State Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, is a liberal who’s not afraid to share those views, a rare trait in the deeply red state of Wyoming. As she runs for a third term in the Wyoming Legislature, Provenza said there needs to be more honesty in politics, and she takes pride in not sugarcoating her words.
“I am unapologetically me, and I think I’m that way because most of the ideas and values that I share are those that are shared by the people of Wyoming,” she said. “I don’t need to water down what I say, I don’t need to pretend that I’m someone that I’m not because at the end of the day I just love my community, and if they think I’m the best representative for them, they will elect me.
“I don’t have space or time to just pretend to be something that I’m not.”
Provenza is running against Republican challenger Paul Crouch.
Crouch said when speaking to residents of his district, he discovered a strong sentiment for change.
“The current representative's priorities seem disconnected from the needs and values of House District 45,” Crouch said. “There appears to be a misalignment between her legislative focus and the concerns expressed by our community.”
The race over District 45 pits two opponents with clear political differences and promises to be one of the few intriguing contests in a general election mostly limited to anticlimactic races in Republican-dominated Wyoming, where many races were sewn up in August’s primary election. Unlike most of the rest of Wyoming, HD 45 and Albany County lean blue, making Crouch a rare Republican underdog in this race.
A Provenza loss in the election just two weeks away would be a major hit for the Democratic Party in Wyoming and their already small presence in the state Legislature.
Provenza believes her opponents attack her because of her candid nature.
She drew statewide and some national attention in the spring of 2023 when she shared a controversial meme on social media showing an elderly woman holding a rifle with a scope and the words "Auntie Fa Says protect trans folks against fascists & bigots!" Auntie Fa is a reference to the left-wing anti-fascist group Antifa.
Provenza apologized for her post and explained she was expressing support for "arming and protecting the LGBTQ community, a group of people" that "depend upon Second Amendment protection.” House Speaker Albert Sommers, R-Pinedale, declined to take any disciplinary action against her.
Who’s Provenza?
Provenza said her working class upbringing in Pueblo, Colorado, taught her about the need to provide healthcare for those less fortunate, growing up with two disabled parents.
“I know what the cost of doing nothing is, I know what the cost of having your government not work for you is, I think that resonates with a lot of people,” she said.
A fervent supporter of Medicaid expansion, Provenza also has deep concerns about rural health care in Wyoming and the emergency medical care and OBGYN service deserts dotting the state.
“We’re just losing providers left and right and people are traveling hours to get the health care that they need and many people can’t afford that,” she said. “The Legislature should provide basic government services to ensure we have an infrastructure in place for people to live their lives and raise a family.”
Provenza moved to Wyoming to attend the University of Wyoming. In 2020, she was elected to the Wyoming Legislature to replace former Democratic legislator Charles Pelkey.
During her time in the Legislature, Provenza has staked a claim as one of the most progressive members, drafting legislation to decriminalize marijuana, increase the state minimum wage and enshrine access to abortion in Wyoming law.
But she’s also successfully brought bipartisan legislation that’s passed into law such as prohibiting the unlawful placement of signs that interfere with hunting on public lands, establishing an adult hearing aid program and expanding the pool of non-violent felons who can get their right to carry firearms restored.
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus is poised to take over a majority of seats in the state House as a result of the group’s successful primary election night. This could even further reduce the voice and impact of the roughly handful of Democrats in the House, but Provenza is hopeful she can find nonpartisan issues to work on with the group.
“I think there’s still an opportunity for people like me who are willing to pull our sleeves up and get the hard work done, regardless of who’s there,” Provenza said.
But that’s not to say Provenza won’t call out harm being caused when she sees it if reelected, and she believes politics is always better when there’s dissenting opinions, no matter the venue.
Who’s Crouch?
Crouch moved to Wyoming from Ohio in January 2023 and wants to bring more transparent budgeting and bill-making to the Wyoming Legislature. The state’s fiscal picture is particularly opaque during the biennial budget session, when countless reams of spreadsheets are produced for the public to decipher with little interpretation.
“It's essential for the House leadership to maintain transparency regarding legislation sent to the floor,” he said. “Legislators should vigorously debate the issues and cast their votes based on the needs and preferences of their constituents and the state as a whole.”
Crouch believes fiscal transparency also directly ties into the issue of rising property taxes, and that state spending must be fully analyzed before solutions can be brought forward.
“This involves a thorough assessment of each department's essential requirements and discretionary requests,” he said. “Understanding these needs and wants is fundamental to creating a balanced and effective budget strategy. This may take two years to accomplish.”
He wants Wyoming to take a balanced approach to its energy development, supporting traditional fossil fuels like coal and oil while also investing and researching emerging technologies like nuclear and geothermal energy.
“By pursuing this dual strategy, we can leverage our current strengths while positioning Wyoming at the forefront of future energy innovations,” he said. “This approach not only supports our economic stability but also contributes to national energy security and diversification.”
The University And The Legislature
HD 45 is located in central Laramie, smack dab in the middle of the UW campus area. The majority of people in this district are either students or affiliated to the university in some way.
UW has become a political hot potato of late as the Legislature made moves in the most recent session to cut funding for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming and Gender Studies courses at the school.
Provenza, who opposed these efforts, said she understands the arguments made by those who supported these cuts when considering the state of Wyoming is the biggest funder of the university. But she also has concerns that cutting programs like these will hinder UW’s ability to recruit students and educators. The school has already struggled with enrollment for a number of years.
“I think for the most part the Legislature needs to butt out and let students and teachers and faculty and administrators make decisions, but I do believe there needs to be at least some level of oversight,” she said.
Crouch believes the university should be focusing on delivering high-quality traditional education and conducting research in areas vital to Wyoming's economy like energy, agriculture, and technology, fields he views as crucial for Wyoming’s future prosperity and development.
He’s also concerned about maintaining the integrity of women’s sports.
Earlier this month, the UW volleyball team forfeited a match against a team with a transgender member on it after receiving pressure from some members of the Legislature to do so.
President Joe Biden’s administration has made moves to protect the ability of transgender individuals to participate in female sports.
“There are growing concerns about potential changes to Title IX regulations at the federal level,” Crouch said. “We must remain vigilant in protecting women's athletics that Title IX has long safeguarded."
Provenza also questions whether having a non-elected Board of Trustees making most decisions for the school is the best approach and said many of her constituents aren’t happy with this model.
Housing
There’s also a high quantity of renters in HD 45, which makes affordable housing issues and rental laws particularly significant for the district.
Crouch wants to take a balanced approach to addressing housing issues in Wyoming that encourages responsible behavior from both renters and tenants.
“While well-intentioned, increased government regulations on student housing can sometimes lead to unintended negative consequences,” he said.
Provenza said she’s heard many horror stories from renters failing to get their basic needs met by their landlords, which leads her to believe that state laws are being disregarded. There are also documented issues in Laramie with trailer parks raising their rent by exorbitant amounts on renters, who own the trailers they live in but not the land it sits on in the mobile home parks.
“At the state legislative level we need to consider how we’re protecting people in our districts from abuses of power like that while also knowing that not every community is not going to have the same needs as Laramie has,” she said.
Crouch believes it’s the responsibility of local journalists to shine to help raise awareness and bring accountability on these issues rather than increasing government regulation.
“This approach can often be more effective than additional regulations,” he said.
City officials in Laramie have said the city is about 3,000 units shy of available properties based on demand.
Crouch also wants to streamline existing housing regulations around construction and property improvements. By reducing bureaucratic hurdles, he believes the housing supply and quality thereof will increase, “benefiting both property owners and residents alike,” he said.
Provenza also wants to see changes to the way cities and counties are allowed to raise their revenues in order to move away from their dependence on the state, and direct action by the Legislature to help support affordable housing efforts.
The District
Provenza said she’s also received bipartisan support from voters in her district and feels confident heading into the election.
She ran unopposed in 2022 after beating Albany County GOP Chair Roxie Hensley by 160 votes in 2020.
HD 45 has been represented by Democrats since 2014 but a few Republicans like Hensley have run competitive campaigns there.
If elected, Crouch said his primary goal will be to represent the wishes of the people in his district.
“Each bill that comes before the House will receive my careful consideration based on its individual merits and potential impact on our community and state,” he said. “While I respect the perspectives of various caucuses and groups within the legislature, my voting decisions will be guided first and foremost by what I believe is best for the people I represent.”
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
