Wyoming Republican Party Endorses Candidates While Suing Over Spending Laws

The Wyoming Republican Party announced endorsements for several top-race candidates ahead of the August 18 primary election, including Col. Brent Bien for governor, Secretary of State Chuck Gray for U.S. House, and U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman for U.S. Senate.

Chairman Bryan Miller stated that the party vetted these candidates based on their alignment with grassroots conservative principles. However, the organization will not spend party funds to support these candidates, as a state statute makes it a misdemeanor for a political party to expend funds to aid one candidate over another of the same party during a primary.

The party is currently challenging the constitutionality of these restrictions in a federal lawsuit filed in June. Miller argued that the inability to communicate these endorsements to the public via advertising is a violation of constitutional rights.

While the official party remains financially sidelined, a super PAC funded by the father of Chuck Gray has begun advertising the party's endorsements through text messages.