Poll: Does Wyoming Need A Major Third Party?

It's an election year once again in 2026.

The General Election is on November 3. Of course, the Primary Election is behind us. And let's be honest: in ruby-red Wyoming, more often than not, the Republican Primary is the election.

Or is it?

Rebecca Bextel and Shawn Johnson, among others, would say "Not so fast."

Bextel, of Jackson, is running on the Constitution Party ticket for Governor. While she's been a Republican for many years, she says she's running on the Constitution Party ticket to give voters a more conservative alternative to GOP nominee Eric Barlow.

Johnson, of Thermopolis, is running on the Libertarian Party ticket for the U.S. House. He told Townsquare Media on Wednesday that he wants to be the "adult in the room" alternative to GOP nominee Chuck Gray.

By the way, Bextel will be appearing on ''Wake Up Wyoming' on Monday morning with Glenn Woods, while Johnson's interview can be heard on Saturday on the ''Weekend in Wyoming" program on AM 650, KGAB.

There are also Democratic candidates in both races, with Ken Casner running for Governor and Lisa Kinney running for the U.S. House.

Arguments For A Major Third Party

Neither Barlow nor Gray got a majority of the votes in their respective primary campaigns. While Barlow won by a comfortable 15 points over second-place finisher Megan Degenfelder, he still only got about 45 percent of the GOP Primary vote. Bextel and others say this is a pattern of moderates winning the GOP Gubernatorial primary while more conservative candidates split the vote of conservatives while winning an overall majority.

Gary, meanwhile, got a quarter of the vote while coasting to victory over eight other opponents. But why shouldn't the voters who didn't support Barlow or Gray have a chance to support other candidates? A viable third major party could offer that.

Some might also argue that there are really two Republican parties in Wyoming at this point--the ''Regular Republicans'' and the Wyoming Freedom Caucus.

Instead of fighting it out in the primary, what if one of those groups had their own party and could go directly to the General Election?

Or on the Democratic side, how about the 'Regular Democrats versus the Socialists'?

And what about Republicans who don't love Donald Trump, for example? Shouldn't they have a political home?

Finally, some think both major parties are corrupt, but that because of the institutional advantages those parties hold, they can't be seriously challenged.

Arguments Against A Third Major Party

A lot of folks are perfectly happy with the current setup. Obviously, most people in Wyoming are MAGA Republicans. That is who they vote for, and talk of a "third party" is a solution in search of a problem.

Besides, it's not like they can't vote for the Constitution Party or the Libertarians if they want to. Bextel and Johnson will both be on the ballot in November, and anyone else who can mount a serious campaign can do so.

Is it a little harder?

Yes. But if the public demands it, it will happen naturally. As one example, Libertarian candidate Marshall Burt was elected to the legislature from the 39th House District in 2020 and served for two years.

So would you like to see a major third party in Wyoming? Take our poll and give us your opinion!