Wyoming Secretary of State
| Wyoming Secretary of State | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $160,000 |
| 2024-26 FY Budget: | $9,517,620 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Wyoming Constitution, Article 4, Section 11 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
Wyoming Secretary of State
Chuck Gray | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Other Wyoming Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditors: Auditor • Director • Superintendent of Education • Director of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Wyoming Secretary of State is an elected executive position in the Wyoming state government. The secretary is the chief election officer in the state. Responsible for handling the business affairs of the state, the secretary is the keeper of the Great Seal of Wyoming and serves as the acting governor when the governor is not available.[1]
Wyoming has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current Wyoming Secretary of State is Chuck Gray (R). Gray assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The secretary of state's authority is derived from Article 4 of the Wyoming Constitution.[2]
Article 4, Section 11:
| There shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the times and places of choosing members of the legislature, a secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction... |
Qualifications
Article 4, Section 6 of the state constitution also establishes the qualifications of the office:[2]
| There shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the times and places of choosing members of the legislature, a secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction, who shall have attained the age of twenty-five (25) years respectively, shall be citizens of the United States, and shall have the qualifications of state electors... |
- at least twenty-five (25) years of age
- a citizen of the United States
- qualified as an elector in the state of Wyoming
Vacancies
Article 4, Section 7 of the state constitution grants the governor the authority to fill any office that becomes vacant, so long as there is not already a constitutional or legal method for filling the vacancy.[2]
Duties
The Wyoming Secretary of State is the custodian of the great seal of Wyoming. They affix the seal to and countersign commissions, official acts of the governor, and other paperwork when required by law.
Additional duties of the secretary of state are outlined in Title 9, Chapter 1, Article 3 of the Wyoming Code. The secretary is the custodian of and preserves:[2]
- All the public records, documents, acts and resolutions of the legislatures of the territory and state of Wyoming;
- All proclamations of the governor proclaiming the effectiveness of constitutional amendments, corporate revocations and any other proclamation designated as a permanent record by the governor. The secretary of state shall preserve all other proclamations of the governor for one (1) year and then deliver them to the department of state parks and cultural resources for destruction or preservation as it deems desirable;
- Property of the state when no other provision is made by law;
- Copies of all clemency documents signed by the governor, including pardons, commutations of sentence, reprieves, remissions of fine or forfeiture, and restorations of civil rights.
Elections
The office of Secretary of State is elected every four years, in mid-term election years. In Wyoming, secretary of state elections are held in 2022, 2026, and 2030.
Term limits
There are no term limits for this office.[2]
2022
General election
General election for Wyoming Secretary of State
Chuck Gray won election in the general election for Wyoming Secretary of State on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Chuck Gray (R) | 91.6 | 147,402 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 8.4 | 13,573 | ||
| Total votes: 160,975 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Wyoming Secretary of State
Chuck Gray defeated Tara Nethercott, R. Mark Armstrong, and Dan Dockstader (Unofficially withdrew) in the Republican primary for Wyoming Secretary of State on August 16, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Chuck Gray | 48.3 | 75,972 |
 | Tara Nethercott | 40.1 | 63,069 | |
 | R. Mark Armstrong | 9.1 | 14,304 | |
 | Dan Dockstader (Unofficially withdrew) | 2.3 | 3,698 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 410 | ||
| Total votes: 157,453 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for Wyoming Secretary of State
Incumbent Edward Buchanan defeated James Byrd and Kit Carson in the general election for Wyoming Secretary of State on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Edward Buchanan (R) | 68.8 | 137,026 |
 | James Byrd (D) | 26.8 | 53,355 | |
| Kit Carson (L) | 4.3 | 8,561 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 156 | ||
| Total votes: 199,098 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Wyoming Secretary of State
James Byrd advanced from the Democratic primary for Wyoming Secretary of State on August 21, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James Byrd | 100.0 | 16,754 |
| Total votes: 16,754 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Wyoming Secretary of State
Incumbent Edward Buchanan advanced from the Republican primary for Wyoming Secretary of State on August 21, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Edward Buchanan | 100.0 | 94,603 |
| Total votes: 94,603 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Full history
2014
Republican Ed Murray won election on November 4, 2014.
| Secretary of State of Wyoming, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Ed Murray |
76.6% | 119,772 | |
| Constitution | Jennifer Young | 12.1% | 18,918 | |
| Libertarian | Kit Carson | 10.8% | 16,858 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.5% | 859 | |
| Total Votes | 156,407 | |||
| Election results via Wyoming Secretary of State | ||||
To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of Wyoming Secretary of State, click [show] to expand the section. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2010 On November 2, 2010, Max Maxfield won re-election to the office of Wyoming Secretary of State. He defeated Andrew Simons (D) and Candice De Laat (L) in the general election.
2006 On November 7, 2006, Max Maxfield won election to the office of Wyoming Secretary of State. He defeated Dennis Brossman (L) in the general election.
2002 On November 5, 2002, Joseph Meyer won re-election to the office of Wyoming Secretary of State. He defeated Dennis Brossman (L) in the general election.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Divisions
As of January 2021, the office of the secretary of state was composed of five offices:
- The Administration Division "provides information technology resources and support to the Office as well [as] manages the fiscal and personnel responsibilities of the Office."[3]
- The Business Division maintains business records, including trademarks and trade names.[3]
- The Compliance Division "oversees Wyoming's securities industry as well as the activities of Commercial Registered Agents."[3]
- The Election Division oversees all elections in the state. The division maintains records of campaign finance information, election results, and registered lobbyists.[3]
- The Executive Offices Division "provides the leadership and direction to the Office as a whole."[3]
State budget
- See also: Wyoming state budget and finances
The budget for the Secretary of State's Office for the 2024-2026 fiscal biennium was $9,517,620.[4]
Compensation
Title 9, Chapter 3, Article 1 (§9‑3-101) of the Wyoming Statutes sets the secretary of state's annual salary at $92,000.[2] The amount of compensation the secretary of state receives is fixed by law, pursuant to Article 4, Section 13 of the Wyoming Constitution. Under this article, the salaries of the secretary of state and other constitutionally specified executives "shall not be increased or diminished during the period for which they were elected, and all fees and profits arising from any of the said offices shall be covered into the state treasury."[2]
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $160,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[5]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $92,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2021
In 2021, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2020
In 2020, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2019
In 2019, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2018
In 2018, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2017
In 2017, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2016
In 2016, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2015
In 2015, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2014
In 2014, the secretary received a salary of $92,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2013
In 2013, the secretary received a salary of $92,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2010
In 2010, the secretary received a salary of $92,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
Historical officeholders
Wyoming officially became a state on July 10, 1890. On November 8, 1890, Amos W. Barber became the first Wyoming secretary of state. Prior to that date, officeholders were known as Wyoming secretaries of the territory.[17]
There have been eight secretaries of the territory and 22 secretaries of state. Of those 30 officeholders, 23 have been Republican and seven have been Democratic.
| List of officeholders from 1869-present | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Party | |
| 1 | Edward Merwin Lee | 4/14/1869 | 5/25/1870 |  Republican
| |
| 2 | Herman Glafcke | 5/25/1870 | 5/1/1873 | Republican
| |
| 3 | Jason B. Brown | 5/1/1873 | 3/17/1875 |  Democratic
| |
| 4 | George W. French | 3/17/1875 | 2/25/1879 | Republican
| |
| 5 | Albertis Worth Spates | 2/25/1879 | 4/1/1880 | Republican
| |
| 6 | Elliot S.N. Morgan | 4/1/1880 | 4/25/1887 | Republican
| |
| 7 | Samuel D. Shannon | 4/25/1887 | 7/1/1889 | Democratic
| |
| 8 | John W. Meldrum | 7/1/1889 | 11/8/1890 | Republican
| |
| 9 | Amos W. Barber | 11/8/1890 | January 1895 | Republican
| |
| 10 | Charles W. Burdick | January 1895 | January 1899 | Republican
| |
| 11 | Fenimore Chatterton | January 1899 | January 1907 | Republican
| |
| 12 | William Schnitger | January 1907 | January 1911 | Republican
| |
| 13 | Frank L. Houx | January 1911 | January 1919 | Democratic
| |
| 14 | William E. Chaplin | January 1919 | January 1923 | Republican
| |
| 15 | Frank E. Lucas | January 1923 | January 1927 | Republican
| |
| 16 | Alonzo M. Clark | January 1927 | January 1935 | Republican
| |
| 17 | Lester C. Hunt | January 1935 | January 1943 | Democratic
| |
| 18 | Mart T. Christensen | January 1943 | 10/12/1944 | Republican
| |
| 19 | William "Scotty" Jack | 10/12/1944 | January 1947 | Democratic
| |
| 20 | Arthur G. Crane | January 1947 | January 1951 | Republican
| |
| 21 | C.J. "Doc" Rogers | January 1951 | January 1955 | Republican
| |
| 22 | Everett T. Copenhaver | January 1955 | January 1959 | Republican
| |
| 23 | Jack R. Gage | January 1959 | January 1963 | Democratic
| |
| 24 | Thyra Thomson | January 1963 | January 1987 | Republican
| |
| 25 | Kathy Karpan | January 1987 | January 1995 | Democratic
| |
| 26 | Diana J. Ohman | January 1995 | January 1999 | Republican
| |
| 27 | Joseph B. Meyer | January 1999 | January 2007 | Republican
| |
| 28 | Max Maxfield | January 2007 | January 2015 | Republican
| |
| 29 | Ed Murray | January 2015 | February 2018 | Republican
| |
| 30 | Edward Buchanan | March 2018 | September 2022 | Republican
| |
State profile
| Demographic data for Wyoming | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 586,555 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 97,093 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 91% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 1.1% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 0.9% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 2.2% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2.7% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 9.6% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 92.3% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 25.7% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $58,840 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 12.7% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Wyoming. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Wyoming
Wyoming voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
More Wyoming coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Wyoming
- United States congressional delegations from Wyoming
- Public policy in Wyoming
- Endorsers in Wyoming
- Wyoming fact checks
- More...
Contact information
Wyoming Secretary of State
Herschler Building East
122 W 25th St
Suites 100 and 101
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0020
Phone: (307) 777-7378
E-mail: [email protected]
See also
| Wyoming | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State, "Homepage," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 State of Wyoming Legislature, "State Statutes & Constitution," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Wyoming Secretary of State website, "Duties of the Office of Secretary of State," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ Wyoming State Legislature, "Enrolled Act No. 50, House of Representatives," accessed January 23, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed January 29, 2021
- ↑ Wyoming Secretary of State website, "Roster of Wyoming's Secretaries of State," accessed January 29, 2021
| |||||||||||||||||||
