Julie Jarvis edged out House District 57 incumbent Jeanette Ward, earning more than 56% of the vote in Tuesday’s Republican primary race, according to unofficial results.

Rep. Ward, a firebrand for the hard-line Wyoming Freedom Caucus, moved from Illinois to Wyoming about a year before winning office in 2022. Jarvis, a lifelong Wyoming resident, is director of teaching and learning for the Natrona County School District. The candidates offered vastly different approaches regarding education and social issues.

Two other Natrona County legislative incumbents were in closely watched races, but appeared to have survived challenges.

In Senate District 30, Sen. Charlie Scott, the longest serving legislator in Wyoming’s history, earned nearly 48% of the vote in the Republican primary, with challengers Robert Hendry and Charles Schoenwolf earning 39% and 13% respectively, according to unofficial results.

In House District 35, Rep. Tony Locke, a member of the Freedom Caucus, edged out challenger Christopher Dresang with 53.4% of the vote in the Republican Primary, according to unofficial results.

Julie Jarvis, center, poses for a photo after unofficial election results showed she defeated House District 57 Rep. Jeanette Ward (R-Casper) during Tuesday’s primary election. (Maya Shimizu Harris/WyoFile)

At the Wyoming Rib and Chop in downtown Casper, the room cheered when the results came in showing Jarvis had defeated Ward.

Jarvis began getting text messages and phone calls soon after the results were published. Her phone was soon backed up with messages. 

She stood and embraced her son Kadon Boyce and her partner Kody Hendricks when she saw she had won the race. 

She said she feels “relieved” that the primary race is over, and also “very grateful for the support from the community.” 

Jarvis ran a unique campaign that included sending out a survey to voters in her district to get their feedback on key issues. If she wins the general election, Jarvis plans to use the survey results to guide her votes on bills in the Legislature. She said her goal moving to the general election is to gather as many of these surveys as she can. 

In a post on her campaign Facebook page, Ward said she had contacted Jarvis to congratulate her on Tuesday’s victory.

“I’m grateful to the Lord Jesus for the last two years I have been able to serve Him and the people of Wyoming in House District 57 in the Wyoming legislature,” she wrote. “Unfortunately, I did not win reelection tonight.”

Jarvis is slated to face independent candidate Tyler Cessor in the general election. 

Dustin Bleizeffer covers energy and climate at WyoFile. He has worked as a coal miner, an oilfield mechanic, and for more than 25 years as a statewide reporter and editor primarily covering the energy...

Maya Shimizu Harris covers public safety for WyoFile. She was previously a freelance writer and the state politics reporter for the Casper Star-Tribune.

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  1. While I am relieved to see Ms Ward defeated, I’m disturbed that so many folks voted for others who want to force all of us to live our lives according to the religion they profess. Religious dogma has no place in our laws. I sincerely hope we make better choices in 2026.

    Reply

  2. I cannot not see Jeanette Ward wearing some kind of avante garde Tinfoil Hat in the photo. I know it must be an optical illusion and/or bad coiffure … or maybe not ?

    Reply

  3. Getting rid of Ward is a positive thing and is an indication that with the right people the freedom caucus can be removed.

    Reply