A Trump-endorsed candidate suffered a rare defeat in Wyoming on Tuesday night as state Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder lost to state Senator Eric Barlow in the Republican gubernatorial primary.
Barlow, a legislator with 14 years of experience, defeated Degenfelder and retired Marine Corps Colonel Brent Bien. According to campaign reports, Barlow secured 58,820 votes compared to Degenfelder’s 38,739 and Bien’s 30,843.
Degenfelder received President Donald Trump’s endorsement in January, while Bien garnered support from the Wyoming Republican Party’s state central committee in July. Barlow faced intense scrutiny during the election cycle from at least two high-dollar groups: Wyoming’s Turn PAC and Women For Responsible Government PAC. These organizations circulated false claims about Barlow, including that he had pushed for fuel tax hikes in 2013 and 2020—legislative records show he instead fought to keep fuel taxes low both years.
“Results show Barlow winning 58,820 votes, Degenfelder 38,739 and Bien 30,843,” reports the source. Barlow acknowledged the disinformation campaigns but emphasized Wyoming’s decisive voice: “There’s been a lot of out of state money and agendas and voices trying to tell us things that aren’t true. And today Wyoming showed up, and showed us that Wyoming’s voice matters most.”
Barlow, who began his career as a Marine before serving in the Wyoming Legislature since 2012 and becoming House Speaker in 2021, highlighted his background as a “fourth-generation ranch kid” and his commitment to public lands—a issue unifying conservative hunters and liberal environmentalists across the American West. He vowed to shift Wyoming’s increasingly bitter politics toward constructive dialogue.
Degenfelder thanked supporters and opponents alike for their contributions to the state’s future, stating: “I am deeply grateful to the thousands of neighbors, friends, supporters… who placed their trust in me throughout this campaign.” She also praised her opponent’s efforts: “We debated the issues that matter to the future of our state, and I believe that conversation made Wyoming stronger.”
Barlow’s victory signals a preference among Wyoming’s rural electorate for a low-key leader aligned with incumbent Governor Mark Gordon—rather than a more aggressive conservative or culture warrior. His win underscores the limits of Donald Trump’s influence in sparsely populated areas where voters often decide candidates through personal connections at community events like barbecues, county fairs, and rodeos.
