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 House Members Getting Antsy As Senate Holds Onto State Budget
The Wyoming House is starting to get a little antsy over how long the state Senate is holding onto the supplemental budget without taking any action on it. The Senate has had the $680 million plan for two weeks.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 22, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 28
The 28th day of the 2025 Wyoming legislative session Friday saw significant discussions about bills banning DEI programs and restricting abortion. The House also is getting impatient for the Senate to address the supplemental budget.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 22, 2025
Bill Proposes Massive Overhaul To Base Property Taxes On Home Price, Not Valuation
While the most attention has been on a proposed 50% property tax cut moving through the Wyoming Legislature, another bill proposes a much larger overhaul of the system. It would base property taxes on a home’s purchase price, similar to auto registrations.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 22, 2025
Getting DEI Out Of Wyoming, UW “A Long Time In Coming,” Says Sponsor Of Ban
A bill to ban DEI programs and policies from Wyoming agencies — with exceptions for nonprofits that get public money — easily passed a House committee Friday. The bill’s sponsor says getting DEI out of Wyoming and UW has “been a long time in coming.”
Leo WolfsonFebruary 21, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 27
On the 27th day of the 2025 Wyoming legislative session, the Senate rejected the changes made to a major property tax cut bill. Also, a woman taunted a male legislator by calling him “madame” while testifying about the “What is a Woman Act.”
Leo WolfsonFebruary 21, 2025
Senate Rejects House Changes To Huge 50% Property Tax Cut
After the Wyoming House spent more than five hours debating 21 amendments before passing a huge 50% property tax bill Wednesday, the Senate took minutes to reject it Thursday. Now the two chambers will have to negotiate.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 21, 2025
Wyoming Republicans Divided On How To Best Achieve Property Tax Relief
How to best achieve property tax relief has been the driving issue of the 2025 legislative session so far, and is dividing Wyoming Republicans. The main sticking points are whether to backfill deficits created by the cuts, and if so, how much.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 20, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 26
The 26th day of the 2025 Wyoming legislative session Wednesday featured more than five hours of discussion on a 50% property tax cut bill, which the House passed.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 20, 2025
After Marathon Debate, Wyoming House Passes Massive 50% Property Tax Cut
After a marathon debate that lasted into the night, the Wyoming House passed a massive 50% property tax cut. It’s a win for the Freedom Caucus but critics say it would drive Wyoming off a fiscal cliff.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 20, 2025
Change To Ballot Drop Box Ban Would Allow Drop Slots At Wyoming Courthouses
A significant change was made to a bill that would ban ballot drop boxes in Wyoming. It would allow for ballots to be deposited into courthouses from the outside, not unlike a safety deposit box or night depository at a bank.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 19, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 25
The 2025 Wyoming legislative session reached the 25-day mark Tuesday, advancing a bill that bans gun-free zones while a House member chastised his colleagues for not debating bills enough and taking “marching orders” from the Freedom Caucus.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 19, 2025
Landon Brown Blasts House Members For Taking “Marching Orders” From Freedom Caucus
State Rep. Landon Brown’s frustration boiled over Tuesday as he blasted some of his fellow state House members for not debating bills enough. He also chided them for taking “marching orders” on how to vote from Wyoming Freedom Caucus leadership.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 19, 2025
First 15 Bills Of 2025 Session Hit Governor’s Desk, 260 Other Bills Still Alive
The final stretch of the 2025 Wyoming legislative session is approaching with the first 15 bills hitting Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk for approval. There are still 260 bills remaining to be decided.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 19, 2025
Mike Gierau Is A True Wyoming Political Underdog — A Democrat From Jackson
State Sen. Mike Gierau is a good example of a political underdog in the Wyoming Legislature. He’s one of only two Democrats in the Senate — and he’s also from Jackson.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 18, 2025
Full Senate To Debate Bill Banning Illegal Immigrants From Driving In Wyoming
A bill to ban illegal immigrants from driving in Wyoming easily passed a Senate committee Tuesday. But not before hearing some heated testimony from those who oppose it. Next stop for the bill is the full Senate for debate.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 18, 2025
Wyoming Not Immune From Trump and Musk’s Downsizing Of Federal Government
Federal agencies in Wyoming like the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service aren’t immune from the sweeping downsizing President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing from Washington, D.C. Some probationary and seasonal workers have been cut.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 18, 2025
Cheyenne Couple Loses Insurance After Truck Crashes Into Their House
A pickup truck crashed into a Cheyenne couple’s home last fall, causing at least $30,000 damage. Now State Farm Insurance is dropping their home coverage, and no other company will insure them.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 17, 2025
Trump Calls Bo Biteman A ‘Patriot’ For Universal School Vouchers Bill
President Donald Trump on Sunday called Wyoming Senate President Bo Biteman a "patriot" for his efforts to pass the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act, a bill that would bring universal school vouchers to Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 16, 2025
After DEI Fight With Legislature, University Of Wyoming Launches Image Makeover
After a very public and contentious DEI fight with the state Legislature, the University of Wyoming is launching an image makeover. They say their new “Wyoming First” agenda will focus on actively promoting its state-focused programs.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 15, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 24
The 24th day of the 2025 Wyoming legislative session Friday featured lively discussions on universal school vouchers, abortion bills and banning ballot drop boxes.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 15, 2025
Ban On Ballot Drop Boxes In Wyoming Slowly Moving Forward In Legislature
Although they didn’t take a vote on it on Friday, multiple members of a Wyoming Senate committee told Cowboy State Daily they plan to support a ban on ballot drop boxes in Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 14, 2025
Freedom Caucus Texting People To Pressure Senators To Pass “Five and Dime” Bills
The campaign arm of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus has been sending out text messages urging people to pressure their state senators to pass the group’s “Five and Dime” slate of bills.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 14, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 23
Day 23 of the Wyoming legislative session Thursday featured important conversations about property tax relief and school choice bills. Also, a group of hunters and anglers rallied at the Capitol against what they call “bad bills.”
Leo WolfsonFebruary 14, 2025
Landmark Property Tax Bill Now Calls For 50% Cut Based On COVID-Era Valuations
A bill that started the day as a straight 50% property tax cut was dramatically changed on Thursday. The 50% cut is now based on a property’s COVID-era assessed value from 2019-2024.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2025
Wyoming Would Buy $10 Million In Gold Under Plan Approved By Committee
Gold commodities have been skyrocketing, a trend that’s only continued since the election of President Donald Trump. Now the Wyoming Legislature is looking to get in on the action, proposing to buy $10 million worth of gold.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2025
Wyoming Firefighters, Law Officers Fill The Capitol To Protest Proposed Tax Cut
A group of Wyoming firefighters and law enforcement officers filled the state Capitol in Cheyenne on Wednesday to protest a proposed 50% property tax cut. They say it could gut the budgets of their local departments.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 22
Debate over a 50% property tax cut went into the late hours of the Legislature on Wednesday night after firefighters and law enforcement officers rallied against it at the Capitol earlier in the day.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2025
Wyoming School Board Races A Step Closer To Becoming Partisan
A legislative committee easily passed a bill to the House floor Wednesday that would change local school board elections in Wyoming. Now nonpartisan, if Senate File 98 passes candidates will have to declare their political affiliations.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 12, 2025
Bill To Give Parents More School Choice, $7K Per Kid Vouchers Advances — Barely
The Senate Education Committee advanced a school choice bill Wednesday that would give parents $7,000 per child vouchers, but just barely. The 3-2 vote means the Senate will debate allowing parents to have public money to seek private education.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 12, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 21
The 21st day of the 2025 Wyoming legislative session featured animated discussions on making significant changes to the state’s elections and important decisions regarding the supplemental budget.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 12, 2025
Bill Would Create Runoff Elections In Wyoming, Including For Governor
The Wyoming House passed a bill on second reading Tuesday that would create separate runoff elections for the state’s highest elected officials, including governor. A runoff would be triggered if no candidate gets 50% or more of the vote in a primary.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 12, 2025
LDS Church Admits Cody Official Gave Bad Advice That Led To Approval Of Temple
An attorney representing the LDS church told the Wyoming Supreme Court on Tuesday that a city official gave bad advice that led to approving a controversial 101-foot steeple for the temple the church is building there.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 12, 2025
Gordon Says “Never Say Never” About Political Future After Second Term
During an interview with Cowboy State Daily on Monday, Gov. Mark Gordon said he’d “never say never” about what his political future may hold after finishing his second term in 2026.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 11, 2025
Lifting Protection For Otters Expanded To Other Species By Senate Committee
A bill that would lift the protected status of Wyoming otters was expanded and advanced Tuesday by a state Senate committee. The new proposal would remove protections for other species, like the black-footed ferret and wolverines.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 11, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap: Day 20
Monday was the deadline for bills to get their first reading in the Legislature, which paved the way for some lengthy and colorful floor discussions.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 11, 2025
Legislator Concerned Property Tax Cuts Will Hurt Wyoming’s Future Generations
State Rep. J.D. Williams, R-Lusk, says he's concerned that his fellow lawmakers aren’t considering Wyoming’s future generations with the way they’re making property tax cuts in this year’s legislative session.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 11, 2025
State House Dumps Wyoming Cloud Seeding Program
Citing a lack of evidence that it works, the Wyoming House slashed all funding for the state’s cloud-seeding program on Monday.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 10, 2025
Steve Harshman Calls Out John Bear For Labeling Legislators as "Lobbyists"
Rep. Steve Harshman criticized fellow lawmaker Rep. John Bear on Monday for an op-ed where Bear labeled some legislators as "lobbyists." Harshman said it was a "reprehensible" accusation and could file a formal complaint.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 10, 2025
The Best Mustaches Of The Wyoming Legislature
There are a number of state legislators who have some scruff above their upper lip in the 68th Wyoming Legislature. Two magnificent mustaches, however, rise above the fold.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 09, 2025