Government & Politics | Cowboy State Daily

State OKs $5 Million for Housing Projects, Gray Tries To Ban Resident Aliens

In a recurring spat on the difference between resident aliens and illegal immigrants, the Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board voted Thursday to allocate $5 million for infrastructure and housing projects — mostly for small towns.

Clair McFarlandApril 25, 2026

A committee of the Wyoming Republican Party meets Friday to discuss potential declarations and platform changes and additions. That included one that, had it passed, would have declared the U.S. a Christian nation and Wyoming a Christian state.

‘God Never Forced Anyone’: Wyoming GOP Rejects Declaring Wyoming A Christian State

A committee of the Wyoming GOP on Friday rejected a proclamation to declare the U.S. a Christian nation and Wyoming a Christian state. “God never forced anyone like this,” said Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, while others said the GOP platform already honors God.

Clair McFarlandApril 24, 2026

A defiant Wyoming Republican Party said Thursday it won’t comply with state laws governing political parties and will sue to overturn them. “The state has no right to meddle in the internal affairs of the party,” said GOP Chair Bryan Miller.

Wyoming Republican Party Vows To Sue, Won’t Comply With State Laws

The Wyoming Republican Party said Thursday it won’t comply with state laws governing political parties and will sue to overturn them. “The state has no right to meddle in the internal affairs of the party,” said GOP Chair Bryan Miller.

Clair McFarlandApril 24, 2026

No Affordable Housing: Only 2 Teton County Sheriff's Deputies Live In Teton County

Working as a first responder in the nation’s richest county illustrates a complex problem: How does a sheriff's deputy who earns a starting salary of $70,000 live in a town where the median home price is $3 million? They don't. Only 2 of 30 live there.

Kate MeadowsApril 23, 2026

Headquarters for the Wyoming Republican Party at 1714 Capitol St. in Cheyenne.

Wyoming GOP Considering Loyalty Tests For Candidates, Voiding State Laws

Some county Republican parties are asking the Wyoming Republican Party to consider loyalty tests for candidates and declare some state laws void. The state GOP meets Thursday, where it will review more than 100 proposed bylaw changes.

Clair McFarlandApril 23, 2026

Some Citizens Angry After Comments Turned Off For Cheyenne City Council Livestreams

Cheyenne’s mayor has turned off comments on City Council meetings livestreamed on the city’s Facebook page. Some say that's an overreaction to criticism, while the mayor says many comments were reckless, threatening and out of hand.

Kate MeadowsApril 22, 2026

Guernsey Mayor Ed Delgado warns the daughter of a town council member about interrupting during the council's meeting Tuesday, April 21, 2026. He threatened to have her removed if she makes another outburst. Less than a minute later, she was removed for clapping.

Daughter Of Council Member Kicked Out After Resolution On Recording Meeting Dies

The daughter of a Guernsey City councilwoman was kicked out of a council meeting Tuesday night after a resolution that would have banned residents from recording meetings died without a motion. “Way to flip-flop, Joe,” she said, while exiting the meeting.

Kate MeadowsApril 22, 2026

Anonymous Site WyoRINO Ranks How Republican Lawmakers Are — Based On 10 Votes

WyoRINO, an anonymous site created “to expose liberal Wyoming Republicans who violate our Wyoming Republican values,” ranked how well Republican lawmakers voted in line with the GOP platform this year — based on a tiny sliver of their votes this session.

Clair McFarlandApril 22, 2026

Shawna Reichert has been livestreaming Guernsey Town Council meetings and opposes a new resolution that would ban people doing that from the audience and instead designating an area for video and photography.

Guernsey Town Council Considers Ban On Recording Meetings From Audience

The Guernsey Town Council is considering a resolution that would ban people sitting in the audience from recording meetings, instead putting them in a specified area. One councilman says it "borders on being unconstitutional."

Kate MeadowsApril 21, 2026

Wyoming Business Council Giving $50,000 So Tribe Can Study Data Centers

Weeks after lawmakers tried to kill the agency, the Wyoming Business Council awarded a $50,000 grant for the Northern Arapaho Tribe to study the prospect of a "large" data center on the reservation. "Hell no," said one tribal leader.

Clair McFarlandApril 21, 2026

The Campbell County Aquatic Center opened in December, built with $38.5 million from mill levy money collected by the local recreation district.

Crook County Fight Puts Spotlight On Wyoming Rec Districts And Taxing Authority

A new recreation district formed in Crook County following a dip in property tax revenue is revealing a deep divide over taxes and how community amenities and programs get funded. "I didn’t expect it to be so severe and nasty," said the school board chairman.

Kate MeadowsApril 20, 2026

Scotty Ratliff worked for two decades to get an updated edition of “Tribal Government: Wind River Indian Reservation” available for the general public and Wyoming schools. He said that teaching tribal government should be included in all Wyoming government classes in the Cowboy State.

Former Wyoming Legislator Revives Long-Lost Guide To Tribal Government

Scotty Ratliff worked for two decades to get an updated edition of “Tribal Government: Wind River Indian Reservation” available to the public and Wyoming schools. Teaching tribal government should be included in all Wyoming government classes, he says.

Jackie DorothyApril 19, 2026

The historic Wyoming Governor's Mansion at 300 E. 21st St. in Cheyenne.

Fight Club And Ghosts: Former First Kids Remember Historic Governor’s Mansion

In 1958, the Wyoming Governor's Mansion in Cheyenne hosted an underground fight club. The club’s promoter was also a frequent contender — he weighed in at 67.5 pounds. That was Paul Hickey, then 8 years old and son of Wyoming Gov. John Joseph Hickey.

Zakary SonntagApril 19, 2026

Attorney Says Chuck Gray Lost Privacy On Voter Info By Texting News Outlet

The Cheyenne attorney asking authorities to prosecute Chuck Gray for handing over voter information to the feds now says Gray lost attorney-client privacy by texting a news outlet. Gray calls the new allegation “more lunacy ... from a radical leftwing attorney."

Clair McFarlandApril 18, 2026

Former Speaker of the House Albert Sommers is running to reclaim the seat he occupied for House District 20.

Former House Speaker Albert Sommers Wants His Seat In The Legislature Back

Former House Speaker Albert Sommers is running to win back his Sublette County House District 20 seat. The Legislature needs “less political theater and theatrics,” he said about what he’s observed in Cheyenne the last two years.

Clair McFarlandApril 17, 2026

Gordon Orders Agency To Start Food Welfare Program, Lawmaker Says 'Stay In Your Lane'

Gov. Mark Gordon on Wednesday ordered a state agency to start a new summertime food welfare program for students after lawmakers repeatedly rejected the $3 million endeavor. “Stay in your lane, governor,” Rep. Ken Pendergraft warned.

Clair McFarlandApril 16, 2026

Steve Harshman, Longest Serving House Member, Runs For Wyoming Schools Chief

Casper state Rep. Steve Harshman, the longest-serving Wyoming House member, is running for state superintendent of public instruction. "Bottom line, I love Wyoming schools and spent all my life in Wyoming schools," the longtime teacher and coach said.

Clair McFarlandApril 16, 2026

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon Will Not Seek Third Term

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon on Thursday announced he will not seek a third term in office. Wyoming law limits the governor to two terms, but Wyoming Supreme Court precedent suggests that law could be overturned easily. “We have just come off a solid legislative win," Gordon said.

Clair McFarlandApril 16, 2026

Five Wyoming U.S. House Candidates Condemn Trump’s Jesus-Like Image

Five Wyoming U.S. House candidates, including three Republicans, condemn President Trump's posting of a Jesus-like image of himself. One called the image “blatantly blasphemous,” while another said it wasn’t as bad as "so many worse things he’s done."

Clair McFarlandApril 15, 2026

Why WYDOT’s New Plow Trucks Cost $500,000 Each

Wyoming Department of Transportation officials say two new massive snowplows that each cost more than $500,000 are major upgrades to the state’s fleet of heavy machinery. They make up for the cost by being super-efficient.

Kate MeadowsApril 14, 2026

Three Rematches Set, So Far, In Wyoming's House Races

At least three rematches in the Wyoming House of Representatives have surfaced so far this campaign season, and one more looks likely. They all feature Republicans facing other Republicans and challengers aren't particularly complimentary of their foes.

Clair McFarlandApril 14, 2026

The first fully assembled Sentinel missile is show, along with one of the sites for the old Minuteman III missiles the Sentinel will replace.

$140.9 Billion Sentinel Missile Program Pushed To Make Up Time For Delays

The $140.9 billion Sentinel missile program is racing to catch up after cost overruns triggered a Congressional review and delays. Officials say the stakes are high for national defense, and Wyoming and F.E. Warren Air Force Base sit at the heart of the push.

Renée JeanApril 14, 2026

Legislature's To-Do List: Business Council’s Future, AI And Consider Wind Tax

Wyoming lawmakers plan this year to reevaluate whether the Wyoming Business Council has a future, study the effect of artificial intelligence on education, and the prospect of taxing wind energy facilities.

Clair McFarlandApril 14, 2026

Cheyenne Attorney Files Complaint For Criminal Investigation Of Chuck Gray

A Cheyenne-based attorney is asking Wyoming authorities to investigate Secretary of State Chuck Gray for alleged election-related crimes. George Powers says Gray violated state election law by giving sensitive voter data to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Clair McFarlandApril 13, 2026