Why is so much dark money targeting Wyoming?

While out-of-state money has been spent in Wyoming before, there appears to have been a dramatic increase in the last few years. For example, at least two groups are dumping a lot of money to influence the passage of HB0199-Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act. 

As a Wyomingite, you can support the bill or not. This editorial column is not about the pros/cons of that bill. It is about why a lot of out-of-state money is being spent to tell voters to contact our legislators to vote yes on the bill. 

There are TV ads sponsored by Club for Growth. After the bill passed the House, it went over to our Senate. The ad says “307-777-7881 Tell State Senators: Pass House Bill 199.” The Club for Growth website shows it is based out of Washington, DC. 

There are Facebook ads sponsored by American Action Fund. It has a picture of Senator Ed Cooper. It reads “The time is NOW for Universal School Choice in the Cowboy State, but your Senator Ed Cooper may be on the fence! Call Senator Ed Cooper at 307-851-5949 and urge him to pass school choice right away! The House of Representatives passed HB 94, Charter Schools Unlimited, and HB 199 Wyoming Freedom Scholarship. Tell your Senator to pass these bills immediately.” The group that placed these ads is based in Austin, TX. 

Similar ads with other senators are popping up on newsfeeds in the districts they serve.

During the 2024 election our mailboxes, TVs and FB feeds were full of ads from out-of-state Political Action Committee (PAC). In several cases, the ads/mailers falsely claimed that some of our legislators voted to keep President Trump off the ballot in Wyoming. People were rightfully outraged. The problem is, there was never a bill to do so before our legislators. It was a lie invented to take votes away from the targeted legislators. 

In another case, a flyer was distributed in another part of the state. The photo on it wasn’t even the person who was running for the office. It was a picture of a legislator with the same name from another state. Obviously, that PAC was not from Wyoming. 

There were TV and radio ads against Senator John Barrasso. You knew those behind them were not from Wyoming. The senator’s name was pronounced incorrectly. 

These are just a few examples of PACs trying to influence us. There are many more out there. Some of which have “Wyoming” in their name. The name sounds good, but when you delve further, you find they are not from Wyoming at all. 

 Caveat emptor (buyer beware).