WYOMING — Billy Benavidez is an 18-year resident of Wyoming that is running as a Democrat for Wyoming’s open seat in the U.S. Senate.
According to WyoFile, Benavidez lives in Sheridan. His website states that a main theme of his campaign is that he only desires to serve one term. Benavidez identifies as a Baptist Christian, and he has two sons. “I have dealt with weaponization of government for over four years now, and it’s extremely tough,” he wrote on his campaign website.
Benavidez did not return Buckrail’s attempts to reach him for comments on his Senate campaign. On his website, he has written lengthy, wide-reaching opinions on relevant campaign issues, including guns, abortion, social security, the environment, “men in women sports,” taxes, health care and more.
Under the “Guns” heading, Benavidez wrote: “Wyoming loves our guns, I hope you have a massive cannon, rocket launcher, ect. [sic] I hope that helps with my stance on guns.”
He believes that nobody will stop a woman from having an abortion, but queries as to whether someone should. He states that Social Security does not need to be reformed, and he blames corruption for where the social program is today.
Benavidez acknowledges that a significant amount of progress has been made since the first Earth Day in 1970, but believes there are limits. “Some worship the creation rather than the creator,” he wrote on his website. “By all means if someone wants to worship the environment … and bow down to a false god of a huge rock, eat some dirt, chew on some leaves, even use tree sap for shampoo. They can, it’s America! You have the freedom to do so!”
The biggest regret that Benavidez has is cleaning the Sheridan police department offices for many years, per his website, and the corruption that he says he witnessed: “I do NOT want their endorsement under any circumstance.” Earlier this month, WyoFile reported on a 2025 breach-of-peace conviction for which Benavidez is serving a year of probation.
Spending in Congress and sky-high debt in Washington, D.C., are a priority for Benavidez, who says he will address the spending with the goal of bringing the national debt to zero. He believes health care should be left to the free market, “because so far all the models have failed so bad, it’s absolutely embarrassing.”
Benavidez will be facing off against James Byrd on the Democratic ticket, while five candidates vie for the Republican nomination: Harriet Hageman, Jimmy Skovgard, Sam Mead, John Holtz and Jill Edwards. The primary election takes place on Aug. 18.
