State treasurer wins GOP nod in Wyoming

Former Wyoming Treasurer Cynthia Lummis won the GOP primary for the state’s open at-large House seat on Tuesday, setting up what looks to be a marquee matchup in November.

Lummis defeated rancher and businessman Mark Gordon 46-37, while 2006 candidate and former Navy officer Bill Winney took 12 percent.

{mosads}She will now face 2006 Democratic nominee Gary Trauner, who fell to retiring Rep. Barbara Cubin by 1,000 votes and was set to face her again before she retired.

Trauner was unopposed in his primary.

Lummis was one of three finalists for the state’s Senate appointment last year, after Sen. Craig Thomas (R) died. She concluded two terms as state treasurer in 2007 and has also served in the state legislature.

A January poll for the Casper Star-Tribune showed Trauner ahead 41-40, and a May poll the liberal blog Daily Kos conducted had the Democrat up 44-41.

Gordon was a political newcomer who spent more than $1 million of his own money on the campaign.