Letter to the Editor: The Republican Party left me

Dear Editor: 

The below information can be confirmed in the Cowboy State Daily April 25, 2026 online.

I don’t know how many of you know what the state Republican committee has come out with. The committee is comprised of 300 very learned individuals. The committee has decided your candidate must strongly support 80% of the Republican platform or else they cannot run as Republicans. I believe there are 24 platforms you must agree with. The only one I am familiar with is number four: Do as you’re told, or your out of here. Just kidding, but not by much.

I will believe whatever I want to believe. The candidate can run on what he or she wants to, I can determine if he or she is worth my vote. Take the sheriff, for instance. I want him or the deputy to protect me from nefarious individuals. I’m not interested in the sheriff’s stance on property taxes.

The state Republican committee is also suing the state so they can support individual candidates during the primary. This opens itself up to corruption to get the committee’s approval. Reagan said we are all republicans under one big tent, now we are a small group of republicans under one small tent.

The state Republican committee is worried about fraudulent elections. What better way than to only allow certain candidates to run? Like Stalin said, it’s not who votes, it’s who counts the votes. Now it’s not the candidate, but what candidate is allowed to run.

Where is the line on what makes you a Conservative or not? What is the line for a Republican and a RINO? I am sure I crossed it. 

I am a member of the Big Horn County Republican Committee, or was. The Republican Party is a private party but crosses many lines with citizen voting, candidates, and elected officials. I don’t think 300 individuals should determine who over 500,000 Wyomingites are allowed to vote for.

I don’t think I left the Republican Party, I believe the party left me.

Owen C. Wantulok

Cowley