Growing up, my family named our pets after Republican politicians — Bushy, Cheney (Dick, of course) and Reagan. At different times in my life, I have been a Republican, an Independent and a Democrat. During my first Democratic caucus, I voted for Bernie Sanders because he understood the wealthy 1 % are getting rich off the backs of hardworking people who still struggle to make ends meet. In 2018, I supported Rod Miller against Liz Cheney because I wanted to protect our public lands and put America before foreign wars.  Opinion In 2020, I registered as a Democrat. The Legislature was facing an economic crisis, and I wanted to bring opportunities for good-paying jobs to the people of Wyoming. Having a primary challenge in that race gave me an opportunity to be honest about who I was and what I valued, and it allowed my district to choose me based on who I am to my core — a fierce advocate for the underdog.   To me, my freedom to cast my ballot where I choose is fundamental to the democratic process. Each ballot I cast reflects my love for my country and my commitment to Wyoming — not a pledge to my party.  All voters should feel that freedom without shame.  I want people to make their own decisions, just as I have, based on honest information and where their ballot has the most impact on the issues they care most about. For some, that means voting in the Republican primary election, for others, it means putting their efforts toward building the Democratic Party. Both choices advance democracy.  Voter registration should ensure people have options, despite efforts of the Freedom Caucus to limit both participation and the voice of those who don’t pass Republican Party purity tests. In 2024, after the Freedom Caucus led the charge to limit party switching, just 27% of voters participated in the primary, and only 9% of eligible voters effectively chose the current House leadership.  That same year, 23 House district seats were decided by less than 250 votes in the Republican primary. A dozen House districts were decided by less than 100 votes. Freedom Caucus candidates won many of those close primaries.  The Senate has a one-member majority of traditional conservatives. Sen. Jim Anderson, a traditional conservative in Natrona County, won his primary by 30 votes against a Freedom Caucus challenger.  The trajectory of the state is determined, in large part, by the Republican primary election. Some voters feel strongly about remaining registered Democrats, whether out of tradition or principle. I respect that choice — I am currently a Democrat. But we should also respect those who choose to vote where their voice has the most impact. Supporting our neighbors by encouraging them to think for themselves and participate in the elections they choose is the way forward. It’s why we need open primaries. It’s also why we shouldn’t turn people away for thinking differently from us and instead embrace our freedom of difference. Until Wyoming removes barriers that keep voters from fully participating in the elections that determine their representation, we should not shame anyone who decides their power is best exercised in a Republican primary. A ballot is not a loyalty oath. It is a voice — and every Wyoming voter deserves to use theirs. If you want to use your vote in a primary election that you’re not registered in, you must change your party by May 13 at your county clerk’s office. The post Wyomingites should feel free to vote in the elections they want appeared first on WyoFile . ...read more read less