Context:

Eric Barlow, a Republican state legislator and rancher, won Wyoming’s gubernatorial race, with early returns showing about 61% to 27% over Democrat Ken Casner. He previously defeated Megan Degenfelder in the GOP primary, despite Degenfelder’s support from former President Trump. Barlow’s campaign aligned with the MAGA wing on immigration issues, having opposed welfare-eligibility expansions and sanctuary-city bans in past years, and he only shifted on sanctuary-city policy in 2025. The win positions him to take office in January as a successor to term-limited Governor Mark Gordon, with the Republican Governors Association signaling support. Casner, a Vietnam War veteran and perennial candidate, framed himself as resilient in multiple prior gubernatorial efforts.

Dive Deeper:

• Barlow secured an early electoral margin that established him as the front-runner, with both AP and NBC News declaring the result shortly after polls opened and only a small portion of votes tallied.

• In the GOP primary, Barlow defeated Megan Degenfelder, who had backing from then-President Donald Trump, setting the stage for a general-election contest in a Republican-leaning state.

• Barlow has a track record of opposing immigration-related legislation, including voting against bills that would restrict public benefits to citizens and lawful residents and against sanctuary-city policies prior to 2025.

• He officially changed his stance on sanctuary cities in 2025, casting a vote in favor of the law HB0133, which became enacted, signaling a notable policy shift.

• In February 2025, he also opposed an omnibus immigration bill that would have imposed penalties for illegal-citizenship violations and urged cooperation with ICE.

• Casner, who ran for governor in 2002 and 2018, is a Vietnam War veteran who frames himself as a resilient perennial candidate, highlighting his long-standing bid for the office.

• Barlow’s victory means he will assume the governorship in January, succeeding term-limited Republican Mark Gordon, with the RGA publicly congratulating him on the win.