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What the heck does this office do? Superintendent of Public Instruction
When most people think about elections, they think about the President, Congress, or maybe the Governor.
But most of the decisions that impact your life happen much closer to home.
“Down ballot” races, like state legislators, school board, city councilors, and county commissioners will determine the future of our healthcare, education, public lands, housing, and lots more.
In this series of articles, Better Wyoming will go over some of the important work each of these offices do, and how they will impact your life and community.
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Check out the other articles in this series
What the heck does this office do? Wyoming State Legislators
What the heck does this office do? County Commissioners
What the heck does this office do? Secretary of State
WHAT DOES THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION DO?
Every midterm election, Wyoming voters elect the five statewide executive officials who help lead state government:
- the Governor
- Secretary of State
- State Auditor
- State Treasurer
- Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Wyoming’s constitution guarantees public education as a fundamental right. All students, no matter who they are or where they live, are guaranteed access to free, public K-12 and college education that meets a uniform standard of quality.
While it is the Wyoming Legislature’s mandate to fund public schools and oversee that these constitutional requirements are upheld, it is the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s job to oversee the administration of K-12 public education in the state.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction is the only top elected position that oversees a state agency. The Department of Education plays a vital role in supporting and guiding the Wyoming school districts that teach over 86,000 K-12 students.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction:
- manages the Wyoming Department of Education.
- oversees public K-12 education across the state.
- enforces education laws and regulations established by the state legislature.
- administers federal education funding and ensures schools meet federal requirements to receive those funds.
- sets general rules and regulations, and enforces accreditation standards.
- oversees the collection of statewide assessment data, as well as other important education data.
- establishes statewide guidelines for special education.
- works with school districts, school boards, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders to support the public education system.
- oversees and collaborates with partners on statewide initiatives on issues such as career/college readiness, incentive programs to attract and retain teachers, etc.
- makes budget recommendations about public school funding for the Governor.
- sits on numerous boards and commissions that oversee state government, including the State Loan and Investments Board, which manages natural resources and the state’s trust funds.
- works closely with the Wyoming State Board of Education and sits on their board as a non-voting member. They also serve as non-voting members of the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees and the Wyoming Community College Commission.
WHY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION MATTERS
The Superintendent of Public Instruction has a direct impact on the quality of education that more than 80,000 Wyoming students receive annually. They directly shape how Wyoming’s public education system works and how well it serves students, teachers, and communities.
A former interim superintendent described the position as “an octopus on roller skates.” The superintendent has to have a strong vision to steer the education system while avoiding becoming a bureaucratic stumbling block that holds schools back. Because their job description laid out in Title 21 in Wyoming statute is pretty broad, how a superintendent approaches their role can differ dramatically between officials.
Despite their power, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction cannot do a number of things:
- dictate what gets taught (the State Board of Education oversees that)
- make decisions at the local level (school districts are in charge of this)
- set statewide policies (the state legislature does this)
However, they still have huge influence over the policies and direction public education takes. For example, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and their state agency, work to guide bills and policies that the Wyoming Legislature picks up during the session.
Wyoming is just one of a handful of states where the superintendent is an elected official. Because of this, voters have a direct say in who leads the state’s public education system. At the same time, because they are elected, they can use their position and power to push for policies that may gain them political favor, but aren’t good for Wyoming schools or their students.
Check out here for a public forum of superintendent candidates.
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What the heck does this office do? Secretary of State
When most people think about elections, they think about the President, Congress, or maybe the Governor.
But most of the decisions that impact your life happen much closer to home.
“Down ballot” races, like state legislators, school board, city councilors, and county commissioners will determine the future of our healthcare, education, public lands, housing, and lots more.
In this series of articles, Better Wyoming will go over some of the important work each of these offices do, and how they will impact your life and community.
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Check out the other articles in this series
What the heck does this office do? Wyoming State Legislators
What the heck does this office do? County Commissioners
WHAT DOES THE SECRETARY OF STATE DO?
Lots of people know what our legislature does. Ditto for our city council. But what about the body that operates “in between” these two? County Commissions oversee our counties, just as our Councils oversee towns and the Legislature oversees the state. They have a lot of power over things that impact our day-to-day lives.
Every midterm election, Wyoming voters elect the five statewide executive officials who help lead state government: the Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The Secretary of State is a powerful and important elected official in the state, but their role and responsibilities can be a bit obscure. As Wyoming's chief elections officer and the state's keeper of official records, the Secretary of State plays a central role in ensuring government transparency and administering elections.
The Secretary of State:
- is responsible for running statewide elections and confirming election results.
- certifies political candidates by verifying that they are eligible to run for office.
- approves ballot questions for statewide ballot initiatives and referendums.
- oversees all rules and regulations passed by state agencies.
- safekeeps official state records such as the Wyoming Constitution and other official documents.
- sits on numerous boards and commissions that oversee state government, including the State Loan and Investments Board, which manages natural resources and the state’s trust funds.
- registers and approves businesses and organizations to operate in the state.
- enforces state law regulating the investment (securities) industry.
WHY THE SECRETARY OF STATE MATTERS
While much of the work of the Secretary of State can be viewed as administrative, they take on the significant responsibility of managing Wyoming’s elections. They ensure that Wyoming’s elections are free and fair and work to maintain voters’ trust. They work closely with the County Clerk of each Wyoming county to administer statewide elections.
The Secretary of State has a lot of say on who, and what, ends up on our ballot. For example, for the upcoming primary and general elections, a gubernatorial candidate was removed from the ballot for not meeting the constitutional requirements of being a resident of Wyoming for 5 consecutive years.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of State’s office has approved one of the first ballot initiatives in decades, which aims to dramatically slash property taxes that fund our communities. There are concerns though the ballot language used by the Secretary of State inaccurately portrays how much revenue these services will lose, which makes the ballot measure appear more favorable to voters.
The Secretary of State is also responsible for many of the day-to-day administrative functions that keep Wyoming's government and economy operating. The office administers business filings for corporations, LLCs, nonprofits, and even trademarks. They maintain the official records that allow businesses and organizations to legally operate in Wyoming.
Their office also oversees campaign finance reporting, where candidates, political action committees (PACs), political parties, and other political organizations must disclose contributions and expenditures so the public can see who is funding Wyoming candidates and how money is being spent.
The Secretary of State’s office may not have tons of impact in our day to day lives, but they do play a significant role in ensuring that when it's time to vote for the elected officials that do, that those results are correctly verified and honored.
Learn more about the candidates running for Wyoming’s Secretary of State and other elections here.
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How to learn about candidates
Find out who’s on your ballot and where they stand on issues that matter to you
Across Wyoming, we’ve been talking about voting for months. Why it’s important, how to do it, how to get people in your circle to vote. It’s important that every one of us vote. But it’s also important that every one of us talk about voting. And that means learning and discussing candidates, so that you and the folks around you can cast an informed vote.
But how do you learn where a candidate stands on a certain issue?
Better Wyoming has you covered! Or rather, many amazing organizations around the state have you covered, and we’re thrilled to help you navigate their resources.
Put out by the League of Women Voters, this site helps you see who is on your ballot, and compare their questionnaire responses side-by-side. Use this tool to help narrow down which candidates support the causes you care about, and many different levels of government.
For federal, statewide, and state legislative races, this guide is a wealth of information. Read candidates Q&A responses and dive into a library of WyoFile journalism on each.
Local News Outlets
Several outlets include Q&As with candidates - both statewide and local - making this useful for folks all over Wyoming.
Don’t forget to check your local paper for additional info on local candidates!
Issue Specific Sources:
Anything we’ve forgotten? Let us know!
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What the heck does this office do? County Commissioners
When most people think about elections, they think about the President, Congress, or maybe the Governor.
But most of the decisions that impact your life happen much closer to home.
“Down ballot” races, like state legislators, school board, city councilors, and county commissioners will determine the future of our healthcare, education, public lands, housing, and lots more.
In this series of articles, Better Wyoming will go over some of the important work each of these offices do, and how they will impact your life and community.
WHY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MATTER
Lots of people know what our legislature does. Ditto for our city council. But what about the body that operates “in between” these two? County Commissions oversee our counties, just as our Councils oversee towns and the Legislature oversees the state. They have a lot of power over things that impact our day-to-day lives.
Our County Commissions:
- oversee local hospitals and clinics to make sure they are adequately funded, administered, and staffed.
- make decisions about new housing developments and distribute local tax revenue to improve communities.
- make decisions about budgets, local recreation, waste, roads, and land use.
- oversee development projects, influencing economic diversity.
- raise county taxes through levies and mills and decide how tax dollars are spent on crucial community services.
- appoint members of local bodies like library boards, public health.
- make the final decision if a new state legislator needs to be appointed between elections.
- oversee planning and construction for roads and bridges.
- coordinate on public lands issues with federal land management agencies like the US Forest Service and the BLM.
FOR EXAMPLE...
County Commissions have been at the center of some of Wyoming’s most significant debates, lately.
Resulting from recent cuts to property taxes, the Cook County Commission was forced to explain their cuts to the community’s library, while their counterparts in Hot Springs County had to cut 4-H and extension programs.
Just a few days ago, the Natrona County Commissioners passed a budget that supported local 4-H youth development, a Community Juvenile Services Board, and suicide prevention work with the Wyoming Dept. of Health. They also allocated funds for inmate healthcare and law enforcement.
Meanwhile, the Natrona County Commission is at the epicenter over a controversial gravel pit project, the Albany County Commission has overseen the expansion of a wind project that has raised objections, and Uinta County Commissioners have tightened the conditions of a data center project.
Commissioners in Laramie and Platte counties also recently worked together to appoint a new state senator after the incumbent was tapped for a federal role. Perhaps most pressingly, commissions around the state are addressing fire restrictions, as vital public safety measures.
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What the heck does this office do? State Legislators
When most people think about elections, they think about the President, Congress, or maybe the Governor.
But most of the decisions that impact your life happen much closer to home.
“Down ballot” races, like state legislators, school board, city councilors, and county commissioners will determine the future of our healthcare, education, public lands, housing, and lots more.
In this series of articles, Better Wyoming will go over some of the important work each of these offices do, and how they will impact your life and community.
WHY STATE LEGISLATORS MATTER
Most of the things we love about Wyoming—and plenty of the things that frustrate us—have at least something to do with our state legislature.
Members of the Wyoming House and Senate...
- decide how much funding our schools get, and they can pass laws that limit what gets taught or creates positive new programs
- control who is eligible for many important public healthcare programs, and write the rules for insurance companies
- can support housing projects and renter protections, and they control property tax levels
- determine funding for conservation, wildlife management, hunting season, and public land access
- can pass laws that make Wyoming friendlier, or unfriendlier, to new businesses, and decide how tax revenue improves (or doesn’t) our communities.
FOR EXAMPLE...
During the 2026 legislative session, the legislature passed a budget that included much-needed Medicaid funding increases for birthing centers and EMS services. This means that more Wyomingites can safely give birth, and receive emergency services.
The legislature also tried to pass some harmful bills that ultimately failed. They tried to cut the Wyoming Business Council, which helps communities grow their economies, and the University of Wyoming, which most of the state relies on and loves. These bills failed because voters like you held lawmakers accountable!
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How to really get out the vote (GOTV)
(Spoiler alert: It’s just talk to people you know)
We hear it every year: Wyoming voter turnout is too low, especially in the primaries! A tiny number of people decide the fate of our whole state! Voters are apathetic!
And every year, most of us try the same GOTV (Get Out The Vote) tactics to change that. We give folks info on dates, locations, and ID requirements. We remind them that this election is the most important EVER. We remind them that voting is their patriotic duty, and direct them to voter guides where every candidate gives more or less the same answer to each question.
These strategies haven’t worked. And it turns out, it’s not just us. National research has shown that these strategies don’t motivate people to vote. They’re all essential for folks who already plan to vote...but when it comes to turning no-ters into voters, we need to try something new.
WHAT WE KNOW WORKS:
The kind of info you give folks can help. People skip voting in the primaries because they don’t feel like they understand issues, not because they can’t find info on how to vote. Help folks understand how the candidates they might vote for will make decisions on issues they care about. You can CLICK HERE for more info on this.
But the most important way to get people voting is by communicating with them, directly. We call this “relational GOTV”, which just means contacting friends and family about voting. You can do this by whatever channel makes the most sense - text, a chat over dinner, making a younger sibling deliver a gilded envelope...whatever. And the research shows it works better than just about anything else. People trust a recommendation when it comes from a familiar source. That new restaurant in town? You can ignore ad after ad, but if a friend says it’s great, you’ll probably give it a try.
WANT TO ACTUALLY GET OUT THE VOTE IN YOUR COMMUNITY?
This means that the most important person for Wyoming GOTV work is you. Share out our commit to vote page with folks you know, and talk to them about voting! This page has all the details they need to connect issues to offices, and to navigate the system successfully. And, more importantly...it’s something you can get them to send out to their family and friends!
SHARE THIS LINK:
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How to make the biggest impact on WyoGives Day
WyoGives Day on July 15 is Wyoming's largest statewide day of giving to local nonprofits. Hundreds of nonprofits from across the state join together to fundraise and bring in new supporters. In addition to individual donations, participating organizations earn matching funds that help stretch every gift even further.
For Better Wyoming, WyoGives Day is one of the most important days of the year. But not for the reason that you think.
Yes, it helps raise the funds we need to support our work organizing communities, building leaders, and engaging voters. Matching gifts and donations raised during the day help make that work possible.
But WyoGives is about more than fundraising.
It's one of our best opportunities to introduce new folks to Better Wyoming and bring more of them into the movement that we are building together.
Every new donor who gives on WyoGives Day is more than a contribution. They're someone who now knows about our work. Someone who may attend a chapter meeting, respond to a call to action, and join in on our work to build a better Wyoming.
Building up the number of people who are connected to and involved with Better Wyoming is central to our mission. The more people we bring together who are informed about the issues and prepared to take action, the greater impact we can have. Fundraising is basebuilding.
Your outreach matters
You might see lots of nonprofits sending out messages on or around WyoGives Day, including us.
But no matter how many emails, texts, or social media posts we send, they can't compete with your personal recommendation.
When you ask a friend, family member, coworker, or neighbor to support a cause you care about, people are going to listen. A personal fundraising “ask” is one of the most powerful ways to introduce someone to Better Wyoming.
How you can help
On WyoGives Day, July 15, here are a few things you can do to help out.
- Donate to Better Wyoming!
- Text a few friends and ask them to make a gift, as well.
- Talk with friends and neighbors about why Better Wyoming matters to you.
- Forward one of our WyoGives emails to a friend that you think it will resonate with.
- Post our WyoGives link to social media (there is even a nifty feature that you can use to track your fundraising success)
Every conversation you start and person you invite to join us helps grow this movement. On July 15, spread the word on why you support Better Wyoming.
But what should I say to ask someone to give?
There is no right way to encourage someone to make a donation and to join our movement. The trick is to be yourself. Share your story, no matter how trivial you think it is, about why you care and contribute to this work. Being authentic will do more to motivate someone than any message we craft.
Here are the elements you may need…
The reason why you care: Explain why you got involved. What is at stake that made you join our cause? Why does this work matter to you?
The reason why you support Better Wyoming: Share what made you choose Better Wyoming. Was it the people? The mission? An action you were involved in? Let them know why this organization has earned your trust and support.
The ask: Finally, be clear about what you're asking someone to do. Invite them to make a gift on WyoGives Day and let them know why giving that day matters.
Example: “Feeling frustrated with some of the decisions coming out of Cheyenne, I was looking at ways to get involved and have my voice be heard. I joined Better Wyoming to stay informed of what was going on and started taking some actions with them. Getting involved let me feel like I had a say in the decisions shaping my community. Please join me in making a contribution to Better Wyoming today on WyoGives Day.”
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EVERY VOTE COUNTS: Dave Zwonitzer vs. Steve Johnson (48 votes)
In elections for the Wyoming Legislature, every vote counts.
This is especially true in the primary elections, which tend to have very low turnout but also essentially decide who will win the seat in most races.
In a new series, EVERY VOTE COUNTS, Better Wyoming looks at primary elections from recent years for the Wyoming House and Senate that featured two very different candidates and were decided by just a handful of ballots.
This should serve as a reminder that your vote matters, and encouragement to commit to vote in both the primary and general elections in 2026.
RACE: House District 8 - Cheyenne
YEAR: 2024
Rep. Dave Zwonitzer (incumbent) vs. Steve Johnson
OUTCOME:
Steve Johnson - 1,183 votes
Dave Zwonitzer - 1,135 votes
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 48 votes
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Rep. Dave Zwonitzer, like his son Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, was a traditional Republican member of the House. Both were considered moderates, and both were targeted by the far-right Freedom Caucus in 2024.
Dave Zwonitzer was opposed by Freedom Caucus-endorsed Steve Johnson, who beat him by 48 votes.
This wasn’t the first time Zwonitzer was involved in an incredibly close election. In 2016, he lost his Wyoming Senate seat to Anthony Bouchard, who beat him by just five votes in the primary.
Zwonitzer successfully returned to the Legislature by winning a House seat in 2022, defeating several candidates—including Johnson—in the GOP primary.
A dirty race
Zwonitzer said he had been thinking about retiring from the Legislature until an incident at the Laramie County Republican Party Convention in 2024. While he was speaking, people in the audience cat-called that he was a “RINO” (Republican in Name Only).
Another motivating factor was a Johnson brochure at the state GOP convention that attacked Zwonitzer before he even decided to run for re-election.
“Wyoming shouldn’t be this way, and for sure Laramie County shouldn’t be this way,” Zwonitzer told Cowboy State Daily. “It’s not what politics are.”
Johnson, a 71-year-old commercial general contractor, told the news outlet he was running because, in his view, too many Republicans like Zwonitzer were actually Democrats.
Differences on funding, taxes, and reproductive freedom
Johnson and Zwonitzer had clear differences when it came to policies and how the state should be run.
Zwonitzer, a longtime legislator, supported a fiscally responsible approach to the state budget and spending. He advocated for keeping Wyoming’s investments and savings strong so they could produce investment returns that keep state finances afloat during Wyoming’s boom-and-bust economic cycles.
“That’s one of my main objectives, to try and bring some civility and keep things that are right for Wyoming and we’re going to be proud of in 10 or 20 years,” he said.
Johnson, on the other hand, supported cutting taxes and draining the state’s savings accounts in order to give money back to individuals.
Similarly, while Zwonitzer supported incremental solutions to lower Wyoming property taxes, Johnson wanted to abolish property taxes altogether.
Zwonitzer had also taken a measured approach to reproductive freedom. For instance, he voted against an all-out ban on abortion in 2023, which the Wyoming Supreme Court later found unconstitutional.
Johnson, on the other hand, supported a ban on any and all abortions, even in cases of rape or incest.
Freedom Caucus Johnson seeks a second term
When August rolled around, voters in Cheyenne’s House District 8 chose Steve Johnson by 48 votes. Rep. Johnson has been an active member of the Freedom Caucus during his first term.
Rep. Johnson plans to run for re-election in 2026.
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EVERY VOTE COUNTS: Tony Niemiec vs. Marlene Brady (46 votes)
In elections for the Wyoming Legislature, every vote counts.
This is especially true in the primary elections, which tend to have very low turnout but also essentially decide who will win the seat in most races.
In a new series, EVERY VOTE COUNTS, Better Wyoming looks at primary elections from recent years for the Wyoming House and Senate that featured two very different candidates and were decided by just a handful of ballots.
This should serve as a reminder that your vote matters, and encouragement to commit to vote in both the primary and general elections in 2026.
RACE: House District 60 - Green River
YEAR: 2024
Rep. Tony Niemiec (incumbent) vs. Marlene Brady
OUTCOME:
Tony Niemiec - 520 votes
Marlene Brady - 566 votes
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 46 votes
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As the far-right Freedom Caucus fought for House control in 2024, the contest for House District 60 loomed large. It was between traditional GOP incumbent Rep. Tony Niemiec and Freedom Caucus-endorsed challenger Marlene Brady.
Brady won by 46 votes, signifying a major change in the district’s electorate. In the 2022 GOP primary, Niemiec had topped his opponent, Jennifer Jones, by nearly 1,000 votes.
Debates and public statements by Niemiec and Brady demonstrated a wide gap between the candidates on many issues. One was mental health services.
Niemiec, a Marine veteran, said an estimated 22 veterans die by suicide each day in the U.S. He supported funding for the 988 suicide hotline and mental health programs to help children, veterans and others.
Brady acknowledged that there’s a shortage of mental healthcare providers, but instead of describing concrete solutions to the problem, any time it came up she veered immediately into strange diatribes about national hot-button issues.
At a Rock Springs debate she answered a question about mental healthcare by talking about critical race theory and too much diversity, and then bizarrely claimed that mental health is “a gateway to gun control.”
The candidates also split in their support of law enforcement. Niemiec, a former cop, focused on upgrading equipment for emergency response teams. “All that equipment is old, broken and doesn’t work so we need to look at the state to help,” he said.
Brady, in contrast, warned against overreliance on government protection, arguing that it could lead to a loss of individual freedoms.
After his loss Niemiec posted on Facebook, “This isn’t over.” He criticized Brady for blindly following a caucus that has no plan for governance and her lack of understanding Wyoming issues.
What’s Next
Niemiec, who is now the chair of the Sweetwater County Republican Party, announced he will run against Brady in the 2026 primary.
This comes after Rep. Brady’s controversial 2026 budget session, when she was at the center of a scandal involving a Teton County Freedom Caucus donor and fundraiser, Rebecca Bextel, handing out checks to lawmakers on the floor of the capitol.
Rep. Brady was one of the lawmakers who received a check, and she is featured front-and-center in the now-infamous image that captured Bextel’s act.
Rep. Brady has been lampooned for her strange responses during a legislative committee’s investigation of the incident, during which time she refused to answer many of the committee’s questions.
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Why are we working to get people to vote in the Wyoming Primary elections?
Ask anyone when Election Day is, and most people will tell you: “November.”
That’s technically true. But in Wyoming, the vast majority of elections are essentially over after the Primary Elections in August.
That’s why Better Wyoming is working to encourage people to vote in the Primary Elections in 2026 by asking them to Commit To Vote and share information with their family and friends.
This isn’t a unique Wyoming situation. According to a recent analysis, only 18 out of 435 seats in the U.S. Congress are competitive in the general election.
The rest of the contests—in both red and blue states—are decided in the primaries.
BIG RACES, BIG CONSEQUENCES
In Wyoming, elections that are essentially decided in the primaries include:
FEDERAL: U.S. Congress and U.S. Senate
STATE: All “Top 5” seats - Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Superintendent of Public Instruction
LEGISLATURE: Roughly 80 percent of seats in the Legislature are decided in primary elections
COUNTY: County Commissioner, County Clerk, Sheriff, and others
These positions have huge impacts on issues like public education, public lands, healthcare, jobs and the economy, housing, and more.
BIG RACES, LOW TURNOUT
Even with all of these races being determined in the primary, voter turnout in Wyoming primaries are very low.
In 2024, only 27% of eligible Wyomingites voted in the primaries. As a result, the Freedom Caucus was able to seize control of the Wyoming House while receiving just 9% of the vote from eligible voting age adults.
These races are often decided by extremely small margins. In 2024, one-third of Wyoming House races were decided by fewer than 250 votes, eleven were decided by fewer than 100 votes and one race was decided by just six votes! In an election in Natrona County, just 30 votes determined the voting makeup of the entire senate.
Commit to vote with Better Wyoming and we will give you the tools and information that you need to not only cast your only ballot during the primary election, but we will also give you the tools needed to organize your friends, family, and neighbors to cast their ballots.
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