The Wyoming Freedom Caucus describes itself as a group of state legislative representatives dedicated to limited government and protecting the freedoms and liberties of Wyomingites.
It’s known for championing property tax cuts, pro-life laws and transgender bathroom and sports restrictions.
Sometimes caucus members draw friendly fire over procedural disagreements with other Republicans. For example, a pro-life legislator in 2023 blasted caucus-led anti-abortion legislation, correctly predicting it would prolong a court block on a similar and earlier abortion ban.
The Freedom Caucus is also reticent about exactly which state House representatives are members.
The caucus’ website identifies 16 members. Combining the website with interviews Cowboy State Daily conducted this week with Republican state House delegates, 17 representatives identify themselves as Freedom Caucus members.
Three more gave uncertain answers, like Cheyenne-based state Rep. Steve Johnson’s, “I have a lapel pin," and Green River-based Rep. Marlene Brady’s “I’d rather not say.”
Rep. J.R. Riggins, of Casper, parried the question with, “So I’ll answer your question with … what does my voting record say I am?”
People can claim any allegiances they want, Riggins said, but at the end, “We are what our voting record says we are.”
Thirty-one representatives either said they aren’t in the Freedom Caucus or have been identified prior as not being in the Freedom Caucus.
Some of those non-members were easy to peg, such as Reps. Cody Wylie and J.T. Larson (both of Rock Springs), who are suing the caucus’ campaign arm on claims of defamation.
Transparency vs. Privacy
A section of the caucus’ website says, “We are committed to transparency and accountability. We provide factual information about our priorities, and our accomplishments. Not only that, but we believe in empowering you with knowledge, so you can make informed decisions about the future of Wyoming.”
In a May 22 audio clip that later fed a June 13 installment of Amy Edmonds’ “Let’s Talk Wyoming” podcast, former caucus chair and current Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, said, conversely, that the caucus doesn’t publish all its membership because some of its members like their privacy.
“We’re never going to tell everybody who all the members are,” said Bear. “Some people become members of the Freedom Caucus because they want that camaraderie. … When you’re in the middle of a war and you get the opportunity to go back to the back lines and take a little reprieve.”
But joining that huddle, “frankly, comes with a lot of heat. A lot of arrows,” Bear added.
There are also times, he said, that “we don’t necessarily want people to know how many votes we have.”
Legally, the issue is straightforward.
Even once elected to public office, people have a First Amendment right to associate in voluntary groups, and generally to run those groups as they like.
But policy types still debate the advisability of keeping public officials’ group rosters private.
Edmonds, who has since become but was not yet the governor’s spokeswoman in June, panned Bear’s stance as harmful to the voters.
“The office requires you to take the heat. And as a caucus, having a policy to try to stop that sense of accountability is so wrong,” she said in the podcast. Edmonds also served as a legislator from 2007 to 2012. “He’s essentially saying he’s OK with his members lying to voters.”
Former legislator and current Campbell County Commissioner Scott Clem, whose 2015-2020 legislative term predates the Freedom Caucus’ rise, said he understands wanting to be part of a group.
As a freshman, he learned about the state’s budget from a coalition of like-minded conservatives, he said.
Clem said he doesn’t know the Freedom Caucus’ inner workings. But he warned generally against committing two political ills he called “groupthink”: voting always in a bloc, and keeping out-of-state connections and organizational maneuvers secret from voters.
“When it’s all done under a shroud, you know, that creates distrust among the electorate,” said Clem.
Bear did not respond by publication time to a Wednesday request for comment.
But Then …
Cheyenne-based state Rep. Daniel Singh — a libertarian-leaning Republican, outspoken Christian and Freedom Caucus member — doesn’t exhibit a fear of transparency or the media.
He’s responsive and blunt, firing spontaneous comments during unscheduled phone interviews.
But he asked Cowboy State Daily in a Wednesday interview to consider what the more private caucus members may experience, or perceive they experience: media disdain, increasing political hostility evidenced by the assassinations this year of Democratic lawmakers and Charlie Kirk, and being painted with a broad brush even when they don’t vote in a bloc.
“There might be an air of negativity from those that would wish to portray the ‘far right’ as unreasonable or unsensible, when really they accurately represent a lot of the views, or the majority of the views in the state of Wyoming,” said Singh, who specified that he doesn’t speak on behalf of the caucus.
Division Concerns
Asking lawmakers point-blank about their affiliation with the caucus sparked tension this week in some Cowboy State Daily interviews. Multiple Republicans voiced caution, and some suggested such a question could drive division within the Legislature.
Rep. Bob Davis, R-Baggs, said he is not a member, but that asking such a question “seems to be divisive.”
Rep. Darin McCann, R- Rock Springs, is not listed on the Freedom Caucus’ website, but identified himself as a member. He warned Cowboy State Daily to use his answer responsibly in reporting.
“Trust is earned,” he wrote via text message. “Your colleagues have failed miserably thus far. But I’ll give you a chance. Let’s see what you do with this. Yes, I am a Freedom Caucus Member."
McCann in his response included a graphic of podcaster Joe Rogan, which quoted “DC overlords” as saying “stop explaining yourself to people committed to misunderstanding you.”
“They don’t want clarity,” the quote continues. “They want conflict.”
Cowboy State Daily ran a story this year noting that McCann, at that juncture, had not attended interim committee meetings.
‘Never Have Been, Never Will Be’
Other Republican representatives gave forceful negative responses when asked whether they align with the Freedom Caucus.
"Never have been, never will be,” said Rep. Clarence Styvar, R-Cheyenne. “I won't join them."
Larson said he views caucus membership as antithetical to his mission of serving constituents.
"The only caucus I’m a part of is the caucus of House District 17 and the constituents I represent,” he said.
Rep. Ken Clouston, R-Gillette, used capital letters in an email response: "I am definitely NOT a member of the Freedom Caucus."
Reps. Jacob Wasserburger, R- Cheyenne, Tom Kelly, R-Sheridan, and Joel Guggenmos, R- Riverton, each said they received offers to join the Freedom Caucus, and they declined.
In or Out?
Five representatives did not respond to the question, though Rep. Pam Thayer, R-Rawlins, returned an automatic email confirming receipt of the inquiry.
The other four who didn’t answer were Reps. Nina Webber (Cody), Ocean Andrew (Laramie), Laurie Bratten (Sheridan), and Tony Locke (Casper).
Johnson did not respond to further questions seeking clarification of the cryptic comment, “I have a lapel pin.”
Members of the Freedom Caucus sometimes wear a square lapel pin emblazoned with the group’s torch logo.
Rep. Robert Wharff, R- Evanston, said he does not consider himself a part of the caucus, but said he often collaborates with caucus members.
He’s counted among the 31 Cowboy State Daily lists as non-members.
“I'm not a member but I associate with most members as I consider myself to be conservative, so we frequently agree,” he said.
Brady and Riggins both added to further comments to their vague answers: Brady called herself “a conservative Republican” and Riggins noted he likes “a lot of policy strategies being pursued by the Freedom Caucus,” but notes that “not everyone is in 100% agreement even amongst that caucus.”
Cooperation Is Key
Some Republicans said they won’t join the Freedom Caucus but viewed cooperation with its members as a crucial priority in passing legislation.
Rep. Dalton Banks, R-Cowley, said Freedom Caucus priorities sometimes align with the needs of his constituents.
"If I see something that would benefit my district I will work with anyone whether that be the Freedom Caucus, the Wyoming Caucus or even the House Democrats,” he said.
“I worked with Democrat leader Mike Yin in on a day care bill,” Banks added. "That’s the reason I don’t belong to a caucus, it allows me to work with anyone for the benefit of my district."
Rep. Marilyn Connolly, R- Buffalo, said allegiances beyond the Republican Party can stall progress and discourse.
“I wish there were no categories, I wish we were all just republicans trying to do the best we can for Wyoming,” she said.
Rep. Martha Lawley, R-Worland, said she also would cooperate with anyone so long as they have the best interest of her constituents in mind.
"I serve and answer to the citizens of House District 27,” she said. “I work with all members of the Wyoming Legislature to achieve the best policy outcomes for my district and the state of Wyoming."
Caucus Chair Rachel Rodriguez-Williams of Cody did not respond by publication time to requests for comment.
The List
The state House representatives who said they are not caucus members, or whose non-membership is known from past coverage are:
Abby Angelos (Gillette)
Andrew Byron (Jackson)
Art Washut (Casper)
Bob Davis (Baggs)
Bob Nicholas (Cheyenne)
Clarence Styvar (Cheyenne)
Cody Wylie (Rock Springs)
Dalton Banks (Cowley)
Elissa Campbell (Casper)
Gary Brown (Cheyenne)
JT Larson (Rock Springs)
Jacob Wasserburger (Cheyenne)
Jayme Lien (Casper)
JD Williams (Lusk)
Joel Guggenmos (Riverton)
John Eklund (Cheyenne)
Julie Jarvis (Casper)
Ken Clouston (Gillette)
Kevin Campbell (Glenrock)
Landon Brown (Cheyenne)
Lee Filer (Cheyenne)
Lloyd Larsen (Lander)
Marilyn Connolly (Buffalo)
Martha Lawley (Worland)
McKay Erickson (Afton)
Mike Schmid (La Barge)
Reuben Tarver (Gillette)
Rob Geringer (Cheyenne)
Robert Wharff (Evanston)
Steve Harshman (Casper)
Tom Kelly (Sheridan)
Those who claimed caucus membership on the website or in interviews are:
Ann Lucas (Cheyenne)
Bill Allemand (Midwest)
Chip Neiman (Hulett)
Christopher Knapp (Gillette)
Daniel Singh (Cheyenne)
Darin McCann (Rock Springs)
Jeremy Haroldson (Wheatland)
Joe Webb (Lyman)
John Bear (Gillette)
John Winter (Thermopolis)
Ken Pendergraft (Sheridan)
Paul Hoeft (Cody)
Pepper Ottman (Riverton)
Rachel Rodriguez-Williams (Cody)
Scott Heiner (Green River)
Scott Smith (Lingle)
Tomi Strock (Laramie)
Those who gave inconclusive answers:
Marlene Brady (Green River)
JR Riggins (Casper)
Steve Johnson (Cheyenne)
Those who did not respond:
Nina Webber (Cody)
Ocean Andrew (Laramie)
Pam Thayer (Rawlins)
Tony Locke (Casper)
Laurie Bratten (Sheridan)
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com and Jackson Walker can be reached at walker@cowboystatedaily.com.
