Sheridan – Longtime conservative legislator Mark Jennings announced Thursday that he is once again seeking the Republican nomination for the office he held for 10 years.
“After a lot of prayer and discussions with my family and close friends, I have decided to run for House District 30.” Jennings told The Open Range Record.
For 10 years, 2015 through January of 2025, Jennings represented Sheridan County’s central district. In the 2024 election, Jennings ran for Wyoming Senate District 22 and was defeated.
Throughout his time in the legislature, Jennings championed parental rights, pro-life and second amendment focused legislation. He is the author of what was at the time one of the nation’s first parental rights law, 2017’s HB153. The bill, which was later signed into law by Governor Matt Mead, stated:
“The state, or any agency or political subdivision of the state, shall not infringe on the parental right as provided under this section without demonstrating that the interest of the government as applied to the person or child is a compelling state interest addressed by the least restrictive means.”
In addition to Jennings’ parental rights law, the father of 3 children is an ardent defender of the unborn. His name can be found among the sponsors and co-sponsors of numerous bills restricting and regulating abortion.
During his 10 years in Wyoming’s House of Representatives, Jennings sponsored and co-sponsored several pro-gun bills; among them, the expansion of conceal carry in 2021; Wyoming’s Second Amendment Preservation Act in 2021 and others.
When asked what he’d like to focus on, should he be successful in his run, Jennings replied,
“Every year there’s around 600 new laws proposed. Many of them hamper business, raise your taxes and interfere in your personal life. I would like to take a hard look at some of the laws we don’t need anymore and then repeal them. Our property tax situation is a disaster. There’s so many exemptions for this or that. I think we ought to simplify our tax code, lower the amount of tax you’re paying on a house you already own, and in so doing, make it harder for government to waste the money you worked so hard for.”
In addition to his legislative work, Jennings is the long-time pastor of the Cowboy Church of the Bighorns in Big Horn, Wyoming. He has led that congregation for over 5 years. Of course, Jennings credits all his success to God.
So far, there haven’t been any other candidates enter the House District 30 race. Jennings made his announcement during an interview on Cowboy State Politics. That interview is available below.