Wyoming Republican gubernatorial hopeful Brent Bien has lost his party's primary election following revelations about his campaign's social media activity. Eric Barlow secured the Republican nomination on Tuesday, defeating both Bien and Donald Trump-backed Megan Degenfelder.
With 74 percent of ballots counted, Barlow held 44.8 percent of the vote, followed by Degenfelder with 29.7 percent and Bien with 23.8 percent. Bien had previously received the formal endorsement of the Wyoming Republican Party.
Last month, The Daily Mail reported that Bien's official campaign accounts had followed several social media profiles featuring sexually suggestive content, including accounts that appeared to feature young women and minors. Screenshots obtained by the publication showed Bien's campaign following accounts that included suggestive material, with one Instagram account reportedly featuring a teenager and another showing young girls dancing.
Bien, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel and combat veteran, had centered his campaign on themes of Christian faith, traditional family values, and hardline conservatism, often highlighting his 30-year marriage and three daughters. His campaign initially disputed the findings, with a spokesperson telling The Daily Mail that Bien was not following the accounts in question. However, the publication presented screenshots as evidence.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Bien suggested the controversy was politically motivated, linking it to his opposition to data centers. He also stated that he had contacted local law enforcement to report his account had been hacked and filed a complaint with Meta, Facebook's parent company. Police declined to release details of their investigation, citing its active status.
Park County GOP Chairman Vince Vanata and Park County Republican Committeewoman Nicole Forsberg initially dismissed the Daily Mail's evidence. However, after being presented with screenshots, Vanata stated that they did not change his perception of Bien's integrity. Forsberg called the article "complete bulls**t."
Wyoming's Republican primary is often considered the decisive contest for statewide offices, as the party holds all current statewide positions. Analysts had anticipated the Republican nominee would be heavily favored in the general election.
This was not Bien's first attempt to secure the governor's office. He previously ran in the 2022 Republican primary, earning approximately 30 percent of the vote against incumbent Mark Gordon.