John Bear, one of the most prominent members of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, has a primary election opponent.
Doug Moore told Cowboy State Daily on Wednesday that he decided to challenge the Republican House District 31 representative in this year’s Aug. 18 primary election after numerous people urged him to run.
Moore, 55, is a business owner and a transportation manager for two coal mining companies.
Bear, 60, also owns local businesses and is a Navy veteran.
Both men are Republicans who live in Gillette, and both tout strong favor toward the coal industry and conservative ideals. Each man is married and has grown children.
As for what distinguishes them from each other, Moore said, “loyalty to Wyoming.”
“I’m not looking to make a big name for myself,” he said. "I don’t see myself being a career politician that’s going to climb the ladder and end up in D.C. someday.
"I’m a local kid that grew up here, and I want to make sure my community is taken care of — and Wyoming in general. That’s what’s important to me.”
Bear in his own Thursday interview countered that the rebuttal to those statements is, “the proof is in the pudding.”
“I’ve had opportunities to go for higher office and I’ve declined,” Bear added. "I’m already fighting for Wyoming, and have the most conservative record possible."
Freedom Caucus
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus is a populist-leaning group of Republicans in the state House that has backed property tax cuts, pro-life legislation, a reworking of the funding model for K-12 public schools and other measures.
The pro-life legislation is a mixed bag: those bills are generally popular among Freedom Caucus and non-Freedom Caucus Republicans.
But courts keep striking down the Legislature’s pro-life laws, while Gov. Mark Gordon has urged lawmakers to send a constitutional amendment on the matter to voters instead of passing more bills.
Moore told Cowboy State Daily that he’s very conservative, but he will not join the Freedom Caucus because he believes the group’s members get directions from its national umbrella group, the State Freedom Caucus network.
Wyoming Freedom Caucus members discuss and coordinate their floor maneuvers via a group text with their Wyoming-based network director, court records have shown.
Bear had inadvertently countered Moore’s point in a Thursday email about his bid for reelection, writing, “My family and friends are the primary reason I wish to serve the people of Campbell County.”
About Moore
Moore is a licensed aviation mechanic, has an associate degree in mining technology and has worked in the coal sector for 30 years. He was born in Michigan and moved to Wyoming with his family as a child in 1978.
“I’ve got more Wyoming blood in me than anywhere else,” said Moore.
He said he’s a Republican because he’s conservative and doesn’t believe in high taxes or big government.
“I believe in keeping control at the lowest level of government,” said Moore.
He pointed to the new demand for thermal coal that could reinvigorate the waning industry, and said he wants to help the state guide new developments “responsibly.”
“I want to look at who wants to come (build a business in the community) and why, and make sure they’re not just looking for a lot of handouts,” said Moore.
Tech giants have been building multiple data centers in Wyoming in recent years.
With business booms come housing affordability issues, which is another concern Moore said he’d like to address, primarily by streamlining regulatory processes and “red tape.”
He said Wyoming should diversify its economy while also consider keeping more minerals for in-state use and the state’s own economy.
About Bear
Bear is a former Freedom Caucus chair and remains one of its most prominent voices — and one of its most powerful members.
He co-chairs the Joint Appropriations Committee, which writes the second draft of the state’s two-year budget. The governor writes the first draft, and the full Legislature writes the third and subsequent drafts until the budget becomes law in about March of every even-numbered year.
“I have been representing the hard working people of Gillette for three terms. I’m a Christian and veteran naval officer,” said Bear in a Thursday email. “I married my college sweetheart Sage. We raised two children in Gillette, and our daughter lives here with her family.”
Bear said families within his House district face inflation that cuts into their budgets every day.
“I am a proven conservative who has championed real solutions for working families,” wrote Bear, adding that, “I am the only conservative in this race.”
He pointed to his work in helping to pass property tax relief bills.
“I firmly believe that those families know better how to spend their hard-earned money that the government does,” said Bear. “I will continue to work to limit the government's burden on families in Campbell County.”
During Bear’s chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee ahead of this past session, he was a consistent budget hawk, which sometimes garnered controversy.
During the session, Bear broke ranks to vote against several of his Freedom Caucus colleagues in opposing what he has called “corporate welfare” tax breaks or grants for large businesses.
Bear voted nay, for example, on the Energy Dominance Fund — a bill funneling severance taxes for one year into a grant and loan program to boost large-scale, traditional energy projects.
Bear in his email pointed to his work in passing a bill ensuring only U.S. citizens can vote in Wyoming, a 25% property tax cut, the elimination of most gun-free zones and a prohibition on red flag gun seizures, and pro-life bills.
“I’ve spoken to voters in House District 31 and will continue to answer questions and present my work for the people on social media, visiting at their doorsteps, as well as town halls throughout my time in office,” Bear said.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
