How could 2026 possibly overtake 2025 as a major year of transition in both Wyoming and America?
Last year, in this first-of-the-year column, I was incredibly optimistic going into the new year. Here is what I wrote then: “After four endlessly long years full of national silliness, the country will be returning to sanity in 2025.
“With President-elect Donald Trump taking office, the country will become sane again. After four years of mind-bending craziness and goofy wokeness by the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris Regime, orchestrated by puppeteer Barack Obama, the country has a chance to literally return to normal.”
And wow, did it ever return to normal. Here are three small ways:
Climate change – no longer the national religion.
Over emphasis on race and gender – that shrill screeching is over.
The USA as meek player on international stage – never again!
Yes, 2025 was a great year. Not sure how President Trump can top it in 2026, but for starters, he will stop the war in Ukraine and that will be such a welcome development. The whole world will breathe a sigh of relief.
Elections Have Consequences
The Trump administration has unleashed America’s amazing energy potential and he will continue to push this in 2026.
The return of nuclear to its original promise will occur and Wyoming will be its epicenter.
Biggest project is the ongoing $4 billion nuclear reactor project near Kemmerer financed by Bill Gates. We can predict dozens of big projects will grow around that effort in Southwest Wyoming.
Some 442 miles to the northeast, exciting nuclear projects are underway in Gillette with the development of small nuclear reactors for all kinds of future use.
Because of both the abundance of electricity in Wyoming and the potential to produce even more, data centers will continue to come to the Cowboy State.
I was disappointed recently when I saw a graph that showed Wyomingites did not pay the lowest prices for energy in the country. We should pay the lowest. That should be a rallying cry of any politician in 2026.
In California, wine is cheap. In Iowa, corn is cheap. In Wyoming, energy should be cheap!
What Others Think
I asked some friends for their thoughts on 2026.
Eli Bebout of Riverton and Ray Hunkins of Cheyenne both ran for governor unsuccessfully in 2002. Either would have been good governors.
Eli says: “The price of oil will still be soft and maintain the current price structure. Coal will continue to be a huge player for our energy costs. Uranium is on the rebound. Wyoming tourism will grow. We need to delist grizzly bears and wolves.”
Concerning the state of politics in the Cowboy State, he says: “It’s too bad the Freedom Caucus in the Wyoming legislature doesn’t get it. Republicans will continue to have a slim majority in the U.S. House and Senate. I don't see Democrats making any progress in Wyoming. Harriett Hageman will be our next U.S. Senator. Other statewide races will have tough Republican primaries.”
Ray chimes in with: “Wyoming will see an unprecedented economic development centered around data centers and energy. Agriculture and animal husbandry could be adversely impacted by drought.”
Dave Bell of Pinedale predicts: “I see crowded political races. I'd expect there to be several candidates for Senator Lummis soon-to-be vacated Senate seat. I cannot imagine Representative Hageman will be the only candidate. As well, I'd expect a crowded field for Representative Hageman's US House seat. Secretary Gray was quick with his announcement, but I am sure others are jockeying behind scenes for a run as well. And overall, it will be a crazy political year.”
Bell predicts: “We can only hope some measure of ‘Wyoming Political Dignity’ returns to the campaign trail and the personal attacks and slanders will be held to a minimum. But, with large outside donors coming into the state with barrels of money, that is not a sure thing.
“Boom times are coming. It will be different than we have experienced before. Data centers. Uranium. Nuclear. Who knows what else? But, our state is going to be positioned for some very interesting projects which will significantly diversify our economy and that is good news.”
A pessimistic John B. Brown of Lander holds his nose as he predicts: “Eric Barlow and Megan Degenfelder will split the ‘anti-Freedom Caucus’ vote in the GOP Governor primary propelling Brent Bien to the nomination and the Governor's office. Ugh.”
He says: “Gray will win the House seat vacated by Hageman. Bigger UGH!!”
Some Final Thoughts
As Wyoming’s population ages, I am concerned about health care, in general, and eldercare, specifically, going forward. In the rush to cut spending, our state leaders still need to provide a safe medical environment for our citizens.
Wyoming is an unusual place. Just 580,000 people spread over 98,000 square miles. We need to be working on not just health care facilities but our ability to get people to medical care by ambulance or helicopter.
I want to wish a Happy New Year to all my friends and to the wonderful folks who read this column. Stay tuned. We will have a lot more to say in 2026.
Bill can be reached at Bill@CowboyStateDaily.com
