Eric Barlow is a Republican state senator from Gillette, a Marine Corps veteran, large-animal veterinarian and rancher. He served in the Wyoming House from 2013 to 2023, including as Speaker in 2021–2022, and chairs the Senate Labor, Health and Social Services Committee. His platform emphasizes cash-based budgeting, healthcare access and public lands.[1][2][3]
Eric Barlow is a fourth-generation Wyomingite, born in Gillette and raised on his family's ranch in Campbell County.[4][2] After graduating from Campbell County High School in 1984 he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, in which he served from 1984 to 1988.[5] He earned a doctorate of veterinary medicine from Colorado State University in 1998 and returned to Wyoming to practice as a large-animal veterinarian and run the family ranch.[5][3][4]
Barlow was appointed to the Wyoming Livestock Board in 2006 and served for six years.[5] In 2012 he won the open House District 3 seat, taking office in 2013, and he served five terms in the Wyoming House.[3][5] He was Majority Leader from 2019 to 2021 and Speaker from 2021 to 2023.[3]
Barlow was elected to the Wyoming Senate from District 23 in 2022, and he chairs the Senate Labor, Health and Social Services Committee and the Mental Health and Vulnerable Adult Task Force.[1][5] He introduced the Public Lands Resolution, SJ0009, which he says reaffirms Wyoming's commitment to multiple use, public access and locally driven land stewardship.[2] Barlow won the August 18, 2026 Republican primary for governor with 45.1 percent of the vote, ahead of Megan Degenfelder, Brent Bien and Curt Blake.[3][1]
Barlow and his wife, Kelly, have two children, and the family raises livestock on their ranch and works with oil and gas producers.[2][3][5] He has also served through 4-H and a Sunday soup kitchen.[2] As governor, he says, he would propose regional governor's offices around the state.[2]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.
