Dave Freudenthal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dave Freudenthal
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Freudenthal in 2008
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| 31st Governor of Wyoming | |
| In office January 6, 2003 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Geringer |
| Succeeded by | Matt Mead |
| United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming | |
| In office March 25, 1994 – May 2001 |
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| President | Bill Clinton George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Richard Stacy |
| Succeeded by | Matt Mead |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
David Duane Freudenthal
October 12, 1950 Thermopolis, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Nancy Roan |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Amherst College (BA) University of Wyoming (JD) |
| Signature |  |
David "Dave" Duane Freudenthal (born October 12, 1950) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as the 31st Governor of Wyoming from 2003 to 2011. Before that, he was a United States Attorney for Wyoming. This means he was the top federal lawyer for the state. As of 2025, he is the last Democrat to win a major statewide election in Wyoming.
Contents
Who is Dave Freudenthal?
Early Life and School
Dave Freudenthal was born in Thermopolis, Wyoming, on October 12, 1950. He was the seventh of eight children. He grew up on a farm just north of the town.
He went to Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. In 1973, he earned a degree in economics. After college, he worked for the state of Wyoming as an economist. He also became a state planning director for Governor Edgar Herschler.
Later, Freudenthal studied law at the University of Wyoming College of Law. He earned his law degree in 1980. After that, he worked as a private lawyer.
His Time in Politics
In 1994, Dave Freudenthal became the United States Attorney for Wyoming. This is a very important job where he represented the U.S. government in legal cases. He held this position until 2001. After he left, Matt Mead, who would later become governor, took his place.
In 2002, Freudenthal decided to run for governor of Wyoming. He won the election on November 5, 2002. He was re-elected in 2006 with a very high percentage of the votes. He won every county in the state.
On March 4, 2010, Freudenthal announced he would not run for a third term. Wyoming law limits governors to eight years in office within a 16-year period.
What He Did as Governor
Dave Freudenthal was very popular during his time as governor. This was special because he was a Democrat in a state that mostly votes for Republicans. He often held views that were more conservative, which sometimes led to disagreements with federal officials.
During his two terms, Wyoming had a big energy boom. This meant the state had a lot of extra money. However, after the Great Recession, the state's money slowed down. Freudenthal then asked state agencies to make budget cuts.
In 2007, a U.S. Senator from Wyoming, Craig Thomas, passed away. Governor Freudenthal had to choose someone to take his place. State law said he had to pick from a list given by the Republican Party. He chose John Barrasso to serve in the United States Senate.
Personal Life
Dave Freudenthal is married to Nancy D. Freudenthal. She is a judge for the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. They have four children: Donald, Hillary, Bret, and Katie.
His brother, Steve Freudenthal, was also involved in politics. He served as Attorney General under Governor Edgar Herschler. He was also a member of the state House of Representatives.
In 2008, while he was governor, Freudenthal had shoulder surgery. During that short time, Secretary of State Max Maxfield served as acting governor. Dave Freudenthal is a member of the Episcopal Church.
Images for kids
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Dave Freudenthal's signature
See also
In Spanish: Dave Freudenthal para niños
