Consider this about Wyoming politics. The vast majority of primary election contests do not include Democratic Party challengers. Therefore, the final decisions about who represents most citizens is made in the August primary, not November’s general election.
That’s why it matters that the 2024 primary election was boycotted by three-fourths of Wyoming’s eligible voters. The non-voters are not to be confused with the “silent majority.” They are the “apathetic majority.
” State Rep. Landon Brown, one of the more thoughtful members of the legislature, believes the primary answered questions about whether voters are interested in education. His assessment was that among the few who bothered to vote, there was little indication “they want to continue to support public education.
” The “apathetic majority” may or may not have any interest in education, but their apathy has empowered the Freedom Caucus and will manifest itself in more attacks on and less funding for public education. During the first Education Committee meeting held after the primary, legislators debated whether Wyoming should provide early childhood education. Seems like a no-brainer.
Every education expert sees early childhood education as a significant path to better outcomes for children, not only in education, but also public health, community involvement and more. Most parents would agree. But taking their cue from the primary, the Education Committee defeated the bill.
Rep. Brown’s word.