A man who first ran for the GOP nomination, then floated a write-in or unaffiliated run, then sought the Constitution Party nomination for the Wyoming governor’s race, announced Friday he’s stepping away from his campaign.
Joseph Kibler made the announcement via a video post Friday to Facebook.
“For now, I’m stepping away from the race, but definitely not stepping away from the mission, folks,” he said. “You know what, we have been able to really build something special here with my campaign but also with the show and with the message – this whole idea that we can be something different.”
Kibler runs a podcast called “Wyoming: Beyond the Fence Line.”
Focus On The Family
He said he’s stepping away from his campaign to focus on where he can do the most good; and focus on his family, his work, his current career change and the direction of being something different.
“I think I can do something good outside the realm of politics,” he said.
He thanked his supporters.
He said he’d work on expanding his podcast and supporting candidates “that want to break the establishment” locally and statewide.
“And I will do everything I can with the influence I’ve built, the voice we’ve built over the last year to make sure that happens.”
Kibler did not immediately respond to a Friday-morning voicemail request for comment.
Constitution Party Chair Joshua Shimkus confirmed in his own interview that Kibler had not received the nomination; the Party convention is set for June.
He said he’s not ready to release whether more candidates are vying for that nomination, saying the party is “still in the middle of recruiting” people.
“I respect his decision,” said Shimkus.
The primary election is Aug. 18.
The Road To Here
Kibler announced his Republican candidacy for the governor’s seat in January 2025, making him the second candidate to go public after retired Marine Col. Brent Bien, who remains in the GOP race alongside Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder and Sen. Eric Barlow, R-Gillette.
Kibler attended and documented the Republican State Committee meeting in Torrington in November 2025. About one week later, he announced he was leaving the two-party system to be “unaffiliated,” and to run a write-in campaign.
Then in March he announced he’d seek the Constitution Party nomination.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
