Wyoming Democrats are falling in line with progressives around the nation who are backing Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid.
“This endorsement highlights values that transcend partisan boundaries: honesty, the rule of law, and integrity,” the Wyoming Democratic Party wrote about its endorsement of Harris. “Kamala Harris embodies these principles, making her a leader not just for Democrats, but for all Americans who seek a fair and just society.”
Wyoming’s 13 delegates unanimously voted to endorse Harris on Monday night, but not everyone was happy about President Joe Biden stepping back. Wyoming House Minority Leader Mike Yin (D-Jackson) was part of the discussion that night when the vote occurred.
“There was a little bit of disappointment from some of the delegation about the president making the decision to step down,” Yin said. “Ultimately, it’s a very hard thing for anyone to do, to voluntarily decide that it’s time to move on and let someone else take the wheel, and I really do applaud him for it.”
As Wyoming Democrats told WyoFile last week, the people at the top of the electoral ticket matter, even for races in this rural, red state. And since Biden stepped back from his campaign, Rep. Karlee Provenza (D-Laramie) said she’s heard from people in her community that they’re more hopeful and inspired to vote.
“Having people excited to vote up ballot is certainly beneficial in getting people to the polls to vote for our down-ballot races that may be decided by a single vote,” she said.
Ultimately, it’s a very hard thing for anyone to do, to voluntarily decide that it’s time to move on and let someone else take the wheel, and I really do applaud him for it.”
Mike Yin (D-Jackson)
Provenza had previously supported Biden stepping down over fears of voter apathy.
Both Yin and Provenza stressed Harris’ ability to advocate for access to abortion.
“Kamala Harris understands that forced pregnancies and government infringement in our personal health care decisions isn’t what America was founded on,” Provenza said. “I think this is an opportunity to install policies that protect women’s right to abortion access.”
Looking to Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance on the other side of the aisle, Yin said, “We’ve seen with the vice presidential choice on the Republican side a senator chosen that has outwardly spoken that he is in favor of a national abortion ban.”
The duo were cosponsors of a proposed constitutional amendment this year that may have ensured abortion access in Wyoming, but it didn’t get enough votes for introduction in the Legislature. State lawmakers passed two abortion bans last year — a near-total ban and a ban on abortion-inducing medication — but both are tied up in a lawsuit currently at the district court in Jackson.
The context
Biden endorsed Harris less than an hour after announcing that he’d be stepping back from the campaign amid growing concern that he was too old to seek another term. Since then, elected Democrats nationwide have been voicing their support in larger numbers than even those who’d called for Biden to end his run.
Nationally, 268 elected Democrats have endorsed Harris as of Wednesday morning, according to the New York Times. That’s compared to the 14 others whom the Times found hadn’t explicitly backed her.
Among those who’ve endorsed Harris were her theorized opponents in an open primary, like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Harris has also clinched the pledged support of a majority of delegates she’ll need to secure the presidential nomination of her party, and more than $250 million in donations.
The only Democratic delegations to not pledge a majority of their support to Harris as of Wednesday morning included Alabama, Washington, the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.
However, now that Harris has picked up steam, the question becomes: Who will her running mate be?
“I would like to see someone who is going to be a good voice for hard-working people,” Provenza said. “I don’t even pretend to know who it could be, but I hope that candidate is someone who can stand for [issues like reproductive rights and affordable health care] but also is going to bring in voters that maybe are on the fence.”
For Yin, he has many thoughts, but not a lot of people he wants to share them with.
“If [Harris] would like to reach out to me, I would love to share it with her,” he said with a chuckle. “But I think I’ll keep it to myself at this point.”
Here some facts about VP Harris. 1. She was put in charge of finding solution to border. It not difficult. But border has been wide open for 3-1/2 years of Harris being in charge. 2. Biden put her in charge of $42.5 BILLION TO connect rural America to Broadband and improve it. 3 years later and $42.5 BILLION LATER. Not one more rural American is hooked up or improvement spent. Where is the money? Now in private sector she likely have been terminated TWICE!!! Let’s not give her any more responsibility’s. She has failed twice we know of.
To those Democrats who said Joe Biden fell on his sword. He was trying to get it out of his back, no thanks to you. I think Kamala Harris is a good choice for president. It’s about time women had a bigger role in government and a bigger voice!
Although painfully delayed, President Biden channeled the inner Washington and willfully stepped away from the seat of power. The move made all the more noble when held up against his political rivals. I find it difficult to be excited about VP Harris taking over the ticket without a real discussion if she’s the best choice for the job. In 2024, however, my minimum requirement for campaign support and November vote is “not a fascist” so I’m resolved to voting straight Blue down the ballot.
“If nine people sit down to dinner with a Nazi, you have 10 Nazis.”
Wyoming would do well to keep conservative. Democrats will throw all their energy into destroying coal production, and we all know where we will be without it, stuck without any transportation. They would love that, by the way. Just my two cents..
The Democrats don’t have to destroy coal, it’s destroying itself. Coal production is dropping like a rock, and that won’t change no matter which party is in office.
We will never be without transportation.
It distresses me that “DEI” is considered a bad label. How can you disagree with diversity, equity, and inclusion? Aren’t these qualities that should be at the forefront of US politics? I would be very proud to be considered a DEI candidate!
Jody, it isn’t a bad thing when it comes from your heart. It’s when others say stuff like Kamala got her job because she’s black. It’s the intent and context. And I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know a lot about DEI.
It is my CHOICE to support Kamala Harris for President wholeheartedly. Harris supports my values. Be careful whose ideas you spout, maybe try some other information sources and form some thoughts of your own.. Turn your television off.
I hate to have to tell liberals, but all of that cackling by Kamala does not mean she actually produced anything, or is capable of doing so.
Spoken like a true “cackler”.
Well spoken comment 👏 💯. She hasn’t produced an intelligent thought for decades. She ruined California.
As a Californian, I’m not ruined!
Evidently pulling stuff out of thin air is contagious. The cult leader uses just such tactics, and of course his minions eat up the baloney. Harris has a very exceptional career history and knows more than her presidential opponent by a factor of 10. Hageman is a lightweight in comparison, and is enthusiasticly making snide remarks about Harris. Such is the way of the conservative these days. Enjoy yourself in your little echo chamber.
💯
To all the naysayers on Kamala, have fun in November. Trump doesn’t have a platform other than saying crazy s%$# to see what sticks.
It’s been exciting watching and feeling the excitement growing since the announcement. I appreciated the text and email polls that I received from the DNC, the democratic governors, and a couple of others, asking if I supported the idea of supporting someone who had already been voted on as the vice presidential candidate. I do, wholeheartedly.
Of course the delegates were unanimous.
Freedom OF choice is what they had, but evidently they preferred freedom FROM choice.