Technically, local school board elections in Wyoming are supposed to be nonpartisan, but that doesn’t mean political partisanship isn’t part of those elections.
If a bill making its way through the 2025 legislative session becomes law, that will change, and candidates can run as Republican, Democrat or other political affiliations.
The 2024 election cycle in Wyoming saw politically charged issues make their way into school board races such as transgender rights and bathroom access, diversity, equity and inclusion hiring policies and how to manage library books considered sexually explicit.
With school board races becoming more political, state Sen. Jared Olsen, R-Cheyenne, believes board members should publicly declare their party allegiances. He’s proposed a bill that would require candidates running for school board to declare their political affiliation in Wyoming
Olsen said opponents of his make it seem as if nonpartisan school board elections still exist, but he believes the vast majority of those representing our school boards have already selected a party affiliation
“Partisan labels help voters identify ideology that align with their own political beliefs,” Olsen told the committee.
Many people have complained about American life becoming too partisan in modern times while many conservatives have relished the change and believe that transparency in personal party preference should be expanded in government and politics.
Senate File 98 was advanced by the House Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee on an 8-1 vote Wednesday. Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, was the only member to vote against it.
There was no discussion among the committee members expressing favor or opposition of the bill.
Secretary of State Chuck Gray supports the bill and said he’s heard many people complain about not having enough information about who’s running for their school boards. Currently, school board races are nonpartisan in Wyoming.
“This bill provides a transparent means by which voters can see the party affiliation for school board trustee,” he said. “I think it’s really important we have that transparency.”
Not Helping?
Lander resident Kirk Schmidt, who worked as a finance director for three different Wyoming school districts, said it’s “fascinating” to see legislators talk about school boards and how they act when he believes the vast majority of state lawmakers have never attended their meetings.
“I have little sympathy for voters who are uninformed that have not taken the initiative to find out,” Schmidt said.
He believes parents want to primarily know what school board candidates are going to do for their children’s education rather than partisan platforms.
During his career, Schmidt also said he found Republican school board members to be more “financially liberal” than their Democratic counterparts.
Cheyenne resident Marguerite Herman, who unsuccessfully ran for the state Senate against Olsen in 2024, said that people are not monolithic creatures determined by their political party affiliation. Listing affiliation on the ballot won’t help voters become any more informed, she said.
“People don’t come in cookie cutter shapes,” she said.
Sheridan resident Gail Symons, a lobbyist for voter participation group Civics307, agreed and said partisan elections won’t do anything to improve transparency. She pointed out that when people change their party affiliation in Wyoming, a Republican supermajority state, statistics show that they typically stay put with their affiliation.
The House Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee hears testimony on making school board elections partisan. (Matt Idler for Cowboy State Daily) 
Joey Corenti of Rural Wyoming Matters testifies for the House Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee on making school board elections partisan. (Matt Idler for Cowboy State Daily) 
Wyoming School Boards Association Executive Director Brian Farmer testifies for the House Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee on making school board elections partisan. (Matt Idler for Cowboy State Daily)
But Why Not?
Joey Correnti, a representative of Rural Wyoming Matters, disagreed with these perspectives and said “a lot of false narratives” were being told by those opposing the bill. He asked why they would oppose the bill if they don’t believe it will change what voters are looking for.
“If the focus is to really serve the children and do what’s best, why do we already have partisan efforts in the school where children are being transitioned behind their parent’s backs or arrested for not wearing a mask?” he questioned.
Brian Farmer, executive director of the Wyoming School Boards Association, said most school board elections don’t come down to partisan decisions, a feature he believes is mostly limited to metropolitan areas.
Farmer also pointed out that a number of federal employees are also school board members across Wyoming. The federal Hatch Act prevents federal employees from running for partisan office so a number of board members would have to resign.
Mike Hamel, superintendent at Carbon County School District No. 1 and a self-described Republican, said “everything I do at work has nothing to do with politics.” He questioned what the motivation for the bill is.
“Will the bill if passed, advance educational interest in the state of Wyoming?” he questioned. “I stand against the bill, I do not think it’s necessary and don’t think it will advance education in our state.”
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
