Although 192,633 Wyomingites cast their ballots for Republican Donald Trump in November, the three votes cast for the former and incoming president last week were the ones that really mattered.

Trump received 71.6% of the popular vote in Wyoming’s general election and by winning a majority, he also received all three of the state’s electoral votes. It is those electoral votes — cast this week by designated presidential electors — that actually determine the presidency.

Because Trump was the Republican Party’s nominee, the Wyoming GOP picked his presidential electors: Brent Bien of Cody, Marti Halverson of Etna and Bryan Miller of Sheridan.

The trio each cast ballots for Trump and, separately, his vice presidential running mate, U.S. Sen. J.D Vance, during a Dec. 17 ceremony in the State Capitol’s rotunda.

Their three votes are expected to join a winning total of 312 electoral votes for Trump, compared to a projected 226 electoral votes for the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, according to results compiled by The Associated Press.

Republican Secretary of State Chuck Gray, the state’s chief election official and a vocal supporter of Trump, delivered remarks in which he described the returning president as “our second George Washington.”

“We really were on the precipice before this 2024 election: the attacks on our core industries, the illegal
immigration that was jeopardizing our entire country, the inflation caused by irresponsible out of control spending, the attacks on our Second Amendment rights, the wokeness that boggles the mind with its lack of reason and its attack on our entire belief system,” Gray said. He called Trump’s election “a massive moment for our country to push back and preserve our country and our way of life” and pledged to work with the new administration “every moment of every day.”

Bien also spoke at the ceremony, called it a humbling moment and said it was “all about liberty.”

“It's about all of us getting involved; that’s the only way our republic can truly work,” he said. “And I do charge that [in] this next Legislature and our government going forward, folks, that we change that paradigm: a government for the people instead of government for government.”

Bien challenged Gov. Mark Gordon in the 2022 Republican primary, running to the incumbent’s right, but the two exchanged pleasantries during Tuesday’s ceremony. Bien — who’s already announced his intent to run for the office again in 2026 — told the governor to “continue to do what you’re doing.”

Though Gray has made no announcements, there’s been speculation among political observers that he could also join the gubernatorial race.