A primary election voting record may be in the offing today (Tuesday) as Park County voters and voters across the state go to the polls for the 2022 Wyoming Primary Election.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. All city of Powell voters and nearby residents vote at Heart Mountain Hall at the Park County Fairgrounds. Ten polling places will serve Park County’s 29 precincts.

Voters are reminded they will need to show an ID at the polls, a requirement of a new Wyoming law. 

Interest has been high in the 2022 primary election, and by Monday, Aug., 8 the county elections office had already recorded more than 3,900 votes — a combination of early in-person voting and absentee ballots cast.

The previous record Park County vote in a Wyoming primary election was 9,560 in the off-presidential year of 2010.

The expectation in the county elections office is that the 2022 turnout and total vote will surpass 9,560 and produce a new high. The question is by how much.

The primary election race for U.S. Congress on the Republican ballot is a major draw, with attorney Harriet Hageman of Cheyenne seeking to unseat Liz Cheney in a contest that has national attention. 

Legislative runoffs in Senate District 19 and House Districts 24, 25 and 26 have been hotly contested, as well as county races for county commissioner, county attorney, county clerk, county coroner and clerk of the district court.

Primary election filings of campaign receipts and expenses tell a story of costly competition for the Wyoming Legislature.

Reports from the Secretary of State’s Office in Cheyenne show expenses of more than $43,000 in the three-way Senate District 19 race on the Republican ballot. Former Sen. Ray Peterson of Cowley spent $15,034.19 in advertising to try and win back the seat he formerly held. He had contributions to his campaign of $29,107.67.

Incumbent R.J. Kost of Powell reported contributions of $13,900.43 and expenses of $14,089.47. Rep. Dan Laursen of Powell reported similar numbers in his Senate bid — contributions of $14,627.31 and expenditures of $14,161.66.

In the four-candidate race for the Legislature to represent House District 25 in Powell, former Rep. David Northrup reported contributions of $5,530 and expenditures $5,525.22. Chris Good had mirror contributions and expenditures of $4,844.56. Each candidate said expenses were all for advertising.

Troy Bray of Powell showed contributions of $3,985 and outlay of $3,256.04. His biggest expense was reported as buttons, yard signs, pens and etc. The fourth HD 25 candidate, Rex Rich, listed contributions of $3,200 and expenses of $3,157.49, all for advertising.

Meanwhile in Cody House District 24, incumbent Sandy Newsome reported the largest outlay of area legislative candidates. She had contributions of $44,123.67 and expenditures of $39,334.83. Her opponent in the HD 24 primary, Nina Webber of Cody, had contributions of $15,409 and expenses of $15,043.38. Each candidate said advertsing was her biggest expense.