Political newcomer Ted Ladd of Wilson won the Democratic nomination for Wyoming's lone U.S. House seat on Tuesday, narrowly defeating fellow newcomer John Henley of Casper.

Ladd will face incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin in the general election in November.

"Part of my job over the next two-and-a-half months is not only to show that Mrs. Cubin has failed to provide a voice for Wyoming, but has done damage to Wyoming," Ladd said.

With 97 percent of 483 precincts reporting statewide, Ladd had 14,473 votes, or 47 percent. Henley had 13,799 votes or 44 percent. Al Hamburg of Torrington had 2,794 votes or 9 percent.

Henley won in his home county of Natrona County.

With all 46 precincts in the county reporting, Henley received 2,492 votes or 54.3 percent, to Ladd's 1,763 votes or 38.4 percent, and Hamburg's 303 votes or 6.6 percent. There also were 34 write-in votes.

Ladd complimented his main opponent, saying they ran a clean race and listened to the citizens.

"John Henley and I have demonstrated that the Democratic Party is alive and well in Wyoming," Ladd said.

Henley expressed pride in running against Ladd and the issues they discussed.

"Hopefully, it will make the voters a little bit more informed so the election won't be decided on name recognition, but on substantive positions," Henley said.

Hamburg said he was the party's best choice, and he intends to run for office again.

"The Democrats who didn't vote for me are the losers," Hamburg said.

Wilson businessman Ladd and Casper lawyer Henley ran spirited campaigns with lots of shoe leather, ads, forums, debates, and meet-and-greet community events.

Political gadfly and perennial candidate Hamburg stayed closer to home but made his presence known through letters to the editor.

The candidates had their differences in style: Ladd as the fresh-faced businessman who spoke without notes, Henley as the careful lawyer who came armed to debates with copious notes, and Hamburg as a producer of fiery prose.

All three had five-term Cubin in their sights.

Cubin, Ladd said recently, has done little to help Wyoming retain its young people, create small businesses or keep the federal deficit in check.

"I have consistently and aggressively focused on issues that matter to Wyoming, not to Denver or Dallas. For example, youth are leaving Wyoming - they're leaving faster than they have before. Small business creation, health care, access to public lands, constitutional rights, personal privacy: these are all issues that are vital to Wyoming," Ladd said.

Ladd, 35, said his travels around the state have shown him people are not content with Cubin's leadership in Washington and that she is out-of-touch with Wyoming.

Henley, 48, said Tuesday that the next representative should have affordable health care and a balanced energy policy as the top priorities, as well as reining in the federal deficit.

On terrorism, Henley said before the primary that the country should focus on better intelligence sharing and ensuring Americans' rights.

In May, Henley and Ladd issued a joint press release condemning Cubin's distribution of newspaper inserts about her record that amounted to what they called campaign advertising with taxpayer money, a claim denied by Cubin's staff.

The 72-year-old Hamburg, a Korean War and Vietnam War veteran, opposed the war in Iraq and the high rate of illegal immigration from Mexico.

Reporter Tom Morton can be reached at (307) 266-0592 or at George.Morton@casperstartribune.net.