Dear editor:
Jonathan Lange is right about one thing: Wyoming politics has been flooded with big money, pass-through organizations and an endless stream of political mailers.
But his column, “The Money Behind The Mailers May Surprise You,” tells only one side of that story.
Pastor Lange painstakingly traces progressive networks such as the Sixteen Thirty Fund and Wyoming Donor Alliance, describing what he sees as a “socialist influence operation.”
Yet his column says nothing about the substantial out-of-state money supporting candidates associated with the Wyoming Freedom Caucus.
If out-of-state political money threatens Wyoming's independence, what about Virginia-based Make Liberty Win?
The PAC spent approximately $549,000 in Wyoming's 2026 elections, largely supporting Freedom Caucus members and aligned candidates.
In 14 legislative races, it spent more than the candidates' own campaign committees.
Nor does Lange mention that the Wyoming Freedom Caucus is partnered with and supported by the Washington, D.C.-based State Freedom Caucus Network, which provides staffing, strategy and other resources to state caucuses.
And if we're going to “unravel where the money really comes from,” consider Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray, a founding member of the Freedom Caucus.
Campaign-finance records from his 2022 secretary-of-state campaign showed that his father contributed $500,000 of the $527,980 Gray reported raising—about 95% of the total.
Those facts don't make progressive outside money acceptable.
They demonstrate why the standard should be applied consistently.
As a lifelong Wyoming Republican, I believe in fiscal responsibility, transparency and government accountable to local communities.
I don't want George Soros or national progressive organizations attempting to reshape Wyoming politics.
But the same scrutiny should apply when outside money supports candidates with whom we happen to agree.
Wyoming citizens do need to “get wise in a hurry,” as Lange writes.
That means following all the money—not merely the money coming from one side—and asking whether Wyoming elections are increasingly being shaped by organizations and donors far removed from the people who actually live here.
Sincerely,
Gary Coles, Mountain View
