JACKSON, Wyo. — Election Day is just around the corner! Buckrail asked candidates for federal-level positions to speak directly to constituents in Teton County.
On the ballot will be candidates vying for a U.S. Senate seat. Sen. John Barrasso’s term is up, and he will run to serve another six years, challenged by Democrat Scott Morrow. Read on to get to know each candidate before casting a vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Check out a sample ballot here.
Sen. John Barrasso
Republican Senator John Barrasso has served in the Senate since 2007. He is a senior member of the Senate Energy Committee. Prior to being elected to the U.S. Senate, Barrasso represented Natrona County in the Wyoming State Senate from 2003 to 2007. Barrasso had a 24-year career as an orthopedic surgeon before entering the public sphere. The father of three lives in Casper.
Barrasso told Buckrail he has made many memorable visits to Jackson.
“As a frequent visitor to Teton County, I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to hear directly from many members of the community,” he said. “Every year, I look forward to attending major community events, including ElkFest and the Hoback Volunteer Firefighters BBQ.” He also shared that attending a memorial for fallen Marine Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum was a day he would never forget.
When asked how he might reconcile his conservative stance with Teton County’s historically blue voters, he pointed to recent bipartisan legislative efforts.
“My record proves that I am willing to listen to and work with anyone, regardless of party, who is ready to improve the lives of people in Wyoming and across the country,” Barrasso said. “I’ve regularly sponsored bipartisan legislation to improve rural health care and support Wyoming’s energy workers. In the last Congress alone, two of my bipartisan bills to jumpstart our nuclear fuel supply chain and support Wyoming’s uranium miners were signed into law.”
Barrasso said he will work to balance conserving Wyoming’s natural beauty and healthy environment with responsible energy development. He cited his support of the Wyoming Range Legacy Act as an example of striking the right balance.
“In Wyoming, our livelihoods depend on preserving the health of our federal lands,” he said. “We depend on access to these lands for energy and mineral production, grazing and recreation. Wyoming landowners and leaseholders have proven to be the best stewards of the land. Despite our incredible track record, the Biden administration continues to roll out rules and plans aimed at turning Wyoming’s federal lands from ‘multiple-use’ to ‘non-use.’ I’m leading the fight to stop this attack on our Wyoming way of life. That said, there are certain places in Wyoming that are so special that they need to be protected and preserved.”
As voters head to the polls, Barrasso wants to remind them of his track record and his platform.
“My priority is the people of Wyoming and helping them create a better future,” he said. “In the U.S. Senate, I’m proud of my strong, conservative record that puts Wyoming first. I serve on committees that directly impact our state’s energy industry, public lands, national parks and trade. With my leadership positions, I’ve successfully promoted Wyoming’s economy and natural resources, strengthened our national security, cut wasteful Washington spending and fought against overreaching regulations. There is more work to be done. If re-elected, I will continue to fight for Wyoming every day.”
Scott Morrow
Scott Morrow, the only Democratic senatorial candidate this year, is a Laramie-based union officer. Over the years, Morrow has worked in various positions for the Denver local chapter of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU). He currently serves as the APWU chartered Retiree Chapter president. He is a father of five with a black belt in Taekwondo and has trained in several other martial arts. When Buckrail spoke with Morrow ahead of the primary election, Morrow said the issue that concerns him most is climate change.
Morrow told Buckrail he hasn’t been to Jackson, but he visited Yellowstone National Park as a kid. He said he has done research on the county to “get a feel for the folks” who live here. He said he hopes to visit and meet residents.
When asked how he would reconcile his Democratic platform with voters in the rest of the traditionally red state, Morrow said he wants to hear from everyone.
“While I also lean left and am running as a Democratic candidate, I understand the overwhelming majority of the electorate are registered with the Republican party here,” he said. “I think it is imperative that your U.S. Senator listen to all folks who present issues based on facts and reality.”
Morrow said he supported the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) method of balancing conservation with development.
“Forty-seven percent of the acreage in Wyoming is Federal Land, or every American’s land, not oil, gas or coal monopolies,” Morrow said. “My opponents’ views, along with the entire Congressional Delegation, are pushing very hard to give over our lands to these monopolies and to amend the current requirements for environmental impact studies and subsequent conclusions. This is currently law and all decisions of BLM are legally required to be made after a comment period published in the Federal Register where all stakeholders may enter their take on the land proposed to be placed in a conservation status or leases for extraction industry purposes.”
As Election Day approaches, Morrow wants voters to consider how his prior positions prepared him for the Senate.
“I have fought for equality and the least among us, workers, the disabled, women, minorities, veterans, retirees, the poor folks the hungry and the forgotten people for 46 years,” he said. “I fought for them as a Union steward, President of an American Postal Workers Union (local and retiree chapter), director of Industrial Relations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission rep, Americans with Disabilities Act rep, Merit Systems Protection Board rep, Social Security Disability Insurance rep and with my charitable contributions.”
