Mark Gordon

Mark Gordon is an American politician and rancher serving as the 33rd Governor of Wyoming since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 30th Wyoming State Treasurer from 2012 to 2019. His administration has focused on economic diversification, energy policy, and fiscal management for the state.

Early life and education

Mark Gordon was born on March 14, 1957, in New York City. He was raised on the Gordon family ranch near Kaycee, Wyoming, which has been in operation since the 1880s. He attended Middlebury College in Vermont, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and later studied at the University of Wyoming. His early career included work in banking and finance in New York City before he returned to manage the family's ranching and business interests in Johnson County, Wyoming.

Career

Before entering public office, Gordon was involved in various business ventures, including ranching, oil and gas investments, and banking. He served on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and was president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. His political career began with his appointment as Wyoming State Treasurer by Governor Matt Mead in 2012, following the resignation of Joseph B. Meyer. Gordon was elected to a full term in 2014, overseeing the state's Permanent Wyoming Mineral Trust Fund and other investments. In 2018, he successfully ran for governor, succeeding Mead.

Political positions

Gordon is considered a conservative Republican, with a focus on state's rights and fiscal responsibility. He is a strong supporter of the fossil fuel industry, advocating for coal, oil, and natural gas production while also promoting carbon capture and storage technologies. He has opposed federal environmental regulations like the Clean Power Plan and joined lawsuits against the Biden administration. On social issues, he has signed legislation restricting abortion access and protecting Second Amendment rights. He has also emphasized economic diversification, supporting sectors like tourism and technology.

Electoral history

In the 2014 election for Wyoming State Treasurer, Gordon won the Republican primary and defeated Democratic nominee Pete Illoway in the general election. In the 2018 Wyoming gubernatorial election, he won a six-way Republican primary against candidates including Harriet Hageman and Foster Friess, then defeated Democratic nominee Mary Throne and Constitution Party candidate Rex Rammell in the general election. He was re-elected in 2022, defeating Democratic nominee Theresa Livingston.

Personal life

Gordon is married to Sarah Hildreth Gordon, a descendant of early Wyoming Territory Governor John Wesley Hoyt. They have four children and reside at the Wyoming Governor's Mansion in Cheyenne, Wyoming. An avid outdoorsman, he is involved in conservation efforts and serves on the board of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. He is a member of the Episcopal Church and has been active with the Boy Scouts of America.

Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Governors of Wyoming Category:Wyoming Republicans Category:Wyoming State Treasurers Category:People from Johnson County, Wyoming Category:Middlebury College alumni