19 Facts About Phil Wyman

Phillip David Wyman was an American politician from California.

Phil Wyman narrowly lost to Democratic incumbent Larry Chimbole but went on to defeat him two years later and served in the Assembly from 1978 until 1992, when he opted not to seek reelection and instead run for congress.

Phil Wyman defeated the city manager of Victorville to win the Republican nomination, and then easily won the November 2000 general election in a heavily Republican district.

In 2002, redistricting after the 2000 Census prompted Phil Wyman to run in the new 36th Assembly District.

Phil Wyman moved to a small apartment in Phelan, California to qualify to run, which caused his political opponents to accuse him of being a carpetbagger.

Phil Wyman narrowly lost the Republican primary to Sharon Runner of Lancaster, the wife of then-incumbent Assemblyman George Runner.

Phil Wyman moved south from Tehachapi in Kern County to run for the new 25th.

Phil Wyman bounced back less than a year later when he won a special election for the Fresno-based 16th state Senate district in 1993.

In 1994, despite huge Republican gains across the country, Phil Wyman lost his state Senate seat to then Democratic Assemblyman Jim Costa.

Phil Wyman was the only Republican west of the Mississippi to be unseated.

Phil Wyman narrowly lost the primary to Tim Theissen, who then lost the general election to Democrat Michael J Rubio.

Phil Wyman originally served as an Assemblyman from Tehachapi, moved south to run for congress in Los Angeles County in 1992, then won election to a state Senate seat in 1993 in Fresno County before losing a state Senate primary in 1996 in Los Angeles county again.

In 2000 Phil Wyman made a comeback of sorts, winning his old 34th Assembly district.

Phil Wyman was anticipating an opening in the State Senate in 2004, a district that was outside the boundaries of his 34th Assembly district, but within those of the 36th.

Phil Wyman's plans went awry when the 36th's incumbent, fellow Republican George Runner, decided to back his wife, who actually lived within the district.

Phil Wyman narrowly lost the GOP primary, while his old 34th district was won by Republican Bill Maze, a Tulare County supervisor, who found himself unopposed after Phil Wyman decided not to run there.

In 2004, Phil Wyman mounted a primary challenge to then-Assembly Minority Leader and future Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy, who was seeking re-election to a second term in the 32nd district.

In 2016, Phil Wyman declared his candidacy in the race for the Senate seat from California being vacated by Democrat Barbara Boxer.

Phil Wyman died from cancer in Tehachapi on November 28,2019, aged 74.