Clair McFarland
Clair McFarland is a general assignment reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Riverton, Wyoming. She specializes in crime and court reporting and social issues coverage. Clair also writes a twice-monthly column on motherhood and country living.
Previously, Clair wrote for The Ranger, the Lander Journal and the Wind River News. She is an award-winning journalist, columnist and poet, who joined Cowboy State Daily on Valentine's Day, 2022.
Latest from Clair McFarland
Another Trump Call For Imported Beef Riles Up Wyoming Ranchers
Wyoming ranchers are riled at President Trump’s Friday announcement that the U.S. will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef to be imported without tariffs. They say Wyoming would be better off if allowed to sell state-inspected beef across state lines.
Clair McFarlandAugust 22, 2026
PAC That Spent $550K Helping Freedom Caucus Had 87% Failure Rate
For Virginia-based PAC “Make Liberty Win” $479,000 of the $550,000 it spent helping Freedom Caucus-aligned candidates went to lost races. Sen. Cale Case, who was targeted by the group, said he was unsurprised: "(People) are really tired of the negative campaigning.”
Clair McFarlandAugust 22, 2026
Mexican National Accused Of Snake River Canyon Rampage Wasn't Drunk, Prosecutors Say
The Mexican national accused of trying to ram numerous travelers in the Snake River Canyon two summers ago was not drunk, prosecutors said this week. “The individual deliberately targeted our vehicle and attempted to kill my family,” one driver said.
Clair McFarlandAugust 21, 2026
Authorities Not Saying If False Rasner Trump Endorsement Text Brings Consequences
Authorities are tight-lipped or uncertain over whether consequences could follow a mysterious text blast on Primary Election Day that said — falsely — that President Donald Trump had endorsed U.S. House candidate Reid Rasner.
Clair McFarlandAugust 21, 2026
Libertarian Party Nominates Republican Cale Case And Democrat Karlee Provenza
In a statement about how it should be able to send anyone it chooses into the election, the Libertarian Party nominated Republican Sen. Cale Case and Democrat Rep. Karlee Provenza at its convention. The Secretary of State’s Office rejected the nominations.
Clair McFarlandAugust 21, 2026
No, Closet Democrats Didn't Nominate Republican Barlow For Gov., Politicos Say
Despite claims that Eric Barlow won the Republican primary for governor due to closet Democrats, political analysts disagree. Also, an analysis of voter registration and turnout percentages predicts Barlow winning even without the margin of likely crossover.
Clair McFarlandAugust 20, 2026
Wyoming Freedom Caucus Says It’s Not Dead After Devastating Primary Losses
After Tuesday's Republican primary election gutted the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, the caucus says it’s far from dead — and will regroup. “I don’t think any of us anticipated this kind of loss,” said former chair John Bear.
Clair McFarlandAugust 20, 2026
The Great Wyoming Freedom Caucus Massacre — By The Numbers
After Tuesday’s primary, the Wyoming Freedom Caucus is being gutted from about a 35-member bloc in the state House to about 10. Of those likely to reach the House after the general election, about 43 say they don’t align with the controversial caucus.
Clair McFarlandAugust 19, 2026
Primary Election Winners: Curt Meier Got The Best Deal Per Vote, Chuck Gray The Worst
Among Wyoming GOP primary election winners, Treasurer Curt Meier got the best deal of campaign expense per vote at $1.61, and U.S. House nominee Chuck Gray the worst, at $44. Including the runners-up, Reid Rasner spent the most with a staggering $209 per vote.
Clair McFarlandAugust 19, 2026
Near-Total Massacre For Freedom Caucus In Wyoming Primary
Tuesday marked a rough night for the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, as its members and allies fell to a slew of legislative newcomers in the Republican primary election. "Wyoming citizens spoke loud and clear tonight!" said caucus critic Rep. Landon Brown.
Clair McFarlandAugust 19, 2026
Ogden Driskill Beats Chip Neiman, Says It's A "Solid Rejection Of Freedom Caucus"
Sen. Ogden Driskill fended off House Speaker Chip Neiman in a 51%-48% race Tuesday, to hold his longtime Senate seat. "There was a very solid rejection of what the Freedom Caucus has done and how they operate,” Driskill said.
Clair McFarlandAugust 19, 2026
Chuck Gray Fends Off Eight Other Republicans To Win U.S. House Nomination
Secretary of State Chuck Gray won the Republican nomination to U.S. House Tuesday — over eight other GOP challengers. He will face Libertarian Shawn Johnson and Democratic nominee Lisa Kinney in the general election Nov. 3.
Clair McFarlandAugust 19, 2026
Robert Short Wins GOP Nomination For Secretary Of State
Converse County Commissioner Robert Short, who campaigned on the slogan "Make The Secretary of State's Office Boring Again," won the GOP nomination for the office Tuesday. He defeated Freedom Caucus Chair Rachel Williams, and two other Republicans.
Clair McFarlandAugust 19, 2026
Steve Harshman Wins GOP Nod For Wyoming Schools Chief
Wyoming's longest serving state House member was nominated Tuesday in the race for Superintendent of Public Instruction, over challengers Tom Kelly and Chad Auer.
Clair McFarlandAugust 19, 2026
Wyoming Treasurer Curt Meier Beats Freedom Caucus Challenger
Wyoming Treasurer Curt Meier won the GOP nomination Tuesday, over Freedom Caucus challenger Rep. Scott Smith.
Clair McFarlandAugust 19, 2026
Eric Barlow Wins GOP Nomination For Governor Over Trump-Backed Candidate
Sen. Eric Barlow, a legislator of 14 years, won the GOP nomination for Wyoming governor Tuesday, over Megan Degenfelder and Brent Bien.
Clair McFarlandAugust 19, 2026
Lloyd Larsen Bests Jeff Martin Again To Keep House Seat
Rep. Lloyd Larsen won the GOP nomination to his Lander district Tuesday over challenger Jeff Martin, who had challenged him two cycles prior as well.
Clair McFarlandAugust 19, 2026
Cale Case Wins GOP Nomination To Keep Senate Seat
State Sen. Cale Case won the Republican nomination Tuesday over Lisa Wilson. If he wins the general election, he continues nearly four decades of legislative service.
Clair McFarlandAugust 19, 2026
Harriet Hageman Wins GOP Nomination For Wyoming U.S. Senate Seat
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman defeated four other Republican challengers for the Republican nomination to U.S. Senate in Tuesday's primary election.
Clair McFarlandAugust 19, 2026
White House: Text Blast Is False, Trump Did Not Endorse Reid Rasner
The White House says a last minute text blast claiming President Trump endorsed Reid Rasner for U.S. House is false. For anyone to suggest an endorsement in that race, "is just incorrect and false," said White House political director Matt Brasseaux.
Clair McFarlandAugust 18, 2026
Wyoming 2026 Primary Election: Here's What We're Seeing
It's primary election day in Wyoming which means a likely end to months of mudslinging and avalanches of semi-truthful fliers sent in the U.S. mail. Cowboy State Daily is doing limited exit polling on Tuesday before live coverage begins at 7:00 p.m.
Clair McFarlandAugust 18, 2026