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
Cheyenne House Race: Candidates Say Opponents Way Out Of Touch With Voters
In a battle for Cheyenne's House District 11, both candidates are saying their opponent is out of touch with local voters. Jacob Wasserburger's mailer features his opponent with President Biden while Sara Burlingame's mailer shows her opponent shirtless wearing a top hat.
Leo WolfsonOctober 22, 2024
Laramie County Buys Wyoming’s Tallest Building To House Its Growing Government
In anticipation of future growth of local government because of an influx of population, Laramie County recently paid $5.5 million to buy the tallest building in Wyoming. The Wyoming Financial Center building is nine stories and 148 feet tall.
Leo WolfsonOctober 21, 2024
Controversial Laramie Democrat Karlee Provenza Seeks Third Term In House
State Rep. Karlee Provenza is one of the few Democrat fixtures in the Wyoming Legislature and isn’t shy about sharing her liberal views. That’s why her Republican opponent for House District 45 says she doesn’t represent her constituents.
Leo WolfsonOctober 21, 2024
Hundreds Of Wyoming Coal Jobs Threatened By Federal Regulation, Legislator Says
A state legislator says the future of a coal mine that employs hundreds of Sheridan County people is threatened by proposed federal regulation. Cyrus Western is worried the feds will cut the Spring Creek mine’s available coal by half because of a proposed revision to an environmental impact statement.
Leo WolfsonOctober 20, 2024
Number One Topic At Cheyenne Barbershops: Politics, Politics, Politics
Cheyenne barber Glen Chavez isn't shy about saying the current administration has turned the U.S. into a third world country. Other barbers, however, try to steer the conversation away from politics. But that's what customers want to talk about, they say.
Leo WolfsonOctober 19, 2024
Immigration, Trump Main Themes As Barrasso Debates Opponent In Their Only Debate
Wyoming Senator John Barrasso and his Democratic opponent Scott Morrow met in their only debate of the election season Thursday night. They sparred over immigration COVID mandates and Trump.
Leo WolfsonOctober 18, 2024
Weston County Defies Legislature, Will Appoint Its Own House, Senate Seats
The Weston County Commission is moving forward with a plan to create its own Wyoming House and Senate seats in defiance of the Legislature. Commissioners will vote next week to appoint people to fill those seats.
Leo WolfsonOctober 17, 2024
Challenger Calls Out Cheyenne Mayor For Keeping Massive Facebook Data Center Secret
Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins is being called out by his challenger in the Nov. 5 election for signing an NDA to keep the massive Meta (aka Facebook) data center secret.
Leo WolfsonOctober 17, 2024
2,000-Pound Esther Morris, Chief Washakie Statues Moved To Final Spots In Capitol
Statues honoring Esther Hobart Morris and Chief Washakie at the Wyoming Capitol were moved Wednesday. Even moving them from one end of a hall to another, it’s not easy moving 2,000-pound works of art.
Leo WolfsonOctober 17, 2024
Casper Anti-Abortion Protesters Want City Council To Stop Harassment
Nearly 20 people, including a state legislator, told the Casper City Council on Tuesday they're being harassed while protesting a local abortion clinic. They want to the city to do something about it.
Leo WolfsonOctober 16, 2024
Freedom Caucus Chair Claims Legislator Misusing Logos In Write-In Campaign
The chairman of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus filed a complaint with the state Tuesday against another legislator. She claims Jon Conrad is misusing the logos of the Wyoming Legislature and Freedom Caucus in campaign messages.
Leo WolfsonOctober 16, 2024
Local GOP Chair Says Kamala Billboard On Wyoming’s Highway 20 Will Help Trump
A billboard endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president has gone up along Highway 20 just outside Thermopolis, Wyoming. The local GOP chair says putting it in the middle of Republican-dominated Wyoming will only help Trump.
Leo WolfsonOctober 15, 2024
Legislature Considers Limiting Press Access At Wyoming Capitol During Session
The Wyoming Legislature is considering a rule to restrict the access working press have to some areas of the state Capitol in Cheyenne. That includes hallways outside the Senate and House chambers traditionally used mostly by press photographers.
Leo WolfsonOctober 15, 2024
Casper Abortion Clinic, Protesters Both Claim The Other's Harassing Them
A Casper abortion clinic wants a Casper City Council member to stop protestors harassing its patients. But the pro-life demonstrators say they’re the ones being harassed by clinic employees.
Leo WolfsonOctober 15, 2024
Pollster: Kamala Should Be Worried As Her Poll Numbers Continue To Slide
A national political pollster, who has done polling in Wyoming, says his 25 years of gauging support for candidates tell him that Vice President Kamala Harris should be worried. As her polling numbers drop, he says he’d put his money on Trump.
Leo WolfsonOctober 14, 2024
Trump Shouts Out Harriet Hageman, Chuck Gray At Colorado Rally
Former President Donald Trump singled out a pair of Wyoming politicians during a Friday rally in Aurora, Colorado. He gave shoutouts to Harriet Hageman for beating Liz Cheney “so badly” and Chuck Gray for doing a “great job.”
Leo WolfsonOctober 12, 2024
Massive Early Voting Turnout Surge Shatters Records Across Wyoming
Early voting opened across Wyoming this week and is shattering turnout records. In Cheyenne, the line was out the door Friday afternoon with people waiting to cast their ballots ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.
Leo WolfsonOctober 11, 2024
Park County Coroner Who Is Also Funeral Home Director Is Running To Be On Cemetery Board
The local funeral home director in Cody is also the Park County coroner. He is now running to serve on the local cemetery board. This would give him a role in all stages of death in the county.
Leo WolfsonOctober 11, 2024
Wyoming’s Huge Wildfires Prompt National Online Conspiracy Theories
A pair of huge wildfires have burned more than 147,000 acres in Wyoming, and people are wondering why that’s not national news. Others are pushing conspiracy theories, including the government started the fires to access rare earth minerals.
Leo WolfsonOctober 11, 2024
Gordon: Wyoming Has Burned Through Two-Year Fire Budget, Needs More Money
Gov. Mark Gordon said Thursday that he’s asking the Legislature for authority to spend more money on fighting Wyoming wildfires. The state has already burned through its $39 million two-year emergency account, and then some.
Leo WolfsonOctober 11, 2024
Legislature Will Consider Potential To Store High-Level Nuclear Waste In Wyoming
A legislative committee advanced a bill this week that, if passed, would move toward allowing storing high-level nuclear waste in Wyoming. Opponents say it’s a disaster waiting to happen, while supporters say it’s “close-minded” not to consider.
Leo WolfsonOctober 10, 2024