Gary Wilken

Gary Wilken is the Democratic candidate for the Wyoming House of Representatives, District 46, in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2] He advanced from the Democratic primary on August 18, 2026.[2] Wilken is a United Methodist pastor and police chaplain who worked for the Albany County Sheriff's Office.[3]

Gary Wilken earned a high school diploma from Loveland High School, a bachelor's degree from Colorado State University in 1973, and a master's degree in divinity from the Pacific School of Religion in 1977.[2] He graduated from the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy in 2003.[2]

In a Ballotpedia survey, Wilken said he has lived in Laramie and worked for the Albany County Sheriff's Office since April 14, 1997, serving as a supervisor in the Detention Division, an instructor and field training officer, a liaison with the Drug Court program, and a chaplain.[3] He said that after a disability retirement in 2011 he was a code enforcement officer for the county planning office for nine years, and that he also served part time as a minister at two churches.[3]

Wilken said Wyoming needs to partner to keep public lands open to the public, prioritize quality public education, make health care affordable, create living-wage jobs, and preserve family ranching and the rural lifestyle.[3] He named addiction, homelessness, domestic violence and a lack of well-paying jobs as challenges in Albany County.[3]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.