Politics and Government Reporter

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.

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Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 26

The 26th day of the 2025 Wyoming legislative session Wednesday featured more than five hours of discussion on a 50% property tax cut bill, which the House passed.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 20, 2025

A marathon debate over Wyoming property tax reform was held on the House floor Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. Pictured are, clockwise from top left, Reps. Ken Clouston, R-Gillette; Ken Pendergraft, R-Sheridan; Steve Harshman, R-Casper; and Tony Locke, R-Casper.

After Marathon Debate, Wyoming House Passes Massive 50% Property Tax Cut

After a marathon debate that lasted into the night, the Wyoming House passed a massive 50% property tax cut. It’s a win for the Freedom Caucus but critics say it would drive Wyoming off a fiscal cliff.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 20, 2025

Secretary of State Chuck Gray talks with people in the hall at the Wyoming Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. Gray is a big supporter of election reform, including banning ballot drop boxes.

Change To Ballot Drop Box Ban Would Allow Drop Slots At Wyoming Courthouses

A significant change was made to a bill that would ban ballot drop boxes in Wyoming. It would allow for ballots to be deposited into courthouses from the outside, not unlike a safety deposit box or night depository at a bank.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 19, 2025

Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 25

The 2025 Wyoming legislative session reached the 25-day mark Tuesday, advancing a bill that bans gun-free zones while a House member chastised his colleagues for not debating bills enough and taking “marching orders” from the Freedom Caucus.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 19, 2025

Landon Brown Blasts House Members For Taking “Marching Orders” From Freedom Caucus

State Rep. Landon Brown’s frustration boiled over Tuesday as he blasted some of his fellow state House members for not debating bills enough. He also chided them for taking “marching orders” on how to vote from Wyoming Freedom Caucus leadership.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 19, 2025

Gov. Mark Gordon signs a raft of bills during the 2024 legislative session. The first bills of the 2025 session are making their way to his desk.

First 15 Bills Of 2025 Session Hit Governor’s Desk, 260 Other Bills Still Alive

The final stretch of the 2025 Wyoming legislative session is approaching with the first 15 bills hitting Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk for approval. There are still 260 bills remaining to be decided.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 19, 2025

State Sen. Mike Gierau is an extreme example of a political underdog in the Wyoming Legislature. He’s one of only two Democrats in the Senate — and he’s also from Jackson.

Mike Gierau Is A True Wyoming Political Underdog — A Democrat From Jackson

State Sen. Mike Gierau is a good example of a political underdog in the Wyoming Legislature. He’s one of only two Democrats in the Senate — and he’s also from Jackson.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 18, 2025

State Sen. John Kolb, R-Rock Springs (inset), sparred with Wyoming ACLU Advocacy Director Antonio Serrano on Feb. 18, 2025, over a bill that would ban illegal immigrants from driving in Wyoming. The Sentate Transportion, Highways and Military Affairs Committee voted 4-1 to advance the bill to the full Senate.

Full Senate To Debate Bill Banning Illegal Immigrants From Driving In Wyoming

A bill to ban illegal immigrants from driving in Wyoming easily passed a Senate committee Tuesday. But not before hearing some heated testimony from those who oppose it. Next stop for the bill is the full Senate for debate.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 18, 2025

A crew of firefighters working the Pack Trail Fire in northwest Wyoming in October 2024.

Wyoming Not Immune From Trump and Musk’s Downsizing Of Federal Government

Federal agencies in Wyoming like the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service aren’t immune from the sweeping downsizing President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are doing from Washington, D.C. Some probationary and seasonal workers have been cut.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 18, 2025

A truck plowed into the side of this brick house on Central Avenue on Oct. 11, 2024. The homeowners have now spent more than a month dealing with a huge hole in their house and at least $30,000 in damages.

Cheyenne Couple Loses Insurance After Truck Crashes Into Their House

A pickup truck crashed into a Cheyenne couple’s home last fall, causing at least $30,000 damage. Now State Farm Insurance is dropping their home coverage, and no other company will insure them.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 17, 2025

Trump Calls Bo Biteman A ‘Patriot’ For Universal School Vouchers Bill

President Donald Trump on Sunday called Wyoming Senate President Bo Biteman a "patriot" for his efforts to pass the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act, a bill that would bring universal school vouchers to Wyoming.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 16, 2025

University of wyoming student union 8 8 23

After DEI Fight With Legislature, University Of Wyoming Launches Image Makeover

After a very public and contentious DEI fight with the state Legislature, the University of Wyoming is launching an image makeover. They say their new “Wyoming First” agenda will focus on actively promoting its state-focused programs.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 15, 2025

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Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 24

The 24th day of the 2025 Wyoming legislative session Friday featured lively discussions on universal school vouchers, abortion bills and banning ballot drop boxes.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 15, 2025

Ban On Ballot Drop Boxes In Wyoming Slowly Moving Forward In Legislature

Although they didn’t take a vote on it on Friday, multiple members of a Wyoming Senate committee told Cowboy State Daily they plan to support a ban on ballot drop boxes in Wyoming.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 14, 2025

Freedom Caucus Chairman Emeritus Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, has been sending targeted text messages to people around Wyoming, urging them to lobby their state senatorws to support the Freedom Caucuses bills.

Freedom Caucus Texting People To Pressure Senators To Pass “Five and Dime” Bills

The campaign arm of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus has been sending out text messages urging people to pressure their state senators to pass the group’s “Five and Dime” slate of bills.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 14, 2025

Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 23

Day 23 of the Wyoming legislative session Thursday featured important conversations about property tax relief and school choice bills. Also, a group of hunters and anglers rallied at the Capitol against what they call “bad bills.”

Leo WolfsonFebruary 14, 2025

Landmark Property Tax Bill Now Calls For 50% Cut Based On COVID-Era Valuations

A bill that started the day as a straight 50% property tax cut was dramatically changed on Thursday. The 50% cut is now based on a property’s COVID-era assessed value from 2019-2024.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2025

Gold commodities have been skyrocketing, and particularly since the election of President Donald Trump. Now the Wyoming Legislature is looking to get in on the action with a proposal that would require the state to buy more of the precious commodity. The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Bob Ide, R-Casper.

Wyoming Would Buy $10 Million In Gold Under Plan Approved By Committee

Gold commodities have been skyrocketing, a trend that’s only continued since the election of President Donald Trump. Now the Wyoming Legislature is looking to get in on the action, proposing to buy $10 million worth of gold.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2025

Wyoming Firefighters, Law Officers Fill The Capitol To Protest Proposed Tax Cut

A group of Wyoming firefighters and law enforcement officers filled the state Capitol in Cheyenne on Wednesday to protest a proposed 50% property tax cut. They say it could gut the budgets of their local departments.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2025

Wyoming Legislative Recap — Day 22

Debate over a 50% property tax cut went into the late hours of the Legislature on Wednesday night after firefighters and law enforcement officers rallied against it at the Capitol earlier in the day.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2025

Joey Corenti of Rural Wyoming Matters, above, and Wyoming School Boards Association Executive Director Brian Farmer, below, testify for the House Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee on making school board elections partisan.

Wyoming School Board Races A Step Closer To Becoming Partisan

A legislative committee easily passed a bill to the House floor Wednesday that would change local school board elections in Wyoming. Now nonpartisan, if Senate File 98 passes candidates will have to declare their political affiliations.

Leo WolfsonFebruary 12, 2025

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