Cheyenne resident Joseph Kibler has no illusions about where his popularity stands in Wyoming. He considers himself a “nobody,” and he’s embracing in his everyday-man campaign for governor in 2026.
“I recognize that I’m, for lack of a better way to say it, I’m nobody,” Kibler said.
By starting early and being the only declared candidate so far, Kibler, a Republican, says being the only one now can help with that statewide identity crisis.
Kibler is the second candidate to formally announce a campaign for governor in 2026 after Cody resident Brent Bien did so last fall.
Since launching his campaign in January, he’s been making the rounds across the state hosting town halls and meet-and-greets so people can get to know him. He already has staff members working in seven counties and has plans to meet with mayors across the state next week.
Kibler, 45, has an idealist vision for the state that he believes his ambitious, grassroots campaign can achieve.
He will face some stiff competition when the field for governor becomes more clear.
If U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman decides to run, Kibler — and most anyone else — will be a heavy underdog against the popular congresswoman. If she doesn’t, a large field of candidates, including current statewide officials and legislators, are expected to throw their names in the race, all of whom for now have more name recognition than Kibler.
“A leader doesn’t drop out when there’s stiff competition,” he said. “That’s not a true leader.”
Who’s Kibler?
Kibler moved to Wyoming from California in 2020. His wife is a multi-generational Wyomingite whom he married in California 13 years ago, a place he now refers to as a “Communist state.”
Many others with similar political views have moved to Wyoming during and since the COVID-19 pandemic, which has contributed to the state’s shift farther right in its politics.
Kibler considers his campaign as representing the need for a citizen government.
He’s still working his day job running a web development and marketing company during his campaign, and in his free time helps his family raise chickens and goats. He believes he’s uniquely suited to represent the everyday person in Wyoming.
“We need folks who will represent the people as citizenry, not as politicians,” he said. “Not as people who are going to political grandstand.”
For example, if elected governor, Kibler said he would demand law enforcement officers give him a ticket if caught speeding.
“It doesn’t matter who I am, I’m not above that,” Kibler said.
He also believes that big-state bureaucratic governance is slowly creeping into Wyoming, something he immediately wants to stamp out. He brought up the example of a city instituting $1 paid parking that he believes could quickly turn into $15 parking, and start affecting the local businesses around it.
Kibler believes Wyoming’s government officials need to do a better job of representing the wishes of the Cowboy State populace, which voted for President Donald Trump with a larger majority than any other state.
“I think a lot of times what we get in government is government doesn’t believe that people can bear the consequences of what the people want,” he said.
Platform
A Christian, Kibler espouses socially conservative views, opposing green energy and abortion in all instances, including rape or incest.
“Life begins at conception regardless of how conception begins,” he said.
His largest platform issues are property taxes and Second Amendment rights.
On property taxes, Kibler believes real solutions aren’t coming forward, and said Wyoming should adopt a taxation system based on the purchase price of a home.
This concept, also known as acquisition value, mostly locks in property taxes on a year-to-year basis based on what the original purchase price of a home was. A bill enshrining this into law was strongly considered in this year’s legislative session and passed the House, but didn’t go much farther than that.
Although Kibler didn’t necessarily agree with most of the points brought up in a “die-in” protest at the state Capitol in February, held in opposition to a new law banning gun free zones, Kibler said he would have taken time to listen to what the students had to say.
Gov. Mark Gordon partially did this, coming out for the end of this protest and talking with one of its main organizers.
“A lot of times what people want is they want to be heard,” he said. “I would be the governor who is going to listen to people. It doesn’t mean I’m going to agree. A little human kindness, I think we miss that in politics and government in general.”
Kibler is also staunchly pro-Second Amendment and believes Wyoming law needs to be more clear on supporting these rights. Clarifying complicated governmental laws on topics like these, Kibler said, would be a particular focus for him if elected governor.
“Stop legislating it, we have the right to do this across the board, period.” he said. “Get back to the basics man.”
He also believes the traditional American education system needs to be torn down and revamped to incorporate the needs of modern day technology and mental health issues, making a similarly drastic change to his personal business last year.
“We need to gut the thing and start over,” he said.
But Why Governor?
Kibler is one of a handful candidates like 2024 U.S. Senate hopeful Reid Rasner, who attempted to rise from relative political obscurity to a high-level position in the Wyoming government without any prior political experience.
As far as why he’s chosen to run for governor before the Legislature, county commission or city council, Kibler said he’s a better fit for a leadership role that doesn’t involve actual lawmaking.
“I don’t see myself as a lawmaker, I see myself as a difference maker,” he said. “What we really need in leadership are people that have an outside perspective.”
He mentioned how Trump was first elected president 2016 without any prior political experience, although he did make earlier runs for president. However, as for his public profile, he was far from a “nobody.”
“What we need is not necessarily that massive political and governmental knowledge, but people with common sense, that are bold, that are concise, rather than so much of what we get now,” Kibler said.
As far as a potential showdown with Hageman, Kibler said he supports her policies and believes she’s been “killing it” in Wasington, D.C.
If they do end up being competitors, Kibler said he has no intention of slinging mud at her or at any of his other competition, although he does believe he’s more qualified for the job than her and that she would be more valuable serving Wyoming from Capitol Hill.
“That’s where her (Hageman) strengths lie. Whe’s a lawmaker, that’s what she does,” Kibler said. “Do we need a lawmaker as governor? That’s a question to ask the people of Wyoming.”
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
