Wyoming Dems Weigh Feasibility and Impact of Biden’s Candidacy

By means of Madelyn Beck

As more Democrats in Congress call on President Joe Biden to abandon his re-election campaign, Democrats in Wyoming are weighing the implications of the president’s candidacy for the Equality State.

“It absolutely matters who’s at the top of the ticket, because a rising tide raises all ships, right?” said Wyoming Democratic Party Chairman Joe Barbuto.

Democrats are struggling in Wyoming, with only 16 candidates running for Congress in this election, the lowest number in at least 26 years.

Barbuto will support Biden whether the president decides to stay or step back, he said. Either way, he said, he is confident there will be a strong Democratic campaign that will turn out progressive voters in Wyoming.

“I’ve supported President Biden throughout his presidency and throughout his last campaign,” he said. “And so far, I’ve found him to be a person of integrity, and I trust him to make the right decision … What he thinks is in the best interest of our nation.”

According to him, reports that Biden may resign in the coming days are mere speculation.

House Minority Leader Mike Yin (D-Jackson) agreed, saying he believes the decision still rests with Biden, the only person who can make that official determination.

“The ultimate goal is still to have a Democrat in the White House,” he said.

While he believes the state will fare better under a Democratic president, Yin said it’s important to focus on local races. Historically, Wyoming Democrats have performed better in races for state and local office than in contests for federal office.

“I also look at the focus on: How can Democrats in the state who are elected help their communities, help encourage more personal freedoms, help make sure that our land is best used in the way that Wyoming wants to use it,” he said. “And just making sure that we still have an honest debate in this state, which is getting harder every day.”

Recently, a handful of Republican candidates in Fremont County declined invitations to local debates. Wyoming PBS also canceled a debate after U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman and U.S. Sen. John Barrasso declined to attend, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported.

Why vote?

Rep. Karlee Provenza (D-Laramie) worries about Democratic voter apathy if Biden remains on the ballot, saying it would be better if he stepped back.

“Based on my finger on the pulse, I think there is potentially an opportunity to revitalize voters to vote in a presidential election if Biden were not the nominee,” she said.

She represents many students and employees at the University of Wyoming, a younger demographic that has not been shy about voicing concerns on social media about the ages of both presidential candidates. Some people Provenza spoke to asked her why they should vote at all.

“It’s an opportunity to talk about what’s on the agenda and who’s really impacting your day-to-day life,” she said. “Your state legislature, your city council, your county commission, your school board, the people who run the communities on the ground.”

At the same time, she said her concerns aren’t limited to Biden in this election. She said “it would be better if both candidates weren’t the candidates.”

“I believe more in our country and the people of this country,” she said. “We could have two better candidates than the two we have now.”

Provenza isn’t the only Mountain West Democrat saying Biden should step back. Montana rancher and Sen. John Tester said, “While I appreciate his dedication to public service and our country, I believe President Biden should not seek re-election.”

There are no primaries for Democrats running for a seat in the Wyoming Legislature. There are no opposing candidates for Democrats running. There are some for local elections, including in Teton County.

According to Yin, presidential candidates can influence voter turnout, which could be important for district government primaries.
Wyoming’s primary election is August 20, and the general election is November 5. For more information on the new voter registration rules, click here.

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This article was originally published by WyoFile and is republished here with permission. WyoFile is an independent, nonprofit news organization focused on the people, places and policies of Wyoming.

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