Wyoming Freedom Caucus | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Rachel Rodriguez-Williams |
| Founded | September 2020[1] |
| Split from | Wyoming Caucus |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | |
| National affiliation | State Freedom Caucus Network |
| Seats in theHouse Republican Conference | 34 / 56 |
| Seats in theState House | 34 / 62 [2] |
| Website | |
| Wyoming Freedom Caucus Wyoming Freedom PAC | |
TheWyoming Freedom Caucus is acaucus in theWyoming Legislature. It is generally considered the mostconservative bloc in the legislature. It was formed in September 2020 by Wyoming conservatives inspired by the nationalHouse Freedom Caucus.[1] Since2024, the caucus has a majority of seats in theWyoming House of Representatives.[3]
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus was formed inStory, Wyoming in September 2020 by 18 to 20Republican members of theWyoming House of Representatives.[4]
Starting in at least 2023, the caucus's members are sent messages from the nationalState Freedom Caucus Network's Wyoming state director that indicate the caucus's official stance on bills presented to the legislature, a practice known as "logrolling". It has been hypothesized by non-caucus affiliatedRepublican representatives, includingDan Zwonitzer that the caucus votes as a bloc in forced roll-call votes to appear more conservative than non-caucus Republicans.[5]
During the 2023–2024 legislative session, the caucus supported bills that made it harder for voters to change party affiliation,[6] banned the use of pills for abortion, banned gun-free zones, and defunded the diversity office of theUniversity of Wyoming. The latter two were vetoed by GovernorMark Gordon.[3] They opposed bills that would have made it easier for people without insurance to access care at community mental health centers, createdmisdemeanor andfelony offenses for intimidatingelection officers, raise fees for nonresident fishing licenses, and 10 other bills crafted in committee.[7]
In the2024 primaries, the caucus was backed by Virginia-based group Make Liberty Win.[3] In primaries, their supported candidates defeated SpeakerAlbert Sommers forWyoming Senate, and the re-election bids of Speaker Pro TemClark Stith, RepresentativesDavid Zwonitzer,Dan Zwonitzer,Tom Walters, andEmber Oakley.[3][8]
Since2024, the caucus has a majority of seats in theWyoming House of Representatives. Caucus members also hold every leadership position in the House. SpeakerChip Neiman and caucus chairmanRachel Rodriguez-Williams said that in the new legislative session, bills not previously given the chance to be considered will be put on the agenda. TheWyoming Republican Party, controlled by a caucus-aligned leadership, are expected to be invited to have a closer relationship with legislators after multiple years of being shut out of political activity.[9] Following the2024 senate elections, the caucus' allies hold two of the top three leadership positions.[3]
The caucus has repeatedly sparred with GovernorMark Gordon over his policy, which they deem insufficiently conservative.[3][10][11][12][13][14][15]
One of the caucus's major agenda items is the "Five and Dime Plan," which includes immigration measures, ending diversity programs at colleges and universities, cutting taxes, adding election-registration rules, and prohibiting environmental and social factors from being considered for state investments.[16]
Speaker Pro TempJeremy Haroldson said further priorities of the caucus include putting up a physical vote scoreboard at the Legislature, banningballot drop boxes, banninggun-free zones in Wyoming, establishing anti-SLAPP laws, addressingeminent domain laws, requiring age verification to visit pornography websites, extending a ban ontransgender participation in female sports to the collegiate level, and establishing universalschool choice.[9]
Co-founder of the caucus and former representativeTim Hallinan said that further priorities include preserving theright to life and opposingabortion rights.[4]
Source:[17]
