Here's what happened Tuesday night (August 18, 2026) in Wyoming's open at-large congressional primary:
The Results: Republican Primary
Chuck Gray won a crowded, tight race to secure the GOP nomination for Wyoming's *lone House seat. According to unofficial totals, Gray took 31,222 votes (25.4%) — enough to clinch the nomination in a field of nine Republicans.
The final vote distribution was:
| Candidate | Votes | Percentage |
|-----------|-------|------------|
| Chuck Gray | 31,222 | 25.4% |
| Steve Friess | 25,054 | 20.4% |
| Kevin Christensen | 21,632 | 17.6% |
| Jillian Balow | 12,590 | 10.3% |
| Reid Rasner | 10,807 | 8.8% |
| David Giralt | 10,130 | 8.2% |
| Bo Biteman | 6,255 | 5.1%|
| Keith Goodenough | 3,341 | 2.7% |
| Richard Dodson | 1,777 | 1.4% |
|-----------|-------|------------|
| Chuck Gray | 31,222 | 25.4% |
| Steve Friess | 25,054 | 20.4% |
| Kevin Christensen | 21,632 | 17.6% |
| Jillian Balow | 12,590 | 10.3% |
| Reid Rasner | 10,807 | 8.8% |
| David Giralt | 10,130 | 8.2% |
| Bo Biteman | 6,255 | 5.1%|
| Keith Goodenough | 3,341 | 2.7% |
| Richard Dodson | 1,777 | 1.4% |
Decision Desk HQ projected Gray the winner late Tuesday night. He'll now face Democrat Lisa Kinney (who won her party's primary) in the November 3 general election.
Breakdown of Candidate Assessments
- Chuck Gray — The top pick won, though with a relatively modest plurality (25.4%) in a very divided field.
- Bo Biteman — Surprisingly finished far back at 5.1% and in 7th place, well below the leading pack.
- Steve Friess — Came in a strong 2nd place (20.4%).
- Reid Rasner — Finished middle of the pack in 5th place (8.8%).
- Keith Goodenough — As suspected, he performed poorly, placing 8th with just 2.7%.
- Jillian Balow — Finished 4th (10.3%).
The Exit Poll
Gray — currently Wyoming's Secretary of State and aligned with the House Freedom Caucus — emerged from a fractured field with less than a third of the total vote. The race was split heavily, with no candidate running away with it. Gray's 25.4% was decisive, but showed how divided Wyoming Republicans were among multiple credible hopefuls.
*(Note: This is the race for the U.S. House of Representatives, not the Senate. The Senate seat is the one Harriet Hageman is running for.)
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