National Freedom Caucus Maintains Funding for Wyoming Director

The national State Freedom Caucus Network is maintaining its financial commitment to the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, keeping a state director on the payroll despite most of its members losing their seats.

According to reporting by Cowboy State Daily, the network’s president, Andy Roth, confirmed on Monday that the organization has no intention of withdrawing its support for Jessie Rubino, who serves as the director for the Wyoming entity.

This decision comes after a difficult primary election cycle for the populist-right group. While the caucus won control of the Wyoming House of Representatives in 2024, the subsequent primary elections proved difficult. Numerous caucus-aligned members were ousted, and House members who attempted to move into positions such as the state Senate, secretary of state, or treasurer were defeated in their bids.

Beyond the loss of legislative seats, the caucus also lost influence within the House leadership. All but one of its members in leadership positions were ousted. Despite these results, Roth maintains that the presence of a director remains a strategic necessity for their mission.

“She’s still with us and we have no plans on letting her go,” Roth told Cowboy State Daily. “And her job is to support and help the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, and any other conservatives in the Legislature.”

The Structural Role of the State Director

Jessie Rubino’s role involves providing support to the caucus and broader conservative efforts within the Wyoming Legislature. Her position has drawn additional attention due to her personal connections; she is the wife of Joe Rubino, who serves as in-house counsel to Secretary of State Chuck Gray. Gray is set to join the U.S. House of Representatives following his victory last week.

Roth noted that there is no hard-and-fast rule for which statehouses merit a director and which do not. Instead, the network evaluates the allocation of resources based on the circumstances of each state and the members involved. For the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, Roth indicated that the commitment remains indefinite, stating, “nothing has changed in Wyoming for us. Jessica is still with us, and will be with us indefinitely.”

The 2027 Legislative Session

As the state prepares for the next legislative session, the remaining members of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus said their core objectives will not change. In a statement released on social media two days after the general election, the group expressed opposition to the new Democratic majority in Congress while congratulating Gray and U.S. Sen.-elect Harriet Hageman.

“In 2027, our priorities will remain the same,” the statement read. “We will head to Cheyenne, fewer in number but still strong in our resolve to fight for Wyoming, America’s last hope.”

National Freedom Caucus Maintains Funding for Wyoming Director

The remaining caucus presence in the state House includes Speaker Pro Tem Jeremy Haroldson, who was not challenged in the primary and is currently vying for the position of majority floor leader. Other remaining members include Representatives Pepper Ottman, Tomi Strock, Chris Knapp, and Bill Allemand. Because not all members disclose their caucus affiliation, the exact size of the remaining bloc remains somewhat fluid.

Internal GOP Tensions

The funding decision highlights the ongoing friction within the Wyoming Republican Party regarding the ideological direction of the state. For years, the caucus and its opponents have sparred over whether the group’s policy platform—which frequently emphasizes lower state budgets and specific social issues—represents the true definition of conservatism in the state.

Critics of the caucus have frequently pointed to the group’s efforts to shift certain policy issues from local governance to state-level control. Opponents argue that this strategy violates conservative principles. Despite these critiques and the recent electoral setbacks, the national State Freedom Caucus Network said its investment in the Wyoming branch does not depend on short-term electoral outcomes.