WyoFile

ELECTION GUIDE 2026

Wyoming's candidates for federal, statewide and legislative offices.

Last update: Jul 2, 2026 - 07:26 AM
Qwenton Eagle Oviatt
Wyoming Republican Candidate/ Secretary of State

Qwenton Eagle Oviatt

Candidate Status: ➡️ Active

Active candidates for Secretary of State

On the Issues

The answers below were solicited from candidates via a written questionnaire created by WyoFile reporters and editors in June 2026. Responses are presented exactly as submitted, without fact-checking, wordsmithing or editing for grammar, punctuation or spelling errors.

Legislative candidates were invited to respond to the questionnaire several times by email and by phone. Out of fairness to the candidates who met the deadline, WyoFile will not add responses after the guide's publication.

Where do you live currently? How long have you lived there? How long have you lived in Wyoming? Where were you born?

I currently reside in Hudson, where I have lived for the past 10 years. I have lived in WY for the past 31 years. I was born in Little Rock, AR.

What age will you be on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2026?

47

Please tell the voters about yourself including your background and qualifications.

I believe that I bring a unique blend of practical experiences and service to this campaign. I graduated from LVHS and earned bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Environmental & Natural Resources from the University of Wyoming. I am an Eagle Scout, a certified mediator, and have worked multiple deployments in Antarctica supporting scientific research. I have built business in painting, construction, and manufacturing, and currently serve as an academic advisor at Central Wyoming College. My background in collaborative policy making and mediation have taught me how to bring people together across divides to find practical solutions under pressure. I hope that my real world diversity of experience will show my integrity, adaptability and a bridge building mindset that will resonate with Wyoming voters.

Lawmakers have spent a lot of time in recent years considering and enacting changes to the state’s election system. As the state’s chief elections officer, what additional changes, if any, would you support?

Wyoming has a voter turnout and engagement problem, and as Secretary of State, that would be one of my top priorities to address. It has been over 2 decades since Wyoming passed an election clean up bill. We need to make elections easier for people, not harder, while maintaining safety and security. I would support a targeted clean up bill making minor tweaks to streamline processes, expand early voting access, and improve registration without changing big picture policy. Listening to our county clerks, and taking advantage of their on the ground experience is paramount.

What do you believe is the appropriate role, if any, for the federal government to play in the administration or oversight of Wyoming’s elections? How willing would you be to work with the federal government in the expansion of that role?

The federal government has no role in administering Wyoming's elections. That authority belongs entirely to the states under the Constitution. Their proper role is strictly limited to enforcing federal laws like the Voting Rights Act or Help America Vote Act, nothing more.

As Secretary of State, I'd be willing to work with the feds only on narrow, lawful compliance matters that don't interfere with Wyoming's sovereignty. I will not support any expansion of their role, and I'll push back hard against any overreach that makes voting harder or compromises our election security. Wyoming voters decide how we run our elections, not Washington.

The secretary of state’s office works closely with Wyoming’s county clerks to oversee election administration. That relationship has been strained in recent years. How would you approach working with the county clerks?

I'd approach the county clerks with respect and partnership, not top down mandates. They are the ones running our elections on the ground every day, and their expertise is invaluable.

I'll meet with them regularly, listen to their concerns, and work through issues collaboratively. Specifically, I will ensure they receive the professional training they've been requesting, and I will work to deliver greater uniformity in how our elections are conducted across the state while respecting local needs

Building trust through consistent communication and mutual respect will strengthen our elections. When the Secretary of State and our county clerks work as a team, Wyoming wins.

What are the benefits and harms associated with Wyoming's minimal regulation of businesses registered in the state? What reforms would you recommend?

Wyoming's light touch rules for registering businesses, especially anonymous LLCs, are a big draw. They bring in money, protect privacy, and keep bureaucracy low.

The downside is bad actors are abusing it with shell companies. To fix that, I'd bring in top tier screening software to catch shady filings before they're approved, and I'd create a small enforcement team in the office to investigate them and turn the findings over to law enforcement. Smart fixes, no heavy regulation.

How would you rate Wyoming’s existing system for monitoring campaign donations and expenditures? What, if any, changes would you pursue?

I'd rate Wyoming's current system as decent on transparency. The online WYCFIS portal makes filings public, but seems like it falls a bit short on enforcement and user friendliness. Talking with other first time candidates I have heard several experiences of confusion, not enough proactive help, and weak follow up when mistakes do happen.

I'd pursue practical improvements: better training and support for candidates and clerks, clearer guidelines to reduce honest errors, and maybe even create a position to review filings for compliance. We should make the system easier to use without adding heavy regulations, so real transparency actually works.

To what extent should the State Loan and Investment Board coordinate with local governments when it comes to state-sanctioned uses of state trust lands?

As a member of the State Loan and Investment Board, I believe the Secretary of State should coordinate closely with with local governments on state trust land decisions. Local officials know their communities best, and strong communication helps to ensure state trust lands are used in ways that actually benefit Wyoming residents.

That said, the Board's primary legal duty is to maximize long term revenue for our schools and other beneficiaries. I would approach this by listening to local concerns while staying focused on that core responsibility. Coordination doesn't mean giving locals veto power, but it does mean giving them a real voice in the process.

My background in mediation would help bridge gaps between local needs and the state's fiduciary obligations, leading to smarter, more practical decisions.

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About this Project

WyoFile produced this guide with coding and web development by Thomas Musselman, editing by Tennessee Watson and production assistance by Calla Shosh. Contact Tennessee Watson with questions, corrections or suggestions at tennessee@wyofile.com.

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