2020 United States Senate election in Wyoming

Not to be confused with 2020 Wyoming Senate election.

2020 United States Senate election in Wyoming

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Turnout	62.6%
Nominee Cynthia Lummis Merav Ben-David Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 198,100 72,766 Percentage 72.85% 26.76%
County results Precinct results Lummis:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Ben-David:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%      No data
U.S. senator before election Mike Enzi Republican Elected U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis Republican

The 2020 United States Senate election in Wyoming was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Wyoming, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Cynthia Lummis defeated Democrat Merav Ben-David by more than 46 percentage points, becoming the first female U.S. Senator from Wyoming ^[1] and succeeding fellow Republican Mike Enzi, who did not run for reelection. This was the first open Senate seat since 1996, when Enzi was first elected. ^[2] The Democratic and Republican party primary elections were held on August 18, 2020. ^[3] This was the first time since 1996 that Democrats won any county for this seat. Enzi died aged 77 on July 26, 2021, from injuries in a bicycle accident, less than seven months after his retirement from the Senate. ^{[4] [5]}

Cynthia Lummis won the election with 72.85% of the popular vote, winning 2.91% more than President Donald Trump had won in the concurrent presidential election in the state.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Cynthia Lummis, former U.S. representative for Wyoming's at-large congressional district and former Treasurer of Wyoming ^{[6] [7]}

Eliminated in primary

• R. Mark Armstrong, geologist ^{[7] [8]}
• Devon Cade, businessman ^[9]
• John Holtz, attorney and U.S. Air Force veteran ^[10]
• Michael Kemler ^[7]
• Bryan Miller, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2014 ^[7]
• Donna Rice, estate lawyer ^[11]
• Star Roselli, conspiracy theorist ^[12]
• Robert Short, Converse County commissioner and businessman ^[13]
• Joshua Wheeler, Wyoming Army National Guard veteran ^[14]

Withdrawn

• Patrick Dotson, retiree ^{[7] [15] [16]}
• Rolland Holthus ^{[7] [17]}

Declined

• Liz Cheney, incumbent U.S. representative for Wyoming's at-large congressional district, Chair of House Republican Conference, and daughter of the 46th Vice President Dick Cheney (running for re-election) ^[18]
• Mike Enzi, incumbent U.S. senator ^[19] (endorsed Cynthia Lummis) ^[20]
• Foster Friess, businessman and former governor candidate ^[21]
• Mark Gordon, governor of Wyoming ^[22]
• Robert Grady, policy adviser to former president George H. W. Bush ^[23]
• Matt Mead, former governor of Wyoming ^[24]
• Donald Trump Jr., businessman and son of President of the United States Donald Trump ^[25]

Endorsements

Cynthia Lummis

U.S. senators

• John Barrasso, U.S. senator (WY) ^[20]
• Bill Cassidy, U.S. senator (LA) ^[20]
• Ted Cruz, U.S. senator (TX) and candidate for President in 2016 ^[26]
• Mike Enzi, U.S. senator (WY) ^[20]
• Mike Lee, U.S. senator (UT) ^[20]
• Rand Paul, U.S. senator (KY) and candidate for President in 2016 ^[27]

U. S. Representatives

• Michele Bachmann, former U.S. representative (MN) and 2012 presidential candidate ^[20]
• Jason Chaffetz, former U.S. representative (UT) ^[20]
• Mark Meadows, former U.S. representative (R-NC) and White House Chief of Staff ^[20]

Organizations

• Citizens United ^[20]
• Club for Growth ^[28]
• Concerned Women for America ^[20]
• Gun Owners of America ^[20]
• NRA Political Victory Fund ^[20]
• Senate Conservatives Fund ^[20]
• Students for Trump ^[20]
• United States Chamber of Commerce ^[20]

Individuals

• Foster Friess, businessman and 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial election candidate ^[20]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Mark Armstrong	Jillian Ballow	Liz Cheney	Foster Friess	Cynthia Lummis	Undecided
	January 16, 2020	Cheney announces she will not run
The Tarrance Group (R) [29] [A]	June 22–24, 2019	502 (LV)	± 4.5%	–	–	56%	–	34%	–

Results

Results by county:

  Lummis

•   60–70%
•   70–80%
•   80–90%

  Short

•   50–60%

Republican primary results ^[31]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Cynthia Lummis	63,511	59.67%
	Republican	Robert Short	13,473	12.66%
	Republican	Bryan Miller	10,946	10.28%
	Republican	Donna Rice	5,881	5.53%
	Republican	R. Mark Armstrong	3,904	3.67%
	Republican	Joshua Wheeler	3,763	3.53%
	Republican	John Holtz	1,820	1.71%
	Republican	Devon Cade	1,027	0.96%
	Republican	Michael Kemler	985	0.93%
	Republican	Star Roselli	627	0.59%
	Republican	Write-ins	501	0.47%
Total votes			106,438	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Merav Ben-David, Chair of the Department of Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming and wildlife ecologist ^{[7] [32] [33]}

Eliminated in primary

• Kenneth R. Casner, Democratic candidate for the 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial election and Democratic nominee for District 47 of the Wyoming House of Representatives in 2016 ^[7]
• James DeBrine, progressive activist ^[7]
• Yana Ludwig, democratic socialist activist and community organizer ^{[7] [34]}
• Nathan Wendt, think tank executive, management consultant, businessman, entrepreneur ^[7]
• Rex Wilde, veteran, service technician, Democratic candidate for the 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial election and Democratic candidate for the 2014 United States Senate election in Wyoming ^[7]

Withdrawn

• Chuck Jagoda, teacher ^{[7] [35]}

Endorsements

Merav Ben-David

Local officials

• Gary Trauner, member of the Teton County School District Number 1 Board of Trustees (2006–2008) and businessman ^[33]

Individuals

• Jason Shogren, Department Chair in the Department of Economics at the University of Wyoming ^[36]

Organizations

• Retake the Senate 2020 ^[36]
• We the People ^[36]
• Women to Win ^[36]

Nathan Wendt

U.S. senators

• Tammy Duckworth, U.S. senator from Illinois (2017–present), U.S. Representative from Illinois's 8th congressional district (2013–2017), Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs (2009–2011), Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (2006–2009) ^[37]

U.S. Ambassadors

• Richard Newton Holwill, American Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ecuador (1988–1989) ^[37]

Local officials

• Pete Muldoon, Mayor of Jackson, Wyoming ^[38]

Yana Ludwig

Organizations

• Democratic Socialists of America - Southeast Wyoming chapter ^[39]
• Our Revolution - Casper chapter ^[39]

Results

Results by county:

  Ben-David

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%

Democratic primary results ^[31]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Merav Ben-David	9,584	40.28%
	Democratic	Yana Ludwig	4,931	20.73%
	Democratic	Nathan Wendt	4,212	17.70%
	Democratic	Kenneth Casner	2,139	8.99%
	Democratic	Rex Wilde	1,888	7.93%
	Democratic	James DeBrine	865	3.64%
	Democratic	Write-ins	173	0.73%
Total votes			23,792	100.00%

By county

Merav Ben-David Yana Ludwig Nathan Wendt Kenneth Casner Rex Wilde James DeBrine Total County [40] Votes  % Votes  % Votes  % Votes  % Votes  % Votes  % Votes Albany 1,867 56.07% 809 24.29% 314 9.43% 187 5.62% 84 2.52% 69 2.07% 3,330 Big Horn 84 38.71% 49 22.58% 42 19.35% 18 8.29% 17 7.83% 7 3.23% 217 Campbell 144 31.51% 114 24.95% 105 22.98% 37 8.10% 35 7.66% 22 4.81% 457 Carbon 199 32.36% 110 17.89% 86 13.98% 138 22.44% 43 6.99% 39 6.34% 615 Converse 78 32.37% 53 21.99% 38 15.77% 36 14.94% 19 7.88% 17 7.05% 241 Crook 43 39.45% 22 20.18% 19 17.43% 11 10.09% 7 6.42% 7 6.42% 109 Fremont 831 42.81% 424 21.84% 296 15.25% 155 7.99% 145 7.47% 90 4.64% 1,941 Goshen 148 36.63% 109 26.98% 66 16.34% 37 9.16% 27 6.68% 17 4.21% 404 Hot Springs 81 52.26% 27 17.42% 13 8.39% 11 7.10% 17 10.97% 6 3.87% 155 Johnson 99 51.03% 32 16.49% 36 18.56% 15 7.73% 7 3.61% 5 2.58% 194 Laramie 1,808 36.02% 942 18.76% 800 15.94% 712 14.18% 556 11.08% 202 4.02% 5,020 Lincoln 146 37.73% 75 19.38% 83 21.45% 27 6.98% 47 12.14% 9 2.33% 387 Natrona 933 38.68% 527 21.85% 436 18.08% 278 11.53% 142 5.89% 96 3.98% 2,412 Niobrara 19 48.72% 9 23.08% 4 10.26% 2 5.13% 4 10.26% 1 2.56% 39 Park 313 43.53% 158 21.97% 117 16.27% 47 6.54% 61 8.48% 23 3.20% 719 Platte 142 36.79% 54 13.99% 72 18.65% 43 11.14% 41 10.62% 34 8.81% 386 Sheridan 545 45.45% 244 20.35% 213 17.76% 84 7.01% 66 5.50% 47 3.92% 1,199 Sublette 104 59.09% 25 14.20% 27 15.34% 8 4.55% 11 6.25% 1 0.57% 176 Sweetwater 638 30.40% 392 18.68% 439 20.91% 162 7.72% 371 17.68% 97 4.62% 2,099 Teton 1,063 39.52% 557 20.71% 889 33.05% 67 2.49% 79 2.94% 35 1.30% 2,690 Uinta 198 37.57% 129 24.48% 71 13.47% 39 7.40% 69 13.09% 21 3.98% 527 Washakie 65 33.68% 42 21.76% 36 18.65% 19 9.84% 20 10.36% 11 5.70% 193 Weston 37 35.92% 25 24.27% 11 10.68% 7 6.80% 14 13.59% 9 8.74% 103 Total 9,585 40.59% 4,928 20.87% 4,213 17.84% 2,140 9.06% 1,882 7.97% 865 3.66% 23,613

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [41]	Safe R	October 29, 2020
Inside Elections [42]	Safe R	October 28, 2020
Sabato's Crystal Ball [43]	Safe R	November 2, 2020
Daily Kos [44]	Safe R	October 30, 2020
Politico [45]	Safe R	November 2, 2020
RCP [46]	Safe R	October 23, 2020
DDHQ [47]	Safe R	November 3, 2020
538 [48]	Safe R	November 2, 2020
Economist [49]	Safe R	November 2, 2020

Post-primary endorsements

Cynthia Lummis (R)

U.S. presidents

• Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States ^[50]

Organizations

• Susan B. Anthony List ^[51]

Merav Ben-David (D)

U.S. vice presidents

• Joe Biden, 47th Vice President of the United States (2009–2017), United States Senator from Delaware (1973–2009), Democratic nominee for the 2020 United States presidential election ^[52]

U.S. senators

• Ed Markey, U.S. senator from Massachusetts (2013–present), Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 5th congressional district (2013), Massachusetts's 7th congressional district (1976–2013) ^[53]
• Elizabeth Warren, U.S. senator from Massachusetts (2013–present) ^[53]

Organizations

• Center for Biological Diversity ^[54]
• Friends of the Earth ^[55]
• Retake the Senate 2020 ^[36]
• Sierra Club ^[56]
• We the People ^[36]
• Women to Win ^[36]
• Wyoming Democratic Party ^[57]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Cynthia Lummis (R)	Merav Ben-David (D)	Undecided
University of Wyoming [58]	October 8–28, 2020	614 (LV)	± 4%	56%	26%	–

Results

Lummis outperformed fellow Republican Donald Trump in the concurrent presidential election by 2.9%, or 4,541 votes. She also won Albany County by 1%, or 182 raw votes, while Trump lost it by 2.7%, or 513 votes. She performed significantly better in the Democratic stronghold of Teton County, receiving 37.3% of the total vote, compared to Trump's 29.6%.

United States Senate election in Wyoming, 2020 ^[59]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Cynthia Lummis	198,100	72.85%	+0.66%
	Democratic	Merav Ben-David	72,766	26.76%	+9.31%
	Write-in		1,071	0.39%	+0.11%
Total votes			271,937	100.00%
	Republican hold

By county

By county

County Cynthia Lummis Republican Merav Ben-David Democratic Write-in Margin Total votes # % # % # % # % Albany 9,220 50.30 9,038 49.31 70 0.38 182 0.99 18,328 Big Horn 4,887 86.42 756 13.37 12 0.21 4,131 73.05 5,655 Campbell 16,960 89.19 1,938 10.19 117 0.62 15,022 79.00 19,015 Carbon 5,091 77.70 1,441 21.99 20 0.31 3,650 55.71 6,552 Converse 5,715 84.01 1,028 15.11 60 0.88 4,687 68.90 6,803 Crook 3,653 90.35 372 9.20 18 0.45 3,281 81.15 4,043 Fremont 12,314 69.43 5,385 30.36 36 0.20 6,929 39.07 17,735 Goshen 4,910 79.93 1,206 19.63 27 0.44 3,704 60.30 6,143 Hot Springs 2,001 79.03 527 20.81 4 0.16 1,474 58.22 2,532 Johnson 3,921 81.15 905 18.73 6 0.12 3,016 62.42 4,832 Laramie 29,357 65.64 15,153 33.88 212 0.47 14,204 31.76 44,722 Lincoln 8,846 85.63 1,460 14.13 24 0.23 7,386 71.50 10,330 Natrona 25,061 72.75 9,210 26.74 178 0.52 15,851 46.01 34,449 Niobrara 1,133 87.69 156 12.07 3 0.23 977 75.62 1,292 Park 13,189 80.54 3,117 19.03 70 0.43 10,072 61.51 16,376 Platte 3,962 81.36 898 18.44 10 0.20 3,064 62.92 4,870 Sheridan 12,287 76.17 3,778 23.42 67 0.41 8,509 52.75 16,132 Sublette 4,004 82.52 835 17.21 13 0.27 3,169 65.31 4,852 Sweetwater 12,351 75.89 3,877 23.82 46 0.28 8,474 52.07 16,274 Teton 5,370 37.20 9,030 62.56 34 0.23 -3,660 -25.36 14,434 Uinta 7,550 82.32 1,597 17.41 25 0.27 5,953 64.90 9,172 Washakie 3,277 83.00 659 16.69 12 0.30 2,618 66.31 3,948 Weston 3,041 88.20 400 11.60 7 0.20 2,641 76.60 3,448 Totals 198,100 72.85 72,766 26.76 1,071 0.39 125,334 46.09 271,937 Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Teton (largest municipality: Jackson)

Notes

Partisan clients

1. Poll sponsored by "a group of Republican activists and donors" ^[30]

Voter samples and additional candidates

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

References

1. "List of United States Senators from Wyoming". Ballotpedia.
2. "Enzi announces plan to retire at the end of his term - News Releases - U.S. Senator Mike Enzi". Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
3. "Wyoming 2020 Election Calendar". Wyoming Secretary of State. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
4. "Former senator Mike Enzi dies after being injured in bike accident". The Washington Post . July 27, 2021. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
5. "Ex-US Sen. Mike Enzi of Wyoming dies after bicycle accident". Associated Press . July 27, 2021. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
6. Cepeda, Dan (July 11, 2019). "Former Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis announces run for Enzi's seat". Oil City News. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
7. "Wyoming 2020 Senate Candidate List" (PDF). Wyoming Secretary of State. May 29, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
8. "Geologist to seek Wyoming US Senate seat". Times Union. August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
9. "Devon Cade, Republican". Wyoming Tribune Eagle. July 23, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
10. Funk, Joel (June 7, 2020). "Laramie Republican seeks U.S. Senate seat; Democrats adjust campaigns, policies amid pandemic". Laramie Boomerang. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
11. Hirst, Greg (August 10, 2020). "CASPER'S DONNA RICE RUNNING TO BRING MORE STATESMAN-SHIP, FEWER SPECIAL INTERESTS TO U.S. SENATE". Oil City News. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
12. Reynolds, Nick (July 22, 2020). "Wyoming Republican US Senate candidates debate for first time". Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
13. Hughes, Morgan (February 17, 2020). "Converse County commissioner, businessman Robert Short announces run for US Senate". Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
14. LaChance, Brendan (October 17, 2019). "CASPER VETERAN WANTS TO SERVE WYOMING IN THE U.S. SENATE". Oil City News. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
15. "Wyoming Senate Race 2020". Open Secrets. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
16. "WYOMING". Politics1. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
17. "Rolland Holthus". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
18. "Rep. Liz Cheney says she won't seek open Senate seat, will seek reelection in House". Washington Post. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
19. [e-mail], Nick Reynolds 307-266-0634. "After 22 years in office, Sen. Mike Enzi says he will retire in 2020". Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
20. "Endorsements". Lummis for US Senate 2020.
21. Reynolds, Nick (March 2, 2020). "Foster Friess says he will not run for Enzi's U.S. Senate seat". Casper Star-Tribune .
22. Gruver, Mead (December 19, 2019). "Wyoming governor says no to Senate run, Cheney is a maybe". Star Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
23. Reynolds, Nick (June 28, 2019). "Former White House aide exploring bid for Enzi's seat". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
24. Gruver, Mead (December 19, 2019). "Ex Wyoming governor says no to Senate run, Cheney is a maybe". Star Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
25. "Ivanka's political future comes into sharper focus". Politico . January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
26. "Cruz endorses Lummis in Wyoming's U.S. Senate race". Wyoming Tribune Eagle. January 24, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
27. Everett, Burgess; Zanona, Melanie (September 22, 2019). "Bad blood: Rand Paul moves to thwart a Liz Cheney Senate run". Politico. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
28. "Cynthia Lummis (WY-SEN)". Club for Growth. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
29. The Tarrance Group (R)
30. Lake, Eli (June 30, 2019). "Republican Hawks Need Liz Cheney in the Senate". Bloomberg. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
31. "Statewide Candidates Official Summary Wyoming Primary Electionmary.xlsx" (PDF). Wyoming Secretary of State. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
32. Exchange, Tom Coulter Wyoming Tribune Eagle Via Wyoming News (January 20, 2020). "UW professor announces run as Democrat for U.S. Senate seat". Laramie Boomerang. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
33. TOI Staff; Agencies (August 19, 2020). "Israel-born ecology professor wins Wyoming Democratic Senate primary". The Times of Israel . Retrieved August 21, 2020.
34. Reynolds, Nick (June 12, 2019). "Laramie Democrat becomes first candidate to announce run to succeed Sen. Mike Enzi". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
35. Reynolds, Nick (September 4, 2019). "Wyo Dems resolve to not support out-of-state candidates in in-state elections". Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
36. "Merav Ben-David for U.S. Senate". www.bendavid2020.com. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
37. "Endorsements | Nathan Wendt for Wyoming Senate Race | United States". Wendt for Wyoming. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020.
38. "Muldoon, Newcomb endorse Teton County's Democratic U.S. Senate candidate". Jackson Hole News & Guide. June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
39. "Endorsements". Yana Ludwig for U.S. Senate. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
40. "Statewide Candidates Unofficial Summary" (PDF). sos.wyo.gov. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
41. "2020 Senate Race Ratings for October 29, 2020". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
42. "2020 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
43. "2020 Senate race ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
44. "2020 Senate Race Ratings". Daily Kos Elections. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
45. "2020 Election Forecast". Politico. November 19, 2019.
46. "Battle for the Senate 2020". RCP. October 23, 2020.
47. "2020 Senate Elections Model". Decision Desk HQ. September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
48. Silver, Nate (September 18, 2020). "Forecasting the race for the Senate". FiveThirtyEight . Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
49. "Forecasting the US elections". The Economist. November 2, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
50. "President Trump endorses Cynthia Lummis for US Senate". AP News. August 14, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
51. "Endorsements". Cynthia Lummis.
52. "Historic lineup, stark contrasts: Wyo's congressional races". October 28, 2020.
53. "Ben-David picks up endorsements from green groups, national politicians". Wyoming Tribune Eagle. October 16, 2020.
54. "2020 Endorsements".
55. "Candidate Endorsements • Friends of the Earth Action". Friends of the Earth Action. August 25, 2017.
56. "Sierra Club #ClimateVoter Guide: Endorsements". Sierra Club.
57. "Wyoming Democratic Party". m.facebook.com.
58. University of Wyoming
59. "Statewide Candidates Official Summary Wyoming General Election - November 3, 2020" (PDF). Wyoming Secretary of State. Retrieved November 11, 2020.

External links

• Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association, "Wyoming", Voting & Elections Toolkits
• "Wyoming: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links", Vote.org , Oakland, CA
• "League of Women Voters of Wyoming". (state affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)
• Wyoming at Ballotpedia

Official campaign websites

• Merav Ben-David (D) for Senate
• Cynthia Lummis (R) for Senate