United States Senate elections in Wyoming, 2008
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The Wyoming United States Senate elections for 2008 will be held on November 4, 2008. The simultaneous elections resulting from the death of Senator Craig L. Thomas in 2007, will mark a rarity in United States Senate elections, in which both seats will be up for election simultaneously. The last election in which this occurred was the in Kansas in 1996; Oregon had a similar situation that year, though the elections were held on different dates. It will also occur in 2008 in Mississippi, where Senator Trent Lott's 2007 retirement forced a special election.
The seats up for election are those held by incumbent Mike Enzi, a Senator from Senate Class II, who was last elected in 2002, and by John Barrasso, who was appointed to succeed Thomas, from Class I.
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[edit] Special election for Class I seat
This is a special election, so designated because it will fill the remainder of the unexpired Senate term of the late Craig L. Thomas, which began 2007-01-03. John Barrasso was appointed by Governor Dave Freudenthal to succeed the deceased senator Craig Thomas. Barrasso is running unopposed for the Republican nomination to serve the remainder of Thomas's term.[1] Speculation about potential Republican challengers had included the other finalists to succeed Thomas, Cynthia Lummis and Tom Sansonetti; as well as former state House Speaker Randall Luthi, and former U.S. Attorney Matt Mead.[2]
Democrats Keith Goodenough, a former state senator, and Nick Carter, a Gillette attorney, will compete for their party's nomination.[1][3] Governor Dave Freudenthal is considered a strong potential candidate for the senate seat. He has so far refused to challenge Sen. Mike Enzi in 2008, but hasn't declared his intentions with regard to the special election. State Senator Mike Massie and Paul Hickey, Cheyenne lawyer and son of former Wyoming Governor John J. Hickey, who came second to Freudenthal in the 2002 gubernatorial primary, are interested in the race.[citation needed] Democratic former Governor Mike Sullivan has yet to comment on whether he will run.[citation needed]
[edit] Candidates
[edit] Republican
- John Barasso of Casper (incumbent)
[edit] Democratic
- Keith Goodenough of Casper, Casper city councilman
- Nick Carter, a Gillette attorney
[edit] General election for Class II seat
This is a regular election, after which the incumbent Senator's term will end. The winner's term will begin 2009-01-03.
After months of speculation as to whether he would run again, incumbent Mike Enzi formally announced on April 26, 2008 that he is running for re-election. Enzi is expected to be easily re-elected.[4] The Democrats will have difficulties recruiting a credible candidate to challenge Senator Enzi since their chances of picking up a Senate seat seem better in the special election to fill the remainder of Thomas's term where the Democratic candidate will not face a popular, long-time, well entrenched incumbent.
[edit] Candidates
[edit] Republican
[edit] Democratic
- Al Hamburg - perennial candidate
- Christopher Rothfuss - professor at the University of Wyoming
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b Gruver, Mead. "Barrasso plans Monday kickoff", trib.com, Associated Press, May 16, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-17.
- ^ Jared Miller and Barbara Nordby. "Barrasso ready to pick up where Thomas left off", Casper Star-Tribune, 2007-06-23. Retrieved on 2007-06-23.
- ^ Goodenough Announces Senate Bid Against Barrasso.
- ^ CQ Politics | Wyoming’s Enzi Will Run Again
