As Democratic representation in Wyoming politics hits an all-time low, the state’s Democratic Party is urging its former supporters to return to the fold, citing the ineffectiveness of voting strategically as Republicans to shift the political landscape, Wyo File reports.
With early voting already underway for the upcoming general election on Nov. 5, Wyoming Democratic Party Chair Joe Barbuto made a public appeal for Democrats who had switched to voting Republican to “come home.”
In an op-ed published on Oct. 7, Barbuto encouraged disillusioned Democrats to re-register with their party, arguing that efforts to moderate the GOP by voting strategically as Republicans have not brought the state’s politics closer to the center.
“It hasn’t worked,” Barbuto wrote.
He pointed to the overwhelming dominance of Republican candidates in the state’s key offices.
Republicans currently control Wyoming’s five top elected positions — governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction. The GOP also holds supermajorities in both chambers of the state legislature. In contrast, Democratic participation in state politics is at a low point, with fewer candidates running for office and party registration numbers dwindling.
Despite this, the Wyoming Democratic Party is focused on rebuilding its base. Out of the 236,290 registered voters in the state, only about 26,800 are Democrats, a number that has fluctuated but remains lower than previous years. Barbuto believes it’s time for Democrats to re-engage in their own party rather than trying to influence Republican primaries.
This call to action comes as the GOP in Wyoming faces its own internal struggles, with factions shifting further to the right. Republican crossover voting has been a significant issue in recent elections, most notably in the 2022 primary when Democrats crossed over to support then-Rep. Liz Cheney. However, Trump-backed Harriet Hageman ultimately won that race. In response, the state legislature passed a 2023 law restricting party affiliation changes during key periods ahead of elections.
For Republicans, this demonstrates the strength of their party and the importance of policies designed to prevent crossover voting. The state’s overwhelming GOP majority continues to reflect the conservative values of Wyoming’s electorate, and efforts to curtail crossover voting ensure that voters’ intentions are represented more clearly in Republican primaries.
The upcoming general election will also test the Democrats’ ability to meet the legal threshold to remain a major party, as their status will hinge on the performance of Kyle “El” Cameron, who is running against Rep. Harriet Hageman for Wyoming’s lone US House seat. The Democrats are hopeful for a resurgence, but Republicans remain confident that their policies and majority better reflect the interests of the state’s voters.
