By Mandy Weaver, WDP Communications Director

This was first published on wyodems.org on April 8, 2026. -ed.

I’m really tired of Republicans asking me to clean up their messes.

It seems like lately I’m being inundated with op-eds from Republican activists, articles with quotes from Republican legislators, Facebook posts from well-meaning moderates, texts from Republican Governor candidates, and catchy yet somehow ominous numerical slogans- all telling me that the only way to save our state from Republican extremists is to… Help elect Republicans to office?

Hmmm.

Hey, I’m all for creating a coalition of shared values that reaches across party lines to make positive change in the state I love. In fact, that would be my dream come true! But that’s not what I’m being asked to do, is it?

What I’m being asked to do is abandon my own values and weaken my own party -the one that actually fights for those values- in order to join with the Republicans on a project of… what, exactly? Rooting the extremism out of the Republican Party? Electing the Republican who will harm my state the least? Really?

What a sad little project.

I really want no part of it.

This isn’t about hating Republicans. I have many, many Republican friends and family members. How could I not, as a 5th-generation native of the reddest state in America? I love them, and they love me.

The Republican Party in Wyoming, at its best, stood for personal freedom, local control, and a government that stayed out of people’s lives. But that’s not the party we’ve been living with. It’s not new and it didn’t just appear out of thin air.

The extremist WYGOP and Freedom Caucus planted these seeds over the course of years, nurtured by complicity and apathy within their own ranks. Frank Eathorne was elected not once, but twice, to lead the Wyoming Republican Party. He was at the January 6th insurrection and helped originate the brand of politics the Freedom Caucus now embodies. WYGOP’s platform is one of the most extreme in the nation. It didn’t write itself! It was created and voted on by members of every county party in the state. This patch of thorns didn’t grow wild. It was deliberately cultivated.

If they’re tired of getting scratched, it’s time for the party that grew these weeds to roll up its sleeves and start digging- not ask their neighbors to abandon their own property and come fix the mess they made.

And even if we wanted to grab a shovel, there aren’t enough Democrats to change the outcome in 95% of races. That’s just a fact.

So instead of asking me and my fellow Democrats to clean up this mess, I’d love to see my Republican friends get to work in their own garden- run as precinct people to change the direction of their county parties, work at the state level to be a voice of reason, and show up in their own primaries to send candidates worth voting for to the general.

It’s time for them to tend their own garden, pull their own weeds, and rebuild a party they can be proud of.

And Democrats will be over here, tending the garden we want to grow.

The Wyoming Democratic Legislative Caucus has launched an effort to raise money for the Food Bank of Wyoming!

Our friends and neighbors are hungry. The good news is, we can help! During the federal government shutdown, and heading into the holidays, our community food pantries are stretched thin. Let’s do our part in supporting hungry families by making a donation to the Wyoming Food Bank.

Starting November 1, 2025, $5M in SNAP funds will NOT be distributed to qualifying individuals. Families who typically use their EBT cards to purchase groceries are now turning to food banks for assistance.

You can read more and learn how to Donate as a Dem by visiting this Mobilize event:

https://www.mobilize.us/wyodems/event/865971

📣 Students For Science is a student-led initiative, founded in response to RFK, dedicated to upholding the integrity of science, empowering young people in science-related advocacy, and providing a youth perspective on science-centered issues.
From climate science to health science and everything in between, Students For Science is young people in fields ranging from biology to politics.
🌷 Students For Science is holding an info session this Thursday 10/30 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT at the following link: bit.ly/studentsforscizoom
🪧 Join to learn how you can help empower students to hold a test tube 🧪 in one hand and a microphone 🎤 in the other!!

The Wyoming State AFL-CIO is conducting a webinar on November 4th, 2025. From the flier, shared below in a PNG document:

Join us for a virtual conversation about what it looks like to run for office, how running for office can help you serve your community, and the next steps you can take toward a successful campaign.

No experience neccessary, just a commitment to your community.

• WHY YOUR VOICE MATTERS IN WYOMING POLITICS
• LEARN FROM FORMER CANDIDATES
• YOUR ROADMAP TO GETTING STARTED

https://stopnoem.com/ is asking us to call our Representative.

Harriet Hageman (R-WY)
202-225-2311
Local office numbers:
307-772-2595 – Cheyenne, WY
307-261-6595 – Casper, WY

5calls has this “issue” with some language.

Are you concerned about where things are heading? Here are some ways to get involved and make a positive difference in our community!

The JC Dems are becoming known for being Here for Good, but we need help on several community projects. If you are interested in getting involved in any of the projects listed below, please reply to this email with your name, project of interest and contact information (email and phone.) Thanks!

Mini Food Pantry –

• Volunteers to check and stock the mini food pantry located at the Cornerstone Pharmacy, once per week, for a month. Let us know which month of the year works best for you. (Training will be provided.)
• People to donate food items such as canned goods, peanut butter, Ramen Noodles, box mixes, cereal etc. Pick up of food donations is available.
• People to donate money to purchase food items for the Mini Pantry.

Home Delivered Meals –

• Volunteers to help deliver Home Delivered Meals to community members. (Delivery routes and hot meals are provided by the Senior Center, and training is provided to those interested.) The Senior Center will let us know slots that need to be filled.

Adopt-a-Highway –

• Volunteers to help pick up trash, once in the spring and once in the fall, along Highway 16 W. Those willing to volunteer will be contacted when each date is set.

We also need people willing to become Precinct Committeewomen and Committeemen. These are crucial, grassroots roles in our county and state party; a terrific way to get to know and lend support to fellow registered Democrats in your neighborhood.

Questions? Or ready to volunteer? Just send us a note with your name, area of interest, and contact information.

THANKS for helping the JC Dems be Here for Good!

JC Dems have a small committed group working to maintain a mini-pantry of free food for our community members who are hungry. Donations of food or money by like minded friends are always welcome. 

Here are some recommended guidelines for food donations;

• Popular items include: tuna, meat sticks, peanut butter, snack foods/granola bars, ramen, mac and cheese, dried  mashed  potatoes, cereal.
• Please do not include items that are temperature sensitive as the box is not temperature regulated or insulated.
• If providing canned goods, the cans with the pull tab opening is best.

Please bring donations to the JC Dems meeting on August 5th, or let Linda Wilson know and she will pick up any donations. Feel free to contact Linda with questions also.  You can send her a note using this form:

Check it out. Natrona Dems and others are holding a listening session in Casper on August 19, 2025 at 6:30pm. Read more here.

Heidi, chair of CCDP, has created and shared free digital downloads for post cards.

Check ’em out! There are two versions.

That page has instructions. Like, the digital download is intended to fit well using Avery Product #8387. Easy to find at office supply stores and “big box” stores.

https://www.avery.com/products/cards/8387

As of 30 minutes before posting this, Top Office in Sheridan has a few hundred of the blanks for this size card, although they are a different, discontinued, product. And can order #8387.

Cheers!