running as a Republican.

Goodenough did not attend a July 23 candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters and Wyoming Public Media, where the other eight candidates laid out their priorities.

What are the candidates' top priorities?

At the forum, Biteman said he wants to be Wyoming's hype man in Congress, especially for the energy sector. Friess echoed that focus on energy, while Giralt said reducing the national debt would be his first priority.

On federal lands, Gray said public lands must remain in public hands but should be open for multiple uses. Balow agreed, calling the wholesale transfer or sale of public lands a generational mistake.

Most candidates rejected using government shutdowns as a bargaining tactic. I am not in favor of shutting down the government, Rasner said. And I think we see what a disaster the Democrats have caused for the shutdowns.

On Social Security, Gray called the program a promise. Balow and Biteman pointed to opportunities to curb fraud and abuse. Biteman also called for eliminating the income cap on the Social Security tax. Christensen called Social Security a contract, not an entitlement.

How are candidates standing out in a crowded field?

Balow told the Deseret News that while there is policy overlap among the conservative candidates, they all support strengthening borders and securing elections. But with so many candidates, differentiation is key.

Giralt said the race has been hard to poll, with a large number of undecided voters. He and Balow emphasized grassroots campaigning, knocking on doors across the state. I'm in communities every single day, Balow said. I'm spending my campaign listening and traveling.

Gray pointed to his record as secretary of state, including fighting for voter ID and pro-life protections. I deliver results, not rhetoric, he said.

Rasner touted his business experience. I've built things, taken risks and delivered results in the real world, he said. I'm not running because I need a title.

Campaign finance: Self-funders vs. grassroots

Second-quarter FEC reports show three candidates have lent their campaigns more than $1 million of their own money. Friess leads with $2.17 million in total receipts, including a $2 million loan. Rasner has loaned his campaign $1.7 million but has less than $100,000 cash on hand after heavy spending. Gray has loaned his campaign $1.14 million and has a cash-on-hand lead of more than $445,000.

Giralt, running his first campaign at age 35, said he feels completely outside because he cannot match the self-funders. Still, with more than $150,000 cash on hand, he said he is happy with his grassroots fundraising. None of these guys have emerged as a clear frontrunner, he said.

Balow, who has less money, said Wyoming voters can't be bought and that showing up matters more than cash.

What are the defamation lawsuits against Rasner?

Rasner has filed five defamation lawsuits against fellow Republicans, alleging they called him a pedophile. One suit is against a former Republican state senator over a whisper campaign accusing him of sexual assault. A judge recently denied a motion to dismiss that case. Rasner also settled a case with an Iowa man who he said defamed him online.

Rasner, who is openly gay and a staunch Trump supporter, said the legal battles have made him feel unwelcome at state Republican events. Nathan Winters, president of the Wyoming Family Alliance, said his group held off from inviting Rasner to an event because of what they consider serious allegations.

Winters also pointed to a video Rasner shared online kicking in bathroom stall doors while discussing transgender individuals using women's restrooms. It just became clear that he was operating in a way that the rest of the candidates were not, Winters said.

Why did one candidate drop out?

Attorney Frank Chapman dropped out in late July, reducing the field from 10 to nine. He said the race was too crowded and that Trump has not endorsed anyone because the race is too close. The forums weren't productive because you've got too many people, he said, worrying that normal candidates could split the vote.

What should Iowa voters watch for?

While this race is in Wyoming, it offers lessons for Iowa voters watching similar dynamics in crowded GOP primaries. The battle between self-funders and grassroots candidates, the role of defamation lawsuits, and the importance of candidate forums all mirror trends in Iowa politics. With the Aug. 18 primary approaching, Wyoming's race could signal how conservative voters prioritize money, message, and character in a crowded field.