Mark Gordon

Mark Gordon is an American politician and ranch owner who has become one of the most recognized public figures in Wyoming. Born on March 14, 1957, in New York City, he grew up on his family’s ranch in Johnson County after his parents moved west in 1947, and he earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Middlebury College in 1979. His early career was marked by a 2008 congressional bid that, despite strong endorsements from major state newspapers, ended in a primary loss to Cynthia Lummis, but it positioned him for future statewide roles. Appointed by Governor Matt Mead, Gordon served as Wyoming State Treasurer from 2012 to 2019, winning a full term in 2014, and then was elected the 33rd governor in 2018, taking office on January 7, 2019; he was re‑elected in 2022 against Democratic challenger Theresa Livingston. During his governorship he navigated the COVID‑19 pandemic, initially imposing limited gathering restrictions, later issuing a statewide mask mandate, and ultimately lifting it in March 2021, while also contracting the virus himself. Gordon’s tenure has featured aggressive budget proposals to offset declining fossil‑fuel revenues, a pragmatic approach to energy policy that supports both carbon‑capture projects and wind‑energy development, and controversial moves such as the 2023 ban on abortion pills and the 2024 prohibition of Delta‑8 hemp. He is also known for his personal commitment to land stewardship, co‑owning the Merlin Ranch, which earned a state rangeland award in 2009. Widely popular in polls, Gordon’s blend of traditional Wyoming values and forward‑thinking economic strategies continues to shape the state’s political landscape.