Governor Mark Gordon allowed Wyoming’s new redistricting law to become law without his signature last Friday. Gordon said he didn’t sign the bill noting that it was out of deviation in some places.

In a previous press conference, he expressed little concern that parts of Johnson and Sheridan Counties may have higher populations in legislative districts than allowed by law, saying that he supported moving the towns of Clearmont and Arvada into a Johnson County legislative seat. Gordon noted that people in those areas did their shopping and business in Buffalo and not in Campbell County where a legislative committee had placed those residents.

Gordon said the bill changed significantly in the final days of the legislative session, but allowed the bill to become law so that upcoming elections would not be negatively impacted.

The legislation adds one Senator and two Representatives to the legislature which will now stand at 93 total. It remains to be seen whether a lawsuit will be filed to challenge the map.