Government & Politics | Cowboy State Daily

A crew works to repair and replace a failed water line in Rawlins this week.

100-Year-Old Rawlins Water System Keeps Failing, But City Can’t Afford To Fix It

Two breaks in the 100-year-old Rawlins city water system this week leaves residents in a familiar spot — on notice they may lose water. Failures continue to force emergency repairs, but the city can’t afford what it really needs — a new system.

Kate MeadowsApril 29, 2026

After Abortion Ruling, Powell City Councilman Calls For 'Hanging Bad Judges'

A Powell City councilman suggested on Facebook that Wyoming start “hanging bad judges” after a judge blocked the state’s most recent abortion ban. A former Wyoming Supreme Court Justice said, “This man is obviously an idiot and does not deserve public office."

Clair McFarlandApril 28, 2026

Dozens of angry Cheyenne residents spoke out Monday against a proposed 1,200-acre annexation and possible data center near Roundtop Road in Laramie County.

Angry Cheyenne Residents Speak Out Against Annexation And Proposed Data Center

Dozens of angry Cheyenne residents spoke out Monday against a 1,200-acre annexation and possible data center before City Council tabled the decision. “To me it looks like a quick way to make a nice big buck,” said one woman about the landowner's motive.

Kate MeadowsApril 28, 2026

Harriet Hageman has the endorsements of President Trump and Sens. Barrasso and Lummis in the 2026 Wyoming race for U.S. Senate. She won't be unopposed in the primary, however, facing rancher Sam Mead, right, and Jimmy Skovgard, left, both fifth-generation Wyomingites.

GOP Senate Challengers Emerge To Take On Harriet Hageman In Primary

Harriet Hageman has the endorsements of President Trump and Sens. Barrasso and Lummis in the 2026 Wyoming race for U.S. Senate. Even so, she won't be unopposed in the primary, facing rancher Sam Mead and Jimmy Skovgard, both multi-generation Wyomingites.

Clair McFarlandApril 28, 2026

A private mausoleum sits on the 1,260-acre property that was once home to the Wyoming Angus Ranch. Its future is up in the air as the Cheyenne City Council considers whether to annex the land and bring in a new data center.

Opposition To Cheyenne Data Centers Grows As City Moves To Add Them

Opposition to Cheyenne data centers is growing as residents become more vocal and sign petitions against them. One councilman says development has happened so fast, it’s "completely outstripped the ability of the county and the city to plan."

Kate MeadowsApril 27, 2026

Wyoming Republican Party Chairman Bryan Miller, far right, listens to a delegate during Saturday's final day of the 2026 Wyoming Republican Party Convention on the state fairgrounds in Douglas.

Saturday Convention: Wyoming GOP OKs Loyalty Tests For Candidates, Will Sue State

The Republican Party decided Saturday that political candidates will need to “strongly” support at least 80% of the Wyoming GOP platform if they want to run as a Republican. The party also declared its independence and will sue the state.

Greg JohnsonApril 25, 2026

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