BUFFALO, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has announced he will seek re-election after a first term that included managing the COVID-19 pandemic and a loss of state revenue due to a decline in oil and gas production that led to deep budget cuts.

Gordon, a Republican, made the announcement Monday in Buffalo, the Casper Star-Tribune reported.

“I do believe that Wyoming is the best place on the Earth bar none, and I believe Wyoming’s best days are ahead of it,” said Gordon, a moderate Republican. “And that’s because of you: the people of Wyoming.”

Gordon angered many Wyoming residents with a statewide mask mandate during a COVID-19 spike that started in December 2020. He lifted the mandate four months later.

Midway through 2021 he said he would not implement another statewide mask mandate or require vaccines, although he encouraged both.

Despite the criticism from conservative Republicans, there is no well-known conservative candidate challenging him, the Star-Tribune reported.

During the most recent legislative session, Gordon supported pay raises for state government employees and teachers, saying the state was losing workers to local governments and other states.

Wyoming's primary election is in August. The state Democratic Party has not yet announced a candidate.