As the Wyoming Republican Party breaks recent tradition — and arguably state law — to vet and endorse certain candidates before the primary election this year, some candidates are refusing to participate.
An at least one U.S. House candidate, Kevin Christensen, fears the process has devolved into a pay-to-play system. Christensen forwarded Cowboy State Daily a Friday email state GOP executive director Ginger Bennett sent on the party’s behalf, listing “Past donations to the State or County parties” as part of the endorsement vetting criteria the GOP state central committee has approved.
Christensen had participated in the vetting process by sending back the party's questionnaire, which consists of yes-or-no blanks for indicating whether one agrees with each of the 23 state platform planks. Christensen agrees with the planks altogether, his questionnaire says.
The vetting committee declined to call for his endorsement, Bennett’s email indicates.
“I am disappointed that the Republican Party would choose to adopt criteria for evaluation candidates that are not explicitly authorized in Article 2 of their bylaws; and that those criteria would include contributions as a measure of, presumably, your loyalty to the party,” he said. “Creating a perception, at least for me, that we now have a pay-to-play system for an endorsement.”
Christensen is running against nine other candidates for GOP nomination to Wyoming’s lone U.S. House seat.
The primary election, set for Aug. 18 this year, allows the voters who are registered Republican and Democrat to choose their respective nominees in each partisan office. Wyoming doesn’t let its major parties nominate candidates.
State law also bars the major parties from financially backing one of their registrants over another during the primary cycle.
The state party’s endorsement process of this year, if it involves any expense, may violate that law.
However, the state party is currently waging a federal legal litigation attempt to have that law overturned. It cites noteworthy case law upholding other major parties’ functions as First Amendment rights.
The case is ongoing.
Some Loyalists, Some Caveats
Eight U.S. House candidates turned in a questionnaire the party sent them. The questionnaire consists of yes-or-no blanks under each of the state party’s 23 platform planks, as well as lines reserved for additional comment.
Christensen, philanthropist Steve Friess, Secretary of State Chuck Gray, Casper businessman Reid Rasner, military veteran David Giralt, and Teton County-based attorney Frank Chapman all marked 100% agreement with the party’s platform.
Former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow marked one no, on a plank declaring state primacy over lands in Wyoming that were unappropriated to the state when it entered the union.
“I do not support selling or transferring federal land to the State,” she wrote. Balow agreed with plank 8’s assertion that “Marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman,” but noted in a caveat that current law doesn’t say that.
State Senate President Bo Biteman didn’t send the party back its questionnaire. Neither did Casper-based candidate Keith Goodenough.
Biteman said in a Monday text message, “I can remember when Republicans criticized Democrats for having party insiders and power brokers trying to pick nominees from the top down. I don’t think we should become what we used to criticize.”
“My focus is on earning the support of Wyoming voters, not on internal party politics,” said Biteman, adding that the party should be working to grow its ranks, not predetermine the primary election outcome. “At the end of the day, I trust the voters.”
… And The Spicy One
Richard Dodson sent back a questionnaire full of caveats. He’s not alone in feeling that the platform contains many inconsistencies: that’s been a concern of some GOP candidates during the questionnaire rollout.
The first plank says “All individuals are endowed by their Creator from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death with the rights to Life, Liberty, Property and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
Dodson marked agreement. But, he added, “I think vesting property rights at conception is opening a big can of worms.”
Other Republicans have voiced concern with how plank 1’s language suggests opposition to the death penalty.
Plank 23 says “The Wyoming Republican Party opposes any federal takeover or interference of federal, state, or local elections.”
Dodson agrees, his questionnaire says.
“Which is why I’m puzzled by the sheer number of Wyoming Republicans who support the SAVE Act which is the most egregious takeover attempt of state election authority I’ve ver (sic) seen,” he wrote. “What’s up with that?”
Dodson told Cowboy State Daily in a Monday phone interview that he “didn’t expect much” from this process but is filling out all questionnaires so that he can get voters’ attention in the crowded race. His brand of Republican is “pragmatic,” he said, and he’s finding a base for it.
“I answered the questions based off my true thoughts without much regard to whether anybody else would like them,” said Dodson.
Gabe Saint’s Concern
Gabe Saint manages Gray’s campaign, but he spoke to Cowboy State Daily on Monday in his individual capacity.
He’s voiced repeated concerns via Facebook that the party plans to endorse more than one U.S. House candidate.
He declined to say Monday what informs those concerns.
“The Wyoming Republican party is the best GOP in the nation,” said Saint. “I think it’s very representative of the people of Wyoming, and I just want to see the party and the grassroots movement rally behind our conservative candidates and only do one endorsement. Don’t split any votes; just take everything to the finish line.”
Gray did not respond by publication to an email request for comment.
The Veteran
Bennett’s email telling Christesen he wouldn’t be getting the endorsement had listed other criteria besides donations to the party.
For example, it listed past donations to other parties or candidates, previous involvement with party committees, and legislative record breakdowns according to various sites. Those sites include Washington-DC-based Club for Growth Foundation.
“I talked with (state GOP Chairman) Bryan Miller,” said Christensen. “I said ‘Bryan. We are the election integrity party. It’s front and center…. You use sources outside the state of Wyoming – people who are not allowed to vote in Wyoming – to influence the vote in Wyoming, that is inconsistent with our voter integrity position as the Republican Party.’”
Miller declined Monday to respond to a series of questions sent to him and to Bennett ahead of the GOP central committee’s endorsement meeting Monday evening. Cowboy State Daily will update this story if Miller lends timely comment.
Christensen sent a Saturday email to Bennett and Miller asking the vetting committee to reconsider
The bylaw calling for vetting and endorsement says criteria “shall include but are not limited to: commitment to the Wyoming Republican Party Platform, demonstrated loyalty to the Party’s principles, legal eligibility to hold office, and for incumbents, their voting record.”
Christensen’s time in both military and federal service had barred him from partisan activities as well, he noted.
“For those Republicans who have served their country in the military and also in federal service, who were restricted from political activity, this criteria… has a chilling effect on bringing some of the most talented people available to run for office,” said Christensen.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
