Foster Friess

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Foster Friess

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 21, 2018

Education

Bachelor's

University of Wisconsin

Foster Friess (Republican Party) ran for election for Governor of Wyoming. He lost in the Republican primary on August 21, 2018.

Friess passed away on May 24, 2021.

Biography

Friess is a businessman and philanthropist. He launched Friess Associates in 1974, which was named one of the decade's top mutual funds in the 1990s. His philanthropic work includes issuing a $2.5 million grant to fund Rachel’s Challenge, an organization founded by the parents of the first Columbine victim. For decades, Friess has contributed to Republican candidates, political action committees who favor Republican candidates, and the Republican National Committee. He has invested in The Daily Caller, a website founded by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson.

Elections

2018

See also: Wyoming gubernatorial election, 2018

General election

General election for Governor of Wyoming

Mark Gordon defeated Mary Throne, Rex Rammell, and Lawrence Gerard Struempf in the general election for Governor of Wyoming on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Gordon (R)	67.1	136,412
		Mary Throne (D)	27.5	55,965
		Rex Rammell (Constitution Party)	3.3	6,751
		Lawrence Gerard Struempf (L)	1.5	3,010
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	1,100

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 203,238
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Wyoming

Mary Throne defeated Michael Allen Green, Ken Casner, and Rex Wilde in the Democratic primary for Governor of Wyoming on August 21, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mary Throne	72.9	12,948
		Michael Allen Green	13.5	2,391
		Ken Casner	6.8	1,213
		Rex Wilde	6.8	1,201

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 17,753
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Wyoming

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Wyoming on August 21, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Mark Gordon	33.4	38,951
		Foster Friess	25.6	29,842
		Harriet Hageman	21.5	25,052
		Sam Galeotos	12.5	14,554
		Taylor Haynes	5.6	6,511
		Bill Dahlin	1.5	1,763

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 116,673
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Campaign themes

Friess’ campaign website stated the following:

“	Accountability Our number one focus has to be on creating a pro-business, pro-job environment. Along with creating an environment where the private sector can thrive, we must get our financial house in order. I will aggressively work to have Wyoming become the 48th state to reveal its checkbook to the people. It is an embarrassment to the state that we have not done so. Even with the little financial data, the state does release we found that the Department of Education spent $35,000 on a magician to entertain teachers during a STEM conference. Another $717 million dollars was spent on “no-bid” contracts, many to out-of-state vendors. While managing over $15 billion dollars, I knew where every dollar went. In order to stabilize and streamline the state budget, we have to know where your tax dollars are going. As Governor, I will work with the legislature to have Wyoming open the books and join the 47 other states that have full transparency. We will stop the practice of no-bid contracts and instead decide what spending is “necessary” and what is “nice.” Our state budget is closely tied to how well our businesses do. Improved performance provides more tax revenue. This allows our state to continue to: Update infrastructure Adequately fund education Provide critical services (i.e. fire and police departments, public streets, schools, transportation, utilities, etc.) without enacting an income or corporate tax. Oil, gas, and coal remain critical parts of our state’s economy. Our state’s budget is intricately tied to their success, generating 70 percent of the state’s total revenue. Oil and natural gas will grow if more public lands are opened up for responsible mineral development. The coal industry needs to continue its work on clean coal technology and a key priority is to open up a port on the west coast for exporting coal to Asia. Longview Washington has an effort to try to make that happen which we should support. The free enterprise system can and will solve many problems. With public/private programs such as the Carbon X-Prize and The School of Energy Resources at the University of Wyoming, we’re already on our way to the next generation of Wyoming energy. While managing over $15 billion dollars, I knew where every dollar went. In order to stabilize and streamline the state budget, we have to know where your tax dollars are going. As Governor, I will work with the legislature to have Wyoming open the books and join the 47 other states that have full transparency. We will stop the practice of no-bid contracts and instead decide what spending is “necessary” and what is “nice.” Diversify & Grow The primary role of the government is to create a conducive environment in terms of taxation, infrastructure, and education so that the private sector is encouraged to develop and create the high paying jobs for Wyoming families. With 40 years of business experience, I have the unique opportunity to attract new businesses from all over the world to Wyoming and help existing Wyoming businesses expand. By diversifying, we will supplement core industries: Energy Tourism Agriculture Along with new industries looking for affordable energy. While extending efforts to diversify our economy, we cannot lose sight of the importance of our key industries, primarily oil and gas, which generate such a huge percentage of our revenues. Our first focus should be to make sure that it is enhanced and nurtured by making their activity to drill and produce easier. Taking the mineral industry’s share of the state’s revenue from 70 percent to 80 percent would require less effort than trying to get an extra 10 percent from new businesses. In order to take the boom/bust phenomena out of our budget we simply budget for the low periods, and when the boom period comes along we put the money into a “rainy day fund.” Managing over $15 billion was not a one-man job and neither is being Governor. Together, we will empower each part of the state to pursue their community’s economic visions by: Improving our state’s infrastructure Expanding access to high-speed internet Fast-tracking “shovel-ready” sites — Tom Lubnau, Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives suggests “pre-permitting” sites. So, permits could be issues in 24 hours for new investors. Promoting vocational training and apprenticeships Education Wyoming’s education system has been a point of pride for decades. Last year, Education Week ranked Wyoming the 7th best state in the country. Continuing that tradition is absolutely critical to a prosperous future. I stand on the shoulders of my grade school teachers, the most important part of our educational system. We have to ensure as much of the taxpayer dollars are going towards our teachers and our students as possible. A school without great teachers is akin to a beautiful hospital with no doctors. Part of attracting high paying jobs to Wyoming is a world-class educational system, from K-12 to our vocational schools and colleges. The legislature’s decision to add Computer Science to the required curriculum this year is the perfect example. Having young coders and engineers will provide the well-educated workforce modern companies are looking for. As Governor, I will work to match our world-class colleges and vocational centers with businesses to create programs to complement their specific needs. Our state has lost 60 percent of its 18 to 25-year-olds. Our resources are exported to other states and along with them, our kids, and their jobs. As Governor, I’ll put Wyoming first. Together, let’s give our young people a reason to stay in the great state of Wyoming, to work and raise their families here! Public Lands I do not support transferring federal lands to state control. Here’s why, our public lands are extremely valuable to the people of Wyoming, to our hunters, the thousands of Wyoming families that rely on tourism to support their household, the guides and outfitters, our legacy resource industries and fellow citizens who love our wide open spaces. My main concern with transferring lands from the federal government to the state government is that it will be easier for special interest to lobby the state to turn public access lands into private controlled lands. Wyoming’s record of transparency is dismal, we’re one of only three states that has not opened the state checkbook for everyone to see and we had over $700 million dollars in no-bid contracts last year. In addition to my concerns regarding the state’s ability to maintain public access, I’m also concerned about our ability to pay to maintain these lands. I worry that when hard times hit, these lands will be shut-down to save money or worse sold off to special interest. The federal government’s management of our lands is less than perfect, but we should use the opportunity with President Trump and Secretary Zinke to lock into law protections for our state, rein in zealous BLM bureaucrats and eliminate ridiculous and onerous land regulations. I like what Governor Butch Otter of Idaho did when he negotiated the designation of Bogus Basin as a landscape treatment area in which private companies could bid on contracts to remove the beetle kill in the area, and the state of Idaho then splits with the federal government the proceeds from that management. No change in ownership of the land takes place. I also strongly support The Federal Land Freedom Act that would allow states to prove they have the capabilities to oversee oil and gas permitting, leasing and production on available federal land brought to the floor of Congress last year by Rep. Liz Cheney. I want to protect these lands for future Wyoming generations, like my 15 grandkids! Immigration We are a country of laws. I oppose sanctuary cities, open borders and I support President Trump’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. Immigration is a perfect example of the dysfunction of Washington, D.C. – President Trump has generously offered to provide a pathway to legal status for the “dreamers” in return for fixing our broken system (chain migration, visa overstays, and the border). I support these efforts to reach a bi-partisan common-sense solution and enforcement mechanisms like E-Verify. Our immigration system must put Americans first, those waiting legally in line second and send a clear signal to those who choose to come illegally.	”
—Foster Friess’ campaign website (2018)

See also

• Governor of Wyoming
• Wyoming gubernatorial election, 2018

External links

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