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 Daily's 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.
Latest from Leo Wolfson
Wyoming GOP Rejects ‘Liz Cheney Amendment’ To Kick People Out Of Party
After about eight hours of discussion and debate Thursday, the Bylaws Committee of the Wyoming Republican Party rejected a bylaws change nicknamed the “Liz Cheney Amendment” that would have allowed the state party to kick out members it doesn’t like.
Leo WolfsonApril 19, 2024
Wyoming’s Republican Governor Won’t Attend State GOP Convention
Citing prior commitments, Gov. Mark Gordon’s office told Cowboy State Daily that Gordon, Wyoming’s Republican governor, won’t attend the state GOP convention this weekend in Cheyenne.
Leo WolfsonApril 18, 2024
Radical Bylaw Changes Would Let Wyoming GOP Kick Out Members It Doesn’t Like
At its state convention this weekend, the Wyoming Republican Party will consider proposed bylaw changes that would allow the state party to kick out members for a wide variety of reasons.
Leo WolfsonApril 18, 2024
Wyoming GOP Says Water Tower Veto Was Retaliation, Possibly Unconstitutional
The Wyoming Republican Party is questioning whether Gov. Mark Gordon’s veto of emergency money for a failing water tower in Wheatland was retaliation and questions whether he violated the state Constitution.
Leo WolfsonApril 17, 2024
It’s Official: Barrasso Wants Another 6 Years In US Senate
John Barrasso, Wyoming’s senior U.S. senator, officially announced Wednesday that he’s running for reelection to a fourth term in Congress.
Leo WolfsonApril 17, 2024
Hageman Presents Historic Articles Of Impeachment Against Mayorkas
Wyoming congresswoman Harriet Hageman was among the U.S. House members to deliver the historic articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate on Tuesday.
Leo WolfsonApril 17, 2024
Unhappy Weston County Commissioners Declare Vacant Wyoming House, Senate Seats
In a move some Wyoming legislators say “they have zero ability to do,” Weston County commissioners unhappy with their representation in the Legislature have voted to declare vacant state Senate and House seats.
Leo WolfsonApril 17, 2024
Supreme Court’s Ruling On Trans Surgeries For Kids Likely Bolsters Wyoming’s New Law
A Monday U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding Idaho’s ban on transgender surgeries for minors likely also bolsters Wyoming’s new law that does the same.
Leo WolfsonApril 16, 2024
Biden Nearly Unanimous Pick Of Wyoming Democrats
The Wyoming Democratic Party held its primary caucuses across the state Saturday and gave President Joe Biden 322 of the 324 state convention delegate votes. The other two votes went to Colorado resident David Olscamp and "uncommitted."
Leo WolfsonApril 16, 2024
PETA Holds Anti-Meat Protest In Wyoming, No One Shows Up
PETA held a protest at the Wyoming State Capitol on Monday to push for a tax on meat. The two humans dressed as cows had plenty of room to protest as no one showed up.
Leo WolfsonApril 15, 2024
Cheyenne Newcomer Runs For State House, Says Legislature Needs More Young People
A Wyoming native who’s lived in Cheyenne for about a year has announced he is running for the state House. The 31-year-old, who moved to Cheyenne from Sheridan, says the Wyoming Legislature needs more young people.
Leo WolfsonApril 15, 2024
Gordon Rejects Chuck Gray’s Voter Residency Rules
Gov. Mark Gordon on Friday rejected a slate of tighter voter registration rules proposed by Secretary of State Chuck Gray, saying Wyoming’s elections are “safe and secure.”
Leo WolfsonApril 13, 2024
Yoder Residents Say Tons Of Dust From Sand Operation Is Choking Them Out
The mayor of the southeastern Wyoming town of Yoder said he’s at his wits’ end with a local sand processing plant that’s choking the town out with tons of dust, traffic and noise.
Leo WolfsonApril 13, 2024
Hageman Votes Against Bill To Allow Warrantless Spying On Americans
Wyoming congresswoman Harriet Hageman voted Friday against a bill reauthorizing the Department of Justice to conduct warrantless searches on American citizens. The bill passed.
Leo WolfsonApril 12, 2024
Effort Underway To Rename Mount Woodring In Grand Teton National Park
A push is on to rename Mount Woodring in Grand Teton National Park because it’s named for a former park superintendent charged with attempting to rape a child in 1934.
Leo WolfsonApril 11, 2024
Chuck Gray Spearheads Effort For Guns In State Capitol, Other State Buildings
At a meeting of the top five elected officials on Wednesday, Chuck Gray proposed allowing guns in the State Capitol building and other state buildings. Gray said a lot of his employees want to bring guns to work but are currently not allowed due to.
Leo WolfsonApril 11, 2024
Analysis: Casper Republican Has Most Success Passing Bills In 2024 Session
A Cowboy State Daily analysis shows that Casper Republican Sen. Jim Anderson was the most successful in the Legislature in getting individual bills passed during the 2024 legislative session.
Leo WolfsonApril 11, 2024
In Stunning Announcement, Senate VP Kinskey Won’t Run For Reelection
In a stunning announcement Wednesday, Wyoming Senate Vice President Dave Kinskey, R-Sheridan, announced he won’t run for reelection to his Senate District 22 seat.
Leo WolfsonApril 10, 2024
Fort Washakie Democrat Wants To Flip Fremont County House Seat Back To Blue
Fort Washakie Democrat Ivan Posey has announced he’s running for the Wyoming Legislature in an effort to return House District 33 in Fremont County to blue.
Leo WolfsonApril 10, 2024
Total Eclipse A Huge Event, Even In Wyoming Where It Was Only About 60%
Although Wyoming wasn't on the path of totality for Monday's total eclipse like it was in 2017, plenty of people were looking to the sky around midday to see the eclipse, which was about 50% to 60% across the state.
Ellen Fike, Leo Wolfson, Coy Knobel & Andrew RossiApril 08, 2024
For 58 Years, Cheyenne’s Eli Trujillo Is A Barber’s Barber — And Still Cutting Hair
Eli Trujillo of Cheyenne has been cutting hair for 58 years and even at age 86, is still a barber's barber, actively cutting hair five days a week behind his familiar chair at the family barbershop.
Leo WolfsonApril 07, 2024
Park County Republican Party Censures Mark Gordon Over Vetoes
The Park County Republican Party censured Gov. Mark Gordon on Thursday over vetoes the governor made to bills passed during the recent legislative session. The sharply-worded censure passed on a 62-24 vote.
Leo WolfsonApril 05, 2024
Well-Known Rancher Cat Urbigkit Announces Run To Replace House Speaker Sommers
Sublette County rancher Cat Urbigkit on Friday announced she’s running to replace House Speaker Albert Sommers in the Wyoming Legislature, who isn’t running for reelection. Urbigkit describes herself as being more of a Libertarian than Sommers.
Leo WolfsonApril 05, 2024
Controversial State Land Transfer In Sheridan County Killed By State Land Board
A 560-acre tract of pristine state trust land in Sheridan County will remain open to the public after the State Land Board on Thursday voted to kill the land swap. The meeting got off to a heated start with Chuck Gray and Megan Degenfelder exchanging barbs.
Leo WolfsonApril 04, 2024
Early Freedom Caucus Member Runs To Win Back Wyoming House Seat
Former state Rep. Bob Wharff of Evanston was an early member of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus who gave up his state House seat in an unsuccessful run for the Senate in 2022. Now he wants that House seat back.
Leo WolfsonApril 04, 2024
So You Want To Be Wyoming Governor? It Helps To Be Male And Married With Kids
A Cowboy State Daily analysis of Wyoming’s 33 governors shows some interesting commonalities among the state’s highest office holders, including they’re almost always male, married and have kids.
Leo WolfsonApril 04, 2024
Former Legislator Who Lost By 12 Votes In 2022 Wants His Seat Back
Former state Rep. JD Williams of Lusk lost by just 12 votes in the 2022 Republican primary, the closest race for the Wyoming Legislature. Now the Lusk resident says he’s running to win back his seat from incumbent Rep. Allen Slagle.
Leo WolfsonApril 03, 2024
Legislators May Bring Back Blockbuster Property Tax Swap For Sales Tax Increase
A highlight from Monday’s Management Council meeting is that the Senate Revenue Committee may bring back a blockbuster proposal that would eliminate property taxes for 97% of homeowners in return for an increase in sales tax.
Leo WolfsonApril 02, 2024
Company Behind Trump’s Flashy Gold High-Top Sneakers Registered In Wyoming
A law firm that’s helped set up more than 5,000 limited liability companies in Wyoming is the registered agent for former President Donald Trump’s flashy gold high-top sneakers, which sold out at $399 a pair.
Leo WolfsonApril 01, 2024
Freedom Caucus Endorses Candidates In University Of Wyoming Student Election
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus has taken the unprecedented step of endorsing two candidates in the upcoming student government election at the University of Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonApril 01, 2024