Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Buchanan announced Tuesday that he will not seek reelection.

Buchanan issued the following statement:

It has been an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Wyoming as your Secretary of State. Recently, the opportunity presented itself to apply for a judicial position in my hometown of Torrington, Wyoming. While I have been so grateful for the time I have spent as the Secretary of State, it would not be appropriate for me to explore a judicial opportunity while also running for this important office. After much prayer and contemplation, I have decided not to seek re-election as Secretary of State.

During my tenure as the Secretary of State, our office saw year to year revenue increases of over 9% each year in our business division. We also deployed secure and efficient election equipment for the 2020 election season and updated our election code, culminating in the passage of Voter ID. In addition, my office participated in a major update to notary laws in Wyoming, as well as a rewrite of our securities laws, bringing both areas into the 21st century. We did this all without interruption, remaining open for business during the Covid-19 pandemic.

I am thankful to the people of Wyoming who gave me this amazing opportunity and to the incredible staff at the Secretary of State’s Office who worked diligently to reach the goals we set. Stepping away from this role has been one of the most difficult decisions of my career.

Get our free mobile app

Buchanan, who was appointed Wyoming's 22nd Secretary of State by Gov. Matt Mead on March 1, 2018, will continue to fulfill his current term while also undertaking the application process for the upcoming vacancy in the Eighth Judicial District.

As of Monday, May 16, no candidates had filed for Secretary of State. The filing period ends on May 27.

LOOK: States With the Most New Small Businesses Per Capita

To find the top 20 states with the most new small businesses per capita, Simply Business analyzed the Census Bureau’s Business Formation Statistics from August 2020 to July 2021.

More From Laramie Live