Politics and Government Reporter

Leo Wolfson

Leo Wolfson is the State Government and Politics Reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Cheyenne. He is responsible for covering Wyoming politics on a federal and statewide level.

Leo led Cowboy State Dailys coverage of the 2022 Wyoming primary election, including the highly contentious race between former congresswoman Liz Cheney and her successor U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman. He also managed CSD's coverage of the 2023 State Legislature, which was by far the most extensive and timely media coverage of a legislative session in the state's history.

Before joining Cowboy State Daily, Leo was a general assignment reporter for the Cody Enterprise Newspaper in Cody from 2018-2022. Prior to that, he reported for a suburban newspaper outside Denver.

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Latest from Leo Wolfson

Gillette Hate-Crime Ordinance Reaching Boiling Point Ahead Of Tuesday Vote

Gillette City Council and community split over proposed hate-crime ordinance as the council is set for a final vote Tuesday.

Leo Wolfson11 min read

Debt Ceiling Deal Allows Biden To Pass The Buck Beyond 2024 Election, Hageman Says

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman says she was one of the 117 votes against the debt ceiling legislation that passed the U.S. House on Wednesday because it doesn’t go far enough to rein in spending while allowing the Biden administration to postpone impacts beyond the 2024 election.

Leo Wolfson5 min read

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray wants the state to set a maximum-allowed 30-day residency requirement to vote.

Chuck Gray Targets Voting Residency To Make Sure Wyoming Elections Are Only For Wyoming Residents

Secretary of State Chuck Gray unveiled his proposal for tightening election residency requirements Tuesday, urging state lawmakers to adopt a max-allowed residency of 30 days to vote in Wyoming.

Leo Wolfson8 min read

Although there's a large, empty dumpster at the west end of this rest stop along westbound Interstate 80 at exit 345, trash still piles up in the lot.

Trash Bins At Wyoming I-80 Rest Stops Lead To More Littering, Not Less, WYDOT Director Says

More litter piles up at Wyoming rest stops with trash bins than without, says Wyoming Department of Transportation director.

Leo Wolfson4 min read

Wyoming Department of Transportation data shows that 90% of commercial vehicle crashes along Interstate 80 through the Cowboy State involve out-of-state drivers.

Interstate 80 Through Wyoming A Huge Nightmare But No One Knows How To Fix It

While most Wyoming officials agree it was a particularly rough winter along Interstate 80, there are few solid answers about what can be done to make one of the most dangerous highways in the U.S. safer.

Leo Wolfson8 min read

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming, and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-California.

Harriet Hageman Defies US House Speaker McCarthy In Opposition Of Debt Ceiling Deal

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday she won’t support what some Republicans call a “turd sandwich” of a debt ceiling deal with President Joe Biden, in direct defiance of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Leo Wolfson5 min read

As Liz Cheney was introduced as the keynote speaker Sunday for the graduating class of Colorado College, some students turned their chairs to put their backs to her on stage, which is to the right out of frame.

Colorado College Grads Turn Backs To Alumnus Liz Cheney During Commencement Address

About half of Colorado College’s graduating class turned their chairs away from former Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney, a 1988 graduate of CC, during her commencement speech to the Class of 2023 on Sunday.

Leo Wolfson4 min read

What Does It Mean To Be 'Woke' In Wyoming? Depends On Who You Ask

Wyoming, and America, is waking up to “woke,” a powder-keg buzzword that’s become a fuse to provoke those who lean politically blue. Some use the word as a weapon while others embrace it as a rallying cry.

Leo Wolfson11 min read

Postal Service Snoops Through People’s Mail In Blatant Trampling Of Privacy, Sen. Cynthia Lummis Fears

U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis wants to know how much tracking the federal government has been doing of Wyoming residents’ mail in blatant violation of the rights of Wyoming residents.

Leo Wolfson3 min read

State Rep. Ryan Berger, R-Evanston, is proposing the Legislature consider a bill that would allow undocumented residents who graduate from Wyoming high schools to be eligible for in-state tuition to state colleges.

Wyoming Republican Wants To Allow In-State College Tuition For Illegal Aliens

State Rep. Ryan Berger, R-Evanston, wants to explore the idea of letting undocumented immigrants receive in-state tuition at Wyoming’s higher education institutions.

Leo Wolfson6 min read

Sen. Bo Biteman Wants To Revive Failed Effort To Ban Sex And Gender Education In Wyoming Schools

Emotions ran hot during a Wyoming Legislature Joint Education Committee meeting Wednesday about parental control and teaching sex and gender issues to kids ages kindergarten through third grade.

Leo Wolfson6 min read

Wyoming welands tetons background 5 25 23

Supreme Court Ruling For Western Ranchers Over EPA Is A Win For Private Property Rights

Wyomingites are celebrating a Thursday Supreme Court decision that the Environmental Protection Agency overstepped its authority to regulate private property wetlands. Former BLM Director William Pendley calls the ruling a “huge victory for landowners.”

Leo Wolfson5 min read

Other Authors

Cheyenne resident Marci Kindred, pictured here playing chess at the Wyoming Capitol during the 2023 legislative session, is forming a group to be an organized voice to fight efforts to ban and/or restrict controversial books and materials in Cheyenne school libraries.

Cheyenne Group To Fight Against Banning Controversial Books From School Libraries

Wyoming Families For Freedom wants to block a raft of policy changes the Laramie County School District 1 is considering to restrict access to certain books in its library system.

Leo Wolfson5 min read

An artist's rendering of what the proposed Cody Wyoming Temple would look like.

Plans For 101-Foot Mormon Temple In Cody Spark Opposition, Petition Drive

A proposed Mormon temple in Cody has drawn backlash from some locals who say it will blight their views, violate zoning rules and cause other issues in the residential neighborhood it’s planned for.

Leo Wolfson6 min read

Weston County Agrees That Secret Ballots, Hidden Communications Illegal In Lawsuit Settlement

Weston County commissioners on Tuesday settled a lawsuit that sets a legal precedent clarifying that voting by secret ballot and conducting electronic communications to engage in public business in Wyoming is illegal, media attorney says.

Leo Wolfson5 min read

Hageman Says Republicans Can’t Seem “To Wake Up Joe Biden” To Face Debt Ceiling Crisis

U.S. Harriet Hageman said Republicans are effectively holding court when it comes to debt ceiling negotiations, and they won’t accept any proposal that doesn’t cut spending.

Leo Wolfson4 min read

WEA Lawsuit Over School Funding Latest In 50-Year Fight To Define Wyoming’s Charge For ‘Adequate' And 'Equitable' Funding

Just how much money is required for “adequate” and "equitable" public school funding is a legal question that’s been litigated in Wyoming for more than 50 years, including an ongoing WEA lawsuit.

Leo Wolfson6 min read

Wyoming Attorney Says ‘Christian Nationalism’ Has ‘Highjacked’ Republican Party

Casper Attorney Susan Stubson is getting pushback after saying Wyoming is being “hijacked” by “Christian nationalism” and far-right Republicans in a New York Times op-ed.

Leo Wolfson8 min read

Wyoming GOP Unhappy With Supreme Court Decision It Can’t Make Its Own Election Rules

A recent Wyoming Supreme Court decision that political parties can’t make rules contrary to state law is a frustrating legal pill to swallow, say some state party officials.

Leo Wolfson7 min read

Tiny trees and tasty Wyoming-grown honey are Cheryl Burke's stock-in-trade.

Cowboy State People: Cheryl Burke Sells Bonsai Trees & Honey Along Highway Through Tiny Eden, Wyoming

Cheryl Burke grows, trims and sells her bonsai trees from a roadside stand along Highway 191 as it runs through the tiny town of Eden in southwestern Wyoming.

Leo Wolfson5 min read

Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, left, is chairman of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus. House Speaker Albert Sommers, R-Pinedale, right, has called out the caucus as a divisive force in the state Republican Party.

House Speaker Sommers Says Freedom Caucus Is Dividing Republicans In It’s ‘Thirst For Power’

House Speaker Rep. Albert Sommers, R-Pinedale, slammed Wyoming Freedom Caucus members, accusing the group of having a “thirst for power” in pushing a far-right or nothing agenda on state Republicans.

Leo Wolfson6 min read