The primary elections showed that Wyomites value big ideas more than big experience. Several newcomers, and unknowns, shook up races and evicted long-time establishment in the Wyoming Legislature.
The Freedom Caucus didn’t walk away with the entire night though. Wyoming Caucus Chair, Barry Crago won the battle over Senator Dave Kinsky’s seat, defeating former Representative Mark Jennings who was a founding member of the Freedom Caucus. Crago raised and spent historic amounts, raising around $81,000 for his seat and spending about $61,000.
This was a big blow for a swath of support behind the conservative legislator, and of great personal sadness to me. Representative Mark Jennings is a good man and one that I worked alongside on many bills with. Over the years I watched him grow in depth, experience and influence and he was key to the conservative movement growing to the place it is now. He is a testament to the concept that you don’t have to be a lawyer to dream a good idea or craft good law.
Five years ago, we worked to pass HB157 and HB155 to provide standing for adoption and reintegration for kids who were abandoned by their parents. At the time more than 10,200 kids lived with Wyoming relatives, and they had no way to adopt the kids.
Representative Jennings cared about the kids but was concerned about the proposal to remedy the problem. He did not want to see a violation of parental, constitutional rights. We had a job to do to protect these kids but we refused to sacrifice constitutionality. We got it done, Governor Mark Gordon signed the bills into law during his first term and our organic friendship turned into one of two colleagues who were constitutionalists learning and growing together.
With Jennings at the helm, the Freedom Caucus grew from a handful of rebels into a block of steadfast constitutionalists growing in power and numbers. As the country around them, quite literally burned to the ground in the wake of George Floyd’s death, we began to see an America none of us could recognize. The divide between Democrats and Republicans grew deeper and deeper and the ideas that separated us became more extreme.
In the Legislature, the bipartisanship faded and the rift within the GOP deepened. The farther right legislators held bitter resentment for the entrenchment of a good ole boy system they seemed to never be included in. They were kept off committees, their bills died quietly in the drawer and the Governor vetoed some of their best ideas. With frustration and dissent, comes money and vitriol.
As my Grandma used to say, “you reap what you sow.”
The reap, or new legislators, many unknown and unexperienced in formal politics are ready to lead. This new Freedom Caucus has a self-determined mandate to get rid of gun free zones, defund racist DEI at colleges, and keep pornographic books out of kids’ libraries.
They believe that they should protect the people who have no voice, like the unborn. They believe that stopping bad laws and defending people’s rights is more important than the creation of more law and regulation.
COVID taught them to be watchful for any restriction that the bureaucracy tries to place people and their freedoms, which they believe comes from God – not government. They believe you can have good government with a limited government approach.
I think this race showed how out of touch many of the establishment folks were with their constituents. People in Wyoming are still worried about their grocery bill, their property taxes, and the border.
Many think our country is deteriorating while politicians, many of whom are businessmen, make decisions about their lives and dollars while benefitting only themselves.
“It’s a damn thing what the world’s come to for people like me and people like you,” sang Oliver Anthony.
So, it is no surprise when Wyomingites looked at the Governor’s veto of SF120 to pay $220 million of property taxes back to them as a slap in the face. It is also no surprise that his list of endorsed candidates did more harm than good. Grandma was right it seems.
If you look like a politician with big money the people just might vote you out for a gamble on a big idea. After all, sometimes a loaf of bread cheaper than $10 and a dream, can feed the soul and keep a guy going.
Cassie Craven is an attorney in Cheyenne.
