A network of national progressive organizations directed substantial funding into Wyoming's Republican primary, aiming to end the conservative Freedom Caucus majority in the state House, according to campaign finance records and public statements from involved groups.
The influx of outside money into a state where Republican primaries often determine legislative outcomes has raised concerns among conservatives about the influence of national donors on local politics. In Wyoming, the Republican primary is typically the decisive contest, as the state leans heavily Republican and general elections rarely change the partisan makeup of the legislature. This dynamic has made the primary a focal point for both local and national groups seeking to shape the direction of state policy.
Wyoming's 2026 Republican primary saw more than two dozen conservative lawmakers ousted, a significant shift that sources attribute to a coordinated campaign by groups including the Wyoming Donor Alliance (WDA). The WDA received substantial funding from national progressive organizations. According to 2026 tax records, the North Carolina-based State Leadership Project gave WDA $100,000, the Western Futures Fund contributed $75,000, and the D.C.-based Sixteen Thirty Fund provided $50,000 under WDA’s former name, Wyoming Investor Network. These contributions represent a notable increase in outside spending compared to previous election cycles.
Funding Network and Donor Flows
The State Leadership Project, which has distributed funds to similar state-level groups across the country, received over $1.1 million from the left-leaning Tides Foundation since 2020, including $807,800 in 2024. The Tides Foundation itself has been funded by George Soros’ Open Society network, which, according to IRS-derived grant records cited by the Anti-Defamation League, gave roughly $20 million to Tides between 2016 and 2022. The Sixteen Thirty Fund, another WDA backer, has received tens of millions from the Berger Action Fund, which is linked to Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss.
These donor flows illustrate how national progressive funding can be channeled through multiple organizations before reaching state-level groups like the WDA. The WDA publicly announced its intention to "break the Freedom Caucus’ majority" in March, and its March strategy booklet identified a coalition of nearly 20 progressive groups. These included abortion-rights advocates, the Wyoming Education Association, and the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association. The coalition coordinated efforts to defeat conservative candidates in the primary, pooling resources and sharing strategies to maximize their impact.
Spending in the 2026 GOP Primary
According to the Wyoming Campaign Finance Information System, WDA bankrolled $455,000 in spending by the newly formed PAC for a Better Wyoming, which targeted Freedom Caucus-aligned candidates. This level of spending is significant in a state with relatively small legislative districts and low-cost campaigns. WDA also supplied $30,000 to Better Wyoming Action and Research, an organization run by Nate Martin, husband of Democratic state Rep. Karlee Provenza. Martin appeared in videos targeting conservative legislators, further highlighting the coordinated nature of the campaign.
The George B. Storer Foundation, led by Rep. Liz Storer, D-Jackson, has also funded Better Wyoming and the nonprofit news outlet WyoFile, which has published critical coverage of the Freedom Caucus. Rep. Storer serves as president and CEO of the Storer Foundation and sits on the board of Better Wyoming. These connections have drawn scrutiny from conservatives, who argue that progressive donors are leveraging both advocacy groups and media outlets to influence public opinion and electoral outcomes.
"Simply put, Democrats bought themselves a more liberal Wyoming House."
— Tomi Strock, Wyoming state representative
Coalition Strategy and Local Response
The WDA coalition included groups such as WyoUnited, the Wyoming Education Association, Common Sense Republicans, and the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association. All coordinated to unseat conservatives, employing a strategy that relied on local-sounding group names and a multi-organization approach. This contrasted with conservative PACs like Make Liberty Win and State Freedom Caucus Action, which were more transparent about their support for liberty-minded candidates.
The campaign’s approach was notable for its breadth and coordination. By working together, the coalition was able to amplify its message and target resources where they were most likely to be effective. Critics argue that the Wyoming mainstream media, some of which receive funding from the same network, have not covered the scale of outside spending or the coordination among progressive groups. Supporters of the WDA and its coalition did not respond to requests for comment on the influence of national donors in the state’s primary.
The Wyoming Campaign Finance Information System continues to provide public access to detailed financial records for all statewide candidates and committees, with upcoming reporting deadlines later this month. Observers expect continued scrutiny of both the sources and uses of campaign funds as the state moves toward the general election and future primaries.
The developments in Wyoming reflect a broader national trend of increased outside spending and strategic coalition-building in state legislative races, as both progressive and conservative groups seek to influence policy at the state level. The outcome of the 2026 primary has already altered the balance of power in the Wyoming House, and the role of national funding networks is likely to remain a topic of debate among lawmakers and voters alike.
