Setback for Wyoming Freedom Caucus in GOP Primaries
In a setback for limited, constitutional government, the Wyoming Freedom Caucus lost seats in the state Legislature in Tuesday’s primary elections.
More than a dozen Freedom Caucus-aligned incumbents lost to more-moderate challengers, in what Cowboy State Daily described as “a near-complete massacre of Freedom Caucus members and their allies.” Meanwhile, state Senator Eric Barlow (R-Gillette), who holds a dismal 41-percent Freedom Index score, defeated two conservative challengers in the GOP primary for governor.
The results were not all disappointing, though. U.S. Representative Harriet Hageman (R), who has a 90-percent Freedom Index score, won the GOP primary for U.S. Senate, while Secretary of State Chuck Gray, who earned a 100-percent Freedom Index score while serving in the state Legislature, won the GOP primary to succeed Hageman in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In a statement titled “The WYFC Is Not Going Anywhere,” the Wyoming Freedom Caucus declared that “last night’s results will not undo the policy wins we’ve delivered on behalf of the people.” It added, “We will never stop fighting for Wyoming.”
Freedom Caucus Priorities
In its statement, the Wyoming Freedom Caucus succinctly summarized its political philosophy: “We believe the role of government should be limited to protecting our constitutional rights.”
The group, which won a majority in the state House in the 2024 elections, worked to implement conservative, limited-government policies, such as cutting spending and property taxes, strengthening election integrity, eliminating government bureaucracy, and abolishing “diversity, equity, and inclusion” in state government. The Establishment, however, sought to block many of these priorities, and left-leaning judges struck down certain enacted measures.
Education Is the Key
Wyoming’s election results mirror the results in other states so far this year, most notably U.S. Representative Thomas Massie’s (R-Ky.) defeat to primary challenger Ed Gallrein. What explains these disappointing results? At the core, they are the result of an electorate that lacks understanding about America’s founding principles and to what extent their elected officials are upholding those principles.
The solution is education. An informed, vigilant electorate will vote for candidates who support the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. The John Birch Society, the parent organization of The New American, exists to create an electorate that is both informed and actively working to restore adherence to our founding principles. As JBS founder Robert Welch pointed out at the group’s founding meeting in 1958, “All we must find and build and use, to win, is sufficient understanding.”
Despite this year’s disappointing election results, we must not lose hope. We can and will save our Republic — but only if we take concerted action and get others involved.
This article is part of The New American’s weekly online newsletter Insider Report, which is emailed to TNA subscribers each week. Click here to subscribe to The New American to receive the Insider Report and access exclusive content.
