Trump pick loses GOP primary for Wyo. governor

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Wyoming voters chose State Treasurer Mark Gordon, a rancher who grew up at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains, over political megadonor Foster Friess in the state’s Republican primary for governor.

Calling Friess “Strong on Crime, Borders & 2nd Amendment,” President Donald Trump had endorsed Friess on Twitter on Tuesday.

Trump hours later walked back Obama-era environmental regulations viewed as economic warfare in coal country and told a West Virginia rally that miners were headed back to work.

“This is a governor’s race. This is about the state of Wyoming,” Gordon said after winning his six-way primary. “President Trump is doing great things that are important for Wyoming in terms of getting our economy going and all of that. But in the end, I think people in Wyoming concentrated on who’s got the experience, who’s got the record and who’s got the best message going forward for Wyoming.”

Attorney and former state Rep. Mary Throne, who was raised on a ranch not far from Gordon’s and won the Democratic nomination for governor, will be a formidable opponent, Gordon said.

“Traditionally in Wyoming, we focus on the person and not the party when it comes to electing our governors,” Throne said Tuesday.

The winner will succeed term-limited Gov. Matt Mead.