PLATTE COUNTY – A total of 2,843 ballots were cast in last week’s primary election, resulting in close wins for some Platte County races; and with no candidates having filed, there was a long list of write-ins for two open Wheatland town council seats.
Statewide, a total of 122,693 ballots were cast from all party ballots, as reported by the Wyoming Secretary of State’s office.
County Commissioner
A close race for the lone commissioner seat saw Jeb Baker (1,325 votes) ahead of incumbent Kayla Mantle (1,195), a difference of 130 votes. 61 individuals did not vote.
House District No. 4
Locally, house district four saw Jeremy Haroldson taking the lead with 1,666 votes, and Jeffery Thomas getting 794. On the Laramie County side of the line, Haroldson won with 21 votes, followed by 10 for Thomas. Democratic nominee Charles Randolf received 161 votes from Platte County and one vote from Laramie County.
Senate District No. 6
Senate district six saw Platte County choose Eric Johnston as the favorite (1,005 votes), followed closely by Darin Smith (837). Adding in the votes from Laramie County, the two were still the top contenders in the six-way spread of the race, but Laramie County chose Smith for the top spot (942), bumping his total numbers up just enough to overcome Johnston’s Platte County numbers. Johnston received 261 votes across the county line.
U.S. Senate

The favored U.S. Senate candidate for Platte County was incumbent John Barrasso (1,633), followed by Reid Rasner (732) and John Holtz (155). Statewide, Barrasso easily took the top spot on the ballot with 70,473, followed by Rasner with 25,424, and Holtz with 7,867.
Barrasso, a republican, will go head-to-head against democrat candidate Scott Morrow, who won the nomination with 10,088 against 178 write-ins statewide.
U.S. House of Representatives
In the U.S. House race, Harriet Hageman nabbed the nomination locally (2,194 over Steven Helling’s 326) and statewide (82,765 votes for Hageman vs. 19,738 for Helling).
Hageman, a republican, will be running against the democratic nominee, Kyle Cameron, who had 10,047 votes statewide over 138 write-ins.
Town of Wheatland Council (2)
Having no candidate file for either of the two open council positions for the Town of Wheatland had the list of write-ins fairly high with 615. To be counted, each name on the list is required to have a minimum of three votes. For the write-in candidates to accept the nomination, they must reside in the town, and have five days from when they were notified to accept the nomination. County Clerk Malcolm Ervin notified the top four write-ins on Friday of the opportunity to be nominated. The most write-ins on the Wheatland ballot were for Jason Evans (143), Kelly Mixson (81), Clinton Butler (66), George Pile (53), Josh Lock (40), and Brett Baum (37). The top four contenders who choose to accept the nomination will be on the ballot for the general election.
Town of Guernsey Council (2)
Incumbent Dale Harris was voted as the top contender for Guernsey town council (213 votes), followed by Jeremiah Fields (160) and incumbent Kellie Augustyn (151). Sue Fronapfel had three write-in votes, giving her the opportunity to accept a nomination. The top four will be on the ballot for the general election in November.
Town of Chugwater Mayor
Town of Chugwater mayoral race saw Joshua Hopkins in the lead with 42 votes, followed by Steven Kelley with 27. There was one write-in.
Town of Chugwater Mayor
Town of Chugwater mayor saw Joshua Hopkins in the lead with 42 votes, followed by Steven Kelley with 27. There was one write-in.
Town of Chugwater Council (2)
The town of Chugwater had six people vying for two open positions. The winning bid went to Benjamin V. Glenn, Jr. (35) followed by Josh Hansen (34), Vicki Klein (30), Myra Wombaker (14). David Graves and Russel Kirlin withdrew from the race before election day.
The general election is always the first Tuesday in November that follows a Monday. This year, that date is Nov. 5.