Megan Degenfelder | |
|---|---|
| Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2023 | |
| Governor | Mark Gordon |
| Preceded by | Brian Schroeder |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1988 or 1989 (age 36–37) Casper, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Bryan Dugas |
| Education | University of Wyoming (BA) University of International Business and Economics (MA) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Megan Degenfelder is an American politician and businesswoman who has been theWyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction since 2023.[1] She is a member of theRepublican Party.[1] She is currently running forgovernor of Wyoming in the2026 election.
Degenfelder previously worked as a Republican Precinct Committeewoman inCheyenne and then-U.S. RepresentativeCynthia Lummis. Prior to entering politics, Degenfelder worked in several fossil fuel companies throughout Wyoming.
Degenfelder was born inCasper, Wyoming, to Steve Degenfelder and Cheryl Lee Bressler.[2][3] She has two brothers: Kenneth and Brian.[2] Her mother died in 2024.[2] Degenfelder was raised in Casper.[3] At aged 21, she was diagnosed withthyroid cancer, which was successfully treated.[4] She attempted to enlist for theWyoming Air National Guard, however was rejected due to her cancer diagnosis.[5]
Degenfelder attended Casper Natrona County High School before studying at theUniversity of Wyoming where she earned abachelor of science in economics and a bachelor of arts in political science.[6] At the University of Wyoming, she played rugby and served as student council president.[7] She later earned amaster of arts in economics from theUniversity of International Business and Economics.[6]
After graduating from the University of International Business and Economics, in China, Degenfelder spent several years as a lobbyist working for Cloud Peak Energy leasing coal, oil and gas assets inCampbell,Converse andSheridan counties in Wyoming.[7] She also worked as a lobbyist for a Texas based natural resource producer inCarbon andSweetwater counties.[7]
Degenfelder began her political career as the Republican Precinct Committeewoman inCheyenne, Wyoming.[6] She also previously worked withCynthia Lummis when she was a member of theU.S. House of Representatives.[3] She also advocated against PresidentBarack Obama's regulations on the fossil fuel industry.[7]
Throughout her career, she has aligned herself with theMAGA movement and has been a vocal supporter of PresidentDonald Trump.[3][8]
Degenfelder ran forWyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction in the2022 election.[1] During the campaign, Degenfelder highlighted that as Public Instruction Superintendent, she would endorseschool choice, create industrial partnerships in schools, improve K-3 literacy rates, reduce bureaucracy in education by limiting government involvement in teaching and promote a pro-American agenda.[6] She narrowly won the Republican nomination, winning 40% of the vote, defeating incumbent superintendent Brian Schroeder.[9][10] She would go on to win the general election in November, defeating Democratic nominee Sergio Maldonado in a landslide.[11]
During her tenure as superintendent, Degenfelder worked with a group of stakeholders to establish a guide district in shaping policies .[3] She also supported legislation to authorizecharter schools and a voucher program to make public funds available for private tuition.[3] She also supported limiting transgender students’ participation in school sports and bathroom accessibility.[3]
In 2024, she partnered worked alongside GovernorMark Gordon andState Attorney GeneralBridget Hill to challenge theBiden administration'sTitle IX rules that prohibited blanket bans on transgender athletes.[3] That same year, she openly criticized the proposed sale of the Kelly parcel toGrand Teton National Park, stating she would rather have oil and gas development companies to purchase Kelly parcel.[12] She criticized Governor Gordon of the decision and accused him of "making a backroom deal" with theNational Park Service.[12]
In 2025, Degenfelder openly expressed her support of thesecond Trump administration's steps in reducing the staff and capacity of theDepartment of Education.[13] She stated that the move would allow local communities and parents to have greater control in education decisions.[13] That same year, she released herlegislative agenda which included: pro-school choice agenda, increase awareness of student mental health, allow concealed carry in school grounds, reduce DEI practices and ban transgender athletes in schools.[14]
In January 2026, Degenfelder announced her candidacy forgovernor of Wyoming in the2026 election.[15] Days before she announced her campaign, PresidentDonald Trump said he would endorse her campaign and nicknamed her "MAGA Megan".[8]
Degenfelder is married to anesthesiologist Bryan Dugas and they live inLaramie, Wyoming.[3][16][7]
She also coaches the University of Wyoming women's rugby team.[7] An avid hunter, she was part of the first all-women’s team at the One Shot Antelope Hunt in Cheyenne.[7]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Megan Degenfelder | 59,334 | 40.58% | |
| Republican | Brian Schroeder | 55,769 | 38.14% | |
| Republican | Jennifer Zerba | 13,662 | 9.34% | |
| Republican | Thomas Kelly (withdrawn) | 12,347 | 8.44% | |
| Republican | Robert J. White III | 4,396 | 3.01% | |
| Write-in | 721 | 0.49% | ||
| Total votes | 146,229 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Megan Degenfelder | 142,524 | 76.72 | ||
| Democratic | Sergio Maldonado | 43,251 | 23.28 | ||
| Total votes | 185,775 | 100.0 | |||
| Republicanhold | |||||
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Brian Schroeder Acting | Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction 2023–present | Incumbent |
Statewide political officials ofWyoming | ||
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