Republicans from across the state will gather Saturday in Cody to elect the next chair of the Wyoming Republican Party.
They’ll have at least two candidates to choose from — Rebecca Bextel of Jackson and Bryan Miller of Sheridan — to lead the party after Chairman Frank Eathorne announced he would not seek reelection.
While some party members split on Eathorne’s leadership style, he had enough support to chair the party through three terms. His tenure coincided with the further-right wing’s command of the state GOP and the rise of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, as cemented by its 2024 election victories.
Bextel and Miller both align with that block of the party, so the choice between them is not a question of whether the top post will remain a dark shade of red. Both candidates, however, told WyoFile they have different things to offer the party.
“I’ve got a ton of experience with the [GOP] State Central Committee. I’ve got a ton of experience at the local Sheridan County Central Committee,” Miller said, pointing to over a decade of involvement with the Republican Party.
“I have established relationships all across the state with a whole lot of people, and that, in itself, is a big deal,” he said.
While newer to the party, Bextel has recently demonstrated impressive fundraising chops and earned the endorsement of Wyoming’s U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman.
“Brian has been around a long time. But I think that’s the selling point for me,” Bextel said. “If I’m elected, this is about to be taken to a new level.”
A third or more moderate candidate has not publicly announced a bid for chair, but that remains a possibility since nominations can be made during Saturday’s meeting.
Rebecca Bextel
Bextel moved to Jackson about 20 years ago with her husband, Jonathan, and has made her living in real estate and as a registered agent. In September, she announced she would run for GOP chair, roughly seven months ahead of the election.
“I decided to run early because it’s a big state, and I wanted to give people plenty of time to look me up or get to know me,” Bextel said, adding that in just the last three weeks she’s driven 9,000 miles and visited almost all 23 counties.
“I decided to run because I felt like the role of the chairman of the party is to fundraise, grow the party, and direct the party at the will of the body,” she said. “And so this is not going to be the party of Rebecca Bextel. This is going to be the party of the grassroots. It’s going to be a bottom-up approach.”
She’s raised $130,000 for the party since April, she said.
“I’ve also raised about $300,000 for conservative candidates and PACs. And a lot of those candidates helped push the [Wyoming] House further to the right,” she said. “I’m very proud of that.”
Bextel was herself a fixture of the Wyoming Capitol during the 2025 session, testifying on bills and spending time with lawmakers. That’s something she said she would continue to do as chair.
“I have a great relationship with a lot of the members of the House. I have a great relationship with some members of the Senate,” Bextel said.
And while Miller may have experience, Bextel said, he lacks her “energy level” and “enthusiasm.” Plus, Bextel said she has some new ideas, like creating a group within the party to decide the conservative bona fides of Republican candidates.
“I am actually considering making a new committee that will obviously be an odd number of people from the four corners of the state, across the Republican spectrum, and that committee will figure out who is 80% platform candidates and who is not,” Bextel said.
The Wyoming Republican Party’s bylaws require officeholders to have “a voting record of at least 80% in support” of the party’s platform and challengers to sign “a pledge to support the Wyoming Republican Party platform-related legislation.”
The question of who is and isn’t a Republican has long plagued the party, and Bextel is still “marinating” on the idea of the new committee but said she’s been asking for input during her travels.
Bryan Miller
Shortly before retiring from military service, Miller opened a consulting firm in Sheridan in 2010. Since then, he’s served as Sheridan County GOP Chair for several terms and ran unsuccessfully for the Wyoming Legislature, U.S. House and U.S. Senate.
Those campaigns, Miller said, gave him the chance to make connections across Wyoming.
“I have established relationships with county party after county party over the years,” he said. “They call us up here in Sheridan because they like what we have done,” Miller said, pointing to the party’s growth under his leadership.
“They like the fact that we took a party that was considered to be iffy in the Republican cause across the state,” Miller said, and turned it “into a party where over 500 people regularly participate in party activities.”
In Sheridan, Miller said, they have a surplus of people willing to volunteer as election judges and poll watchers, and more voters interested in running for precinct committee seats than available spots.
The party’s communication and visibility in the community, Miller said, is responsible for increased participation, which is something he’d like to work on at the state level.
“Our messaging here in town has been tremendous. We talk to people. We have a headquarters set up on Main Street every election cycle,” Miller said. “We have a presence in Sheridan like no other county when it comes to the Republican Party.”
Miller said he’s also proud of the fundraising strides his local party has made, but there’s more to being chair of the state party than just filling up the coffers.
“Yes, money is important. It absolutely is when it comes to campaigns and races and all that. But it’s not the reason that someone should elect a chair,” he said. “I don’t want to see that the dollar signs drive the party toward doing things that will not be helpful to the party’s cause.”
Miller originally planned to run for vice chair of the party, he said, but a series of events, including a meeting with Bextel, changed his mind. Miller said he also heard from some lawmakers who didn’t take well to Bextel during the session.
“My ability to work with the leadership in the House and the Senate is tremendously ahead [of Bextel’s],” Miller said. “I’ve actually already been speaking with the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate regarding [Wyoming’s election laws] and this lawsuit that’s been filed in Hot Springs County.”
Miller is running as a “team” alongside Fremont County Chairwoman Ginger Bennett, who is seeking the position of vice chair of the party.
“Ginger is who I think should be the vice chair,” Miller said. “Because she’s got that gregarious attitude. And she knows a lot of people. She’s been involved in the Republican women’s groups in the state, and it’s a match that at this point in time is perfect in my opinion.”
What now?
While Saturday’s meeting is open to the public, only county chairs, state committeemen and state committeewomen are allowed to vote in the state party’s officer elections.
The meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the Cody Auditorium.
There are certain and unfailingly signs of clownage and this self professed ‘reverend’ has time and time again not only exposed his own buffoonery but also of the Park Co GOP. But, maybe it isn’t his fault as reputable news sources such as WyoFile do give him a podium to grandstand the silliness and absurd for the reader to view. A loudmouthed carpetbagger with a cheapo discount store cowboy hat is just a distraction, noise pollution if I may, not some huge political force here in Wyoming with absolutely no endorsement clout. The ‘reverend’ did Ms. Bextel no favors.
Little Timmy Lasseter, always a source of good laughs up here in Park County. Let’s see, a perennial candidate for school board positions (lost), ran for Park Co. Clerk (lost BIG TIME), County Commissioner (not again – lost). Ya see, Timmy, you just don’t load up the Chevy Astro Van in the Ozarks, point it North to Wyoming, swing into Wal Mart for that $9.99 cowboy hat, roll into Cody and immediately think you’re going to be some GOP big wheel. Of course your endorsement of the whack-job Rebecca Bextel failed, anything you touch political wise blows up big time in your face. Still have the Astro??? Might be time to point it South
SEMPER FI BRYAN MILLER, SEMPER FI!
Earlier comment I missed spelled your first name as Brian, SEMPER FI!
I personally have nothing against Bryan Miller. I do however think that now is the time for bold leadership and Rebecca Bextal is bold. She has shown fearless devotion to champion true conservative causes and candidates. At a time when far to many follow instead of lead, we need a fresh new perspective and someone with tireless devotion to the planks of the Republican platform. Rebecca is that candidate.
Hey Tim, a thrillbilly rolling into Cody on fumes in a mini van and getting yourself a $10 walmart cowboy does not make you a force in Wyoming politics. You’ve embarrassed yourself locally here in Park county with your antics at the Park Co. Boys glee club, don’t be embarrassing the rest of us statewide.
Based on this reverend, your church should be fully taxed at the single payer rate. You’re a PAC, not a house of worship. Judas Iscariot = Judas of the City. The state and politics are literally seen as the betrayal of Christ – the anti-Christ. Seek solace in this life Tim, because in the next you’ll find a steep price come due for your rejection of the NT Gospels. The Lord hates a coward.
Give it up, ‘reverend’. Don’t think anyone cares what the Cody carpetbagger thinks. Don’t you have a GoFundMe page to manage? Leave the politics to the adults
it looks like another one of your endorsements bit the dust, Timmy. It ‘s obvious that you haven’t quite got the schtick up here in Wyoming, might want to get rid of those cheap cowboy hats, load up the van and go back to Arkansas
Dear “reverend” (is that some ordained via the internet title you’ve bestowed upon yourself?), you continue to titillate and amuse us with your constant and reliable drollery. The grand experiment of slithering into a new State and trying to fit in and be a big cowboy amongst the GOP with an economy version drover’s hat failed on you the minute you crossed into Wyoming. It was over before it even started for the thrillbilly/hillbilly, “reverend” and perhaps the fine folks of the Ozark region would take you back, that’s if you haven’t already burned your bridges there. Go South, young man and take Vince V. along with his support Emu with you.
All politicians are inbred. Regardless of party affiliation it just wash rinse repeat. You scratch my back. I will scratch yours and we all get rich.
SEMPER FI BRIAN MILLER! SEMPER FI!
Love your anger. That’s what drives this country. Passion. Good for you and yes the stock market at the time of my comment was down 600 over a months time. Google it. Your hatred for the majority is scary. But again that is your right. And just as you have a right to your opinion so do I. May God bless you and yours. We’re lucky to live in this country where we can express our opinions.
One side question is “are you on the central committee and do you vote for GOP chairs?” If so. Why don’t you run for chair and fix the problem?
there is a “reply” link for a reason
Hee hee, Michael is out of his element here. He needs to convert his hate into passion, but just not on these comment pages. Thanks for the laughs
Dow is only down 600 points as of now for the month. Thinking maybe it’s not a crash. Cattle are at record highs which feed the WY economy. The values that people have are sacred. I respect your right to your opinion and so happy you have that right. Now let’s put on our big girl panties and be adults. I find your comments dishonest and rude. And that happens to be my opinion.
Factual comments you find dishonest and rude, Michael Lobato? Trump crashed the stock market, BIG TIME and many have had their retirement savings drastically whittled down, but yet you say it’s only 600 points down?! Huh?! Have you seen the recent grocery and goods prices? And old Mr. anti Fed gub’mint himself, Madam Chairman Tim French has cashed $100’s of thousands in USDA subsidy checks (google it). Hmm, that’s not something a professed rugged individualist who wants the evil feds to hand over public land to the state would do, right Michael? The MAGA crowd despises honesty as you’d rather kiss the ring of the orange dictator and pretend everything is just awright and dandy. It ain’t
Kevin. Trump never crashed the stock market. Short sellers did that.
But Trump this past summer that it was his stock market.
Jan ’25, bone spur claimed it was his stock market (Dow was up). April ’25, bone spur claimed it was Biden’s stock market (Dow was down… because of tariff induced chaos). At what point does the WY GQP faithful stop carrying this orange clown’s water? Show some self-respect.
“further to the right.” Truly scary and sickening.
Funny watching rand paul argue things have gone too far. The dimwitted dentist helped build this fascist monster, and is now upset he can’t control the abomination. The orange clowns have blown well past any last lines of decency or humanity.
Alienating about 80% of your members…severe yet laughable infighting…stock market/retirement funds crash… self proclaimed rugged individualist-types that actually have been exposed as government subsidy profiteers (hi there Madam Chairman Tim French!)…once again despised by the rest of the world….THANKS A LOT MAGA clowns!
Need to correct the title: WY GOP selects new grifters. A Jackson real estate agent, what a fine reflection. White sheets with pre-cut eyeholes for everyone.
Then they would be Democrats, since the KKK was an integral part of the Democratic Party.
Was Gary. Past tense. This is actually part of the history the alt-right is fighting erase. Today, not all WY conservatives are part of the KKK, but all of the KKK are definitely conservatives. We’re not the same. Read a book.