Friday, May 27, 2022

The 2022 Election Part VIII. The late Spring Edition

I don't know that this needed to gone to Part VIII, but the last version was long enough that it was hard to edit.  So here we are.


April 25, 2022.

Okay, who the heck is running anyway?

  • House of Representatives

All the press is on this race, and it's all concentrated on the Cheney v. Hageman race.  Having said that, it's been quiet for a while.

This is no doubt in part because as time moves on, and more and more is known about the January 6, insurrection, the more quiet rank and file Republicans and independents are likely moving towards Cheney. This might be best summed up by op eds from last Sunday's Trib, which we noted here:

April 24, 2022

Fremont County's Sen. Cale Case, a long time Republican conservative, wrote an Op Ed published in the Tribune today going after the State's Central Committee.  He urges Republicans who have left the party to get back in and run for office and precinct positions to reclaim the party.

My prediction is that by the end of the day Case will be branded a "Rino".

Harriet Hageman also has an op ed asserting that her role as an attorney with the New Civil Liberties Alliance in a suit opposing Federally mandated cattle ear tags shows she's advocating for Wyoming, as she has this role while, she asserts, Congressman Cheney has been spending time on the January 6 Committee rather than being on the Resources Committee.

Her point that one represents Wyoming more than the other can fairly obviously be debated on an existensial sense.

Put another way, if a long term Republican is asking Republican traditionalist and moderates to "come back", and the primary contender for Cheney's seat is asserting her role with an organization fighting cattle ear tags vs Cheney's role in the January 6 committee as proof of her better concern for Wyoming, it's sort of telling where things are going.

Republicans for the House:

Liz Cheney.  The embattled incumbent.

Harrient Hageman.  Hageman, former Cheney supporter and Trump opponent who has switched on both in what Cheney has proclaimed as "tragic opportunism". 

Robin Belinsky:  Belinsky is a businesswoman from Sheridan who is billing herself as Wyoming's Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Anthony Bouchard:  Bouchard is a member of the legislature from Goshen County who has been in a lot of local political spats and who is a far right firebrand in the legislature and who is still running in spite of having no hope of getting past the primary.

Bryan Eugene Keller:  He's a resident of Laramie County who has registered, but I don't know anything else about him.

Denton Knapp:  Knapp is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and a current Brig. Gen. in the California National Guard who is still, surprisingly, running. 

Democrats for the House:

Nobody, yet.

Somebody will show up. . . probably.

Independent

Casey Hardison. This is a gadfly campaign as it is based on drug legalization.  Indeed, he has a case on appeal to the Wyoming Supreme Court right now for felony marijuana delivery.

It seems like we get these campaigns every election now.

  • Governor's Race.

This race was heavily contested in 2018 and was the first Wyoming race to really feature the outright split in the GOP.  It's where Hageman first emerged as a candidate, although at that time she wasn't anti-Cheney, but then nobody was.  Gordon won, of course, but that somehow left those on the far right embittered.

Nonetheless, this seat is now safe for Gordon.

Republicans for the Governor's Office.

Mark Gordon:  Gordon is the incumbent.  He's going to get the nomination, and he's going to win the General Election.

Harold Bjork.  Who Bjork isn't really clear, but he's started a Facebook and internet campaign for Governor.

Aaron Nab:  Nab is a truck driver from Southeastern Wyoming who views Gordon the same way that Hageman supporters view Cheney.

Rex Rammell:  Rammell is a perennial and unelectable candidate who ran last time and will again.  His views can be characterized as being on the fringe right/libertarian side.

Democrats for the Governor's Office.

Nobody.  Democrats really have to find somebody, sacrificial running though it will be, or they'll look completely irrelevant in the state.

  • Secretary of State

Ed Buchanan.  He's the incumbent.

  • State Auditor

Kriti Racines. She's the incumbent.

  • Superintendent of Public Instruction

This race featured very recently the problem that Cale Case just noted.

Rather than submit the really qualified candidates for this office, the state's GOP chose to submit three names for the vacant office that fit into a sort of red meat narrative.  Of the three, Schroeder was the best pick, which doesn't mean that he's a name that would have gone anywhere in an open race or that would have been submitted in normal times.

This office is likely up for the picking.

Brian Schroeder. Schroeder is the presumptive nominee.

Megan Degenfelder.  She has an education background but who has been working in the petroleum industry, announced for Superintendent of Public Education.

She was once employed as the department's Chief Policy Officer.

April 25, 2022, cont.

Brian Kemp of Georgia has received the NRA's endorsement.  That might not be that surprising, but when it's considered that Trump, who the NRA has been a big back of, has endorsed Kemp opponent David Perdue, it is.

Trump has really been gunning for Kemp.  The NRA obviously isn't, and it may very well have figured that Perdue is going to lose.

There's been a lot of speculation this election on how much Trump's endorsements will really mean.  Here we now have a contest between an NRA endorsement and a Trump one.

April 28, 2022

An anticipated action by the Republican Central Committee to strip Laramie County, the state's most populous county, and one which is opposed to the far right direction of the Central Committee, for rules violations at their county convention has led that country to request that a rules' violation by Sublette, Albany and Crook also be addressed.

This highlights the ongoing civil war inside the state's GOP.  A better indicator, although one that is little noted, is that far right GOP legislators now caucus in something called "The Freedom Caucus" rather than with the Republicans, meaning it's actually now operating as two parties in the legislature.

April 29, 2022

Wyoming's voter ID law has been challenged by a lawsuit filed by former Democratic legislature Charles Pelkey.

May 10, 2022

Incumbent State Treasurer Curt Meir has announced for a bid for a second term.

The State GOP reduced Laramie County's delegation to a handful due to a minor rules violation. A counterproposal to sanction other counties for minor rules violations, filed in retaliation, failed.  As a result of the strike against Laramie County, its delegation walked out of the ongoing state convention.

Natrona County's delegation has already been reduced for failure to pay dues.

The net result is that the far right wing of the GOP has decapitated its opposition by depriving the most populous counties with the largest delegations from participating in the party.

Long serving Republican Senator Cale Case, who recently wrote an article in the Tribune asking for departing members of the GOP to come back and reclaim their position in the party, faces a censure complaint in his county organization for acting "contrary to the will of the party and the Wyoming Republican Party platform".

These last two items are serious indications that the party is seeking to eliminate all dissent within it, including dissent which, ironically, comes from someone like the highly conservative Case.

May 11, 2022

Fremont County's GOP censured long serving and highly conservative Republican Senator Cale Case.

There is a move to unseat the head of the Laramie County GOP following the loss of most of its delegates.

May 16, 2022

The new legislative district maps are out.  Here they are:

House.

Senate.

Some have changed, so it's best to check.  FWIW, in Eastern Natrona County, including areas of Casper, and western Converse County, it's particularly important to check.

May 27 is the final date for candidates to register to run.

May 17, 2022

It seems that getting attacked by the Republican Party has freed Liz Cheney to say things that we normally wouldn't have expected, to wit:

The House GOP leadership has enabled white nationalism, white supremacy, and anti-semitism. History has taught us that what begins with words ends in far worse. leaders must renounce and reject these views and those who hold them.
That was a bold thing to say, concerning the Buffalo, New York shooting that occurred over the weekend. It also puts squarely in issue the factor of the more extreme elements of the GOP (which is not to say that the Democrats don't have their own far left members), and certain conspiracy theories that have been circulated in recent years.  Now Hageman, who likely doesn't share those extreme views internally, but who is extreme enough on a state policy level, is placed in the position of either denying they exist, endorsing them (which she will not do), ignoring the matter entirely, or trying to deflect the issue, the latter being the most likely approach for her.

May 18, 2022

And he changed his mind. We earlier reported:
  • Secretary of State Ed Buchanan.  He's the incumbent.
He is of course the incumbent, and he had announced that he was running, but he announced yesterday he's decided not to run, as he's tossed his had in the ring for a judgeship in his native Torrington that just came open.

The judicial nominating process means that his acquiring the position is not a sure thing.  He'll have to be one of the three finalist for the position, and the Governor will have to pick him, but frankly all money would be on bets that he'll get the slot, given his connections.

Upon Buchanan making his announcement, President of the Senate Dan Dockstader announced for Secretary of State.

In Natrona County, former interim Assessor announced that she is running against controversial incumbent Matt Keating.

Some of the other races are changing too, and likely will continue to.  So, right now.

Governor's Race

Only those in bold are actually registered right now.  All are Republicans.  Gordon will win the primary so all of the other candidats are quixotic to some degree.

Mark Gordon:  Gordon is the incumbent.  He's going to get the nomination, and he's going to win the General Election.

Brent Bien.  Yet another retired career military officer returned and running for office, something we've been seeing a lot of in recent years.

Harold Bjork.  Who Bjork isn't really clear, but he's started a Facebook and internet campaign for Governor.

Aaron Nab:  Nab is a truck driver from Southeastern Wyoming who views Gordon the same way that Hageman supporters view Cheney.

James Scott Quick:  Owner of an oilfield service company in Douglas, which is about all that is obvious about him so far.

Rex Rammell:  Rammell is a perennial and unelectable candidate who ran last time and will again.  His views can be characterized as being on the fringe right/libertarian side.

Treasurer's Race

Again, only Republicans so far.

Curt Meier. He's the incumbent.

Bill Gallup:  I don't know who he is, but he's running.

  • Superintendent of Public Instruction

This race is heating up.

Republican candidates.

Brian Schroeder. Appointed incumbent.

Megan Degenfelder.  She has an education background but who has been working in the petroleum industry, announced for Superintendent of Public Education.  She was once employed as the department's Chief Policy Officer.

Thomas Kelly:  One of the three finalist for this position, and hence one of the controversial ones.  He's from the far right and won't go anywhere.

Democratic Candidates

Sergio A. Maldonado, Sr.  Long time Fremont County political figure and, I believe, an enrolled member of one of the Wind River tribes.

Something ought to be said about primary races coming in elsewhere, which in my view have been badly analyzed by the press.  Frankly, at least up until yesterday, Trump's picks have not done that well.  Yes, J. D. Vance one in his primary, but the author with populist roots may have anyway.  Up until yesterday Trump endorsements have not, in fact, been the deciding factor in races.

Yesterday they weren't really either, maybe.  Trump endorsed the winning candidate in the GOP Governor's race, but last week, when it was obvious he was going to win.

Having said that, the PA Senate race is too close to call, with Mehmet Oz neck and neck with David McCormick.  There was some thought that a third candidate would pull ahead.

Why on earth anyone would vote for Dr. Oz simply defies description.

What’s Wrong With Dr. Oz?

Dr. Oz’s Sad Trip Down the Rabbit Hole

Well, maybe it is explicable.  Oz is described as MAGA, McCormick as More MAGA, and the third candidate was Ultra MAGA.

Still, the thought the race would develop with Oz as the least MAGA candidate and a credible contender is a scary thought, as Oz is . . .well OZ.

Idaho's Governor Brad Little easily beat far right Janice McGeachin, who is is lt. governor.  McGeachen was Trump endorsed, but you'll probalby see little press about her going down in flames.

CPAC starts its convention this week in Hungary.

May 19, 2022

Yesterday controversial right wing House member Chuck Gray, who had filed to be reelected to his Casper seat, announced for Secretary of State, leaving his Natrona County Republican spot open and, unusually anymore, only a Democratic contender presently running for that office.

Gray is a far right politician who had announced early that he was running against Cheney.  That campaign never took off.  He obviously aspired to higher office, so now he's taking a run at Secretary of State, but he almost certainly has in the back of his mind, or maybe the forefront, running for higher office yet once the opportunity presents itself, which it likely will after Governor Gordon serves out his next term.

Gray has not been universally popular in the legislature and was the center of a story in which he was insulted in an open mike moment last session.  He became involved in the erroneous Arizona ballot problem episode after the last Presidential election.

Donald Trump urged Mehmet Oz to declare victory before the votes were done being counted in the PA Senatorial primary race.

May 20, 2022

WyoFile, the online newspaper, has just published a long article on the head of the Wyoming GOP.  It's intersting reading, which will be guaranteed to offend at least some of his followers.  The article is here:

Wyo GOP chairman quietly assumed power as party fractured


In news elsewhere in this current election season, Archbishop Coridileone has notified Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi that she is not admitted to Holy Communion, stating in part:
After numerous attempts to speak with her to help her understand the grave evil she is perpetrating, the scandal she is causing, and the danger to her own soul she is risking, I have determined that the point has come in which I must make a public declaration that she is not to be admitted to Holy Communion unless and until she publicly repudiate her support for abortion “rights” and confess and receive absolution for her cooperation in this evil in the sacrament of Penance.  I have accordingly sent her a Notification to this effect, which I have now made public.
This is long overdue.

May 21, 2022

WyoFile's investigative reporting scouped the Trib, but it also opened up a lead for it.  The Tribune is now running the story WyoFile broke on the state GOP head Frank Eathorne.

Park County rejected a proposal to by the Park County Republican Men's Club to hand count the upcoming 2022 ballots. A proposal to recount the tallies of the last election, which would be pointless, by hand, is pending.

Such recent efforts have been styled as efforts to reassure voters of the legitimacy of the election, but are achieving, if anything, the opposite.

Look for "election  security" to be a major theme of Chuck Gray's race for the Wyoming Secretary of State.

May 24, 2022

Chuck Gray seems to have recruited a person of like mind to Gray to run for the House seat he's leaving.  The new candidate has been in Wyoming for less than a year, and previously lived in Chicago where she was a controversial school board member at one time.

While its only a guess, my guess is that there were be one or more additional Republicans enter this contest.  Indeed, fwiw, the Democrats have a good chance of recapturing this seat if that does not occur.

May 25, 2022

Tara Nethercott, a legislature from Cheyenne and a lawyer in that city, has entered the race for Secretary of State.

Nethercott was in the news during the last legislative session when a far right figure subjected her to a series of extremely insulting language.

The Trump appearance for Harriet Hageman scheduled to occur at the Ford Wyoming Center over the Memorial Day Weekend is expected to add signficantly to emergency services costs to the City of Casper on a weekend that already features high school graduations and the large three day Memorial Day car show.  The scheduling of the event on a day during Casper's already busy Memorial Day does raise questions about the wisdom of the planning entailed.

Brian Kemp won the Georgia Governor's primary, defeating Trump ally David Perdue.  Likewise, Brad Raffensperger defated a right wing Trump ally in his race to be renominated as the Republican Secretary of State candidate.  Given this, the Trump anger at Georgia Republican office holders did not go anywhere in regard to them.  Trump endorsed football legend Hershal Walker did win his race, but he likely would have without Trump.

May 26, 2022

In 2019, when Cynthia Lummis was pondering entering the race to take the place of retiring Senator Mike Enzi, who is missed now more than ever, there were persistent rumors that Liz Cheney might be contemplating the same run.  When Lummis announced, there was at least one commentator. . . me, who posed the theory that she might have announced when she did in order to prevent Cheney from announcing first.  Even after that, for a time, Cheney would not confirm that she was going to run for the seat, and it was widely speculated that she might.

We bring that up as it now seems relatively clear that Trump's endorsement of Hageman may have been due to Lummis.

In an interview with KTWO Radio, the former President stated:

I had some good people. I really did have some good people, but I just felt that [Hageman] was very good and your wonderful senator up there ... who’s a tremendous person by the way, was very strong on her, wanted her very badly

Barasso's office denied that they had any role in picking a contender for the seat.  Lummis' office did not, but they darned nearly confirmed obliquely.  Lummis has called Hageman "an inspired choice". 

Lummis was inspired in the 2020 race to switch her tune on Trump, going from somebody who had stated she was going to hold her nose and vote from Trump to backing the Ted Cruz effort to question the election.  Here it appears that whatever occurred in 2020 between her and Cheney may not have been forgotten.

Or at least it could be interpreted that way.  Given as the only notable difference between Cheney and Hageman on at least domestic issues (foreign policy issues haven't entered the race in any fashion yet) is support for Trump, Lummis may have well felt that Hageman was an establishment Republican who was willing to go along with Trump for political reasons, which might very well be said of Lummis too, rather than a real radical like Bouchard or Gray, who were contenders at the time.

A Democrat has now filed for the Governor's race, the same being Theresa Livingston. She's apparently from Worland, has run for the State Senate from there, and has no chance whatsoever.

May 26, cont.

Liz Cheney officially filed for reelection, releasing this video at the same time.

Also, the Trump rally released information that a collection of Trump suppoerters and accolytes will appear at the Hageman rally in Casper this Saturday, including Florida Congressman Gaetz and Colorado Congressman Boebert.  Frank Eathorne, head of the Wyoming GOP will also speak, although a party head is not really an appropriate speaker in a contest between two Republicans.  Reps. Kevin McCarthy of California, Elise Stefanik of New York and Ohio's Jim Jordan will appear in a special video address, making it plain where they stand in regard to the Republican internicene dispute.

Interestingly, Trump's star has been waning as some of his primary choices in other states have been losing.

May 27, 2022

In spite of the mounting evidence that it does not pay off for states, and increases an already growing problem of an indigent population, South Dakota will have the topic of recreational marijuana on the ballot, due to a citizen's initiative.

We haven't posted on this for a while, but as the legality of marijuana has increased across the US, so have the wrecked lives and social problems associated with it.  This is a trend that will peak at some point with the discovery of the obvious, but not before a lot more damage is done.

With this being the last day to register, registrations are rolling in.

For the House of Representatives, so far, the following are registered.

Cheney

Bouchard

Hageman (who must have also registered yesterday).

Denton Knapp

Robyn Belinsky.

Belinskey and Knapp must be examples of hope springing eternal, as they're completely wasting their time at this point.

May 27, cont.

For unclear reasons, the Hageman rally scheduled in Casper has been moved indoors, which means half of the anticipated crowd (which of course might not be anywhere near what is anticpated) will be left out in the parking areas.

Attendees may not bring toasters.

I'm not making that up.

The Trump organization has stated that “all guests attending Saturday’s rally are highly encouraged to wear masks and facial coverings during the entry and screening process to the event where 6ft of social distancing is not available" which is ironic, to say the least, as the populist pro Trump wing of the GOP is highly associated with hostility to masks and vaccination.

Last Prior edition:

The 2022 Election Part VII. The Betrayal Edition.

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