Wyoming Freedom Caucus Loses 14 Lawmakers as Chair Falls in Secretary of State Primary
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Aug 19
Wyoming Freedom Caucus Loses 14 Lawmakers as Chair Falls in Secretary of State Primary
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Aug 19
Summary
More than a dozen Wyoming Freedom Caucus legislative candidates lost to moderates, and chair Rachel Rodriguez-Williams was defeated in the Republican primary for secretary of state.
Robert Short beat Rodriguez-Williams after casting her faction as extremist, campaigning to “make the secretary of state’s office boring again” and arguing Wyoming voters rejected a national ideological agenda.
The losses also swept up Freedom Caucus candidates for state superintendent and treasurer, extending a primary night that already cost the group at least 14 incumbent lawmakers and blunted its push for greater legislative power.
That setback follows defeats this month for Freedom Caucus-backed figures including Andy Ogles, Chip Roy and Ralph Norman, despite hundreds of thousands of dollars in support from the House Freedom Caucus Fund.
Taken together, the Wyoming results reinforce signs that the ultra-conservative brand is losing traction with GOP primary voters as Republican factions jockey for influence beyond Donald Trump’s presidency.