Banks wins four-way race for House District 26

By: 
David Peck

As expected, it was a competitive four-way race for the Republican nomination for the District 26 seat in the Wyoming House of Representatives, and in the end, Dalton Banks of Cowley carried the day, beating top challenger Tim Beck of Lovell by 296 votes in the race to succeed the retiring Jamie Flitner of Shell in the House.

Banks received 1,178 votes, unofficially, on Tuesday – 1,100 in Big Horn County and 78 in Park County, while Beck garnered 800 votes in Big Horn County and 82 in Park. Gary Welch of Lovell received 510 votes – 458 in Big Horn County and 52 in Park, while Tim Mills of Greybull finished the night with 308 votes – 268 in Big Horn County and 40 in Park.

Banks won five of the eight precincts making up District 26 in Big Horn County, beating Beck 42-16 in Frannie, 31-24 in Deaver, 79-52 in Byron, 239-77 in Cowley and 448-321 in Lovell. Beck topped Banks 232-196 in Greybull and 77-64 in Shell. 

Welch was solid in Lovell, receiving 203 votes, and Mills was likewise strong in his hometown of Greybull, garnering 120 votes.

There was no filed Democratic candidate for District 26, making Banks the presumptive favorite in the November 8 general election.

“I am honored to have been elected to serve you as the representative of House District 26,” Banks said in a statement issued Wednesday morning. “Thank you for the tremendous support. My love of our district and our state has guided me to serve, and it will continue to guide me as I work on your behalf. Our Wyoming values lie at the heart of everything we do, and I am committed to preserving them.

“I will work on behalf of our communities to ensure they continue to receive state support and are not pushed aside by the urban areas of Wyoming. I will work with our federal and county delegation to bring better management for public lands and to fight against the 30 x 30 land grab that will affect each of us here in Wyoming.

I will be an advocate for our small schools and our rural hospitals, both of which are important to our district.”

Banks pledged collaboration as he serves the district.

“I will make it a priority of mine to work together,” he said. “Alone I am one vote and one voice. It’s important we work together so that important legislation has passed and unnecessary and burdensome regulation is stopped. And I want to stress the fact that working together doesn’t mean I’m compromising my values or beliefs. Too often compromise is associated with abandoning values. I am committed to hold fast to my values and views while working together to make sure beneficial outcomes for our district in our state.

“I am committed to be open, transparent and honest. My phone or email is always open and I will always talk with constituents and about why I voted a certain way.” It’s important for members of the district to know what’s going on.”

Also on Tuesday, Rep. John Winter of Thermopolis was re-nominated for his House District 28 seat in the Wyoming Legislature, receiving 3,018 votes in Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs and Park counties. He will be challenged in the general election by Democratic nominee Kimberly Bartlett of Thermopolis, who received 91 votes in the four counties. Both were unopposed for their party’s nomination.

Martha Lawley of Worland was unopposed for the Republican nomination for House District 27, receiving 2,894 in Washakie and Big Horn counties. She is looking to replace the retiring Rep. Mike Greear of Worland in the House.

 

--30--

Category: