Two Republicans are vying to replace outgoing GOP state Rep. Jacob Wasserburger in a “purple” district of Cheyenne.
They are retired computer support network administrator Paul Wing and Dan McIntosh, an economist and teacher. They face off in the Aug. 18 primary election.
The winner will face Democratic candidate Britney Tennant and Constitution Party nominee Donald van Meter in the Nov. 3 general election.
Wing and McIntosh in Tuesday phone interviews both called data center issues their top priority.
The Cheyenne area is Wyoming’s most teeming hub of data center development, with at least 10 operational, five under construction and nine more on the horizon, Cheyenne LEADS reports.
Wing, who’s endorsed by the Wyoming Freedom Caucus but not sure if he will join it, said he wants a moratorium on new data centers for at least as long as it takes to build responsible policies around them.
McIntosh said he would like to see the Legislature work together, and quickly, to address some data centers’ massive power demands, water issues and any shortfalls in the state’s siting policies. He said Wyoming has fallen behind in this area.
Wing, 65, and McIntosh, 42, both say they’re pro-life and pro-gun.
Why You Running?
McIntosh said he was born and raised in his district, his family still lives there and those roots have driven his will to run.
“I want to see this area continue to provide opportunities that I got to enjoy when I was a kid,” he said.
McIntosh directs Laramie County Community College’s Center for Business and Economic Analysis, teaches economics law and policy, and helps coach cross country at Cheyenne East High School. He also serves as a space operations officer in the Air Force Reserve.
He tried to explain that job with care.
“It basically means – I’d never say this among true pilots – but we pilot the satellites that are in orbit,” said McIntosh.
He said he believes his work skills, including having budgeted for a larger-scale department, suit him for the Legislature. But character, decency, and knowing when to build coalitions versus call out wrongs are more important goals and traits for that role, said McIntosh.
“I won’t blow smoke up and qualify myself as, ‘Oh I’m the perfect candidate for all roles,’” he said. “Because no one knows this until they step into the chamber. Ask me a year from now.”
Wing, who was born in Kansas City and “moved all around” until coming to Wyoming from Ohio about 16 years ago, said he’s running to thwart troubling movements he’s seen elsewhere.
“I just want to make sure we can maintain our Wyoming and Cheyenne values – our American values – and not give it over to socialist and un-American forms of government, Sharia law, and socialism.”
Wing said he’s been a conservative for his entire life and can carry rationality, troubleshooting skills, and critical thinking into the Legislature.
He said he’s hosted conservative gatherings at his home, and the outgoing representative, Wasserburger, asked him to run.
After passing a data center moratorium and other policies, Wing said he wants to build policies around license-plate reader cameras. He pointed to instances in which police have abused that technology around the nation.
Why Are You A Republican?
McIntosh said he grew up as an automatic Republican in Wyoming, but didn’t think of the state’s political leaders like Republican Sen. Al Simpson or the Democratic Gov. Mike Sullivan in partisan terms.
“People didn’t talk about our politicians that way,” he said. “At least I wasn’t exposed to that.”
But when he got to college he truly realized he’s a Republican, said McIntosh.
“I didn’t share the same beliefs that the Democrats around me did. A lot of this comes down to my economic foundation,” he said. “I believe in smaller government, lower taxes, allowing the free market to do much more than – I think – a lot of Democrats, especially more recently, have (aspired).”
He said he aligns with conservative values as well.
Wing said he’s a Republican because his beliefs have always generally aligned with the party’s. He believes in a strong national defense and constitutional rights, he said.
“Basically, I align with their platform,” said Wing.
The Wyoming Republican Party’s 23-plank platform calls for pro-life, pro-gun tenets and for strong private property rights and local elections free from federal interference, among other ideals.
Will You Join The Freedom Caucus?
Wing is endorsed by the Wyoming Freedom Caucus as well as some of its members and followers: Cheyenne-based Republican Reps. Ann Lucas, Steve Johnson, and Gary Brown.
The caucus is a controversial group of House Republicans that advocates for new laws on social issues and proposed budget cuts. Its proponents say it’s the true voice of the Wyoming political right. Its opponents say it over-relies on its national network and pushes sloppy legislation.
On whether to join it, said Wing, “I have no idea.”
“I have been supported by them. However I have not made any determination whether I’m going to join the Freedom Caucus or not,” he said. “I’m sure we share a lot of values, but … the big issue is to get elected and do what’s best for the citizens of Wyoming.”
McIntosh’s answer was no.
“It’s difficult, because I don’t have strong objections to their platform and some of the more conservative ideas that they work on,” he said.
But he doesn’t always agree with their methods, and what he sees as a surge of an “all-or-nothing approach to governance,” he added.
McIntosh said being able to work with others is especially important in House District 11, which he called “purple.”
Just How Purple?
HD 11’s current delegate, Wasserburger, defeated former legislator Sara Burlingame, a Democrat, in his 2024 freshman run by fewer than 300 votes in a 3,260-vote general election.
Now-Sen. Jared Olsen also squeaked out a Republican win in House District 11, when he beat Democratic challenger Marguerite Herman by 132 votes in 2022.
Those are much tighter splits than Cheyenne’s House District 7, for example, where longtime Republican Rep. Bob Nicholas roughly doubled his Democratic opponent’s vote count in 2024.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
