Wyoming Voters Pick Senate Candidates

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AllPolitics, Aug. 21) -- Wyoming primary voters have settled on their candidates for a fall matchup to replace retiring Republican Sen. Alan K. Simpson.

After a hard-fought GOP primary, State Sen. Mike Enzi emerged from a nine-person race, beating Casper physician John Barrasso on Tuesday by just 2 percentage points.

It was much less tense on the Democratic side, where former secretary of state Kathy Karpan whipped college student Mickey Kalinay 86-14 percent.

The Republican results mirrored recent Senate primaries in Michigan, Georgia and Kansas, where opponents of abortion rights defeated pro-choice candidates. Enzi is opposed to abortion, while Barrasso is pro-choice.

Karpan considers herself the underdog and says Enzi will be a tough opponent in the fall.

"Anyone who can emerge out of a nine-person race will be a strong, strong competitor," Karpan told The Associated Press.

Enzi called it "a gut-wrenching and nail-biting night," but said his success was a testament to the value of face-to-face campaigning.

Simpson has represented Wyoming in the Senate since 1979.

Simpson To Leave Capitol Hill -- Dec. 3, 1995

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Wyoming Voters Pick Senate Candidates

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