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 "title": "Kenneth Casner",
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 "excerpt": "Kenneth Casner is an American politician, a veteran from Elk Mountain, Wyoming, and the Democratic nominee for governor in 2026, his third bid for the office.",
 "snippet": "Kenneth Casner is an American politician, a veteran from Elk Mountain, Wyoming, and the Democratic nominee for governor in 2026, his third bid for the office.",
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 "markdown": "# Kenneth Casner\n\nKenneth Casner is an American politician and the Democratic nominee for Governor of Wyoming in 2026.<sup>[1](https://democrats.org/dnc-congratulates-kenneth-casner-on-winning-wyomings-democratic-primary-for-governor/)</sup> A resident of Elk Mountain, he is a veteran and a third-generation Wyomingite.<sup>[2](https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-06-02/kenneth-casner-is-the-lone-democrat-running-for-governor)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[1](https://democrats.org/dnc-congratulates-kenneth-casner-on-winning-wyomings-democratic-primary-for-governor/)</sup> The 2026 race is his third campaign for governor of Wyoming, following bids in 2002 and 2018.<sup>[2](https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-06-02/kenneth-casner-is-the-lone-democrat-running-for-governor)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Party | Democratic<sup>[2](https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-06-02/kenneth-casner-is-the-lone-democrat-running-for-governor)</sup> |\n| Current political status | 2026 Democratic nominee for Governor of Wyoming<sup>[1](https://democrats.org/dnc-congratulates-kenneth-casner-on-winning-wyomings-democratic-primary-for-governor/)</sup> |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nCasner is a Democrat. He filed to run for governor of Wyoming as a Democrat in 2026, and he was the only Democratic candidate in that year's primary.<sup>[2](https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-06-02/kenneth-casner-is-the-lone-democrat-running-for-governor)</sup> After winning the primary, he became the Democratic nominee for governor.<sup>[1](https://democrats.org/dnc-congratulates-kenneth-casner-on-winning-wyomings-democratic-primary-for-governor/)</sup>\n\n## Career\n\nCasner has run for governor of Wyoming three times. He sought the office in 2002 and again in 2018, and in 2026 he filed to run as a Democrat.<sup>[2](https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-06-02/kenneth-casner-is-the-lone-democrat-running-for-governor)</sup> In the 2026 primary he was the lone Democrat in the race, while three Republicans sought their party's nomination: [Eric Barlow](https://www.edgepedia.org/eric-barlow), Megan Degenfelder, and Brent Bien.<sup>[2](https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-06-02/kenneth-casner-is-the-lone-democrat-running-for-governor)</sup> After the August 18, 2026, primary, the [Democratic National Committee](https://www.edgepedia.org/democratic-national-committee) congratulated Casner on winning Wyoming's Democratic primary for governor.<sup>[1](https://democrats.org/dnc-congratulates-kenneth-casner-on-winning-wyomings-democratic-primary-for-governor/)</sup> DNC Chair Ken Martin described Casner as a small-town Democrat focused on lowering costs, investing in rural communities, increasing funding for public schools, protecting healthcare, and fighting for working families.<sup>[1](https://democrats.org/dnc-congratulates-kenneth-casner-on-winning-wyomings-democratic-primary-for-governor/)</sup>\n\n## Issues specific to Casner\n\nCampaign money has been a defining theme of Casner's 2026 campaign. He told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that the core of his campaign is truth-telling and taking no money.<sup>[2](https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-06-02/kenneth-casner-is-the-lone-democrat-running-for-governor)</sup> In the same interview he said, \"I'm fighting for Wyoming now. I want to leave her in better shape than what she is today.\"<sup>[2](https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-06-02/kenneth-casner-is-the-lone-democrat-running-for-governor)</sup>\n\n## Positions and voting record\n\n### Cost of living and rural communities\n\nAccording to the Democratic National Committee's statement on his primary victory, Casner is focused on lowering costs, investing in rural communities, and fighting for working families.<sup>[1](https://democrats.org/dnc-congratulates-kenneth-casner-on-winning-wyomings-democratic-primary-for-governor/)</sup> In his own words to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, \"I'm fighting for Wyoming now. I want to leave her in better shape than what she is today.\"<sup>[2](https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-06-02/kenneth-casner-is-the-lone-democrat-running-for-governor)</sup>\n\n### Taxes\n\nCasner has said he supports a state income tax for Wyoming.<sup>[2](https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-06-02/kenneth-casner-is-the-lone-democrat-running-for-governor)</sup>\n\n### Education\n\nCasner has said he supports public school funding and focusing on history education in public schools.<sup>[2](https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-06-02/kenneth-casner-is-the-lone-democrat-running-for-governor)</sup> The DNC's statement on his primary win also cited increasing funding for public schools among his campaign priorities.<sup>[1](https://democrats.org/dnc-congratulates-kenneth-casner-on-winning-wyomings-democratic-primary-for-governor/)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [DNC Congratulates Kenneth Casner on Winning Wyoming's Democratic Primary for Governor](https://democrats.org/dnc-congratulates-kenneth-casner-on-winning-wyomings-democratic-primary-for-governor/)\n2. [Kenneth Casner is the lone Democrat running for Wyoming governor](https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-06-02/kenneth-casner-is-the-lone-democrat-running-for-governor)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › US candidates for federal and statewide office › Candidates for governor*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "credit": "\"Kenneth Casner\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/kenneth-casner. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
 "credit_md": "\"[Kenneth Casner](https://www.edgepedia.org/kenneth-casner)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/kenneth-casner](https://www.edgepedia.org/kenneth-casner). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).",
 "credit_html": "\"<a href=\"https://www.edgepedia.org/kenneth-casner\">Kenneth Casner</a>\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), <a href=\"https://www.edgepedia.org/kenneth-casner\">https://www.edgepedia.org/kenneth-casner</a>. <a href=\"https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\">Edgepedia Community License 1.0</a>.",
 "speakable": "Kenneth Casner is an American politician, a veteran from Elk Mountain, Wyoming, and the Democratic nominee for governor in 2026, his third bid for the office."
}