Mark Gordon has served as the 33rd governor of Wyoming since January 7, 2019.[1] A member of the Republican Party, he defeated Democratic challenger Mary Throne in the 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial election in a landslide victory. As governor, Gordon imposed some restrictions on indoor and outdoor public gatherings. He did not implement curfews, temporarily close any businesses or initially impose a statewide mask mandate. Gordon and his wife, Jennie Gordon, contracted COVID-19 later in the month. In December 2020, Gordon imposed a statewide mask mandate. In February 2021, he extended that order until the end of the month. On March 8, 2021, he announced that he would lift the mask mandate on March 16. On March 16, the mask mandate was lifted. As of March 30, Gordon has no plans to reinstate the mask mandate. He was also reelected in a landslide in the 2022 Wyoming gubernatorial election; his 74.07% margin of victory over Theresa Livingston was the state's largest victory ever since. He has generally governed as a conservative.[2]
 | |
| Governorship of Mark Gordon January 7, 2019 – present | |
| Party | Republican |
|---|---|
| Election | |
| Seat | Wyoming Governor's Mansion |
 Seal of Wyoming | |
2018 gubernatorial election
editGordon declined to run for Cynthia Lummis's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016, the one he ran for in 2008, and instead ran for governor of Wyoming in 2018. He won the Republican primary on August 21 and the general election on November 6, defeating Democratic state representative Mary Throne. Gordon was inaugurated on January 7, 2019.[3]
He won with 67.12 percent against Throne's 27.54 percent. Remaining as the highest percentage ever seen.[4]
2022 gubernatorial election
edit
Gordon was reelected to a second term against Democratic nominee Theresa Livingston in the general election, with Gordon's 74.07 percent against Livingston's 15.82 percent will be the highest percentage of a candidate ever in Wyoming and the lowest for Livingston.[2] This was also the first election that a candidate won all counties since 2010, and the first that a candidate lost all.
Policies
editCOVID-19
editGordon imposed some restrictions on indoor and outdoor public gatherings. He did not implement curfews, temporarily close any businesses or initially impose a statewide mask mandate.[5] Gordon and his wife, Jennie Gordon, contracted COVID-19 later in the month.[6] In December 2020, Gordon imposed a statewide mask mandate.[7] In February 2021, he extended that order until the end of the month.[8] On March 8, 2021, he announced that he would lift the mask mandate on March 16.[7] On March 16, the mask mandate was lifted.[9] As of March 30, Gordon has no plans to reinstate the mask mandate.[10]
Economy
editIn November 2020, Gordon proposed $500 million in cuts to the Wyoming budget to account for declining revenue from the fossil fuel industry (particularly coal mining), which is crucial to Wyoming's economy.[11] On April 2, 2021, he signed a budget passed by the Wyoming legislature that cut $430 million instead of the $500 million Gordon proposed,[12] due to improved budget forecasts for the year of 2021 and supplemental money from the American Rescue Plan Act[13] signed by President Biden. The budget Gordon signed decreases the amount cut to the University of Wyoming and the Wyoming Department of Health.
Environment
editIn 2021, a New York Times investigation revealed that Gordon had been targeted by hard-right conservatives, such as Susan Gore, the heiress to the Gore-Tex fortune. Gore funded secret operatives who targeted Gordon.[14] Part of this is due to Gordon's investment in renewable energy and policy on climate change, which led to a vote of no confidence by the state party.[15] Gordon has embraced wind energy as a part of Wyoming's economic exports, such as the developing Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project.[16]
Abortion
editOn March 18, 2023, Gordon signed SF0109 into law, which banned abortion pills in Wyoming.[17]
Social
editPolling
editAs of 2022, Gordon often polls as one of the nation's most popular governors.[18][19]
Ban
editOn March 7, 2024, Gordon banned Delta 8 hemp in Wyoming.[20]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Gordon inaugurated January 7". Casper Star-Tribune. 2019-01-08. pp. A1. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ a b "Wyoming Governor Election Results". The New York Times. 2022-11-08. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ nick.reynolds@trib.com, Nick Reynolds 307-266-0634 (2018-11-07). "Wyoming governor-elect Gordon outlines vision for his first year in office". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Wyoming Election Results". The New York Times. 2018-11-06. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ "Wyoming governor sets gathering rules, forgoes mask mandate". AP News. 2020-11-20. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ Freiman, Jordan (2020-11-25). "Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon tests positive for coronavirus - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ a b "Wyoming governor announces statewide mask order, other restrictions". Q2 News (KTVQ). 2020-12-07. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ "Wyoming extends mask order, will loosen restrictions on restaurants, gatherings". trib.com. 2021-02-11. Archived from the original on 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ "Most Health Restrictions Lifted Tuesday, Including Mask Mandate". Wyoming Public Media. 2021-03-15. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ "Wyoming governor: No plans to reimpose COVID-19 mask mandate". AP News. 2021-03-30. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ nick.reynolds@trib.com, Nick Reynolds 307-266-0634 (2020-11-16). "Wyoming governor announces additional $500M in budget cuts". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ camille.erickson@trib.com, Camille Erickson 307-266-0592 (2021-04-01). "Wyoming governor signs supplemental budget passed by Legislature". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Reynolds, Nick (2021-03-29). "With help of federal relief, legislature finds budget consensus". WyoFile. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
- ^ Mazzetti, Mark; Goldman, Adam (2021-06-25). "They Seemed Like Democratic Activists. They Were Secretly Conservative Spies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Wyoming GOP Passes No Confidence Vote Against Gov. Gordon". Cowboy State Daily. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Whitaker, Bill; Chasan, Aliza; Hartman, Rome; Kuzmarov, Sara (2023-12-10). "Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon supports innovation to combat climate change | 60 Minutes - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Wyoming governor signs measure prohibiting abortion pills". AP News. 2023-03-18. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Governor Approval News and Analysis". Morning Consult Pro. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ abigail.landwehr@trib.com, Abigail Landwehr (2022-07-24). "As Gordon campaigns for second term, poll shows him nation's most popular governor". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Wyofile (2024-03-15). "Wyoming will ban marijuana substitute delta-8; burgeoning industry's future uncertain". Oil City News. Retrieved 2024-08-30.