Senate Judiciary Committee Unanimously Advances Resolution to Protect State Sovereignty and Defend Elections from Foreign Influence
CHEYENNE, WY – On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously advanced SJ0008 Political expenditures to the Senate Floor. Senator Ed Cooper (R-Ten Sleep), along with 16 co-sponsors in the Senate and 16 in the House, said federalism is at the heart of this resolution and is designed to restore the ability of states to regulate campaign finance laws and protect elections from foreign interference.
“We had a lot of money come from a lot of places in the last election and no one really knew where it was coming from. We’ve got to address that,” Sen. Cooper explained. Restoring state authority over campaign finance is critical to protecting election integrity, particularly in the face of increasing influence from
untraceable “dark money” groups.
Senators Schuler and Landen also testified in support of the resolution and highlighted the fractious 2024 election cycle where attack mailers from out-of state dark money groups flooded the mailboxes of Wyomingites. Sen. Landen said, “I don’t think there was any topic I was approached about more than this
one in the past couple of months.”
“Citizens United really took away a lot of power from the states to know where this money is coming from. It had a lot of influence on our elections,” Sen. Schuler said.
Senator Crago noted that the resolution works to address the negative impacts of the current system. “This money is drowning out the voices of our constituents...We’re asking for our state sovereignty to be given back to us so we can make our own choices.”
Committee members also discussed how dark money networks and foreign-funded organizations further erode voter trust and create vulnerabilities in state and federal elections. Senator Hicks worried aloud about foreign interference in elections, a comment that was echoed in testimony. “[Dark money] is coming from other countries as well,” Sen. Schuler said. That’s what I think is really dangerous.”
Senator Landen echoed this testimony and highlighted a larger concern about election integrity and security. “This type of activity threatens the security of our elections in Wyoming.”
Twenty-two states have advanced a similar resolution calling on Congress to bring forward such an amendment. An additional eleven states—including Wyoming—are considering resolutions in support this legislative session. Senators will now take up the issue as a full Senate body signaling Wyoming’s leadership in a national movement to restore the balance of power in campaign finance regulation between states and the federal government.