---
title: Are Money and Donors Really Buying Wyoming Elections? New Report Breaks It Down - Episode 104 - Wyoming Liberty Group - Wyoming Liberty Group
description: Steve Klein, author of No One's Buying Wyoming Elections, joins Eye on the Issues to challenge assumptions about money's role in Wyoming's legislative races.
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language: en-GB
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\[!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-lg-trees.png)!\[Wyoming Liberty Group\](https://wyliberty.org/images/2020/06/01/wy-logo-sm-trees.png)\](https://wyliberty.org/) \[\](#)- \[Home\](https://wyliberty.org/) - \[About\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Who We Are\](https://wyliberty.org/about/who-we-are) - \[Core Principles\](https://wyliberty.org/about/core-principles) - \[Staff &amp; Board\](https://wyliberty.org/about/staff) - \[Current Posts\](https://wyliberty.org/current-posts) - \[Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Wyliberty Policy Compass\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/wyliberty-policy-compass) - \[Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) - \[Education\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/education) - \[Election Security Standards\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/election-security-standards) - \[Energy and Resources\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/energy-and-resources) - \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) - \[Government Programs\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-programs) - \[Health Care\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/health-care) - \[Keep Wyoming Strong\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/keep-wyoming-strong) - \[Legal\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/legal-perspectives) - \[Limited Government\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/limited-government) - \[Marijuana/THC\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/marijuana-thc) - \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) - \[Property Rights\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/property-rights) - \[Regulation\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-regulation) - \[Spotlight on WyLiberty\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/spotlight-on-wyliberty) - \[Timeless Topics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/timeless-topics) - \[Transparency\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/government-transparency) - \[Get Involved\](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) - \[Donation/Membership\](https://wyliberty.org/get-involved/donate) - \[Newsletter\](https://mailchi.mp/3d5c211df744/newsletter-sign-up) - \[Contact \](https://wyliberty.org/contact) - \[Search\](https://wyliberty.org/search) ## Hot Topics ### Eye on the Issues <a></a> Font size: \[ &amp;plus; \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ – \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ Print \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives/are-money-and-donors-really-buying-wyoming-elections-new-report-breaks-it-down-episode-104?tmpl=component&amp;print=1&amp;format=print "Print") # Are Money and Donors Really Buying Wyoming Elections? New Report Breaks It Down - Episode 104 \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) Tuesday, 10 February 2026 In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we take a deep dive into campaign finance in Wyoming with Steve Klein, author of the new report No One's Buying Wyoming Elections: A Candid Look at a Decade of Campaign Finance Disclosure. After reviewing ten years of campaign finance reports covering more than 400 Wyoming legislative and statewide races, Klein challenges one of the most common political assumptions — that money routinely decides elections. His analysis shows that in Wyoming, the candidate who spends the most wins only about 58 percent of the time, raising serious questions about claims that donors are "buying" political outcomes. Klein also explains how Wyoming's campaign finance system operates largely on an honor system, with little auditing or enforcement unless complaints are filed, often by political opponents. He shares surprising examples of clear reporting violations that went uncorrected and outlines why meaningful accountability should start with random audits of candidate filings before expanding regulations on outside groups and political speech. Beyond the numbers, the conversation offers an encouraging message for everyday Wyomingites considering a run for office. Klein explains how grassroots campaigning, door-to-door outreach, and relatively modest fundraising can still be enough to run a competitive campaign in many districts, preserving Wyoming's tradition of accessible citizen government. To read the full report discussed in this interview, visit\[ https://bit.ly/4chijMU\](https://bit.ly/4chijMU) and be sure to sign up for the Wyoming Liberty Group newsletter for more in-depth policy research and interviews. \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) \[ \](https://wyliberty.org/javascript:void(0);) Tags: \[Elections\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/elections) \[Campaign Finance Law\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/campaign-finance-law) \[Campaign Finance Reform\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/campaign-finance-reform) \[Politics\](https://wyliberty.org/blog-tags/politics) \[Video\](https://wyliberty.org/videos) \[ Nuclear Development and Wyoming's Public Lands: An... \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/nuclear-development-and-wyomings-public-lands-an-interns-policy-research-episode-105) \[ WY 2026 HB 50 - Ballot Harvesting - Prohibition \](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives/wy-2026-hb-50-ballot-harvesting-prohibition) #### Related Posts ### \[The Truth About Economic Development Incentives - episode 110\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic/the-truth-about-economic-development-incentives-episode-110) \[Economic\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/economic) ### \[Reviewing Wyoming's Budget Session with Rep. Tomi Strock - episode 109\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives/reviewing-wyomings-budget-session-with-rep-tomi-strock-episode-109) \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) ### \[WY 2026 SF 123 - Wyoming Energy Dominance Fund\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives/wy-2026-sf-123-wyoming-energy-dominance-fund) \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) ### \[Nuclear Energy, Data Centers, and the Bigger Policy Picture with Eric Epstein - Episode 108\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/nuclear-energy-data-centers-and-the-bigger-policy-picture-with-eric-epstein-episode-108) \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) ### \[Wyoming Secretary of State on Elections and Economic Policy - Episode 107\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues/wyoming-secretary-of-state-on-elections-and-economic-policy-episode-107) \[Eye on the Issues\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/eye-on-the-issues) ### \[WY 2026 HB 150 - Wyoming Business Council – Evaluation and Reform\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives/wy-2026-hb-150-wyoming-business-council-evaluation-and-reform) \[Political\](https://wyliberty.org/blog/political-perspectives) !\[logo white 002\](https://wyliberty.org/images/general\_art/logo\_white\_002.png) \*\*Wyoming Liberty Group\*\* P.O. 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