A Trump-endorsed candidate suffered a rare defeat in Wyoming on Tuesday night as state superintendent of public instruction Megan Degenfelder lost to state Senator Eric Barlow in the Republican gubernatorial primary.

Barlow, a legislator with 14 years of experience, defeated both Degenfelder and retired Marine Corps Col. Brent Bien. Final vote counts showed Barlow securing 58,820 votes to Degenfelder’s 38,739 and Bien’s 30,843.

Barlow will face Democratic nominee Kenneth Casner and Constitution Party nominee Rebecca Bextel in the general election. Degenfelder received President Donald Trump’s endorsement in January. Bien received an endorsement from the Wyoming Republican Party’s state central committee in July.

During the campaign, Barlow weathered high-dollar attacks from at least two groups: Wyoming’s Turn PAC and Women For Responsible Government PAC. The former published false claims that Barlow had pushed for fuel tax hikes in 2013 and 2020, but legislative records indicate he fought to keep fuel taxes low both years.

Barlow stated, “There’s been a lot of out of state money and agendas and voices trying to tell us things that aren’t true. And today Wyoming showed up, and showed us that Wyoming’s voice matters most.” Speaking about his opponents’ endorsements, Barlow said he looks forward to working with Trump and has worked to uphold the state Republican Party’s platform.

Barlow added, “His win comes down to the work. I’m appreciative of all the folks who knocked on doors and hosted coffees or took a chance by introducing us to family, friends, neighbors – whoever came along during the campaign. As I’ve said, we’re running for Wyoming, not against anybody.”

The Republican Governors Association stated: “As a marine, veterinarian, and rancher, Barlow knows how to lead and will champion limited government, personal responsibility, and Wyoming values!” In a statement, Degenfelder expressed gratitude to supporters and opponents alike, saying, “I am deeply grateful to the thousands of neighbors, friends, supporters, volunteers, and people who love Wyoming as much as I do who placed their trust in me throughout this campaign. Thank you for your support, for your vote, for the miles you drove and doors you knocked, and most of all, for your prayers.”

Degenfelder also noted, “I am also grateful to my opponents and their supporters. We debated the issues that matter to the future of our state, and I believe that conversation made Wyoming stronger. I congratulate our Republican nominee, and it is now our responsibility to come together, move forward, and continue fighting for the state we all love.”

Barlow was first elected to the Wyoming Legislature in 2012 and became House Speaker in 2021 before moving to the state Senate. The victory suggests that Wyoming’s heavily Republican electorate preferred a lower-key leader similar to incumbent governor Mark Gordon — who is leaving office after two terms — over a “bomb-throwing conservative” or culture warrior. Barlow’s win also highlights the limits of Trump’s influence in a rural state where many voters make decisions through personal interactions at barbecues, county fairs and rodeos.

Degenfelder, who championed the state’s ban on transgender athletes in girls’ sports and described her battles “against the radicals’ agenda,” received Trump’s endorsement. Barlow, often seen wearing a white cowboy hat, positioned himself as a “fourth-generation ranch kid” with military service and political experience. He emphasized his support for public lands — an issue that unites conservative hunters and liberal environmentalists in the American West — and vowed to change Wyoming’s increasingly bitter politics.