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Mark Gordon

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For other people named Mark Gordon, seeMark Gordon (disambiguation).

Mark Gordon
Gordon in November 2023
Gordon in 2023
33rdGovernor of Wyoming
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 7, 2019
Preceded byMatt Mead
29thTreasurerofWyoming
In office
November 1, 2012 – January 7, 2019
GovernorMatt Mead
Preceded byJoseph Meyer
Succeeded byCurt Meier
Personal details
Born(1957-03-14)March 14, 1957(age 67)
New York City, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
Sarah Hildreth Gilmore
​
​
(m.1981; died 1993)​
Jennie Muir
​
(m.2000)​
Children4
ResidenceGovernor's Mansion
EducationMiddlebury College(BA)

Mark Gordon(born March 14, 1957) is an American politician serving as the 33rdgovernor of Wyomingsince January 7, 2019. A member of theRepublican Party,he previously served asstate treasurer;then-governorMatt Meadappointed him to that position on October 26, 2012, to fill the vacancy created by the death ofJoseph Meyer.

Early life and education

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Gordon was born inNew York City,the son of Catherine (née Andrews) and Crawford Gordon. Gordon’s father grew up on Drumlin Farm, inLincoln, Massachusetts.His parents married on October 27, 1945, at the First Unitarian Church of Kennebunk, Maine, before settling at their ranch in Kaycee, Wyoming, in 1947.[1]

Gordon’s paternal grandmother was the philanthropistLouise Ayer Hatheway.His paternal great-grandfather was the industrialist and mill magnateFrederick Ayer,founder of theAmerican Woolen Company,and younger brother of the patent medicine tycoonJames Cook Ayer,both ofLowell, Massachusetts.

He is a nephew of the socialiteJean Gordon.Gordon is also a great-nephew by marriage ofGeneralGeorge S. Patton,and a first cousin once removed of GeneralGeorge Patton IV.[2][3]He was raised on his family's ranch inJohnson County, Wyoming.He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history fromMiddlebury Collegein 1979.[4]

Career

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2008 congressional run

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Main article:2008 United States House of Representatives election in Wyoming

In 2008, Gordon was an unsuccessful candidate in the Republicanprimaryfor theUnited States House of RepresentativesforWyoming's at-large congressional districtseat held byBarbara Cubin,who was retiring. His main opponent wasCynthia Lummis,also a former state treasurer and the wife of a Democratic former state representative,Alvin Wiederspahn.[5]FormerU.S. senatorAlan K. SimpsonofCody,considered a moderate Republican, defended Gordon's candidacy but stopped short of an outright endorsement because he was also friendly with Lummis. FormerU.S. senatorMalcolm Wallopendorsed Gordon, as did the lateJoseph B. Meyer,who was serving as state treasurer at the time.[6]

In the primary, Gordon garnered the endorsements of Wyoming's two most prominent statewide newspapers,The Casper Star-Tribune[7]and theWyoming Tribune Eagle.[8]Though polls and the financial advantage rested with Gordon in the primary campaign, he lost the nomination to Lummis.[9]

Treasurer of Wyoming

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Gordon was Treasurer of Wyoming from 2012 to 2019. He was sworn in as treasurer on November 1, 2012, byWyoming Supreme CourtJustice William Hill,[10][11]after being selected by Governor Matt Mead.[5][10]

Gordon was elected to a full term as treasurer in 2014.[10]

Governor of Wyoming

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Main article:Governorship of Mark Gordon

2018 election

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Main article:2018 Wyoming gubernatorial election

Gordon declined to run forCynthia Lummis's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016, the one he ran for in 2008, and instead ran forgovernor of Wyomingin 2018. He won the Republican primary on August 21 and the general election on November 6, defeatingDemocraticstate representativeMary Throne.[12]Gordon was inaugurated on January 7, 2019.

2022 election

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Main article:2022 Wyoming gubernatorial election

Gordon was reelected to a second term against Democratic nominee Theresa Livingston in the general election.[13]

Tenure

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Gordon was sworn in on January 7, 2019.

Amid a November 2020 spike in coronavirus cases, 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.[14]Gordon and his wife, Jennie Gordon, contractedCOVID-19later in the month.[15]In December 2020, Gordon imposed a statewide mask mandate.[16]In February 2021, he extended that order until the end of the month.[17]On March 8, 2021, he announced that he would lift the mask mandate on March 16.[18]On March 16, the mask mandate was lifted.[19]As of March 30, Gordon has no plans to reinstate the mask mandate.[20]

In 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.[21]On April 2, 2021, he signed a budget passed by the Wyoming legislature that cut $430 million instead of the $500 million Gordon proposed,[22]due to improved budget forecasts for the year of 2021 and supplemental money from theAmerican Rescue Plan Act[23]signed byPresident Biden.The budget Gordon signed decreases the amount cut to theUniversity of Wyomingand the Wyoming Department of Health.

In 2021, aNew York Timesinvestigation revealed that Gordon had been targeted by hard-right conservatives, such as Susan Gore, the heiress to theGore-Texfortune. Gore funded secret operatives who targeted Gordon.[24]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.[25]Gordon has embraced wind energy as a part of Wyoming's economic exports, such as the developingChokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project.[26]

As of 2022, Gordon often polls as one of the nation's most popular governors.[27][28]

On March 7, 2024, Gordon bannedDelta 8 hempin Wyoming.[29]

Political positions

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Abortion

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On March 18, 2023, Gordon signed SF0109 into law, which banned abortion pills in Wyoming.[30]

Personal life

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Gordon met his first wife, the former Sarah Hildreth Gilmore, at Middlebury College. They married on March 7, 1981, in the Second Congregational Church in Greenfield, Massachusetts, where her parents resided. In 1993, she died in an automobile accident.[31]They had two daughters.

In 1998 Gordon met his current wife, the former Jennie Muir Young, and they married in 2000. Together they own the Merlin Ranch east of Buffalo in Johnson County, Wyoming. In 2009, their ranch received the Society for Range Management Wyoming Section "Excellence in Rangeland Stewardship" award.[32]

On November 25, 2020, during theCOVID-19 pandemic,Gordon tested positive for the virus on the same day his office was to be reopened, after an employee of his had tested positive earlier. Gordon's office remained closed temporarily for deep-cleaning after his diagnosis.[33]

Electoral history

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Gordon in 2019
2008 United States House of Representatives election in Wyoming- Republican primary[34]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Cynthia Lummis 33,149 44.0
Republican Mark Gordon 26,827 35.7
Republican Bill Winney 8,537 11.4
Republican Michael Holland 3,171 4.2
n/a Under Votes 2,838 3.8
n/a Over Votes 509 0.7
Republican Write-ins 139 0.2
Total votes 75,170 100.0
2014 Wyoming Treasurer- Republican primary[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Gordon (incumbent) 72,095 72.6
n/a Under Votes 17,060 17.2
Republican Ron Redo 9,945 10.0
Republican Write-ins 206 0.2
n/a Over Votes 6 0.0
Total votes 99,312 100.0
2014 Wyoming Treasurer- General Election[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Gordon (incumbent) 138,831 81.1
n/a Under Votes 31,044 18.1
Republican Write-ins 1,262 0.7
n/a Over Votes 16 0.0
Total votes 171,153 100.0
2018 Wyoming gubernatorial election- Republican primary[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Gordon 38,951 33.0
Republican Foster Friess 29,842 25.3
Republican Harriet Hageman 25,052 21.2
Republican Sam Galeotos 14,554 12.3
Republican Taylor Haynes 6,511 5.5
Republican Bill Dahlin 1,763 1.5
n/a Under Votes 1,269 1.1
Republican Write-ins 113 0.1
n/a Over Votes 46 0.0
Total votes 118,101 100.0
2018 Wyoming gubernatorial election- General election[38]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Gordon 136,412 66.5
Democratic Mary Throne 55,965 27.3
Constitution Rex Rammell 6,751 3.3
Libertarian Lawrence Struempf 3,010 1.5
n/a Under Votes 1,966 1.0
n/a Write-ins 1,100 0.5
n/a Over Votes 71 0.0
Total votes 205,275 100.0
2022 Wyoming gubernatorial election- Republican primary[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Gordon (incumbent) 101,140 58.8
Republican Brent Bien 48,572 28.2
Republican Rex Rammell 9,378 5.5
n/a Under Votes 7,626 4.4
Republican James Scott Quick 4,728 2.7
Republican Write-ins 533 0.3
n/a Over Votes 70
Total votes 172,047 100.0
2022 Wyoming gubernatorial election- General election[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Gordon (incumbent) 143,696 72.5
Democratic Theresa Livingston 30,686 15.5
n/a Write-ins 11,461 5.8
Libertarian Jared Baldes 8,157 4.1
n/a Under Votes 4,107 2.1
n/a Over Votes 91 0.0
Total votes 198,198 100.0

References

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  1. ^"Crawford Gordon Obituary".Legacy.RetrievedNovember 16,2022.
  2. ^"Harvard Alumni Bulletin".December 8, 1945.RetrievedDecember 8,2020– via Google Books.
  3. ^"Mark Gordon".National Governors Association.RetrievedMay 29,2021.
  4. ^"Meet Mark – Mark Gordon for Wyoming Governor".RetrievedMay 29,2021.
  5. ^ab"Trevor Brown," Mead selects treasurer "".Wyoming Tribune Eagle.October 27, 2012.RetrievedOctober 30,2012.
  6. ^"Sen. Wallop endorses Mark Gordon".Wyomingpublicmedia.org.RetrievedFebruary 16,2019.
  7. ^"Gordon has Edge in Republican Primary".Casper Star Tribune.August 17, 2008.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  8. ^"US House (GOP) Recommendation".Wyoming Tribune Eagle.August 11, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon February 9, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 1,2013.
  9. ^"Marguerite Herman," Gordon's run for Congress draws criticism ", May 2008".Wyoming Tribune Eagle.RetrievedDecember 7,2012.
  10. ^abc"Mark Gordon takes oath as Wyoming treasurer".Gillette, Wyoming, News Record. Archived fromthe originalon January 24, 2013.RetrievedDecember 7,2012.
  11. ^"Doug Randall," Gordon sworn in as treasurer "".kgab. November 2012.RetrievedDecember 7,2012.
  12. ^Reynolds, Nick (November 7, 2018)."Wyoming governor-elect Gordon outlines vision for his first year in office".Casper Star-Tribune.RetrievedNovember 9,2018.
  13. ^"Wyoming Governor Election Results".New York Times.November 11, 2022.RetrievedNovember 14,2022.
  14. ^"Wyoming governor sets gathering rules, forgoes mask mandate".AP NEWS.November 20, 2020.RetrievedNovember 26,2020.
  15. ^Freiman, Jordan (November 25, 2020)."Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon Tests Positive for Coronavirus".CBS News.RetrievedNovember 27,2020.
  16. ^"Wyoming governor announces statewide mask order, other restrictions".KTVQ.December 7, 2020.RetrievedMarch 8,2021.
  17. ^Hughes, Morgan (February 11, 2021)."Wyoming extends mask order, will loosen restrictions on restaurants, gatherings".Casper Star Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon February 27, 2021.RetrievedMarch 8,2021.
  18. ^"Wyoming will lift mask mandate next week".Casper Star Tribune.March 8, 2021.RetrievedMarch 8,2021.
  19. ^Kudelska, Kamila (March 15, 2021)."Most Health Restrictions Lifted Tuesday, Including Mask Mandate".Wyoming Public Media.RetrievedApril 6,2021.
  20. ^"Wyoming governor: No plans to reimpose COVID-19 mask mandate".Associated Press.March 30, 2021.RetrievedApril 6,2021.
  21. ^"Wyoming governor announces additional $500M in budget cuts".Casper Star Tribune.November 16, 2020.RetrievedMarch 8,2021.
  22. ^Erickson, Camille (April 2021)."Wyoming governor signs supplemental budget passed by Legislature".Casper Star Tribune.RetrievedApril 6,2021.
  23. ^Reynolds, Nick (March 29, 2021)."With help of federal relief, legislature finds budget consensus".Wyofile.RetrievedApril 6,2021.
  24. ^Mazzetti, Mark; Goldman, Adam (June 25, 2021)."They Seemed Like Democratic Activists. They Were Secretly Conservative Spies".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedJune 25,2021.
  25. ^Wolfson, Leo (November 10, 2023)."Wyoming GOP Passes No Confidence Vote Against Gov. Gordon".Cowboy State Daily.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  26. ^Whitaker, Bill; Chasan, Aliza (December 10, 2023)."Wyoming innovates to combat climate change as part of Gov. Mark Gordon's" all-of-the-above "energy policy".CBS News.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  27. ^"The 10 Most Popular and Unpopular Governors".morningconsult.RetrievedOctober 16,2022.
  28. ^Landwehr, Abigail (July 24, 2022)."As Gordon campaigns for second term, poll shows him nation's most popular governor".Casper Star-Tribune.RetrievedOctober 16,2022.
  29. ^"Wyoming will ban marijuana substitute delta-8; burgeoning industry's future uncertain".March 15, 2024.
  30. ^Gruver, Mead (March 18, 2023)."Wyoming governor signs measure prohibiting abortion pills".Associated Press.
  31. ^"Sarah Hildreth Gordon".geni_family_tree.May 23, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 16,2019.
  32. ^"Merlin Ranch sponsors Wyoming Women's Antelope Hunt - Wyoming Women's Antelope Hunt".RetrievedFebruary 16,2019.
  33. ^Powell, Tori B. (November 25, 2020)."Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon Tests Positive for COVID-19 After Refusing to Implement Mask Mandate".The Daily Beast.RetrievedNovember 29,2020.
  34. ^"R-Statewide_Candidates_Summary.xls"(PDF).Wyoming Secretary of State.RetrievedNovember 11,2022.
  35. ^"2014_Statewide_Candidates_Summary.pdf"(PDF).Wyoming Secretary of State.RetrievedNovember 11,2022.
  36. ^"2014_Statewide_Candidates_Summary.pdf"(PDF).Wyoming Secretary of State.RetrievedNovember 11,2022.
  37. ^"2018_Statewide_Candidates_Summary.pdf"(PDF).Wyoming Secretary of State.RetrievedNovember 11,2022.
  38. ^"2018_Statewide_Candidates_Summary.pdf"(PDF).Wyoming Secretary of State.RetrievedNovember 11,2022.
  39. ^"2022_Statewide_Candidates_Summary.pdf"(PDF).Wyoming Secretary of State.RetrievedNovember 11,2022.
  40. ^"2022_Statewide_Candidates_Summary.pdf"(PDF).Wyoming Secretary of State.RetrievedNovember 17,2022.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related toMark Gordon (politician).
Political offices
Preceded by Treasurer of Wyoming
2012–2019 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Wyoming
2019–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Republicannominee forGovernor of Wyoming
2018,2022 		Most recent
U.S. order of precedence(ceremonial)
Preceded byasVice President Order of precedence of the United States
Within Wyoming 		Succeeded by
Mayor of city
in which event is held
Succeeded by
OtherwiseMike Johnson
asSpeaker of the House
Preceded byasGovernor of Idaho Order of precedence of the United States
Outside Wyoming 		Succeeded byasGovernor of Utah
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