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
Why Won't Anyone Debate This Year? They Don't Trust Who's Hosting It.
There’s a trend among Wyoming candidates running for office to not attend debates hosted by organizations they don't trust-- like the League of Women Voters in Fremont County. Candidates don't believe they are as non-partisan as the group says.
Leo WolfsonJuly 17, 2024
Florida Group Influences Wyoming Election, ESG Rules With Chuck Gray’s Help
A trove of emails show that Secretary of State Chuck Gray pushed forward bills and rules on elections and ESG over the past two years that were almost identical to the model legislation brought to him by a Florida lobbying group.
Leo WolfsonJuly 17, 2024
Powell Baseball Player Set To Return After Suffering Life-Threatening Rattlesnake Bite
Powell baseball player Jhett Schwahn was deep in the backcountry when he was bit by a rattlesnake. It took a rescue helicopter 2 1/2 hours to get to him. By that time, his legs were numb and he was unable to communicate.
Leo WolfsonJuly 17, 2024
Hageman’s Primary Opponent Knows He’s A Long Shot But Believes She Needs Challenger
Casper attorney Steve Helling has no illusions about his chances of beating Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman in the upcoming Republican primary election, but he still believes it's the right thing to do so voters can have a choice.
Leo WolfsonJuly 16, 2024
Chuck Gray Announces Wyoming GOP Delegates Vote Unanimously For Trump
Wearing an oversized cowboy hat, Wyoming Sec. of State Chuck Gray on Monday announced at the Republican National Convention that all of the state's 29 delegates were cast for former President Donald Trump.
Leo WolfsonJuly 15, 2024
Wyoming Congressional Delegation Excited About Trump’s Running Mate Pick, JD Vance
Wyoming's congressional delegation said they were pleased with former President Trump's decision to pick JD Vance as his running mate. Harriet Hageman said she "couldn't wait" to see him debate Kamala Harris.
Leo WolfsonJuly 15, 2024
Barrasso, Lummis Applaud Dismissal Of Trump’s Classified Docs Case
U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis celebrated the dismissal of a classified documents case against former President Trump on Monday, saying they had always viewed the allegations as a politically motivated attack by the Justice Department.
Leo WolfsonJuly 15, 2024
Wyoming Delegation Hopes America Will Come Together After Assassination Attempt
Wyoming's congressional delegation on Sunday told Cowboy State Daily they hope the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump over the weekend will cause the country to come together.
Leo WolfsonJuly 15, 2024
Decades After Visiting As A Kid, Cheyenne Man Gets Wish For Yellowstone Return
Paul Terry visited Yellowstone National Park as a kid and always longed to return, but never did. That is until this week, when the 78-year-old Cheyenne man had his wish granted by AARP.
Leo WolfsonJuly 14, 2024
Detective: Coin Shop Suspect, Neighborhood Not Searched After 2015 Double Murder
A Cheyenne police detective testified during a Friday hearing that the man now suspected of killing two men during a 2015 robbery wasn’t searched at the time. He also testified the neighborhood around The Coin Shop also wasn’t searched.
Leo WolfsonJuly 12, 2024
Dept. Of Education, Former Agency Head Must Pay For Illegally Withholding Records
A judge ruled Wednesday that the Wyoming Department of Education and former Superintendent of Public Instruction Brian Schroeder have to each pay $700 for illegally withholding public records.
Leo WolfsonJuly 11, 2024
Cheyenne State Senate Candidates Divided Over Gigantic Facebook (Meta) Data Center
Republicans running for state Senate Districts 4 and 6 clashed Wednesday night over a massive $800 Million Meta (Facebook) data center. The 715,000-square-foot facility will be built in south Cheyenne.
Leo WolfsonJuly 11, 2024
Conservative Movement: Freedom Caucus Could Gain Control Of House In ’24
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus has been growing in numbers and influence. Now the group, and candidates aligned with it, feel 2024 could be the year it gains control of the Wyoming House.
Leo WolfsonJuly 11, 2024
Cody LDS Temple Opponents Sue, Claim City Is Stonewalling Turning Over Records
A group that has already sued to stop a planned gigantic 101-foot-tall LDS temple in Cody now claims the city is stonewalling on delivering public records.
Leo WolfsonJuly 10, 2024
Snubbed By Hageman And Barrasso, No WyomingPBS Debates For Primary
John Barrasso and Harriet Hageman have told WyomingPBS they won’t participate in the station’s televised debates this year. That means the station won’t have congressional primary debates.
Leo WolfsonJuly 10, 2024
Wyoming Chapter Of National Libertarian Group Raises Eyebrows With Endorsements
The Wyoming arm of Libertarian-leaning Americans For Prosperity is raising eyebrows with its primary endorsements. At issue: the group believes civility as a state legislator is an important trait.
Leo WolfsonJuly 09, 2024
Brother Of 2015 Cheyenne Coin Shop Murder Victim Says Arrest Brings Waves Of Emotion
The brother of one of two men killed during the 2015 robbery of The Coin Shop in Cheyenne says he’s gone through waves of emotion since an arrest was made two weeks ago. “I cried and cried and cried,” he said.
Leo WolfsonJuly 09, 2024
First Entirely Out-Of-State-Based Lobbying Effort Of Wyoming Political Season Launched
An out-of-state group called Make Liberty Win is blanketing Wyoming with text messages and emails lobbying for conservative candidates. Many legislators say the group is pushing misleading and wrong information.
Leo WolfsonJuly 09, 2024
Hageman Lobbies Trump To Help Stop Drug, Human Trafficking On Reservations
Harriet Hageman said Sunday that she spoke with former President Trump about thwarting drug and human trafficking cartels on reservations. She said the problem is a direct byproduct of President Biden’s immigration policies.
Leo WolfsonJuly 09, 2024
Can Mark Gordon Run For A 3rd Term? Supreme Court Would Likely Have To Decide
Secretary of State Chuck Gray drew attention Sunday when he said he wouldn't certify Gov. Mark Gordon’s candidacy if he runs for a third term. Whether the governor can legally run or not is murky. And his office won't say if he's considering it.
Leo WolfsonJuly 08, 2024
Chuck Gray Says He Won’t Certify Candidacy If Gordon Seeks 3rd Term
Secretary of State Chuck Gray said Sunday that if Gov. Mark Gordon wanted to run for a third consecutive term that he wouldn’t certify his candidacy because he believes the governor is bound by term limits. He made the statement during a Sunday political event in Casper.
Leo WolfsonJuly 08, 2024
Wyoming’s Bucking Horse Logo Dates Back To WWI — And It’s Not Steamboat
There are few things that say “Wyoming” more than its bucking horse and rider logo. What’s not as well-known is its origin. It was drawn during World War I by a Wyoming artist fighting in the war. And it wasn't based on Steamboat.
Leo WolfsonJuly 07, 2024
AI Candidate Can Run For Cheyenne Mayor, But Won’t Be On Ballot
Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee said Friday that VIC, an AI candidate for Cheyenne Mayor, can continue its run for office. However, VIC can’t appear on the ballot and instead will be listed as Victor Miller, the human behind the campaign.
Leo WolfsonJuly 06, 2024
No Bond For Man Accused Of Gunning Down 2 Men In 2015 Cheyenne Coin Shop Robbery
The man accused of killing two men in the 2015 robbery of The Coin Shop in downtown Cheyenne will stay in jail without bond. Douglas Smith had his initial hearing in court on Friday.
Leo WolfsonJuly 05, 2024
Trump Indicates Support Of Military Tribunal For Liz Cheney
Former President Donald Trump has rekindled his ongoing feud with former Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney. On Friday, he shared a post calling for a military tribunal for Cheney, something usually reserved for war criminals.
Leo WolfsonJuly 05, 2024
Cody Legislator Concerned Immigrant Resource Center In Jackson Could Lead To Voter Fraud
The presence of a new immigrant resource center in Jackson has state Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody, concerned that the facility could assist immigrants with illegally voting and receiving welfare benefits.
Leo WolfsonJuly 04, 2024
Suspect In 2015 Double Murder At Cheyenne Coin Shop Back In Wyoming
The man accused of killing two people in 2015 at The Coin Shop in downtown Cheyenne is back in Wyoming. Douglas Smith has been extradited from California and will have his first court hearing Friday.
Leo WolfsonJuly 03, 2024
Wyoming Voter Registrations At Eight-Year Low
Voter registrations in Wyoming are at their lowest in eight years as of Monday, with less than two months before the state’s primary election. Numbers usually drop when there's not a competitive race at the top of the ticket in Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonJuly 03, 2024
Push To Ditch Ballot Machines For Hand Counts In Wyoming Gaining Steam
A push to ditch electronic ballot counting machines in favor of hand counts in Wyoming elections is gaining steam. And it has Secretary of State Chuck Gray’s full support.
Leo WolfsonJuly 03, 2024
Meta (Facebook) Formally Announces Massive $800M Data Center In Cheyenne
Social media giant Meta (aka Facebook) formally unveiled plans Tuesday for a massive $800 million, 715,000-square-foot Cheyenne data center. They say at the peak of construction it will generate more than 1,000 jobs.
Leo WolfsonJuly 02, 2024
Wyoming Sues Biden Administration Over ‘Overreaching’ EV Mandates
Gov. Mark Gordon announced Monday that Wyoming will join 25 other states in a lawsuit against President Joe Biden’s administration. This time it’s over new EV standards that require auto manufacturers produce electric vehicles.
Leo WolfsonJuly 02, 2024
Reid Rasner’s Bodyguard Runs Against Freedom Caucus Incumbent In Platte County
Guernsey Fire Chief Jeff Thomas, who also works for U.S. Senate candidate Reid Rasner as a bodyguard, is running against Platte County Freedom Caucus incumbent Jeremy Haroldson for the Wyoming House.
Leo WolfsonJuly 01, 2024
Wyoming Cities Say Supreme Court Ruling Gives Freedom To Deal With Homeless
City officials from two Wyoming cities struggling with growing homeless populations say they’re pleased with a Friday decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that gives cities freedom to regulate the issue how they want.
Leo WolfsonJune 29, 2024
Southern Fryed Lead Singer Cuts Long Hair, Hides Tats For Wyoming House Run
People around Cheyenne know Exie Brown as “Russ,” the lead singer of popular country band Southern Fryed. Now he’s ditched his long hair and covered his tattoos to challenge longtime Wyoming House incumbent Landon Brown.
Leo WolfsonJune 28, 2024
Oil Field Worker Charged With Child Porn Says He’s ‘Disgusted’ With Himself
A Casper-area oil field worker who faces eight felony charges for having and distributing child porn allegedly told investigators that fantasies about sex acts with children are like “an itch in my head” and that he’s “disgusted” with himself.
Leo WolfsonJune 28, 2024
Chuck Gray Spars With Clerk Over $132K In Election Equipment Before Last-Minute OK
It took months of arguing back and forth with Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray, but Laramie County will get $132,650 in new election equipment after Gray had a last-minute change of heart and reversed his initial denial.
Leo WolfsonJune 28, 2024
Hageman Says Jill Biden Guilty Of ‘Elder Abuse’ For Letting Joe Debate
Reacting to Thursday’s first 2024 presidential debate, Harriet Hageman said President Joe Biden’s performance was so bad that first lady Jill Biden is guilty of “elder abuse” for “rolling President Biden out on stage to engage in a battle of wits while unarmed.”
Leo WolfsonJune 28, 2024
Wyoming Has Fastest Growing Elderly Population In Nation
A new state demographic report released Thursday shows Wyoming has the fastest growing population of elderly people, age 65 and older, in the nation. The state’s oldest county is Hot Springs County followed by Johnson, Platte, and Niobrara counties.
Leo WolfsonJune 28, 2024
PETA Wants Wyoming To Use Dinosaur Instead Of Bucking Bronco On License Plate
Wyomingites weren't impressed with a demand from PETA on Thursday to replace the bucking bronco on the state license plate to a dinosaur head. PETA says rodeos are cruel. In response, one man in Cheyenne said PETA can "kiss my ass."
Leo WolfsonJune 27, 2024