Long-Time Incumbents Henderson, Zwonitzer Lose Legislative Races

A couple of long term incumbent legislators from Laramie County were ousted by conservative challengers in the 2024 GOP Primary election on Tuesday.

Reps. Dan Zwonitzer and Bill Henderson won't be returning to Cheyenne for the 2025 Legislature.

But some other incumbents, including Reps. Landon Brown and Bob Nicholas were able to defeat their challengers.

Zwonitzers, Bill Henderson Lose Primary Battles

In House District 43, Rep. Dan Zwonitzer is out after serving since 2005, defeated by 64-year old Ann Lucas, a long-time Republican activist. 799 Laramie County Republicans voted for Lucas, with Zwonitzer garnering 599 votes. No Democrat has filed for that seat.

Zwonitzer's father, Rep. Dave Zwonitzer, likewise was defeated in House District 8, falling to Steve Johnson. But it wasn't a total loss for the Zwonitzer family on Tuesday, as Ty Zwonitzer was one of two candidates winning the GOP Laramie County Commssion primary.

Also losing was Bill Henderson, a four-term incumbent, who was defeated by challanger Gary Brown in House District. Brown still faces Democrat Jen Solis in November.

In one of the most watched legislative races, Cheyenne attorney Darin Smith defeated five other GOP candidates to win the nomination to replace outgoing conservative firebrand Anthony Bouchard. Smith was endorsed by Bouchard, and was the only Wyoming legislative candidate to be endorsed by former president Donald Trump.

in one of the closest and most watched house races, incumbent Republican Landon Brown eked out a narrow win over challenger Exie Brown in House District 9 by a margin of 725 to 708. Landon Brown as actually trailing late into the evening, but garnered enough support from mail-in voters to retain his seat.

Also winning re-nomination was REP. Bob Nicholas in House District 7. He defeated Kathy Russell by a margin of 1,608 votes to 682. Democrat Jordan Evans was unopposed in that party's primary election, and will square off against Nicholas in November.

You can see all of the Laramie County Primary election vote totals here.