Leo Wolfson
Leo Wolfson is the State Government and Politics Reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Cheyenne. He is responsible for covering Wyoming politics on a federal and statewide level.
Leo led Cowboy State Daily's coverage of the 2022 Wyoming primary election, including the highly contentious race between former congresswoman Liz Cheney and her successor U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman. He also managed CSD's coverage of the 2023 State Legislature, which was by far the most extensive and timely media coverage of a legislative session in the state's history.
Before joining Cowboy State Daily, Leo was a general assignment reporter for the Cody Enterprise Newspaper in Cody from 2018-2022. Prior to that, he reported for a suburban newspaper outside Denver.
Latest from Leo Wolfson
Wyoming Republicans Taking New Approach To Trying To Ban Abortion
The Wyoming Legislature considered two different bills on Wednesday that take new approaches in trying to ban abortions. The Legislature passed two separate bans on most forms of abortion in 2022 and 2023 but both are currently being held up in court.Â
Leo WolfsonFebruary 06, 2025
House Advances Bill To Make Wyoming Attorney General An Elected Position
The House Judiciary Committee advanced a bill on Wednesday, by a 6 - 3 margin, that would make the Wyoming Attorney General an elected position. Supporters of the bill have criticized Wyoming AG Bridget Hill for either taking too long to file lawsuits or not filing enough.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 05, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 16
Day 16 of the 2025 Wyoming Legislature on Tuesday featured passionate debates on Second Amendment protections and state license plates. It also saw the Senate pass a 50% cut to property taxes.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 05, 2025
Dueling Gun Groups Strike Truce To Push Wyoming Second Amendment Rights Bill
A pair of gun rights groups in Wyoming that have feuded over state Second Amendment legislation have struck a brief truce. Gun Owners of America and Wyoming Gun Owners are both pushing a bill that would ban state officials from enforcing federal gun laws.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 05, 2025
Senate Passes 50% Property Tax Cut, Would Be Largest In Wyoming History
The Wyoming Senate passed a property tax bill Tuesday that at a 50% cut would be the largest in state history. Opponents say not providing money to replace that revenue will devastate communities, while supporters say it’s a true tax cut.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 04, 2025
“Threw Me Under The Bus”: Park County Clerk Says Rep. Wrong About 2020 Ballots
The Park County Clerk says state Rep. Ken Pendergraft “threw me under the bus” last week when he told a legislative committee she “prematurely” destroyed 2020 election ballots. The clerk was legally allowed to, but he says he stands by the accusation.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 04, 2025
Cowboy State Daily Conversations With Legislative Leaders: Scott Heiner
VIDEO: Cowboy State Daily's State Politics Reporter Leo Wolfson catches up with Majority Floor Leader Scott Heiner, R-Green River, to learn more about what got him into politics and his vision for the future of the House under the Wyoming Freedom Caucus majority.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 04, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 15
The 15th day of the Wyoming Legislature saw extended debate on many controversial topics like sex books in school libraries and transgender sports bans.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 04, 2025
Legislative Committee Kills “Make Carbon Dioxide Great Again” Bill
Fearing it could actually lead to more federal regulation, a Wyoming Senate committee killed the “Make Carbon Dioxide Great Again” bill. It would have cut low-carbon energy standards in the state and treated CO2 as a nutrient, not a pollutant.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 04, 2025
Proposed Change To School Construction Would Mean Locals Passing Bonds
The Senate Education Committee advanced a constitutional resolution Monday that would change how schools get built in Wyoming. It would make all public school building projects require locals to approve and fund them through bonds.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 03, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 14
The 14th day of the Wyoming Legislature on Friday featured Congresswoman Harriet Hageman telling legislators it’s been an “incredibly exciting” time on Capitol Hill. Also, a debate is raging over whether judges in the state should be elected.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 01, 2025
Hageman Tells Legislature It’s An “Incredibly Exciting” Time To Be On Capitol Hill
Wyoming congresswoman Harriet Hageman spoke to Wyoming legislators Friday at the Capitol in Cheyenne. She described President Donald Trump’s first two weeks in office as an “incredibly exciting” time on Capitol Hill.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 01, 2025
Wyoming Could Become First State To Ban Electronic Voting Machines
A House committee considered a bill on Friday that could make Wyoming the first state to ban electronic voting machines. If it passes, the bill would force ballots to be hand-counted.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 31, 2025
Property Tax Relief Bill Called For 25% Cut, Was Boosted To 50%, Now Back To 25%
A bill to slash residential property taxes in Wyoming is yo-yoing its way through the state Senate. It called for a 25% tax cut, then was boosted to 50%, and is now back to 25% after a Friday vote.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 31, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 13
On the 13th day of the 2025 Wyoming legislative session Thursday a tearful owner of a dog killed by a beaver trap testified about trapping reform, while a plan that would base property taxes on a home’s purchase price passed out of committee.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 31, 2025
Wyoming Blockchain Billionaire Has Big Political Plans, To Launch PAC
Wyoming billionaire blockchain mogul Charles Hoskinson, who owns a ranch in Wheatland, has his eye on becoming a player in Wyoming politics. He told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday that he’s launching a PAC and has big plans.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 30, 2025
Ballot Drop Boxes A Step Closer To Being Banned Across Wyoming
The Wyoming House overwhelmingly approved a bill Thursday that would ban the use of ballot drop boxes in the state. Despite opposition from county clerks, the House voted 51-10 to advance the bill on to the Senate.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 30, 2025
House Passes Bill Requiring Ultrasounds For Women To Get Abortion Pills
The Wyoming House passed a bill Thursday requiring women to have ultrasounds before getting the abortion pill. Supporters say it’s a health safety issue, while opponents claim it’s designed to shame women.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 30, 2025
Bill To Base Wyoming Property Taxes On Purchase Price Passes House Committee
A controversial proposal to base Wyoming property tax rates on a home’s fair market value and purchase price passed a House committee Thursday. Opponents call the plan “an affront” that would “bankrupt local communities.”
Leo WolfsonJanuary 30, 2025
Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 12
On Wednesday, the 12th day of the Wyoming legislative session, a bill giving parents $7,000 a child for universal school choice passed the House. Legislators also are exploring how to slash property taxes without gutting schools and local services.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 30, 2025
Legislature Explores How To Slash Taxes Without Gutting Schools, Local Services
The Wyoming Legislature is working through a number of bills that would slash property taxes. Legislators are also exploring how to do that without gutting local governments and schools.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 30, 2025