FROM THE WYODEMS EMAIL LIST AND NEWS RELEASES
One of the ways the Wyoming Democratic Party stays in contact with the public is via an email list, news releases, and social media. To help spread the word, this page quotes some of the most recent communications from the state party. To sign up for the WYODEMS email list, send a request to https://wyodems.org/#contact-us.
Posted 19 Nov 2024:
Wyoming Democratic Party Applauds Judge Owens’ Decision to Strike Down Cruel Abortion Bans
Cheyenne – WDP has released the following statement regarding Judge Melissa Owens’ decision to strike down Wyoming’s abortion bans.
Today, women in Wyoming have reclaimed their most basic human right- the right to control their own bodies. Judge Owens’ decision affirms what we’ve been saying all along: abortion is healthcare, and women, just like men, are constitutionally guaranteed the right to make their own healthcare decisions.
“We’re incredibly thankful that no women in Wyoming were forced to suffer slow, torturous, unnecessary deaths because of these cruel bans. We owe this to the women and organizations who had the courage to bring this lawsuit and to Judge Owens for recognizing the harm these laws would cause,” said Mandy Weaver, Communications Director for the Wyoming Democratic Party.
“But this fight isn’t over. Republican lawmakers have shown they’ll stop at nothing to force their agenda on Wyoming women, and we know they’ll be back in the next legislative session with new attacks on our rights. Our Democratic legislators will continue fighting like hell to protect women’s fundamental right to make healthcare decisions without interference, and the Wyoming Democratic Party will stand with them every step of the way.”
Posted 11 Nov 2024:
From the Chair of the Wyoming Democratic Party
Today, many across the nation are feeling the weight of yesterday’s election—sadness, hurt, fear, and anger are all valid responses to what we’ve witnessed. Yet here in Wyoming, we know resilience. We know what it means to face an uphill battle, to be outnumbered, and to keep pushing forward no matter the odds.
There are reasons to be proud. Every one of our Democratic legislative incumbents won re-election—a testament to their dedication and the trust their communities place in them. We are also thrilled to welcome Rep-Elect Ivan Posey from Fremont County, who will join their ranks with a fresh voice and commitment to our values. These victories are reminders that we can make a difference, even here, when we work hard and stand together.
To every Democrat who placed their name on the ballot this year—thank you. You waged professional, principled, and impressive campaigns and reminded us of the strength, passion, and dedication that define our party. Each of you inspired hope and proved that Wyoming Democrats are a force to be reckoned with.
As we look ahead, remember that change is not a moment but a movement. In every effort, every conversation, and every vote cast, we are shaping a Wyoming that can be fairer, kinder, and more just. Let’s keep going, Wyoming Democrats. We’re resilient, and together, we’re unstoppable.
Joe M. Barbuto, Chair
Wyoming Democratic Party
Posted 17 Oct 2024:
From the Chair of the Wyoming Democratic Party
I’m writing to you as a follow-up to my recent op-ed, reaching out to those of you who are registered as Republicans for strategic reasons but who still believe in the core values of our Democratic Party. First, let me ask: are you better off now than you were two or four years ago?
Harriet Hageman holds a seat in Congress. Chuck Gray is Wyoming’s Secretary of State. And the far-right “Freedom” Caucus continues to grow. For many of you, registering as Republicans was a strategy to moderate the GOP by supporting candidates who represent a more balanced perspective. You did this because you care deeply about Wyoming and thought it was the best way to fight back against extremism.
This recent primary only confirmed that. Voter turnout was dismally low, and many felt uninspired by the choices at hand. And unfortunately, our state legislature isn’t moving closer to the middle.
This is not a criticism; it’s a call to action.
Democrats, it’s time to come home.
We’re friends, neighbors, and family with many Republicans. But while their party stirs up fear and division, we stand for unity and hope. While they entertain authoritarianism, we remain steadfast for democracy. The GOP is dragging us backward, but Democrats stand for progress, and we’re always looking toward the future.
Look around at what Democrats are accomplishing in office. They’re expanding access to affordable healthcare, fighting for reproductive rights, supporting working families, and pushing for modern solutions to Wyoming’s biggest challenges. They’re standing up for our children’s education, mental health, LGBTQ+ rights, and more. This is the leadership that builds up, not tears down.
But we need to grow. We need you back in the Democratic Party to help us build a future we can be proud of. Together, we can recruit and support candidates who reflect our shared values. It’s time to stop trying to fix a party that’s not ours to save and focus on building the one that is.
Between now and Tuesday, November 5—let’s make this our Homecoming 2024. If you’ve been voting strategically as a Republican, felt disillusioned by the GOP, or haven’t voted in years, head to your County Clerk or voting location to register or re-register as a Democrat before casting your ballot.
It’s time to come back to the Wyoming Democratic Party and build the future together.
Joe M. Barbuto, Chair
Wyoming Democratic Party
Posted 15 Oct 2024: “It’s Time To Come Home, Democrats” by Joe Barbuto, Chair, Wyoming Democratic Party: https://wyodems.org/2024/its-time-to-come-home-democrats/
Posted 24 Aug 2024:
Happy Primary Voting!
Whether you’re headed to the polls today or you’ve already voted in the 2024 Wyoming Primary Election, I’d like to take a few moments to share a simple message: thank you for being a Wyoming Democrat. The work we’re doing is crucial to our state and wouldn’t be possible without your support.
While we may find ourselves in the political minority right now, there will come a day when the Equality State looks a little more purple and, eventually, a beautiful shade of blue on the election maps. Together, we can make that happen. And remember – we’re not doing this work just for our party – we’re striving to create a better existence for everyone in Wyoming, regardless of the letter behind their name. Democrats love and believe in the potential of our state and the people who live here.
Even if not everyone knows or admits it, Wyoming needs Democrats.
Joe M. Barbuto, Chair
Wyoming Democratic Party
Posted 18 Jun 2024:
Wyoming Democratic Women’s Caucus Criticizes Senators’ IVF Vote
Cheyenne – Yesterday, Senators Barrasso and Lummis joined their Republican colleagues in blocking a bill that would have protected women’s right to access in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments. Wyoming Democratic Party’s Women’s Caucus has released the following statement.
“As women, we don’t want to live in the world Republicans are attempting to create for us. We don’t want the government to tell us we can’t prevent pregnancy, control our ability to have children through IVF, or dictate our choices about reproductive health.
Senators Barrasso and Lummis, along with their Republican colleagues, claim that women’s access to birth control and IVF treatments isn’t at risk, yet they vote against protecting those rights. Your votes speak louder than your words, Senators, and women in Wyoming and across America should believe them. As a direct result of Republicans’ actions, women today have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers, and we cannot continue electing them if we want to safeguard our freedoms and health.”
Posted 4 May 2024: Following are extracts from the newsletter released by the Wyoming Democratic Party on 2 May 2024. (This extract does not include all of the newsletter articles or images. Topics that have become obsolete as of 11 Nov 2024 have been removed.)
Wyoming Democrats Held Conventions in EVERY County! It was incredible to see Democrats in every corner of the state come together to craft their platforms and make their choice in the Presidential Primary (overwhelmingly Biden)! We held conventions in every. single. county., even dark counties where there is no organized party. Our staff and executive officers traveled a collective 1300 miles, helping to run conventions in Sublette, Goshen, Campbell, and Lincoln counties to make sure that EVERY Democrat in Wyoming had the opportunity to voice their opinion.
-Chair Joe M. Barbuto
You Should Register as a Democrat Thanks to changes in the voting rules made by Secretary of State Chuck Gray and his Conservative pals in the legislature, voting in Wyoming is harder than ever.
One of the most irritating of these changes is that the deadline for registered voters to change their party affiliation is now May 15th, a day before the candidate filing period even starts. It forces you to choose party over people.
It stinks. It makes some folks think that the best thing they can do is register as a Republican and pick the “lesser of two evils” in the primary.
Here’s why you shouldn’t.
Registering as a Republican transfers money from more moderate Republican county parties to the more radical GOP State Party to fund their dystopian agenda. Their county party dues are calculated based on the percentage of registered Republicans in each county- the more registered Republicans, the more money the state party gets. (See Sec. 12.2 of WYGOP bylaws)
Wyoming needs more Democrats, not less. How can we build a strong Democratic Party and elect more Democrats if all the Democrats are registered as Republicans? The best way to change this state for the better is to have a vibrant two-party system. We need to invest in and focus on demonstrating that our party is the voice of reason and effective government.
It’s difficult to recruit candidates when they see the imbalance of party registration numbers in their district. Currently, about 1 in 10 voters is registered as a Democrat. We know there are more people who are Democrats at heart, but it is increasingly difficult to find our supporters.
It’s important to be visible and proud of being Wyoming Democrats. And why wouldn’t we be? We’re on the right side of the issues and history. We stand with our neighbors to protect their fundamental rights, to make this state a place our children can call home, to preserve our public lands for future generations, and to ensure top-quality public education for everyone. Our elected Democrats may be few in number, but they are intelligent and compassionate fighters who get things done. We have a lot to be proud of, and the more of us that are willing to stand up and speak out about who we are, the safer it makes others feel to do the same.
The “lesser of two evils” is still…evil. Every bit of the energy we spend on Republican candidates is a bit of energy we aren’t spending on supporting or recruiting our own good candidates. I can’t tell you how disheartening it is for the amazing folks who bravely step forward and run as Democrats in the reddest state in the nation to feel like they end up fighting not only their opponent but for the attention of folks in their own party as well.
If there’s one thing the new voter restrictions should tell you, it’s that free and fair elections are in jeopardy. In counties across Wyoming, there are efforts, supported by Republican legislators, to return to hand-counting ballots. Our Secretary of State is seemingly on a neverending quest to restrict voting down to only the landed gentry. We cannot protect and ensure our free and fair elections without real Democrats as election judges and we cannot find those folks if they aren’t registered as Democrats. It is becoming alarmingly common for Republicans to register as Democrats so that they can serve as election judges.
Switching parties to change the outcome of a Republican primary is a strategy that has been tried many times in Wyoming politics, most notably and recently in support of Liz Cheney, and… It just doesn’t work. The numbers have been thoroughly crunched, crossover voting didn’t impact either the Governor Gordon’s race or Liz Cheney’s. The bottom line is- switching parties doesn’t help them but it absolutely does hurt us. We are already outnumbered, and losing an estimated 20% of Democrats makes a devastating impact.
Wyoming Democrats are some of the bravest, most badass people on the planet. You should be one.
Note that this not an archive page. Messages with limited time frames will be removed when they are no longer applicable, as will very old messages.