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(s)
Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray Republican Party Assumed office: January 2, 2023
Elections
Next election:	2026
Last election:	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

TheWyoming Secretary of State is an elected executive position in theWyoming state government. Thesecretary 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 thegovernor is not available.^[1]

Wyoming has a Republicantriplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

Current officeholder

The current Wyoming Secretary of State isChuck Gray (R). Gray assumed office in 2023.

Authority

The secretary of state's authority is derived fromArticle 4 of theWyoming Constitution.^[2]

Article 4, Section 11:

Qualifications

Article 4, Section 6 of thestate constitution also establishes the qualifications of the office:^[2]

• 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 thestate constitution grants thegovernor 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]

1. All the public records, documents, acts and resolutions of the legislatures of the territory and state of Wyoming;
2. 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;
3. Property of the state when no other provision is made by law;
4. 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 noterm limits for this office.^[2]

Election results

• 2030
• 2026
• 2022
• 2018

See also: Wyoming Secretary of State election, 2030

There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.

See also: Wyoming Secretary of State election, 2026

There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.

See also: Wyoming Secretary of State election, 2022

General election

General election for Wyoming Secretary of State

Chuck Gray (R) 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

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 160,975
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for Wyoming Secretary of State

Chuck Gray (R) defeatedTara Nethercott (R),R. Mark Armstrong (R), andDan Dockstader (R)(Withdrew, still on ballot) 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(Withdrew, still on ballot)	2.3	3,698
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3%	410

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 157,453
= candidate completed theBallotpedia 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.
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See also: Wyoming Secretary of State election, 2018

General election

General election for Wyoming Secretary of State

IncumbentEdward Buchanan (R) defeatedJames Byrd (D) andKit Carson (L) 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
	Submit photo	Kit Carson (L)	4.3	8,561
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1%	156

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 199,098
= candidate completed theBallotpedia 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.
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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Wyoming Secretary of State

James Byrd (D) advanced from the Democratic primary for Wyoming Secretary of State on August 21, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James Byrd	100.0	16,754

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,754
= candidate completed theBallotpedia 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

Republican primary for Wyoming Secretary of State

IncumbentEdward Buchanan (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Wyoming Secretary of State on August 21, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Edward Buchanan	100.0	94,603

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 94,603
= candidate completed theBallotpedia 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.
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Previous election results

2014

See also:Wyoming secretary of state election, 2014RepublicanEd 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 viaWyoming Secretary of State

2010

See also:Wyoming Secretary of State election, 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.

Wyoming Secretary of State, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Max MaxfieldIncumbent	76.1%	140,087
	Democratic	Andrew Simons	19.5%	35,873
	Libertarian	Candice De Laat	4.4%	8,045
	Write-Ins	Various	0.1%	151
Total Votes				184,156
Election results viaWyoming Secretary of State.

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.

Wyoming Secretary of State, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Max Maxfield	82%	148,210
	Libertarian	Dennis Brossman	18%	32,551
Total Votes				180,761
Election results viaWyoming Secretary of State.

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.

Wyoming Secretary of State, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Joseph MeyerIncumbent	82.4%	139,721
	Libertarian	Dennis Brossman	17.6%	29,751
Total Votes				169,472
Election results viaWyoming Secretary of State.

Divisions

As of January 2021, the office of the secretary of state was composed of five offices:

• TheAdministration Division "provides information technology resources and support to the Office as well [as] manages the fiscal and personnel responsibilities of the Office."^[3]
• TheBusiness Division maintains business records, including trademarks and trade names.^[3]
• TheCompliance Division "oversees Wyoming's securities industry as well as the activities of Commercial Registered Agents."^[3]
• TheElection Division oversees all elections in the state. The division maintains records of campaign finance information, election results, and registered lobbyists.^[3]
• TheExecutive 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 toArticle 4, Section 13 of theWyoming 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 theCouncil of State Governments.^[5]

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $92,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[6]

2021

In 2021, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[7]

2020

In 2020, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[8]

2019

In 2019, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[9]

2018

In 2018, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[10]

2017

In 2017, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[11]

2016

In 2016, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[12]

2015

In 2015, the secretary of state received a salary of $92,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[13]

2014

In 2014, the secretary received a salary of $92,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[14]

2013

In 2013, the secretary received a salary of $92,000, according to theCouncil of State Governments.^[15]

2010

In 2010, the secretary received a salary of $92,000, according to theCouncil 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 beenRepublican and seven have beenDemocratic.

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

Presidential voting pattern

See also:Presidential voting trends in Wyoming

Wyomingvoted 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:SecOfState@wyo.gov

See also

Wyoming	State Executive Elections	News and Analysis
Wyoming State Executive OfficesWyoming State LegislatureWyoming Courts	2026 •2025 •2024 •2023 •2022 •2021 •2020 •2019 •2018 •2017 •2016Wyoming elections:2026 •2025 •2024 •2023 •2022 •2021 •2020 •2019 •2018 •2017 •2016	Party control of state governmentState government trifectasState of the state addressesPartisan composition of governors

External links

Suggest a link

• Search Google News for this topic
• Office of the Wyoming Secretary of State

Footnotes

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