NEWS
Saturday, the Sheridan County Republican Party held its 2026 County Convention. During debate on proposed changes to the organization’s bylaws, a proposal to effectively bar from leadership positions any person who in any way works in news or media was introduced.
The proposal, titled “Officer Incompatibility,” contained the reference,
“No person may serve as County Chairman, Vice Chairman, State Committeeman, State Committeewoman, County Secretary, County Treasurer or as chair of any standing or special committee of the County Central Committee who … serves as a member of the press, defined as an employee, contractor, on-air talent, or regular contributor for any news outlet, broadcast station, newspaper, news website, or other organized media entity that reports on public affairs in Wyoming.”
The bylaw change would also have prevented anyone who even runs, successfully or not, for any public office from being in any leadership capacity in the Wyoming Republican Party. The proposal was not brought up for discussion in the county’s bylaws committee.
Initially, it was unclear exactly who was responsible for the proposal. Sheridan County precinct-man, David Iverson, who owns Cowboy State Politics and is also co-owner of The Open Range Record asked who was bringing the change.
Tod Windsor, chairman of the Bylaws Committee, replied, “I received this last night from the state.”
Wyoming GOP Chairman Bryan Miller, who was attending the convention as an alternate county delegate, gave conflicting answers to the same question. Initially Miller claimed, “This is part of a larger strategy to regain control of our primary elections.” During debate on the proposal, Miller said, “This was given to me by the parliamentarian.”
There is absolutely nothing in Robert’s Rules of Order that would prevent someone working in media from being involved at the top of the WYGOP. Miller, in presenting the bylaw change, gave no coherent reason why a member of the press couldn’t serve in a leadership capacity in the party. Instead, he said, “We aren’t part of that organization.” He went on to say, perplexingly, that this bylaw change is necessary “in order to maintain public confidence.”
Stepping to the microphone in opposition to Miller’s bylaw change, Iverson took a breath, shook his head in amazement and said, “Oh boy, do I have a lot to say about this.” A widespread chuckle came from the crowd as Iverson paused.
“This rule is just as arbitrary as saying because you're the dog catcher you can't be an officer in the party,” Iverson said.
He went on to explain that the proposed bylaw change directly conflicts with the Wyoming Republican party Platform:
“If you approve this, we may as well take this document, which is the Wyoming Republican Party platform, and burn it. . . . Plank 23, freedom of speech, the fundamental right secured by the U.S. Constitution. ‘Freedom of individuals to express his or her own beliefs, ideas, and opinions without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction.’ If we are to have a plank in our platform that talks about the freedom of speech, how could we possibly bar the press from participating in that process?”
The real purpose behind the bylaw change then became clear. Tod Windsor asked Iverson, “Are you against the entire thing, or are you just against the fact that there's the number three in there, which is preventing you personally from being an officer?”
Iverson replied, “It has nothing to do with that, but it would.”
Effectively, the press portion of the proposed rule change would affect two people in Sheridan: David Iverson and Jim Shellinger—both of whom have been longtime critics of Miller. Shellinger has worked for Sheridan Media for numerous years. Iverson is owner of Cowboy State Politics and co-owner of The Open Range Record.
Many speakers pointed out that social media could easily be included in the proposal’s definition of media. Rep. Pendergraft, also a delegate at the convention, pointed out that this bylaw change could potentially be used to bar from a leadership position someone who frequently comments on political matters on social media.
In the end, the proposed bylaw change was soundly defeated with all but a few of the 93 convention delegates voting against it. There was broad consensus that adopting the proposal would be damaging to the party. Later, the same bylaw change was proposed for the state bylaws. The county version had been so roundly defeated that the state version was pulled from consideration without any debate.
Click here to see the full Bylaw change