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 Caucus Leader Barry Crago Announces Run For State Senate
Rep. Barry Crago, one of the leaders in the Wyoming Caucus faction of the state House and vocal challenger of the Freedom Caucus, announced Wednesday he’s running for the state Senate.
Leo WolfsonMay 01, 2024
1,000-Plus Wyoming Teaching Jobs Could Disappear As COVID Money Runs Out
With the expiration of many COVID-19 grant-funded teaching positions this spring, more than 1,000 teaching positions in Wyoming public schools could disappear. Nearly 2,500 teaching jobs with federal COVID grant money.
Leo WolfsonMay 01, 2024
Legislators Grill Head Of Wyoming Health Over $3,000 For Drag Show Event
The Joint Health, Labor and Social Services Committee grilled the head of the Wyoming Department of Health on Monday about $3,000 the agency gave for a drag show fundraiser.
Leo WolfsonMay 01, 2024
Challengers Line Up To Test Wyoming Senate Firebrand Anthony Bouchard
Two Republican candidates have announced campaigns to challenge Wyoming Senate firebrand Anthony Bouchard in the upcoming election. Both claim Bouchard doesn't adequately represent their constituencies.
Leo WolfsonApril 30, 2024
Hageman Blasts New Rule Mandating Electronic Cattle Ear Tags
Wyoming congressman Harriet Hageman on Monday blasted new U.S. Department of Agriculture rules that would require most cattle and bison moving across state lines to have electronic ear tags.
Leo WolfsonApril 30, 2024
Some Legislators Fear Health Care Advisory Group Would Push Medicaid Expansion
Some conservative Wyoming legislators grew agitated Monday at a proposal to create a new state health care advisory group, which they fear would push Medicaid expansion and increased government regulation.
Leo WolfsonApril 30, 2024
Riverton Challenger For Wyoming House Wants To Eliminate Property Tax
Joel Guggenmos said he didn’t want to run for the Wyoming Legislature, but feels a divine responsibility to challenge Riverton House incumbent Ember Oakley, saying he’s against big government and wants the elimination of property taxes.
Leo WolfsonApril 29, 2024
Wyoming Man Who Saved Family From Burning House Awarded Nation's Highest Heroism Award
Ryan Pasborg’s life has changed dramatically since he rescued a Green River mother and son from their burning home. Now with a new job, he was presented the Carnegie Medal on Saturday, the nation’s highest civilian honor for heroism.
Leo WolfsonApril 28, 2024
Wyoming 8-Year-Old Shows Plenty Of Fight While Heart ‘Slowly Giving Up’
Wyatt Morgan, an 8-year-old first grader from Carpenter, Wyoming, remains hospitalized after battling a progressively worse ailment that was filling his lungs with fluid and had his heart “slowly giving up.”
Leo WolfsonApril 27, 2024
2024 Is Shaping Up To Be The Year Of The Newcomer For Wyoming Elections
The 2024 election season is setting up to be a historic one in Wyoming with many candidates already announcing they’re running for the Legislature — and most of them newcomers.
Leo WolfsonApril 27, 2024
Reid Rasner Confident He'll Win Senate Primary Despite Barrasso’s Approval Rating
Sen. John Barrasso’s primary opponent Reid Rasner says he feels confident based on local polling data that he can win the Senate primary -- despite Barrasso having the highest approval rating in the U.S. Senate.
Leo WolfsonApril 26, 2024
Wyoming Delegation United In Saying No To $61 Billion For Ukraine War
All three of Wyoming’s members of Congress were united in voting against a $95 foreign funding package President Biden signed Wednesday that includes $61 billion to help Ukraine in its war against Russia.
Leo WolfsonApril 25, 2024
Wyoming State Senate Republican PAC Fined $5,000 By IRS
A political action committee supporting Wyoming’s State Senate Republicans has been fined $5,000 by the IRS over a tax filing discrepancy. State Sen. Brian Boner said it was a mistake in the paperwork.
Leo WolfsonApril 24, 2024
Candidates Lining Up To Fill House Seat Of Four-Time Casper Incumbent
Two Republican candidates have already announced campaigns to run for House District 56 in Casper, a seat held by four-time Republican incumbent Jerry Obermueller, who recently announced he’s not running for reelection.
Leo WolfsonApril 24, 2024
Freedom Caucus Blasts Barrasso For Supporting Warrantless Surveillance Bill
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus is condemning Sen. John Barrasso for his support of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which continues the federal government’s authority to conduct warrantless surveillance on U.S. citizens.
Leo WolfsonApril 24, 2024
Evidence Piles Up Showing Wyoming’s Secretive LLC Filing Laws Being Used For Fraud
A county-level investigation shows that Wyoming’s secretive business filing laws are allowing out-of-state entities to fraudulently co-opt addresses. In Sheridan, an address is the legal registered place for nearly 17,000 businesses.
Leo WolfsonApril 24, 2024
Wyoming Conservative Firebrand Rep. Jeanette Ward, Opponent Already Slinging Mud
One of the most outspoken members of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, state Rep. Jeanette Ward, has a challenger for her House District 57 seat — and they’re already slinging mud.
Leo WolfsonApril 23, 2024
Wyoming GOP Blasts Wilderness Bill Supported By Hageman, Barrasso, Lummis
At the state convention over the weekend, the Republican Party overwhelmingly opposed legislation - supported by Wyoming’s entire delegation -- that would open up thousands of acres of federal land to more uses.
Leo WolfsonApril 23, 2024
Big Tent vs Small Tent: Wyoming GOP Divided Over How Inclusive It Should Be
The turnout for the Republican State Convention has been smaller over the last few years. Critics say this is because party leadership has pursued a "small tent" philosophy which is much less accepting of a variety of viewpoints within the party.
Leo WolfsonApril 22, 2024
Wyoming Pro-Life Legislator's Website Taken Over By Planned Parenthood
Pro-life state Wyoming legislator Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams has had her campaign website URL taken over, and it now redirects to the donation page for the pro-choice advocacy group Planned Parenthood.
Leo WolfsonApril 22, 2024
Wyoming GOP Passes Rule To Kick Out County Precinct Members, But Is It Legal?
The Wyoming Republican Party passed a bylaw Saturday to remove county precinct committee members who don’t attend enough meetings. But some question whether it’s legal to remove people voted in during public elections.
Leo WolfsonApril 21, 2024
Teton County Man Says Luck Saved Him When Caught In Avalanche
Although he has no memories of the avalanche Jan. 12, 2024, Travis Halverson was flung for about 600 vertical feet down a slope through snow and trees like a ball in a Plinko board. He managed to get out despite breaking 10 bones in his spine, ribs, sternum and jaw, as well as a concussion.
Leo WolfsonApril 21, 2024
Wyoming Republican Party Censures Gov. Gordon; Gray Approves
After declining to even debate the topic, the Wyoming Republican Party censured Gov. Mark Gordon at its state convention on Saturday. Sec. of State Chuck Gray said he approved of the censure saying Gordon needed "accountability."
Leo WolfsonApril 20, 2024
Wyoming Republicans Advance Censure Against Mark Gordon
After some back-and-forth debate Friday, a committee of the Wyoming Republican Party advanced a measure to formally censure Gov. Mark Gordon.
Leo WolfsonApril 19, 2024
Potential Trump VP Pick Tulsi Gabbard Coming To Cheyenne This Summer
Tulsi Gabbard, a former congresswoman who left the Democratic Party and is on former President Donald Trump’s short list for vice president, will speak in Cheyenne this summer.
Leo WolfsonApril 19, 2024
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