Growing up, my family named our pets after Republican politicians — Bushy, Cheney (Dick, of course) and Reagan. At different times in my life, I have been a Republican, an Independent and a Democrat. During my first Democratic caucus, I voted for Bernie Sanders because he understood the wealthy 1% are getting rich off the backs of hardworking people who still struggle to make ends meet. In 2018, I supported Rod Miller against Liz Cheney because I wanted to protect our public lands and put America before foreign wars.
Opinion
In 2020, I registered as a Democrat. The Legislature was facing an economic crisis, and I wanted to bring opportunities for good-paying jobs to the people of Wyoming. Having a primary challenge in that race gave me an opportunity to be honest about who I was and what I valued, and it allowed my district to choose me based on who I am to my core — a fierce advocate for the underdog.
To me, my freedom to cast my ballot where I choose is fundamental to the democratic process. Each ballot I cast reflects my love for my country and my commitment to Wyoming — not a pledge to my party.
All voters should feel that freedom without shame.
I want people to make their own decisions, just as I have, based on honest information and where their ballot has the most impact on the issues they care most about. For some, that means voting in the Republican primary election, for others, it means putting their efforts toward building the Democratic Party. Both choices advance democracy.
Voter registration should ensure people have options, despite efforts of the Freedom Caucus to limit both participation and the voice of those who don’t pass Republican Party purity tests.
In 2024, after the Freedom Caucus led the charge to limit party switching, just 27% of voters participated in the primary, and only 9% of eligible voters effectively chose the current House leadership.
That same year, 23 House district seats were decided by less than 250 votes in the Republican primary. A dozen House districts were decided by less than 100 votes. Freedom Caucus candidates won many of those close primaries.
The Senate has a one-member majority of traditional conservatives. Sen. Jim Anderson, a traditional conservative in Natrona County, won his primary by 30 votes against a Freedom Caucus challenger.
The trajectory of the state is determined, in large part, by the Republican primary election. Some voters feel strongly about remaining registered Democrats, whether out of tradition or principle. I respect that choice — I am currently a Democrat. But we should also respect those who choose to vote where their voice has the most impact.
Supporting our neighbors by encouraging them to think for themselves and participate in the elections they choose is the way forward. It’s why we need open primaries. It’s also why we shouldn’t turn people away for thinking differently from us and instead embrace our freedom of difference.
Until Wyoming removes barriers that keep voters from fully participating in the elections that determine their representation, we should not shame anyone who decides their power is best exercised in a Republican primary. A ballot is not a loyalty oath. It is a voice — and every Wyoming voter deserves to use theirs.
If you want to use your vote in a primary election that you’re not registered in, you must change your party by May 13 at your county clerk’s office.
Excellent article! Thank you! I agree.
Open primaries, no political parties, letting people have real choices are great to consider. Also keeping any radical group, left or right, from controlling elections is great. But we haven’t identified the real problem: apathy.
The freedom caucus or the GOP or the Democratic Party or outside money is not the problem. Like the freedom caucus or not they are highly motivated. That is the problem with zealots they have an agenda and fight for it.
The problem is the vast majority of do nothings that allow these highly charged groups to get their way. When three quarters of our population can’t even get off their butt to vote what to we expect? Even the ones that do vote most of them don’t do one whit of research on the person they are voting for. It doesn’t really matter what system we have in place when the majority just doesn’t give a shit.
As the saying goes we get the government we deserve and with our pathetic attitude toward civic duty we don’t deserve much. Dave Gustafson
You’re absolutely right Dave.
Over two decades ago as I headed out the door to register to vote for the first time, my dad gave me the sage advice that no matter my politics, I would need to register Republican to have any voice here. Nothing has changed, including my registration. I would love to see open primaries. Perhaps the 70 some odd percent of voters that didn’t show up in the last primary would feel a little less disenfranchised. The “Freedom ” caucus doth protest of course. I know way too many like minded Independents that are so jaded by the current system, they don’t bother to vote. That isn’t the answer of course. We need engagement for the system to work.
I’m a lifelong member of the Republican Party. However, I would fully support an effort to make primaries open. I’ve suggested this to many people and, excluding Freedom Caucus members I’ve suggested this to, (note the irony here) they fully concur that Wyoming should have open primaries.
Rep. Provenza, you have the position and platform to move this forward. How can we help?
Thanks for this Karlee, and thank you for all of the work you put in representing us in HD 45. I couldn’t agree more and I honestly hope that open primaries are on the horizon, I believe that’s the path-or a big part of it-to true representative government. The closed primary system really feels like it isolates a lot of voters.
Just to be clear on folks’ options with respect to primary elections and party registration, there is an alternative that circumvents the Republican Party “leadership”s continuing attempts to make elections about loyalty oaths rather than responsible citizenship. You can “withdraw” your registration by delivering a note to your county clerk any time before May 13. You can then wait until the candidate filing period ends on May 29 to see which candidates file in which party, then re-register at your convenience (including at the Aug. 18 polls) as a “new” voter.
Like-minded citizens gather together as political parties to advance a shared agenda, but we are, or should be, represented by specific individuals, elected for their personal integrity, commitment to community, and selfless respect for the rule of law. In the voting booth, all citizens are equal. Use your vote wisely.
Very good article representative Provenza, yes we in Wyoming should be able to vote for the person we want to vote for it is not sabotage for a Democrat to vote for a Republican. I know I wanted to vote for a Republican running for commissioner and I was able to as I am a democrat now with the new rules. It blocks me from voting for who I want to vote for. I don’t think blocking people from voting for who they want is constitutional. And I agree 100% that the right thing to do is have an open primary. That is an excellent idea. I don’t think anybody should be afraid of it. It is not crooked and we could all vote for who we wanted to.
I once ran as a Republican, in 2002, hoping some in the GOP would try to limit the damage Bush/Cheney were going to do to this country, but alas that was a fruitless endeavor. Electing GOP candidates has wrecked this country as evidenced by Iraq, John Roberts, the 2008 financial crisis to this ridiculous war with Iran. Voting GOP kills Americans.
Everyone is on their own path in this thing called life, but I cannot be associated with any of the actions or the platform produced by the GOP and in my opinion throwing in with them to get the “least” worst GOP member is a proposition my values cannot abide. Registering as a Republican indicates I support their platform: ugh, is the nicest response I can muster.
https://www.wyoming.gop/post/platform-of-the-wyoming-republican-party
I thank you and Karlee Provenza for your perspectives on this difficult issue. I appreciate the different points you both make. I agree that we must be able to declare a party at any time we wish, and that this is an issue that needs to be corrected.
I am currently one of those that align with the Democratic platform, but am a registered Republican because I think that my vote in the primary has the greater impact. And because I count on people like Karlee Provenza to be there to represent my district after the voting is done.
I do feel good about my stance? Not entirely. I helped put Gov. Gordon in office with my vote in the primary, and I disagree with many of his choices. Like others in Wyoming, I feel like I’m on the horns of a dilemma, and am having trouble finding a path out of this mess.
I understand your feelings completely Nick and thank you Karlee for your opinion. I’ve been a lifelong Republican but I can honestly say that it’s nothing I’m proud of. I’ve never voted a straight ticket and never will. The GOP has completely turned away from what it once stood for and is now filled with ultra right wing zealots, some of which are convinced that Donald Trump is the second coming of Christ, as crazy as that sounds. I’m embarrassed to admit which party I’m affiliated with and I’ve often thought about changing because I have nothing in common with these types of people any longer. I find most to be close minded to anyone who doesn’t agree with them and there seems to be a cruelty and meanness that didn’t exist before Trump. If more credible candidates such as Ms. Provenza and Mr. Yin would run as Democrats in Wyoming people would have valid reasons to vote for them. Unfortunately, the Democrats who frequently run seem to come from the fringes and that will never work in a state as conservative as this one. Until that day comes, I’ll continue to feel embarrassed, hold my nose and vote against the likes of Barrasso, Lummis, Hageman, Gray, and Rasner…and anyone remotely attached to MAGA. Here’s hoping for a better tomorrow in Wyoming.
While I respect your ethos and agree with your observations of the GOP, such action gave us the Freedom Caucus in all its deranged Heritage Foundation glory. Its a garbage system that leaves a majority of Independents and Dems without real representation.
Crossing party lines to sabotage opposition primaries that shouldnt be allowed.
How about this, get rid of party labels all together. Local, State and Federal. Let people run on what they stand for and not a completely irrelevant single letter after their name.
Chad, I don’t think that people cross party lines intentionally to sabotage primaries. I think they do so, so that they have a say in their local, state, or federal representation. When I first moved to Wyoming, I registered as “unaffiliated”. That years primary came around and I had exactly 1 item to vote for, some sort of local referendum. No candidates, just the lone referendum. LOL, Well that was my introduction to closed primaries. I agree with you about dropping the alpha designator which in turn would actually force candidates to interact with their constituents to curry favor for votes. As for offices that require some modicum of expertise, standards should be based on experience and knowledge, not party affiliation. These are the 3 Wyoming requirements that you need to meet in order to run for Legislator or 4 of the top 5 elected offices:
1)at least twenty-five (25) years of age
2)a citizen of the United States
3)qualified as an elector in the state of Wyoming
To qualify to run for Governor, age and residency restrictions also apply. So basically, if you walk, talk and cast a shadow……and in the case of Wyoming have an “R” behind your name…….you’re golden.
I agree, let’s do open primaries, let’s change some of our local elected offices to non partisan. I appreciate Karlee’s candor on this subject.
Agreed