Mark Gordon Bio
Mark Gordon (born March 14, 1957) is an American politician and rancher serving as the 33rd governor of Wyoming. A member of the Republican Party, he has held statewide office since 2012 and was first inaugurated as governor on January 7, 2019. Gordon is recognized for balancing traditional and renewable energy development and for guiding Wyoming through the COVID-19 pandemic. He is also a working rancher who manages family operations in Johnson County.
Before entering the governor’s office, Gordon served as Wyoming’s state treasurer after being appointed in October 2012 to fill a vacancy. He won election to a full term in 2014 before launching his successful 2018 campaign for governor. He was subsequently reelected to a second term, reflecting broad voter support across the state.
Early Life and Background
Mark Gordon was born on March 14, 1957, in New York City, New York. He is the son of Crawford Gordon and Catherine Gordon (née Andrews). His parents married on October 27, 1945, at the First Unitarian Church of Kennebunk, Maine, and later settled at their ranch in Kaycee, Wyoming, in 1947. Gordon’s paternal grandmother was the philanthropist Louise Ayer Hatheway, and his paternal great-grandfather was the industrialist Frederick Ayer, founder of the American Woolen Company and younger brother of patent medicine tycoon James Cook Ayer of Lowell, Massachusetts.
Gordon was raised on his family’s ranch in Johnson County, Wyoming, where he developed a lifelong connection to the land and livestock industry. He is a nephew of the socialite Jean Gordon, a great-nephew by marriage of General George S. Patton, and a first cousin once removed of General George Patton IV. These family ties link him to one of the most storied military families in American history.
Gordon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Middlebury College in 1979. His college years provided a foundation in critical thinking and historical perspective that would later inform his approach to public policy. He continues to honor his academic roots as a dedicated alumnus of the Vermont-based liberal arts institution.
Path to US Politics
Mark Gordon’s path to US politics began in the Wyoming ranching community, where stewardship of natural resources and fiscal responsibility were daily concerns. These values shaped his later policy priorities, including balanced energy development and conservative budget management. His reputation as a thoughtful, business-minded community leader preceded his formal entry into statewide office.
In 2008, Gordon made his first run for federal office, seeking the Republican nomination for Wyoming’s at-large United States House of Representatives seat. Despite endorsements from The Casper Star-Tribune and the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, as well as from former U.S. senators Alan K. Simpson and Malcolm Wallop, he lost the primary to Cynthia Lummis. The experience, however, raised his profile and positioned him for future statewide opportunities.
Following the 2008 primary, Gordon continued ranching and remained active in Republican and civic circles. His willingness to engage in public policy discussions and his reputation for principled leadership made him a natural choice when a vacancy arose in the state treasurer’s office in 2012. He was appointed by then-governor Matt Mead on October 26, 2012, marking his transition from private life to elected public service.
Mark Gordon Career
Early Career (2012–2014)
Mark Gordon was sworn in as Wyoming’s state treasurer on November 1, 2012, by Wyoming Supreme Court Justice William Hill. He filled the vacancy created by the death of Joseph Meyer, the previous treasurer. In this role, Gordon managed the state’s investments and oversaw the prudent handling of public funds, drawing on his decades of experience in ranching and private business.
Gordon’s steady performance as treasurer earned him the confidence of Wyoming voters. In 2014, he won election to a full term, demonstrating broad bipartisan support for his fiscal stewardship. His tenure in the treasurer’s office laid the groundwork for his later campaign for governor.
2018 Gubernatorial Win and First Term (2018–2023)
In 2018, Mark Gordon launched his campaign for governor of Wyoming after declining to run for the U.S. House seat he had previously sought. He won the Republican primary on August 21, 2018, and went on to defeat Democratic state representative Mary Throne in the general election on November 6, 2018. He was inaugurated on January 7, 2019, becoming the 33rd governor of Wyoming.
His first term was dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic disruption it caused. After initially resisting broad restrictions, Gordon imposed limits on public gatherings in November 2020 and later implemented a statewide mask mandate in December 2020, extending it into February 2021 before lifting it on March 16, 2021. He and his wife, Jennie Gordon, both tested positive for COVID-19 in November 2020.
On the economic front, Gordon proposed $500 million in budget cuts in November 2020 to address declining revenue from the fossil fuel industry, particularly coal mining. In April 2021, he signed a state budget that ultimately cut $430 million, with reductions softened by improved forecasts and supplemental American Rescue Plan Act funds. He also signed legislation in March 2023 banning abortion pills in Wyoming, reflecting his conservative policy priorities.
Second Term and Current Tenure (2023–Present)
Mark Gordon was reelected to a second term as governor, defeating Democratic nominee Theresa Livingston in the general election. He has continued to govern as one of the most popular governors in the country, frequently polling among the top state leaders. His broad support reflects a pragmatic approach to energy policy, budget management, and rural Wyoming values.
Gordon has championed a balanced approach to energy, advocating for both traditional fossil fuel industries and renewable projects such as the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project. He has described the combination as a pragmatic transition that protects Wyoming jobs while embracing new economic opportunities. He has also faced criticism from some hard-right conservatives, including Susan Gore, who funded efforts to challenge his leadership, but he has retained strong public approval.
On March 7, 2024, Gordon signed a ban on Delta 8 hemp products in Wyoming, continuing his pattern of conservative regulatory action. His second term has emphasized fiscal discipline, energy diversification, and measured responses to public health and social issues.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Gordon’s signature early moments as governor was his decision to propose $500 million in budget cuts in late 2020, navigating a sharp decline in fossil fuel revenues. He also navigated the COVID-19 pandemic by initially avoiding strict mandates before ultimately imposing and later lifting a statewide mask order. His 2024 signing of a Delta 8 hemp ban marked another notable policy milestone, while his consistent standing as one of the nation’s most popular governors underscores his broad appeal.
Mark Gordon Family
Family Background and Political Lineage
Mark Gordon was raised in a family with deep American roots that span ranching, industry, philanthropy, and military service. His parents, Crawford Gordon and Catherine Gordon (née Andrews), settled the family ranch in Kaycee, Wyoming, in 1947, where Mark was raised. His paternal great-grandfather, Frederick Ayer, was a prominent industrialist who founded the American Woolen Company, and his grandmother Louise Ayer Hatheway was a noted philanthropist.
Gordon’s family connections include a great-uncle by marriage, General George S. Patton, making him a first cousin once removed of General George Patton IV. He is also a nephew of the socialite Jean Gordon. These ties to American industry and military history complement the family’s longstanding ranching heritage in northern Wyoming.
Personal Life
Mark Gordon met his first wife, the former Sarah Hildreth Gilmore, at Middlebury College, and they married on March 7, 1981. They had two daughters before Sarah died in an automobile accident in 1993. He later met his current wife, the former Jennie Muir Young, in 1998, and they married in 2000. Together they own and operate the Merlin Ranch east of Buffalo in Johnson County, Wyoming, which received the Society for Range Management Wyoming Section Excellence in Rangeland Stewardship award in 2009.