Wyoming Senate Race 2026

Compare candidates running in this Wyoming federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

James Byrd

Party: Democrat

Jimmy Skovgard

Party: Republican

Harriet Hageman

Party: Republican

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Wyoming Senate Race

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 6, 2026
safe rCook Political Report / Ballotpedia consensus

This seat will remain solidly Republican. Wyoming has voted Republican exclusively for Senate since 1977 and has not elected a Democrat to this seat since 1954. The general election winner will be functionally determined by the August 18 Republican primary given the state's deeply conservative lean.

James ByrdD
Jimmy SkovgardR
Harriet HagemanR

Summary

James Byrd is a former Wyoming state representative from Cheyenne who served in the Wyoming House from 2009-2019, representing District 44 (southwest Cheyenne). He served as Minority Whip (2013-2015) and Minority Caucus Leader (2015), demonstrating legislative effectiveness in a super-minority position. The son of Liz Byrd, the first Black woman to serve in the Wyoming Legislature, James continues his family's political legacy. He holds degrees from Laramie County Community College and the University of Wyoming, and worked as a security consultant and computer network designer for major companies including British Petroleum/Amoco, American Express, and Cargill. Byrd is the first Democrat to announce a run for this Senate seat in what is Wyoming's most challenging environment for Democrats in decades.

Jimmy Skovgard is a fifth-generation Wyomingite and political outsider positioning himself as an alternative to establishment Republican Harriet Hageman. Born in Spearfish, South Dakota, he grew up in Wyoming's Big Horn Basin and is a University of Wyoming graduate (1989). He served 12 years in the Wyoming Army National Guard, retiring honorably as a captain, and has worked in digital marketing, environmental technology, and oil field services. Running his own business, Skovgard emphasizes his lack of political experience and connections as his primary qualification, arguing that Washington has stopped listening to Wyoming values. His campaign focuses on accountability, listening to constituents, and implementing three core priorities: congressional term limits, secure technology for voter input, and limited government.

Harriet Hageman is a 63-year-old attorney and current U.S. Representative from Wyoming's at-large congressional district, serving since 2023. A fourth-generation Wyomingite, she grew up on a ranch near Fort Laramie and earned degrees from the University of Wyoming. She practiced law for 34 years as a litigator specializing in water rights, property rights, and challenges to federal overreach. Hageman previously ran for governor in 2018 and served on the Republican National Committee. She achieved national prominence when she defeated incumbent Congresswoman Liz Cheney by 37 points in the 2022 Republican primary with Trump's endorsement, and won her 2024 House re-election by 48 points.

Campaign Promises

Other
  • Wyoming Representation in Washington
Energy
  • Energy Sector Transition and Innovation
Environment
  • Protect Public Lands
Education
  • Education System Preservation
Healthcare
  • Rural Healthcare Support
Justice
  • Personal Responsibility on Guns
Economy
  • Fair Trade and Agricultural Support
Other
  • Congressional Term Limits
  • Empowering Wyoming Voices
  • Limited Government
  • Accountability and Listening
Healthcare
  • Universal Healthcare Rights
Other
  • America First Agenda
Energy
  • Energy Dominance
Immigration
  • Border Security
Economy
  • Economic Growth
Justice
  • Second Amendment
Environment
  • Natural Resources
Defense
  • Support Military and Veterans

Key Issue Positions

Energy Transition
Support both current fossil fuel industry and transition to new energy technologies
Supports renewable energy (nuclear, solar, wind) while maintaining coal industry for stability during transition. Views carbon capture as distraction from inevitable energy shift. Emphasizes Wyoming should lead world in energy technology innovation.
Public Lands Protection
Strongly opposes public lands sales; critical of Barrasso, Lummis, and Hageman on this issue
Argues public lands are bedrock of Wyoming values. Family rancher concerned about sustainability of grazing leases with private ownership. Believes land sales harm tourism and agriculture long-term.
Wyoming Agricultural Support
Critical of tariff policies and international trade agreements harming farmers and ranchers
Questions 'America First' trade policies that led Chinese buyers to stop purchasing US grain and beef in favor of Argentina. Criticizes policies that claim to support agriculture while harming it.
Education
Defend federal education system; oppose homeschooling and charter school expansion
Opposes efforts to dismantle federal Department of Education. Argues homeschooling and charter schools produce graduates unable to compete in global marketplace or qualify for competitive colleges.
Senate Representation
Current Wyoming Senate delegation represents Washington to Wyoming, not Wyoming to Washington
Believes Barrasso and Lummis have failed Wyoming on public lands, agriculture, and healthcare. Positions himself as genuine advocate for state interests.
Gun Rights
Support Second Amendment with emphasis on personal responsibility
Doesn't care how many guns people own but advocates for secure storage. Believes government is close to encroaching on rights and emphasizes personal responsibility over regulation.
Political Accountability
Strong emphasis on accountability and public service over career politics
Argues lack of prior political office is a strength and primary qualification. Pledges to answer only to Wyoming voters, not party machinery. Emphasizes personal responsibility and truthfulness.
Government Transparency
Advocate for financial transparency and secure technology for constituent input
Proposes integrating secure, modern open-source technology into campaign and building enduring civic platform for constituent engagement
Healthcare
Believes citizens already pay for universal healthcare system but aren't receiving it
Suggests restructuring to ensure citizens can access the healthcare services they fund
Division and Fear-Mongering
Opposes what he sees as divisive politics
Runs against 'division, distraction, and fear mongering' which he says is 'wrong.' Emphasizes unity and mutual respect as campaign method.
Party Independence
Plans to represent all Wyoming residents regardless of party affiliation
States he would not answer to party platform but rather to Wyoming voters collectively
Energy and Natural Resources
Strong supporter of fossil fuel industry and energy independence
Stated coal is an 'affordable, clean, acceptable resource' and chairs the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries. Introduced bills to unleash coal production in Powder River Basin and supports public lands being available for energy development.
Federal Overreach
Opposes federal government expansion; advocates for state and individual rights
Nationally known for challenging federal overreach and protecting state sovereignty. Believes legislative branch alone should make law.
Immigration
Hardline immigration enforcement; critical of Biden-Harris immigration policy
Calls for border security and criticized Vice President Harris for her handling of immigration and border crossings
Water and Property Rights
Strong advocate for property owners and water rights
Specialized in water rights litigation and property law for 34 years. Advocates protecting Wyoming's water resources and agricultural interests.
Public Lands Management
Supports allowing private development and energy extraction on public lands
Supported legislation to mandate sale of 0.5-0.75% of BLM and Forest Service lands in 11 Western states including Wyoming, described as targeting small, underutilized parcels near towns for housing and economic growth

Top Donors

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

Small Individual Contributions (under $200)
44.4% of 2024 House campaign fundsSmall Donor
2024 House campaign raised $1,056,681 total
Large Individual Contributions
38.42% of 2024 House campaign fundsIndividual
2024 House campaign data
PAC Contributions
11.45% of 2024 House campaign fundsIndustry PAC
Includes contributions from other candidate committees
1890 PAC
Leadership PACLeadership PAC
Hageman's own leadership PAC
Minshall Development
$26,400Individual/Business
Top individual contribution in 2024 campaign

Contradictions

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

Claim: Criticized federal government overreach and government efficiency in public statement
Contradiction: Faced boos at town hall in 2025 when commenting on federal government cuts and DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), with advisor dismissing disruptions as political theater
Source: NBC News, December 23, 2025
Claim: Previously opposed Trump in 2016 as 'racist and xenophobic'
Contradiction: Now describes herself as one of Trump's staunchest allies; dismissed previous opposition as 'ancient history' and claims she was deceived by others
Source: Cook Political Report and Wikipedia
Claim: Described coal as 'affordable, clean, acceptable resource'
Contradiction: Environmental groups dispute claims that coal is clean; Biden administration emphasized coal's climate impact
Source: Wikipedia (August 2022 campaign event)

What Opponents Say

Harriet Hageman

Byrd represents Democratic values in a Republican state rather than Wyoming values

Implicit in Hageman's campaign emphasis on 'America First' and Trump agenda support

Republican opponents

Byrd's prior losses in Secretary of State (2018), State Senate (2020), and House (2022) races demonstrate he cannot win statewide

Lost to Republican Edward Buchanan 69%-27% for Secretary of State; to Affie Ellis 61%-38% for State Senate; to Marguerite Herman 64%-36% for House Democratic primary

Harriet Hageman (Republican primary opponent)

Skovgard lacks experience and on-the-job training compared to her

Hageman stated it's important to have someone who 'can hit the ground running' and that the Senate is 'not the place for on-the-job training'

Implied by establishment endorsements

Skovgard's lack of establishment support and endorsements contrasts with Hageman's strong backing from state officials

Hageman received endorsements from Governor Gordon, Senator Lummis, Secretary of State Gray, and other state officials; no such endorsements reported for Skovgard

James Byrd (Democratic primary candidate)

Hageman is willing to sell off every square inch of public land in Wyoming

Byrd criticized Hageman's support for public lands sales and said it would harm tourism, agriculture, and family farming legacy

Jimmy Skovgard (Republican primary opponent)

Hageman represents the political establishment despite outsider rhetoric

Skovgard positioned himself as true outsider with no political connections, contrasting with Hageman's established political career and Trump endorsement

Democratic Party

Hageman called Vice President Harris a 'DEI hire' using racist rhetoric

Wyoming Democratic Party called her July 2024 comments 'racist' and demanded apology

Endorsements

No endorsements listed.

No endorsements listed.

Donald Trumpindividual
Cynthia Lummis (incumbent senator)individual
Mark Gordon (Wyoming Governor)individual
Megan Degenfelder (Superintendent of Public Instruction)individual
Chuck Gray (Wyoming Secretary of State)individual
Club for Growth Political Wingorganization
Chip Neiman (Speaker of Wyoming House of Representatives)individual