Goggles defeats Allen for HD33; precinct totals broken down

(This story has been updated to include official numbers.)

By Joshua Scheer, reporter, county10.com

(Wind River Indian Reservation, Wyo.) – After months battling in debates, knocking on doors and making it through the primary, Wyoming House District 33 incumbent Patrick Goggles, D-Ethete, earned another two-year term.

“It was a close finish two years ago,” Goggles said late Tuesday night, noting he’s no stranger to close races. “I knew it was going to be a close race.”

Originally, it was believed Goggles defeated his Republican challenger, Jim Allen of rural Lander, by 26 votes. However, following initial results, and additional 100 votes in Goggles’s favor were found in Arapahoe. A phone-in error caused the discrepancy.

In 2010, Goggles beat Daniel Cardenas of St. Stephen’s by 19 votes.

The official total shows Goggles with 1,573 votes (52 %). Allen had 1,447 votes (48 %). There were nine write-in votes.

“My first reaction is I want to thank the Lord,” Goggles said, followed closely by his family. He noted that he lost two close family members during his last term.

He called his win “a good victory for the reservation.”

Allen, late Tuesday, said the results were still “soaking in.”

“That’s just so razor thin,” he said, adding that a loss that close feels “heartbreaking.”

Allen said he and his team walked nearly 75 miles of the reservation, going door to door and sent thousands of cards.

“We came close, real close,” he continued.

Goggles said he would start today, Nov. 7, preparing for the upcoming legislative session. He has plans to talk with some people about legislation that would revoke the half of one percent of income that goes to the mineral trust fund and divert that money to the general fund to help fend off budget cuts.

Race breakdown by precinct:

Hudson: Allen 192 votes (73%); Goggles 72 votes (27 %)

Riverton 3-5: Allen 21 votes (51 %); Goggles 20 votes (49 %)

Fort Washakie: Allen 167 votes (30 %); Goggles 381 votes (69 %)

Milford: Allen 12 votes (80 %); Goggles 3 votes (20 %)

Beebe: Allen 264 votes (75 %); Goggles 87 votes (25 %)

Arapahoe: Allen 168 votes (46 %); Goggles 295 votes (53 %)

Ethete: Allen 160 votes (25 %); Goggles 483 votes (75 %)

Morton: Allen 101 votes (70 %); Goggles 44 votes (30 %)

Luthy: Allen 209 votes (61 %); Goggles 131 votes (38 %)

Crowheart: Allen 88 votes (79 %); Goggles 23 votes (21 %)

Reclamation: Allen 39 votes (75 %); Goggles 12 votes (23 %)

Atlantic City: Allen 26 votes (54 %); Goggles 22 votes (46 %)