Statement from Norberto Orellana

June 25, 2026

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After a lot of prayer, counsel, and discussion, I have made the difficult decision to both suspend my campaign for Mayor of Gillette and resign as Chairman of the Campbell County Republican Party.

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I didn’t enter public life because I wanted a title, accolades, or power. I entered because I believe civic involvement is important, because I love this community, and because I believe ordinary people should have a voice in the decisions that shape their families, their finances, and their future.

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In all that I do, my north star is a simple one: to alleviate human suffering. That was the mission of my patron saint, St. Luke of Crimea, and it is a mission I have strived to carry into my work, my businesses, my public service, and this campaign.

But over these last weeks, I have been facing a painful truth: politics has pulled my heart away from the peace and clarity I need to remain rooted in Christ. Earthly cares can consume the heart, leaving little for Christ. That is a danger I have felt in myself. Recent events have brought this to the forefront for me.

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My first obligation is not to politics. It is to Christ, my wife, and children. It is to the safety, peace, and stability of my household. It is to the work that provides for my family and allows me to further my mission of alleviating the suffering of others.

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The pressure surrounding this campaign has crossed lines that no candidate or family can be expected to tolerate. My businesses have been subjected to falsehoods and undermining activities. And after an incident at my own home that was serious enough I felt it necessary to document it with law enforcement, my family no longer feels we have the basic peace of letting our children play freely in their own yard.

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I will not make accusations against anyone. That is not who I am, and it is not the kind of campaign I set out to run. But I will say this clearly - something is deeply wrong when the local political climate becomes so hostile that a young family has to weigh public service against personal safety, the stability of their businesses, and the well-being of children.

Many people know my story. They know that I grew up without stability, and they know how much it means to me to build a peaceful home for my wife and children. By God’s grace, I have worked to give my children the things I did not have: safety, comfort, order, and the freedom to simply be children.

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I cannot, in good conscience, allow politics to recreate even a shadow of the instability and chaos I grew to intimately know. So, I am stepping back.

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To those who supported me, donated, volunteered, prayed, encouraged me, and believed in our vision for a new era of conservative leadership - thank you. I know this will disappoint many of you. Some of you may be angry. I understand that. But I ask you to understand this - no campaign, no office, and no political movement is worth sacrificing the peace of one’s family or the health of one’s soul to.

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I still believe Gillette needs more responsible stewardship. I still believe our city government must refocus on the needs of working families, infrastructure, affordability, transparency, and the bread-and-butter issues that affect people’s lives. I still believe the people of this community deserve more than business as usual.

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But for now, I return my attention to Christ, and to the first office God gave me: husband and father.

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I will continue serving in other ways. I will continue working to alleviate suffering, strengthen families, help others navigate adversity, and build institutions that serve rather than consume.

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I ask for your prayers, your understanding, and your continued commitment to making this community worthy of the families who call it home.

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Thank you,

Norberto Orellana