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 Speaker Albert Sommers To Run For Senate, Has Opponent
Wyoming House Speaker Albert Sommers officially announced his campaign for the state Senate on Thursday. Sommers, who was first elected to the legislature in 2012, will be running against sheep rancher Linda Pearson.
Leo WolfsonMay 16, 2024
Slain Sheridan Police Sgt. Nevada Krinkee Honored On US Senate Floor
Sheridan police Sgt. Nevada Krinkee, who was killed in the line of duty March 1, was honored on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Wednesday. Sen. John Barrasso hailed Krinkee’s sacrifice and blasted efforts to defund police.
Leo WolfsonMay 16, 2024
2 More In Race For Anthony Bouchard’s State Senate Seat
Two more Republicans have entered an increasingly crowded GOP primary in an attempt to take the Wyoming state Senate seat held by two-time incumbent Anthony Bouchard, who hasn’t said if he’s running again. If he does, he’ll have at least four opponents.
Leo WolfsonMay 15, 2024
If You Want To Switch Parties For Wyoming Primary, The Deadline Is Wednesday
This will be the first primary in Wyoming without true crossover voting, which means Wednesday is the deadline to change party affiliation for the August election.
Leo WolfsonMay 15, 2024
Gordon Announces Wyoming Joining Lawsuit Over Biden's Title XI Rule Changes
Gov. Mark Gordon announced on Tuesday that Wyoming will be suing President Joe Biden’s administration over its new Title IX rules. Secretary of State Chuck Gray said it's about time.
Leo WolfsonMay 14, 2024
Moorcroft Mayor Upset About Getting Pushed Out of Business Council Grant
The mayor of Moorcroft is upset that a Wyoming grant program became so narrowed that his community no longer qualifies. He said the grant became a "pet project" and now only benefits the town of Sundance.
Leo WolfsonMay 14, 2024
Big Win For Barrasso As His Ban On Uranium Imports Signed Into Law
An effort spearheaded by Wyoming’s senior Sen. John Barrasso to ban Russian uranium imports was signed by President Joe Biden on Monday. He said the move “officially ended Russia’s chokehold on America’s uranium supply.”
Leo WolfsonMay 14, 2024
Torrington Woman Taps Deep Roots In Run For State House Seat Her Dad Once Held
Torrington resident Jackie Van Mark is running against incumbent state Rep. Scott Smith for House District 5, to win back a seat her dad once held. Van Mark is a 4th generation Wyomingite who comes from one of the state's original homesteading families.
Leo WolfsonMay 13, 2024
Cody Residents Opposed To Gigantic LDS Temple Outraged As Church Stages Area To Build
Cody residents who are suing to stop a humongous LDS temple in the city say they are outraged to see a crane and other construction materials staged at the site ready to start construction.
Leo WolfsonMay 11, 2024
University Of Wyoming Will Eliminate DEI Office, Keep Some Of Its Services
The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees cut the school’s highly controversial office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on Friday while still retaining some of its services, many of which they say predate the office by decades.
Leo WolfsonMay 10, 2024
Degenfelder Blasts Chuck Gray, Says Wyoming Will Sue Over Biden Title IX Rules
Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder confirmed to Cowboy State Daily that Wyoming will sue over the Biden administration's Title IX gender rules, and blasted Secretary of State Chuck Gray for "heckling from the sidelines."
Leo WolfsonMay 10, 2024
UW Not Likely To Scrap DEI Programs Despite Defunding From Legislature
After a marathon discussion Thursday, the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees seemed unlikely to scrap DEI programming despite the Wyoming Legislature defunding it. A final decision is expected Friday.
Leo WolfsonMay 10, 2024
Lummis, Barrasso Sponsor Bill To Save AM Radio As Vital For Rural States
Many car manufacturers have not been putting AM radio in their new cars. But Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis say AM radio is still critical for people in rural states so they've co-sponsored legislation that would require automakers to keep it.
Leo WolfsonMay 09, 2024
Gray Blasts Gordon For Wyoming Not Suing Over Biden’s Title IX Changes
Secretary of State Chuck Gray is blasting Gov. Mark Gordon for not joining 22 other states in suing the Biden administration for its new rules on Title IX, which include not allowing bans on biological males from participating in female sports.
Leo WolfsonMay 09, 2024
Saratoga Won’t Take Local Man’s 15,500 Pennies As Payment For Records Request
A Saratoga man doesn’t believe his local government is being transparent with the public, so he put in a public records request. Then they charged him $155 for it. When he tried to pay for it with 15,550 pennies, they wouldn't accept it.
Leo WolfsonMay 08, 2024
Former Wyoming Football Star Gary Crum Runs For State Senate
Gary Crum, a former University of Wyoming football player who also played in the NFL is running for a seat in the state Senate representing Albany County. His son Frank also played at UW and was just picked up by the Denver Broncos.
Leo WolfsonMay 08, 2024
Campbell County Says Rec Center Locker Rooms Are For Biological Sex Only
After weeks of local debate in the Gillette community, the Campbell County Parks and Recreation Board passed a new policy last week restricting locker room access to a user's biological sex.
Leo WolfsonMay 07, 2024
With Gaming Now A $1 Billion Wyoming Industry, Does It Need More Oversight?
Gaming in Wyoming has grown fast and is now a $1 billion a year industry. How big gaming gets and how much oversight might be necessary is now the focus of a Gaming Expansion Study discussed at a Joint Appropriations Committee meeting on Tuesday.
Leo WolfsonMay 07, 2024
Cheyenne School District May Pass Wyoming’s Strictest Library Sex Book Policy
Laramie County School District No. 1 is considering a policy for sexually explicit books in school libraries that, if passed, would likely be the strictest in Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonMay 07, 2024
Holy Cow, Is It Windy! Extreme Winds, Blow-Overs Close I-25 Near Colorado Border
Extreme winds and gusts closed a section of I-25 between Cheyenne and the Colorado border on Monday, causing truckers to line up and wait. It was even worse in Colorado with near 100mph winds reported.
Leo WolfsonMay 06, 2024
Son Of Former Wyoming Governor Challenges Freedom Caucus Incumbent For House
Rob Geringer, the son of former Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer, announced Monday he is running for the state House against incumbent Ben Hornok. Geringer said Republicans are squandering their supermajority in the Legislature by fixating on small differences among themselves.
Leo WolfsonMay 06, 2024
Push For Wyoming-Colorado Passenger Rail Service Gaining Momentum
A local effort to establish passenger trail service connecting Cheyenne to Colorado’s Front Range may seem a pipe dream to some, but an effort to make it happen has been gaining momentum.
Leo WolfsonMay 05, 2024
Hageman Endorses Barrasso, Says Wyoming Needs His Experience, Influence In Senate
In a Cowboy State Daily guest column, Wyoming congresswoman Harriet Hageman endorses John Barrasso in his reelection campaign for the U.S. Senate, saying Wyoming needs his experience and position as a top Republican in Congress.
Leo WolfsonMay 05, 2024
Reid Rasner Seems To Be Making Everyone Mad
Wyoming Senate challenger Reid Rasner has not only incurred the wrath of Rep. Harriet Hageman but many other conservatives are calling him out for his questionable campaign tactics.
Leo WolfsonMay 03, 2024
Pro-Life Wyoming Legislator Rachel Rodriguez-Williams Has Challenger
Wyoming’s most vocal pro-life state legislator state Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody, has a reelection opponent in David Hill, who shares many of her conservative values, but says the incumbent hasn’t been effective enough.
Leo WolfsonMay 03, 2024
Feds Planning To Declassify Marijuana But Wyoming Penalties Will Stay Same
The federal government’s reclassification of marijuana will be a significant change if it goes through, but it won’t change any of the penalties associated with possessing pot in Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonMay 03, 2024
Hageman Demands Reid Rasner Cease And Desist Misleading Social Media Posts
Rep. Harriet Hageman on Thursday sent a cease and desist letter to U.S. Senate candidate Reid Rasner to stop making social media posts that insinuate she is supporting and endorsing his campaign against U.S. Sen. John Barrasso.
Leo WolfsonMay 02, 2024
Wyoming LGBTQ Republican Group Wants Louder Voice In Politics
Jackson resident and Republican Melchor Moore believes the media and Democratic Party unjustly promote a stereotype that all LGBTQ people like himself should inherently be Democrats. He said many are Republicans and embrace conservative politics.
Leo WolfsonMay 02, 2024
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