CHEYENNE, Wyo. – With President-elect Donald Trump readying significant actions for his initial days in office, conservative legislators in Wyoming are aligning their objectives, as the state marks the first instance of Freedom Caucus members securing control of a state legislative chamber.
This development serves as a crucial challenge for the Freedom Caucus movement, which has expanded from Washington to approximately twelve state capitals in recent years, including notable gains in Missouri and Oklahoma last year. On Tuesday, this conservative network is poised to introduce a 13th chapter in Democratic-led Maryland.
As the Wyoming legislative session kicks off on Tuesday, the Freedom Caucus majority in the House is embarking on an ambitious agenda aimed at swiftly passing five key bills within ten days. These initiatives focus on issues such as immigration reform for undocumented individuals, dismantling diversity initiatives, restricting state investments that prioritize green energy over fossil fuel, and reducing property taxes.
“Our purpose here is clear: to fulfill our obligations to the people who have distinctly given us a mandate,” stated incoming House Speaker Chip Neiman.
Historically, the Freedom Caucus has operated mainly as an opposition group to more moderate factions within the Republican Party. Now, however, its members will take the lead on legislative matters.
Andrew Roth, president of the State Freedom Caucus Network, remarked that Wyoming offers a pivotal case study in political science. He expressed optimism that successful policy enactment could inspire similar movements in other regions. “If conservatives can deliver on the promises made during campaigns, it can create a ripple effect, prompting voters to continue supporting them,” he noted.
Although not holding a majority, the Freedom Caucus has expanded its presence recently in Louisiana, collaborating with the new Republican Governor Jeff Landry to implement a comprehensive conservative agenda that encompassed enhancing gun rights, permitting the Ten Commandments displays in public education, and giving law enforcement the power to apprehend migrants entering the country unlawfully. However, legal challenges have stalled the latter two initiatives.
As the least populous state in the nation, Wyoming has a history of Republican dominance, making it increasingly rare to find Democrats in many areas. This situation has led to significant internal divisions within the Wyoming GOP. This divide may deepen as the House’s Freedom Caucus members navigate the dynamics with the traditionally conservative state Senate and Governor Mark Gordon, who Trump publicly criticized in 2023 for being “very liberal.”
Gordon, who vetoed a bill supported by the Freedom Caucus aimed at reducing property taxes last year, has expressed a willingness to cooperate.
“We share a number of common issues,” Gordon mentioned. “I am eager to see the proposals they will introduce.”
Originating in the U.S. House in 2015, the Freedom Caucus gained attention when some members contributed to the ousting of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the last congressional session. In 2021, the State Freedom Caucus Network emerged from the original group in Georgia, subsequently expanding to other states and currently boasting around 175 members, a significant increase since the recent elections, as noted by Roth.
The Freedom Caucus redesigned its composition in South Dakota after last year’s electoral cycle and now has meaningful allies among House leadership who share similar legislative views, as articulated by Rep. Aaron Aylward, vice chairman of the state’s Freedom Caucus chapter.
In Wyoming, Freedom Caucus-endorsed candidates managed to unseat incumbents such as House Speaker Albert Sommers and House Speaker Pro Tem Clark Stith, though they faced some setbacks elsewhere.
Often, Freedom Caucus members frame themselves as the genuine conservatives within the Republican Party, challenging their colleagues to take stances that may be uncomfortable and obstructing or prolonging debates to drive their points home, which frequently leads to conflicts with Republican leaders.
Recent attempts by Freedom Caucus members in Missouri and South Carolina to secure House speaker positions ended unsuccessfully, illustrating the ongoing challenges faced by the group.
The state Freedom Caucus has branded its ambitious agenda as the “Five and Dime Plan,” aiming to introduce five key issues in just ten days—a notably rapid pace for a legislative body that meets for a mere two months this year.
The agenda’s centerpiece includes two immigration-focused propositions: one mandating proof of citizenship for voters and another that would invalidate out-of-state driver’s licenses for undocumented Wyomingers.
In addition to immigration, the plan aims to remove diversity requirements from college admission processes, prevent social and environmental considerations in state investments, and implement a 25% cut to residential property taxes.
Freedom Caucus members assert that public opinion favors their agenda.
“This plan reflects a level of responsiveness from the government that we haven’t witnessed in decades in Wyoming,” stated Freedom Caucus member Rep. John Bear.
However, Governor Gordon questions the level of support the Freedom Caucus claims, referencing low voter turnout from the previous year’s primary elections that brought many of the current Freedom Caucus members into the legislature.
“A significant portion of the state did not have their voices heard,” he pointed out. “Now they are in office, and I’m looking forward to observing their accomplishments.”
