Jarvis defeats Ward, but other Natrona County incumbents overcome challengers

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.

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.

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