Wyoming U.S. Senate Seat: 30 candidates line up for Thomas's seat and begins what is called a wild 2008 in WY.

The candidates have already filed campaigned and participated in a forum in just 5 days. The campaign for a seat in congress is near over. Tuesday 71 Republican Central Committee members will meet with the 30 candidates and vote on 3 nominees for Governor Dave Freudenthal. After Freudenthal has until June 25, to pick the late U.S. Senator Craig Thomas's seat.

Here is the list on candidates:
(R)Bruce Asay, Attorney and 2004 U.S. House Candidate
(R)John Barrasso, State Senator and Surgeon
(R)Cale Case, State Senator, Attorney and 2004 U.S. House Candidate
(R)Doug Chanmberlain, Former State Representative
(R)Ben Henry Collins, Minister
(R)Dave Edwards, State Representative
(R)Dennis Fox, Unknown
(R)Larry French, Insurance Business and Party Activist
(R)Brian Gamroth, Radio Announcer
(R)Jan Charles Gray, Casper Attorney
(R)John Holtz, Laramie Attorney
(R)Ray Hunkins, Republican Nominee for Governor 2006, Unsuccessful candidate for Governor GOP primary 2002, Rancher and Attorney
(R)Paul Kruse, Cheyenne Attorney and Party Activist
(R)Nora Marie Lewis, Newspaper Columnist Unsuccessful Senate Candidate '90 and '88.
(R)Cynthia Lummis, Former State Treasurer, State Legislator and Attorney
(R)Randall Luthi, Deputy Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Former State House Speaker, and State Legistator
(R)Matthew Mead, Former U.S. Attorney, Grandson of Fmr. Governor and Senator Cliff Hansen
(R)Ron Micheli, Former State Legislator and Rancher
(R)Frank Moore, Former State Legislator and Rancher
(R)Bill Paddleford, Teton County Commissioner and Businessman
(L)Thom Rankin, Health Care Adm., Libertarian U.S. House Nominee 2006
(R)Tom Sansonetti, Former Chief of Staff to Sen. Craig Thomas, Fomrer GOP Chariman, Former US Assistant Attorney General
(R)Jack R. Sapp, Businessman
(R)Joe Schloss, U.S. Armey Sergent Major retired, Party Activist
(R)Colin Simpson, State House Majority Leader, Son of Former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson
(R)Randall Stevenson, Rancher and Party Activist
(R)Clark Stith, Rock Springs Attorney
(R)Nate Stratton, Unknown
(R)Jeanna Wright, Insurance Company Co-owner
(R)Charles C. Young, Physician

Very long list of Candidates but Politics-Central has narrowed it down to the frontrunners:
State Senator John Barrasso(R)
Ray Hunkins(R)
Former State Treasurer Cynthia Lummis(R)
Former State House Speaker Randall Luthi(R)
Former U.S. Attorney Matt Mead(R)
Tom Sansonetti(R)
State House Majority Leader Colin Simpson(R)

Possible Frontrunners
State Senator Cale Case(R)
Bruce Asay(R)
Ron Micheli

I will be at the GOP Party meeting to choose the 3 candidates and will be here imediately after to announce the 3 nominees.

Barrasso, Lummis, Mead, Sansonetti, and Simpson are all seen as possible conenders for the 2008 special election for the seat if not chosen as the replacement. Colin Simpson has announced if not selected as the replacement he will run against Rep. Barbara Cubin in the GOP primary for her seat. No republican has ever come close to beating Cubin, but with Simpson's famous last name and experience he could be the first. Last year an unknown recieved 40%! against Cubin in her primary. Democrats looking into the seat our Gary Trauner, who ran and narrowly lost to Cubin for her seat last year, State Senator Mike Massie, and Attorney, Son of Fmr. Governor Joe Hickey and Unsuccessful 2002 Gov. Candidate Paul Hickey. Even Govenor Freudenthal has been mentioned but will likely remain governor. Whatever happens in the coming weeks it sure will be a crazy 2008 here in Wyoming!