Wyoming’s primary can help protect American democracy

Wyoming’s primary election takes place Aug. 18. History tells us that the day is very important because victors often go on to win the general election in November.

Unfortunately, with a few exceptions, the slate of candidates in the dominant Republican Party is less than stellar, especially for the higher offices. Many are seeking President Trump’s endorsement or trying to ride his coattails, which is not good for democracy. 

It is no secret that our Founding Fathers despised the King of England. To ensure our country never had a king, they fortified our Constitution with a robust system of checks and balances that includes three equal branches of government. According to James Madison, “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” Unfortunately, the Trump administration is trying hard to concentrate power in the executive branch, which is exactly what our Founding Fathers sought to avoid. 

While many in Wyoming favor the policies of this administration, Trump’s thirst for power should be very concerning. The list is long, but includes appointing unqualified loyalists to cabinet positions; prosecuting those who disagree with him; condemning the media when questions are unflattering; demeaning the judiciary when it rules against him; going to war and raising tariffs without consulting Congress; signing executive orders that stretch his authority and much more. None of this is good for democracy!

The proliferation of executive orders exemplifies his thirst for power. During the first 100 days of his second term, President Trump issued more executive orders than the five previous presidents combined during a similar time period. 

Very concerning is his evisceration of government agencies and programs. They were created by Congress to be administered by the executive branch within congressional parameters that are not supposed to be excessively manipulated by a president. The agencies are staffed with professionals who provide expertise purposely intended to shield decision-making from politics, thereby assuring continuity of government from one presidential administration to the next. If each president is allowed to take a chainsaw to the budgets, personnel and rules promulgated by these agencies, the result will be chaos, which is not good for democracy! 

Also concerning are the administration’s attacks on science, especially when research findings contradict its agenda. This administration has suppressed or ignored science relating to global warming, public health, natural resource management and more. In yet another affront to democracy, the administration is now proposing a rule change that will allow political appointees to approve research grant applications, thereby eliminating expert review committees. 

So, what does this mean for Wyoming’s primary election? While this is not a presidential election year, two of our three congressional seats are on the ballot, which offers a critical opportunity to restore the balance of power between Congress and the White House. All three members of our current congressional delegation have been sycophant enablers of the Trump administration’s quest for power, and that must change.

What should we look for in candidates to replace Rep. Hageman and Sen. Lummis? Most importantly, they must be willing to vote against the administration’s undemocratic proposals. Furthermore, they must be willing to confront Trump when he takes inappropriate actions without congressional approval. When he does, he diminishes the role of Congress.

They must also be able to work collaboratively across party lines to solve problems utilizing facts and reason. They especially need to respect research findings and information provided by agency employees. To quote Abraham Lincoln, “Reason, cold, calculating, unimpassioned reason, must furnish all the materials for our future support and defense.”

So, who are the candidates running for Congress? Those vying for the House include 10 Republicans, two Democrats, a Libertarian, and a Constitutional Party candidate. The Senate race includes five Republicans and two Democrats. Only the Democrats and four Republicans — Kevin Christensen, Keith Goodenough, Jimmy Skovguard and Sam Mead — merit consideration. 

As with the congressional races, many state and local candidates don’t seem to recognize that, in a democracy, how things get done is as important as what gets done. This is especially true of candidates affiliated with the power-hungry Wyoming Freedom Caucus.

During the 2024 primary election, only 27%of Wyoming’s voting-age population turned out to vote. Let’s not let so few make such big decisions for us again.

Please vote on Aug. 18, but be careful who you vote for. Without democracy, nothing else matters!