Craig Shidler tops race for Big Horn County Sheriff

Craig Shidler of Lovell came away as the landslide winner of the much talked-about race for Big Horn County Sheriff in Tuesday’s Primary Election. He will be joined on the November 3 general election ballot by Mike Laird and Jared Boardman for commissioner and Michael Jameson for coroner, all four of which will be unopposed GOP candidates, barring a Democratic write-in nomination.

Unofficial results released by the county clerk’s office Tuesday night show Shidler garnered 1,851 votes, followed by Jeff Angell with 823, Travis Davis with 540 and Interim Sheriff Jason Beal with 405. The race was competitive, with north-end candidates Shidler, Angell and Beal vying for support from their hometowns, which make up a slim majority of the county’s voting power, while Davis stood out as the lone sound-end candidate. However, Shidler cleaned up across the board, with 12 of 13 precincts making him their pick; only Manderson deferred, supporting Davis.

“I feel good, I’m grateful for the amount of support I’ve received,” Shidler said following the release of unofficial election results. “I’m ready to get to work.”

COMMISSIONERS

The county commission race drew seven candidates, only two of which will move forward. Laird of Greybull came out on top with 1,749 votes; Boardman of Frannie will also continue to the general election with 1,426 votes. The pair will take over the seats of current commissioners Dave Neves, who did not file for re-election, and Deb Craft, who took a close third place with 1,144 votes, supported largely by south-end constituents. Tim Beck received 870 votes, Randall Aagard Gormley 505, Jeffrey McCollam 460 and Rodney Hopkin 296. 

Laird performed stronger on the south end but still garnered substantial support from the north, the reverse for Boardman. The largest south-end precincts, Basin and Greybull, cast a total 772 ballots for Laird, 392 for Boardman. Lovell and Cowley in the north put in a total 668 for Boardman, 478 for Laird. 

Laird was elated on primary election night.

“I’m thankful for the people of Big Horn County...” he said. “I’m just in awe, absolutely in awe.”

Boardman expressed a similar sentiment: excitement for the future, gratitude for the votes, and a desire to “move Big Horn County forward” working alongside Laird and sitting commissioner Bruce Jolley. 

CORONER

Current county coroner Mike Jameson took a strong lead over opposing candidate Clayton Draggoo in resecuring his office. Jameson tallied up 2,837 of the county’s votes, while Draggoo collected 549. 

TURNOUT

The county clerk’s office reported Tuesday night that 3,973 Big Horn County constituents cast their votes in this year’s primary, up significantly from 2,644 in 2024. The 2022 primary garnered 4,279 Big Horn County ballots, the most in recent memory, following 3,268 in 2020 and 3,391 in 2018.