Democrat Ivan Posey said he was “humbled and encouraged” by the support he received from the voters of Wyoming House District 33 in this year’s General Election.
Posey won the HD 33 election Tuesday with 56 percent of the vote (1,675) to incumbent Rep. Sarah Penn’s 40 percent (1,210), according to the unofficial results.
“I thought it would be a tight race,” Posey said Wednesday. “I was prepared either way. (But) it came out … in my favor.”
He said it was “wonderful” to see so many people turn out to vote on Election Day this year, including “a lot of new voters that had to get registered.”
“I’m just grateful (for) the people who supported me and put their trust in me,” he said.
He also commended Penn, his opponent in the election, for engaging in a “civil” campaign.
“We respected each other, and we shook hands at the end of our forum,” he said. “I think that made it a lot easier to deal with (in) this very divisive political climate we’re in. … That approach was a breath of fresh air.”
Penn expressed gratitude to her voters this week, too, thanking them for their “amazing support” and urging them not to “let your foot off the gas pedal.”
“The past two years has been an unexpected detour and such an honor to serve the people of Wyoming,” she said. “This district is the most unique, and therefore the most subject to change. While I may have been the hub of this movement this outcome was bigger than me. It reflects the will of the people and the will of God. He was in the details of the decision two years ago and He was there last night.”
In the future, Penn said she plans to “continue to stand for our families and for liberty in whatever ways God intends for me and my family.”
“I’ll take some time with my family to decide what our next action will be,” she said. “I continue to believe in the cause of liberty and will engage in whatever path is placed before me.”
Posey said he’ll take time in the coming months to “catch up” on some of the issues currently facing the Wyoming Legislature, where he will be the only Tribal member and one of only a handful of Democrats.
“I think the hard work starts pretty soon,” he said. “I’ll do my best to represent the district … for my constituents and for the State of Wyoming.”
As the election results were tallied on Tuesday evening, Posey said he was at a watch party with family and friends at the Shoshone Rose Casino.
When they heard the news, Posey said the group celebrated with an honor song and round dance before heading home under a light dusting of snow that he called “refreshing.”
“It was really fitting,” he said.
Posey was born and raised in Fremont County, and he is a member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe.
He served for 21 years on the Eastern Shoshone Business Council, including several years as Council Chair, and he was the first Tribal Liaison for the Eastern Shoshone Tribe under Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal.
He currently works as an educator at Central Wyoming College.
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