Oops, Not Yet: Ozzie Knezovich Bows Out of Wyoming Governor’s Race Over Residency Rule

The original story by Alexandra Duggan for the Spokesman-Review.

Former Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich’s run for Wyoming governor was short-lived – very short-lived.

Just two days after announcing his candidacy, Knezovich pulled the plug Thursday after realizing he doesn’t meet Wyoming’s constitutional residency requirement to run for the state’s top office. The rule is pretty clear: candidates for governor must have lived in Wyoming for five years before the election. Knezovich, it turns out, is about a year shy.

The issue came to light Tuesday night when a reporter flagged the requirement. Knezovich quickly acknowledged the problem, texting back, “I’ll be back in 2030.” By Thursday, he made it official, ending the campaign before it really had a chance to begin.

In a Facebook post, Knezovich laid out his frustration – and his deep ties to the state –saying the technicality caught him off guard.

“Even though we have owned a house/property in Wyoming for 9 years now, born and raised here, went to the University of Wyoming, 36 combined years of living here, served in the Wyoming National Guard — I don’t qualify to Gov.,” he wrote. “Well we will have to look forward to 2030.”

Knezovich, a Republican, wrapped up nearly 17 years as Spokane County sheriff in December 2022, serving four terms before deciding it was time for a change. At the time, he said he’d accomplished what he set out to do in Washington and felt drawn back to Wyoming – where his family’s roots stretch back three generations.

“As much as my wife and I loved the Spokane area, I am a Wyoming boy at heart,” he said earlier this week. “You can take the boy out of Wyoming, but you can’t take the Wyoming out of the boy.”

Since returning, Knezovich hasn’t exactly been sitting still. He’s taken on several law enforcement-adjacent roles, including volunteering as public safety director and police chief in the town of Superior. In 2024, he was also elected to the Wyoming Community College board of trustees.

So while Knezovich won’t be on the governor’s ballot this cycle, he’s making it clear this isn’t a goodbye – just a pause. If nothing changes, Wyoming voters may be hearing his name again in 2030, residency box fully checked.