Casper – A Virginia‑registered political action committee, Make Liberty Win, disclosed that it has poured $549,000 into Wyoming’s 2026 legislative contests. The money, reported in a filing with the state secretary of state, primarily supports candidates aligned with the Wyoming Freedom Caucus.
Student canvassers on the ground
College student Sofia Downing, a Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) volunteer, spent weeks knocking on doors in Oklahoma and Wyoming as part of the organization’s “Operation Win at the Door.” Downing described the work as a way for young, extroverted conservatives to help elect candidates who share “conservative values.” Her door hangers featured a bear wearing a Liberty‑branded hat with a shotgun barrel, urging voters on August 18 to re‑elect Sen. Bob Ide (District 29) and back Republican Ross Schriftman for House District 37.
How the PAC’s spending compares
In 14 legislative races, Make Liberty Win outspent the candidates’ own campaign committees, and in three races the PAC’s expenditures were more than double those of the candidates. By contrast, the newly formed Defeating Communism PAC has spent about $173,000, while Americans for Prosperity reported roughly $286,000 in Wyoming.
The bulk of the $549,000 – about $424,000 – went toward “field distribution of literature,” the door‑hangers and flyers handed out by volunteers like Downing. Smaller allocations included $24,678 for Senate District 23 candidate Abby Angelos, $15,500 for Sheridan Rep. Ken Pendergraft’s Senate bid, and $13,800 for House District 49 incumbent Bob Wharff, each exceeding the candidates’ own spending.
National fundraising, local impact
Make Liberty Win’s federal filings show it raised $6.7 million nationwide between January 2025 and June 2026, with roughly $4.8 million coming from Young Americans for Liberty. None of the contributions listed in the Wyoming filing were traced to Wyoming donors; the report simply aggregates four contributions totaling $562,605, all from the PAC itself.
The organization first entered Wyoming politics during the 2024 primary, spending $371,000. That effort was marred by a mailer error that listed the wrong election date and misidentified a Virginia resident’s photograph as a Wyoming candidate, prompting a cease‑and‑desist letter.
Freedom Caucus backing and future goals
Barrett Young, executive director of Make Liberty Win, credited the PAC’s voter‑contact program for exposing what he called “the lies of the Wyoming Establishment” and for helping the Freedom Caucus gain control of the House in 2024. He said the organization aims to flip the Senate and the governor’s mansion in 2026 and beyond.
In June, several Wyoming lawmakers attended a gathering at the Four Seasons Resort in Teton Village hosted by a YAL‑affiliated group. Rep. Rachel Rodriguez‑Williams, chair of the Freedom Caucus, posted on X that Wyoming was proud to host “liberty‑minded patriots” from across the country.
What this means for Wyoming voters
The PAC’s heavy investment in literature distribution underscores a strategy of grassroots outreach rather than traditional media buys. For voters in Casper, Laramie, and other districts, the presence of door‑hangers and canvassers will be a visible reminder of the Freedom Caucus’s push for a more conservative legislative agenda.
As the August 18 primary approaches, the disparity between candidate‑funded and PAC‑funded campaigns may shape the choices available to Wyoming’s electorate, especially in closely contested districts such as Senate District 23 and House District 49.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
