CASPER, Wyo. — Lynn Friess, widow of conservative activist, businessman and 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial candidate Foster Friess, has endorsed Gov. Mark Gordon for a second term.
According to a release from Gordon’s office, Lynn Friess said, “Mark has continued to fight to protect Wyoming’s freedoms.”
“Mark led our state through the worst pandemic in a century with kindness and the common-sense leadership we expect from our Wyoming leaders,” said Friess in a statement. “The Governor has done a skillful job of balancing public health, freedom, and the lives and livelihoods of his fellow Wyomingites.”
Foster Friess was a wealthy businessman who lived primarily in Jackson and gave heavily to conservative candidates and causes, including former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum’s two presidential campaigns. He eventually was one of the first major donors to support Donald Trump. He was also an early investor to Tucker Carlson’s conservative outlet, the Daily Caller.
According to the New York Times, Friess’s run for governor was his only foray into elected office. In the 2018 primary, he was defeated by Gordon, who went on to win in the general election with 67% of the vote.
Lynn Friess’s support of Gordon’s handling of the COVID pandemic contrasts sharply with some far-right Wyoming leaders who organized rallies against the governor and the state’s health mandates in 2021.
Gordon has three opponents in the Republican primaries: Brent Bien, James Quick, and Rex Rammell.
The full release is as follows:
Stating, “Mark has continued to fight to protect Wyoming’s freedoms,” Lynn Friess today endorsed Governor Mark Gordon for a second term as Governor of Wyoming.
Lynn, widow of 2018 gubernatorial candidate Foster Friess, said Foster believed that one of the most essential characteristics of leadership was kindness, especially during a crisis. “Mark led our state through the worst pandemic in a century with kindness and the common sense leadership we expect from our Wyoming leaders. The Governor has done a skillful job of balancing public health, freedom, and the lives and livelihoods of his fellow Wyomingites.”
“I learned a lot from Foster, and Lynn and I are still good friends and fellow travelers in the effort to ensure Wyoming stays on the path to a prosperous future,” said Governor Gordon. “I speak often with Lynn on issues affecting our state and the best way to move forward. She and Foster were generous to a fault and I am thankful Lynn has kept very active carrying on the work they began years ago. Lynn’s support is humbling and means a great deal to Jennie and me. I will work hard to live up to the confidence she has expressed in me.”
Continued Lynn, “In an unprecedented global crisis that impacted our daily lives, I’m grateful we have Governor Gordon. I humbly ask you to join me in supporting Mark.”
