An eyebrow raiser on the list: @cathponeill, who has been the subject of open speculation as a potential challenger to Liz Cheney.
It's an expensive fundraiser... read what you want. But attendee list is interesting. One -- Leah Juarez -- was a promising statehouse candidate in Casper last cycle.
She split half the vote in a three-way race to clear the way for the establishment pick. trib.com/news/state-and…
But O'Neill is interesting. She was relatively unknown in Wyoming during her time in the Trump admin. Was spotted working the camera at the Matt Gaetz anti-Cheney event this winter. Recently bought property in the state, and has been meeting with people who know a thing or two.
The firm facilitating the fundraiser has an interesting backstory as well. Got its roots in Michigan politics amp.detroitnews.com/amp/71830020
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The Campbell County Commission met today for the first time since that July 7 meeting that was dominated by homophobic comments about the library.
It was involved, to say the least...
It was much more balanced than the last meeting, with a number of people arriving to speak in solidarity with the LGBTQ community.
Some citizens were dismayed by another example of bigotry in their community, that it reflected poorly on them at a national level.
Others, no.
"If we get a black eye while protecting our children from being sexually exploited and indoctrinated, then I say that's a badge of honor," said Kevin Bennett, a leader of the protestors.
I'll thread some quick takeaways from the top-line numbers for Wyoming's at-large U.S. House race here as the numbers come in, with a longer analysis coming later at WyoFile.com.
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First, Anthony Bouchard -- the race's top fundraiser to-date not named Liz Cheney.
Despite an early scandal many thought would end his campaign, the Wyoming State Sen. managed to raise nearly $213k this quarter -- well-below the quarter million he earned in Q1.
Bouchard also spent way more this quarter -- $255k -- than he took in, leaving him just over $100k in cash on-hand.
Most went to consultants, fundraising and advertising. Expected: He was first-in, and needed to capitalize to build a sustained operation. docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/…
My piece is sort of a 1000 foot view of the issue. I'd refer you to @m0rgan_hughes' excellent breakdown of the standards and how they compare to other states.
We're not alone -- 20 other states failed. And Balow said a revision of standards are imminent. trib.com/news/state-and…
I'd also recommend this fact check she wrote after some inaccurate statements about CRT in Wyoming schools were made by an NCSD Board member. trib.com/news/local/edu…
Was trawling FEC filings and found a new PAC that formed earlier this month called "Protecting Wyoming Values."
"Interesting," I think to myself. "Wonder who's behind it."
So I tried to find out. Thread. 🧵
We have no local officers, no local addresses, but we do have a treasurer: Mr. Charles Gantt, a GOP consultant who runs a firm with ties to the Trump campaign and numerous other conservative orgs around the country.
Interesting enough to check out. So I call the number on the site, a Jackson number. Get an anonymous Google voicemail box. Weird. So I left a message. I'll let you know if I get a call back.
The Joint Agriculture Committee just voted to bring back the Second Amendment Preservation Act from last session on a split-second, unannounced vote earlier this afternoon.
"Don't throw something at me before we adjourn," said Sen. RJ Kost
Rep. Robert Wharff, an Evanston Republican and a former guns rights lobbyist, introduced a motion to bring it up in a special session specifically meant to address new COVID relief funds.
He said they ran up against the clock during the regular session, and it would have passed.
Lots of procedural concerns from co-chairman Brian Boner, who questioned repeatedly why the bill wasn't introduced as an individual bill. Said added caused undue controversy to the process, and should reconsider if he wanted it to pass should it fail to pass muster.
Rep. Gray says that the current Biden Administration policy to expand Medicaid to red states is "coercive." Asking if there are any legal challenges pending, but DOH staff say that most of the legal issues out there have "been resolved."
This is how our current environment as a non-expansion state compares to states that have expanded. Note the populations carved out here.