Lisa Shepperson, 30, a rancher from Edgerton, appeared the winner in the race for House District 58.

Shepperson had 73 percent of the vote when final, unofficial results were available. Her rival, Casper police sergeant Doug Beran, had 27 percent.

Shepperson watched the results come in at home with her boyfriend and called her parents, Frank and Susan Shepperson, to celebrate. They live across the interstate in a different district and couldn't vote for her, but several other family members did cast their votes.

"I'm just so excited," Shepperson said. She's looking forward to the general election and said her priorities include keeping taxes low and educational standards high.

"We need to keep Wyoming as a great place to live," she said.

Both Shepperson and Beran were first-time candidates running in the Republican primary for a seat recently held by Democrat Ann Robinson. Shepperson will face Democrat Cynthia Li in the general election.

HD 37

In the race for House District 37, incumbent Steve Harshman, 42, appeared the winner over challenger Nick Mandis, 53.

Harshman, a Natrona County High School teacher and football coach, had 82 percent of the vote compared to Mandis' 18 percent.

Harshman said he has made education a priority during his time in office. He contributed to creating the Hathaway Scholarship program.

Harshman, who has already served four years in the House, said one of his main goals if re-elected is to invest some of the state's budget surplus - approximately $75 million - in road repair and construction.

Harshman will face Democrat Scott Koenekamp in the general election.

HD 56

Downtown-area Casper residents chose incumbent Tom Walsh over newcomer William Coursen, Jr., for House District 56's Republican candidate.

Walsh, 63, a former Casper mayor, has held the center-city district for two terms. He had 80 percent of the vote. Coursen, 71, had 20 percent.

Walsh will face Democrat Tom Rea in November.

Walsh has served two terms already. Tuesday night he said bringing more women up in the workforce will be an important step in diversifying the economy and making Wyoming truly the Equality State.

"Let's try to get them trained and retrained, and get them into really good paying jobs with benefits and medical insurance," he said.

Walsh said he looked forward to a clean, gentlemanly race with Rea.

"We'll both have an opportunity to debate and focus on the issues that are important to central Wyoming," Walsh said.

Reach Barbara Nordby at (307) 266-0633 or at barbara.nordby@casperstartribune.net.